Page 28 of All In Good Time
“I’ll think on it.”
“Good. Now, if yer nae here to work, be gone with ye.” She smiled sweetly over her shoulder as she hurried across the room shouting directions. “No, no! Not there.”
Logan chuckled to himself before turning to go. He felt better now that he knew what he would do. His intention had never been to hurt Sara, but he knew he had. Unfortunately, he may hurt her more before the night was over, but at least she’d know that if circumstances had been different, she would be the one he would choose over any other.
* * *
Lost in her own thoughts, Sara gazed from the window and watched as Dougall strode up to the house and through the door. He didn’t see her at first, so she cleared her throat to catch his attention.
“Sara, why arenae ye with Helene?” he asked.
“I wanted to go visit my friend, Aisla this morning.”
“Aisla? What did she tell ye?”
Sara thought that an odd question. Did Dougall know something about Aisla’s situation? “We chatted about lady stuff. Nothing important.”
“Good.” He seemed unsure of whether he should continue their conversation, if you could even call it that, or whether he should leave her.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Aye. What is it?” he asked.
“I was wondering about the castle. I’m curious how things work there with regards to visitors. Do you always know when someone important has come to visit?”
“I am always aware of who comes and goes. ’Tis my job as one of Robert MacKenzie’s captains to protect the castle and the people. Of course, if I am nae here for some reason then there are others who know.”
“So, if someone came to visit a few months ago, you’d know who it was?”
“Why do you ask, Sara?”
He was getting suspicious about her questions. She didn’t wish to betray Aisla’s trust, so she’d pursue this later.
“No reason. Just curious. As I said, I was sitting here wondering how things work at the castle.”
“Well, you could ask Helene. She’d be able to tell you more than I can about the daily running of the castle.”
“Okay. I’ll do that. Thanks.” Dougall began to walk away, but Sara enjoyed making him uncomfortable. “Have you seen Logan today?”
He stopped and turned back to her. “Aye. Briefly.”
“Dougall, do you know why he’s not happy to see me.”
He hesitated long enough that Sara realized he did know. She tipped her head and awaited his answer.
“Nae. I’m afraid I dinnae.” He was obviously lying. He appeared to wish he was anywhere else but here having to answer her questions.
“It’s so weird. You saw how much we liked each other in San Francisco, right?”
Her choice of words had him confused for a moment, but then Dougall nodded.
“And it seems he was always talking about me when he came back, but now that I’m here, he’s all of a sudden not interested. I don’t get it.” She’d hit a nerve. She could see the wheels turning as he strode across the room towards her.
Crouching on his haunches in front of her, he took her hand, his eyes never wavering from hers, so she could see the sincerity there. “Sara, ye were a great help to me when I came in search of Helene, but I dinnae believe I can do the same for ye.”
Sara was struck by the utter sincerity of his words.
“’Tis nae me place to tell ye what ye wish to know. Ye must speak with Logan about it.” With one last seemingly pitying glance at her, Dougall stood up and walked away.