Upon hearing Earnan’s description of the stranger, Katherine’s mind flashed back to the incident in the cottage.
A strand of white hair fell over the old vicar’s forehead as if to make a rebuttal. “But they had ye funeral, if ye werena dead, then why dinna ye tell anyone? It has been almost six years.”
May-Jewel, who had been unusually quiet until now, boldly asked, “Then you recognize him, Vicar? You know this man to be Robert Craig’s son?” She grew uneasy as Garth’s intense stare was suddenly upon her. But growing bolder in the company of the others, she pushed on, asking, “Yes, where have you been for those six years? Robbie dies and all of a sudden here you are claiming to be his son.”
Everyone forgot Katherine’s mishap, including Katherine herself, as they waited for Garth’s response. Slowly she finished the golden liquid in her cup and placed it on the table.
David, not totally familiar with the Craig family, remained silent but observed the man in question. So this is supposed to be Sir Robert’s son? The one who was supposed to have died. Can this really be him? He grew uncomfortable remembering the tall man’s eyes upon Katherine. What was there between them, he wondered. But then he reasoned that if he were Garth that they probably would have been raised together and played together as children. Was that the look that lay between them, the look of sibling affection? The notion puzzled him.
Studying Garth’s face, Katherine noted that there wasn’t a scowl or a frown to mar his features or betray his thoughts. What would he say now that someone else had questioned his presence there? Could there by legal ramifications? She couldn’t help wondering what she could do to assist him.
“Ye have ta admit,” the old vicar said, frowning, “’tis a puzzle. Though the coffin be sealed, I administered at the funeral. Know that yer father was devastated upon hearin’ of yer death. ‘Tis hard losin’ yer only child.”
A dark flush covered Garth’s countenance, and his eyes narrowed. “Tell me old man,” he spat at Earnan, “did you ever see that ‘devastated’ father sit with me in church? And the final prayer that you said over my mother, his beloved wife, was he here to know whether you said it inside the family vault or out with the common masses? That ‘devastated’ man didn’t love anyone, not my mother, not his confused daughters, and, most of all, not his son!” He rose and stormed from the building, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.
“He were an angry lad an’ seems he has na changed,” the old vicar stated shaking his head.
Inexplicably wanting to go to Garth’s side, Katherine rose, saying, “I thank you for your hospitality, but I’m feeling much better. It’s time for us to get back to the manor.”
“Are you sure?” David asked.
“Yes and thank you again so much for coming to my aid.”
Gently taking her arm, David escorted Katherine from the manse. Nodding her thanks to Vicar Macailean, May-Jewel followed.
As they approached the carriage, Garth moved from the shadows. His anger at the old vicar spread to Katherine. Ignoring Vicar Hawes, he said gruffly to her, “If you want to know about me or the rest of the family, then ask me. Don’t go poking about. Sometimes half-truths can be dangerous.”
“May I remind you,” Katherine snapped, realizing that the very person she had wanted to help was now attacking her, “that we are of this family too. And had Alex not taken every scrap of Sir Robert’s papers from the manor, we would have no need to ‘poke about’!” She started to shake in anger and from embarrassment at being caught in her subterfuge.
“That, Mistress St. Pierre, is what we have solicitors for. I ask you to mind your own business.” Frowning at his other sister to include her in on the warning, he stalked away.
Aware of David’s eyes on her, Katherine stifled her reaction, although she longed to chase after Garth and give him a piece of her mind. But just then her hand was taken by David as he led her to the step of the carriage.
Assisting her up into the driver’s seat, David began, “He seems a troubled fellow. If you ever feel that you need protection,” he glanced sharply at Garth’s retreating back, “please don’t hesitate to come to me. I must tell you that I feel uneasy with the situation you find yourselves in, and I fear for you both.”
“Thank you, David, you are most kind. But I think we’ll be all right. He is, after all, supposed to be our half-brother. I don’t think he’d ever harm us.” Katherine smiled at him.
“I hope you’re right in your discernment of him.”
“Thank you again,” Katherine said as she urged the horse onward.
David waved as the carriage moved off.
As they drew away from the cemetery, Katherine replayed Garth’s angry words in her mind, and she became increasingly furious over his arrogance. Then she broke the silence. “I’ll poke and prod and even tear the manor down if I want too! It’s as much mine as it is his.” She slapped the horse with the reins, and it broke into a gallop.
May-Jewel grasped the iron brace of the hood. “You’re going to kill us first! Rein up!”
The lathered horse was left for Brice to wipe down. Katherine became calmer as they walked toward the manor. But as they approached the steps, she stated, “I’m not going in just yet. I want to think a bit before I go inside.”
“If I had gone through what you just did,” May-Jewel uttered, “I’d want some fresh air too.”
“Now that my mind is clearer, I have to ask, where were you the whole time I was in the vault?”
“Is that an accusation?” she frowned. “What are
