Chapter 6

6

A s Caitlin crossed to the door, David collected his pistol, checked the loading, and followed her, the weapon concealed under his coat. He hoped it wasn't the Dawsons, but if it was, they'd regret is.

Visibly bracing herself, Caitlin opened the door--then fell into the arms of the sturdy silver haired man outside. "Uncle Fergus!"

"You're home and safe, lass!" he exclaimed, hugging her with equal fervor. "It's that worried we've been!"

"Come in and I'll give you tea and tell you what happened." She looked past the newcomer. "And is that Andrew I see?"

A beaming young man who looked much like Fergus entered the kitchen and also hugged Caitlin. "We saw smoke coming from the chimney and wondered if you'd returned. We even brought your horse Maeve because we hoped you were here. Welcome home, lass!"

"Wonderful! Thank you so much for taking care of Maeve." She hugged Andrew back. "You and Jenny should be married by now?"

"Aye, we were tired of waiting," he said apologetically. "We both wished you could have been there."

She smiled ruefully. "So do I."

As the three entered the kitchen, Caitlin said, "It was a great comfort to know that you'd be looking after the livestock and the house while I was gone, Fergus."

"Of course we did, but you were gone so long that we were getting really worried." Fergus spotted David and his bushy brows rose. "And who might this be? Another Dawson?"

Caitlin had protective friends. Good. "No, my name is David Cameron," he said. "I happened to be staying in the George Inn when the Dawsons brought in Caitlin gagged and in chains, claiming she was mad. She escaped into the middle of the blizzard that night, and I went after her in the mistaken belief that she might need rescuing." He smiled at Caitlin. "She didn't, but she gave me credit for trying."

"I stole Captain Cameron's horse," Caitlin said wryly. "But he's been quite reasonable about that."

Fergus's thoughtful gaze moved between David and Caitlin. Probably he was drawing some accurate conclusions. "Where were you heading that brought you to the George Inn?"

"To my family home in Falkirk after too many years in the Indian Army," David said. "But when I learned what Caitlin had endured, I told her I'd stay until her situation was sorted out."

"Time to tell us what happened, lass!" Fergus ordered. "Preferably over a cup of tea with perhaps a wee dram for extra warmth."

Caitlin put more water on to heat and produced a jug of whisky from a cabinet. When they were all settled at the kitchen table with their augmented tea, she tersely explained how the Dawsons had kidnapped and drugged her with the goal of killing her so they could inherit Braewood.

Her friends were suitable horrified. Fergus let loose a string of Scottish profanities that took David back to his childhood when he'd heard the Falkirk blacksmith cursing after a draft horse stepped on his foot.

When Fergus had finished swearing, he said furiously, "Tomorrow I'll go to the Jedburgh tolbooth to explain what happened so constables can be sent out to deal with the Dawsons!"

Caitlin hesitated. "That might be premature since we don't know what, if anything, the Dawsons will do now. If they're still in England, they're out of Scottish jurisdiction. They may have given up their plan to capture me again."

"Do you think they'll will?" David asked.

"Probably not," she admitted. "But we don't know yet what they'll do next and the constables wouldn't be able to arrest them. We'll have a better idea of what to do a few days from now when the roads are in better shape."

Fergus frowned. "I'd much rather administer some old fashioned border justice!"

"No!" Andrew said firmly. "Mum wouldn't like it if you were hanged or transported."

"I expect you're right," Fergus said regretfully. "Caitlin, would you and your captain like to ride over to Dunglass to get some fresh supplies like eggs and milk and bread? My Anna will want to see for herself that you're all right."

Caitlin glanced at David. "Would you like to do that? It's not far and it would improve the eating here."

"It would be pleasant to get out and the horses could use the exercise," he agreed. He finished off his tea and stood. "I suppose the house will be safe for an hour or two."

"Better not to leave the house empty even for that long," Fergus said. "Andrew can stay here until you return."

Andrew agreed so David and Caitlin headed out to the stables with Fergus. Caitlin and Maeve, a good looking chestnut, greeted each other enthusiastically. As David saddled Sahib, he said, "Sahib likes your Maeve. I can tell."

"He should. She's the finest mare in the Lowlands," she said as she lifted her own saddle. David didn't offer to help her since clearly she didn't need or want help.

"Anna will be that glad to see you, lass." Fergus chuckled. "Be prepared for puppies. Bessie recently had a litter and now that your uncle's Old Bobby is gone, you need another dog. The pups are a bit too young to leave their mum, but you can choose one now."

"What an irresistible prospect!" Caitlin glanced at David. "Old Bobby died the same day as Uncle James. I think they escorted each other to heaven."

"It wouldn't be heaven if dogs aren't allowed," David said as he slid his new double-barreled pistol into his saddle's built-in holster. Then his rifle in the other holster. Both weapons were loaded and ready. He didn't expect trouble this soon, but one of his first lessons as a soldier was to always be prepared. Caitlin had also had a holster for her own pistol.

Fergus noted the weapons and gave a small nod of approval. If the Dawsons arrived early, they'd be ready.

David enjoyed the ride to Fergus's estate. The weather had warmed to the point that snow was starting to melt, thin sunshine was breaking through the clouds, and the roads were clearing more quickly than expected.

The rolling hills of the Lowland countryside were lovely. Caitlin gazed hungrily around her, absorbing the familiar sights. "I was afraid I'd never see any of this again," she said quietly to David as they reached Dunglass.

He smiled at her. "There's no place like home. Now that I'm back in Scotland, I have trouble remembering why I ever left."

"Scots have always been adventurers," Fergus said. "And if they're lucky, after their adventuring they come home again!"

As Ian had done, and now David was doing. He gave Caitlin a sidelong glance. His mental image of coming home had always including finding a wife, preferably a Scotswoman. He hadn't specifically imagined a fiery redhead who knew how to handle a rifle, but now he couldn't imagine anything else.

Caitlin was smiling when they left Dunglass. "It's so good to be home! The Dawsons are beginning to seem like a bad dream."

"They were all too real." He frowned. "I'd really like to think they've given up, but greed is seldom rational."

"Though the roads are starting to clear, I refuse to worry about the Dawsons for at least another day." Caitlin patted her saddle bag. "It will be several days before my housekeeper returned to do the cooking, but until then, Anna's supplies have given me more choices."

"I'll enjoy whatever you prepare, but even more important than the food is the company," he observed.

She grinned at him. "I could not agree more!"

He hoped that meant she'd be willing to share her bed again tonight. In a friendly way, no more, but holding her the night before had been as restful as it had been enchanting. With her, he knew he'd come home.

They were riding side by side up to the double doors of the Braewood stables when four horsemen abruptly swung around the corner of the building right in front of David and Caitlin.

And in the lead was Mr. Dawson.