After all, he was her laird.
Feeling years older, she stood and walked to the door.
“Where are ye going?” Evan’s words were soft, almost a whisper.
“I dinnae ken. Somewhere. Anywhere but here.” She passed through the door and closed it, the latching falling into place the only sound in the corridor. She felt empty, as if her life’s essence had been sucked from her.
She’d held on to that paper for years, always hoping she could claim the land and have something to pass on to her brother. Since the Sterling land and home was falling apart, she’d held tight to the idea that she could give him a good life with the clan here, and he would reap the rewards. Something much better than what her da had left his only son.
Nothing.
She entered one of the bedchambers that was now empty since one of the Stirling families had moved to a cottage. The bed had no linens, but she didn’t care. She was too weary to look for a maid to bring her what she needed. The room was cold, also, with no fire burning.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. What was she to do now? She was married to a man who would always think of her, and treat her, like a child. She kenned that a lot of marriages were that way, but when she thought of a husband—which was rare, since she hadn’t had many suitors—it had been someone who would honor her opinion, consider her ideas, treat her like a partner. She’d thought Evan would consider her such. After all, he’d said he admired her determination and bravery.
She turned on her side and placed her folded hands under her cheek. In two days time, they would leave Fife and travel to Evan’s lands in Argyll. She would be introduced to his clan members as his wife. But not as anyone who mattered. The worse part of the entire mess was she’d realized only this morning that she had fallen in love with the big oaf, despite his treatment of her like a bairn.
Now when she thought about her husband and her future, her heart hurt.
The door opened and Evan barreled through it. “Is Gavin here with ye?”
She jerked up at the intrusion. “Nay. I haven’t seen him since supper.” She rose from the bed and hurried toward him. The expression on his face scared her more than his words. “Is he missing?”
“Aye. It appears so.” He rubbed his eyes with his fists. “Alasdair sent word that shortly after we left, the lad told him he needed to use the privy. He never returned.”
Katie took a deep breath. “Of course yer brother checked the privy to see if he was still there.”
“Aye. He has several people searching the castle and grounds. He sent someone just now to our bedchamber to see if Gavin was with us.”
Katie gripped her middle, a wave of terror washing over her. “Richard has him. I ken he does.”
Evan wrapped his arms around her and drew her to his warm chest. The thud of his strong heart eased her fear a bit. Despite all the horrible things she had lashed out at him about, he was protective, strong, and caring. He might not ever love her or treat her as she would like, but he would never allow her or her brother to be harmed.
“We must help with the search.” She pulled away from him.
They hurried down to the Great Hall, where Alasdair was tossing orders out to a few men. He turned when Evan approached him. “I dinnae ken whether the lad was taken before he reached the privy or not. But there were too many people about between here and the privy.”
“What have ye learned?” Evan asked, keeping his warm hand pressed against Katie’s lower back. If it wasn’t for his contact, she would have been screaming and running in circles, pulling her hair out. He was truly her anchor.
Alasdair shook his head. “Unfortunately, nothing, except he is not where he said he was going to be. We sent someone to yer room as soon as we determined he was missing.”
Katie watched the two men as they spoke back and forth, feeling as though they should be out looking for her brother, not discussing things.
“Easy, lass.” Evan rubbed circles on her back, most likely feeling the tension in her body. “We’ll find him.” He turned back to Alasdair. “Has the entire castle been searched?”
“Aye.”
“Then ’tis time to search the grounds. Send out a group to scour the area. Look for prints, any sign that a struggle took place.” This was Laird MacNeil in action. He gave orders and directions like a warrior chief on a battlefield.
“Oh God,” Katie moaned. “Ye do think Richard has him, dinnae ye?”
“It doesnae matter what I think. We need to make a thorough search.” He took her cold hands in his warm ones and kissed her knuckles. “We’ll find him.”
“What can I do?” She pulled back and glared. “And dinnae be telling me to sit quietly and wait, because I have every intention of joining in the search.”
“Aye. I agree.”
“Ye do?”
“Aye.” He reached out and ran his finger down her cheek. “Once we have yer brother back and safe, we will speak of things that need to be said.”
…
Evan didn’t want to frighten his wife any further, but his biggest fear was Lord Armstrong had grabbed the lad and was now headed back to Stirling. Once he got Katie busy organizing the women to do another sweep of the castle, Evan headed to the stable.
Mr. MacDuff greeted him as he entered. “What’s happening up at the castle? I see people scurrying about, and ye look verra worried yerself.”
Evan headed for his
