“We’re looking for information,” Katie blurted out.
The man’s brows rose at her abruptness. ’Twas unlike Katie to not at least acknowledge a person and offer a word or two of conversation. However, being aware of how upset she was, Evan took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
“And what is it ye would like to know, lass?” the mon asked, still smiling.
“In the last few days, has a mon who is not familiar to ye been in to buy a supply of food?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The man behind the counter with the jovial expression grew serious and rubbed his chin as he regarded Katie and Evan. “Aye. There was a mon in here two days ago that I didn’t ken. I had seen him once when I took my meal at the Hare and the Hound. He was two tables away from me. Kept his head down and looked side to side the entire time, like he was waiting for someone to grab him. Had his back to the wall and watched the window to the street, also.”
“What did he buy?” Evan asked, apparently anxious to get to the information they needed.
Evan’s idea was a good one. Richard would expect them to chase him back to Stirling, which is precisely what Katie had wanted to do. Ever since they had discovered Gavin missing, her stomach had been in knots thinking about that horrible man having his hands on her innocent brother.
“The mon bought some apples, nuts, cheese, and oatcakes. He also bought a small pot, two mugs, and tea.” The storekeeper tapped his chin. “That is probably all. Oh, and some bars of peat.”
Katie and Evan turned to each other. “Ye were right,” she said. “He’s holding him here, waiting for all the searching to be over.”
“Is there anything else I can help ye with?” The storekeeper looked over her shoulder as the door behind them opened.
Katie turned to see Alasdair striding toward them. “Any news?”
Evan shook his head. “Nay.” He turned to the storekeeper. “Thank ye for yer information. If the mon comes back again, see if ye can hold him here and send someone to the castle.”
“Aye, certainly.” The mon looked from Alasdair to Evan. “Is there more I can do? Ye seem to be in a dither.”
“Ye have already been a help, and just keeping yer eye out for the mon and sending word to the castle is verra good.”
Katie, Evan, and Alasdair gathered outside the store. “I believe Armstrong is somewhere within a few miles.” Evan turned to Alasdair. “We dinnae see the lad on our ride to the village, and this storekeeper”—Evan jerked his thumb at the store behind them—“said a stranger came in to buy supplies. ’Tis my opinion Armstrong assumes we will all be heading off to Stirling to rescue the lad, so he will stay put and then head back home when things quiet down.”
Alasdair nodded his agreement. “I suggest we split up and begin a search.”
“Aye, except Katie will be going with me. I dinnae want her off by herself searching for the lad.”
Katie poked the fool oaf in the arm. “I am right here, ye ken. ’Twill be faster if the three of us split up.”
“Nay.” Evan gave her his my-mind-is-made-up-so-dinnae-think-ye-can-change-it look. Then, to her complete astonishment, he laid his hands on her shoulders and said, “I shouldn’t have been so sharp with my words. I apologize.”
Katie almost dropped to the ground at his words.
“But it isnae safe for ye to be out and about alone, looking for the lad.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he added, “And I can get a lot more done if I’m not worrying about ye every minute.”
“Well done,” Alasdair mumbled, then ducked as Evan’s hand moved to slap him on the back of his head.
“We’re wasting time,” Evan said. “Alasdair, check the south and west area; Katie and I will take the north and east.” He took her elbow and led her to where their horses stood. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he tossed her up on the horse. In a few seconds, he was on his horse and heading east from the village.
They checked the few empty cottages they were aware of from their visits to the area. Katie was happy to see several families had already moved from the castle into them.
Each place they stopped, they left instructions to send word to the castle if either Armstrong or Gavin were spotted. Katie became more anxious as it grew closer to sunset. She didn’t want to halt their search until morning, fearful that they would be too late to save Gavin from Richard’s vile intentions.
They traveled through a heavily wooded area that would lead to another cluster of cottages that Ian MacDuff had told them about during his interview for the land steward job. The path was not even wide enough for them to ride side by side, so Katie followed behind her husband.
The dimness of the area reinforced her fear that nighttime would force them to stop their search. If they had a full moon, they could continue, but unfortunately heavy cloud coverage made it difficult, if not impossible, to see anything.
Not paying particular attention as she worried about her brother, her horse suddenly reared up, causing her to grasp the animal’s head. Evan had stopped and she had almost walked her mount into his. He motioned for her to move closer. He pointed off in the distance. “Smoke coming from that cottage.”
Katie looked where he pointed. It was a small cottage, nestled among the trees like in the fairy tales she’d read to Gavin when he had been a wee lad. From the scant light, it appeared there was no pathway to it, and no land surrounded it for a garden or any other sort of life necessity. A small stream of smoke rose from the chimney.
“Looks to me like a place not usually occupied.” Evan spoke softly, even though they were well enough away
