Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

boy hang on to her so he wouldn ’ t end up going the wrong way. I nstead, she was able to hand him to Connor. As quietly as she could, she slipped into the water and when she swam to the other side, Connor was out, reached down and helped her climb out.
    She was about to follow him in and pull the door closed when she realized he now knew even this secret. She was not pleased, but she might as well show him the rest. She would have enjoyed the look of complete surprise when she took hold of his hand, but it was too dark to see his face. She rose up on tiptoe and whispered, “To enter from the outside, you must know the feel of the stones.” She turned his hand over and placed it first on a rough stone, moved it across to a smooth stone and then a second smooth stone. Abruptly, she let go of his hand.
    There were actually two doors, one on each side of the wall with a three-foot tunnel between them. Both were made of wood with mortar on one side that held the stones in place. Each had a leather strap affixed to the top and the bottom, making it easy to push out without letting it fall or to pull back in place from inside the wall. Finger holes had been chipped out of the stones allowing the removal of the doors when they were closed. She found the sections heavy and had to slide them, but Connor had no trouble lifting them. To her vexation, that was something he could do much better than she could.
    Once inside the cottage, she kissed her mother’s cheek. “Your sister said to say they are all well.”
    “I am relieved.” Catherin sat on the bed and was starting to get the boys out of their wet clothing.
    Rachel knelt down and wrapped her arms around both boys. “You have been very brave and Kevin will be pleased. Did the Fergusons take you?” Both boys nodded.
    The oldest boy pouted. “We are not supposed to tell.”
    “What did they threaten to do if you told?”
    “Kill all of you.”
    “That will never happen, I promise.” Rachel was out the door in a flash and racing down the path, across the courtyard and up the steps with Connor right behind her. She was about to open the door to the great hall when she paused to look at him. In English she said, “Thank you.”
    In perfect English, he returned, “You are quite welcome.” He smiled and she rolled her eyes.
    She was almost completely out of breath when she reached Kevin and had to wait a moment before she gave her report. “I saw not one warrior in the forest, not one. The boys said the Fergusons took them, but threatened to kill the rest of us if they told.”

    CHAPTER IV

    After two nights of little sleep, morning came far too quickly for Kevin, yet he was up early. Thomas, once a MacGreagor and Kevin’s first in command, was married to Kevin ’ s sister, Katie. When the Cameron laird died, the Cameron clan needed a wise, strong man to lead them and since his mother had been a Cameron, Thomas was the natural choice.
    For years, Kevin and Thomas remained good friends and were happy to spend time with each other. It was their habit to meet early on the third morning of the week at the top of the hill beyond the meadow. On this day , when Kevin didn’t show up or send someone to explain, Thomas knew something was wrong.
    In the company of his usual guards, Laird Cameron sat on his horse on the rise of the hill and watched the window of Kevin’s bedchamber. Finally, Kevin appeared and Thomas was relieved to see him. Still, when Kevin raised both arms high above his head as though he were stretching, Thomas’ fears were confirmed -- something was wrong.
    Thomas reached an arm out to the south to ask if it was the English. Kevin only lowered his arms. Then Thomas pointed North and Kevin did nothing. Thomas held the land to the west so he knew it was the Fergusons east of the MacGreagors. “I am not surprised,” Thomas muttered.
    Thomas put his right arm out, bent at the elbow to ask if they had enough food and water. When Kevin bent forward four times, the answer was ‘yes,’ they had enough food and water for four more days. Thomas waited, but when Kevin left the window , he had the final answer. Kevin didn’t think they needed his help -- not yet anyway.
    His anger was beginning to build. “Prepare for war,” Thomas commanded. He told two of his men to stay out of sight and watch the MacGreagors. Then he led the rest of them toward home. There was much to do and little time to do it. After dark, he would be back and he would use