Page 101 of Stealing Sophie

Chapter 28

“Kinnoull, what do you think of the good news?” Padraig called as he came through the yard, tugging on Fiona’s rope.

Connor, crossing the yard after supper, stopped to look around. “Good news? I would like to hear it.”

He had concerns this evening—too many hours had passed since he had last heard from Neill Murray and Andrew MacPherson, who had gone out the night before to determine what Wade’s soldiers were doing. Connor had been out in the hills for hours himself, but had seen no sign of them. Ever since Thomas MacPherson’s theft of the keg of black powder, they had been patrolling the hills along different paths.

“What news?” he repeated, walking toward Padraig, hoping for some word of the lad’s father.

“Chickens! They are laying again, did you know? My mother collected a good dozen again this morning. She made that fine oatmeal pudding the other night and says she will make another if you like. And just now, I found six more eggs.” He indicated a basket that he carried in his free hand.

“Mary did mention eggs. It is good to know that the hens are laying again.”

“New shoots are coming up in the gardens everywhere, have you seen?”

“Weeds,” Connor said. “Grasses. It is April.”

“Even better, beans and sweet peas coming up already, and getting tall fast. And daffodils and other flowers are coming up all along the hill out front of the castle, more than I have ever seen.”

“We have had a lot of rain lately, and things grow in springtime, lad,” Connor chuckled—yet glanced about for Sophie. He knew of another reason for things to grow and thrive around the place.

“Perhaps the old curse of Glendoon has lifted.” Padraig grinned.

“This old ruin has been a barren place for many years, long before I came here. Last summer was a bleak season. Any sort of improvement is welcome.” He shrugged. “I would like to believe the curse is broken, but a few flowers and eggs do not prove it. Take Fiona back to the byre, if you will. Has she given any milk at all today?”

“Another strange thing, Connor. She filled the bucket this morning, Mother said.”

“The whole bucket?” Connor raised his brows in honest surprise. “She has given scarcely half that since her calf died. Bonny lass,” he told Fiona, patting her wide rump as Padraig led her away.

Hearing a shout, he turned to see Andrew and Thomas running through the gate, with Roderick striding with them, waving earnestly to Connor. Seeing that his cousins were out of breath, clearly agitated, Connor ran toward them.

“What’s happened?” he asked curtly.

“Campbell,” Andrew said breathlessly. “At the bridge—red soldiers came there when we were setting the powder–“

“We were planning to wait on that until later tonight. Where is Neill?”

“My fault, Kinnoull,” Thomas said. “I thought it was clear to begin the work.”

“He had already begun setting charges in the stone when Neill and I saw him,” Andrew said. “We have been out in the hills watching the soldiers since yesterday morning. And then this lad comes along.’

“Aye. So it is done?” Connor demanded.

“Set, but not blown. Thomas did a fine job with that,” Andrew said, “and we helped hurry it along. But we will finish it tonight with you, as planned. Then as we were leaving,” he went on, taking a breath, “Campbell and the dragoons came by with another man, a prisoner. They meant to cross the new bridge—it is not complete, but good enough for a few to cross at a time. The dragoons caught Neill and Thomas and took them down. I got away.”

“Caught you, Thomas? Clearly, you escaped. What of Neill?”

Andrew glanced at Thomas, who turned his face to show a purpling bruise on his cheek. “They had me, but later let me go. They sent me to bring a message to you. I found Andrew and we ran here fast as we could.”

“What message? And where,” Connor said ominously, “is Neill?”

“They have him,” Andrew said.

“Campbell says,” Thomas went on, “if you want Neill to live, you are to meet him at the bridge tonight. And you are to bring your bride with you.”

“I will go. But why does he want Sophie?”

“He was in a rage,” Andrew said. “Cold anger. I would heed the man and hurry, and your wife must come as well.”