Chapter 13

"Well that's a good night's work," Ian clapped his hands together as he reunited with Rory. Rory had a glazed look in his eyes and he swayed from side to side. "Are ye well, lad?" Ian slapped him on the shoulder, smiling.

"Aye," Rory said, and then belched. He held his lips together and pressed his fist against his mouth, looking nauseous. It passed and he exhaled.

"Did ye hae a wee bit of trouble telling people the story?"

"Oh nae, people like hearing the story. They just wanted tae drink, and drink. I hae never known people tae be sae generous," Rory groaned.

Ian chuckled. "Aye, people like a good story. I even managed tae get some people tae believe they hae seen the figure themselves. I left them telling each other that they were sure they hae seen them moving north. They were even arguing about the color of the cloak! I think it's gaeing tae work. It was a good idea."

"I'm happy tae help," Rory spoke slowly, and he walked even slower. He needed a little while to get his bearings again. "I know what it's like tae live without anything. She just needs a chance is all, a chance of a new beginning."

"Aye," Ian said, although darkness flickered in his eyes. It hadn't escaped his attention that all their efforts were to help Lucy move on from this place without garnering her father's attention. It was in her best interests to leave, of course, and his as well… yet somehow it did not feel this way. After being consumed by the blazing passion, all he really wanted was to keep her close for a little while longer, but he supposed that this was exactly why he distanced himself from romantic entanglements. The moment you began to fall for someone was the moment everything began to fall apart. His feelings for Lucy were doomed from the beginning, and it was only a matter of time now before she left him, and he would have to nurse his sorrow.

He should never have been weak enough to let them wheedle into his mind in the first place. He should have been more resilient, but she was there being all beautiful and charming, and how was he supposed to resist that? He wasn't made of stone after all.

"Ye are gaeing tae hae tae learn tae hold yer drink eventually, lad," Ian said. Rory had straightened his back and was looking a little healthier now.

"I think that's a lesson I dinnae want tae learn. I would be quite happy never drinking again."

"Aye, stick with the milk on yer farm," Ian teased, chortling to himself. He slapped Rory on the back again and then drew the boy into him, thinking about what Lucy had said. The accusation that he had dragged Rory into the illegal scheme to make himself feel better had cut him deeply. It wasn't that at all, but he did regret that he had cast this shadow over Rory's life. The lad was talented and, to his detriment, he had a good heart.

"Ye know, lad," Ian continued, "I understand why ye want tae help Lucy, but eventually ye are gaeing tae hae tae learn tae harden yer heart. Helping people is eventually gaeing tae get ye intae trouble. Ye need tae turn yer back on people. Focus on yerself, otherwise ye are gaeing tae get tripped up on the help ye offer tae others."

Rory looked at him strangely. "I cannae dae that, Ian. There was a time when I needed help from other people, when they walked right past me without even looking at me. I thought they were cruel. I saw them spending money at the market, gambling it away, and always thought could they nae hae spared a wee bit for me? And it was nae even coin, just a kind word, a smile. Anything would hae made a difference. I promised myself then that I would never be like that. She is nae a bad person. I sensed that even before I heard her story. Perhaps it's something we recognize in each other. I'm nae gaeing tae avoid helping people just because it might mean a bit of trouble comes my way."

"Ye are tae soft, lad. I hope it dinnae come back tae bite ye in the rump."

Rory smiled. "Ye are the same. Ye took me in, after all. Ye could hae sent me away."

Ian scowled and spoke in a gruff tone. "I needed help with the distillery, that's all. I learned a long time ago tae never help people."

Rory did not look convinced. Ian decided to end the conversation there, as he did not like the direction in which it was going. He increased his pace, now that Rory's condition had improved, for he was eager to return to the shop and tell Lucy the good news.

However, as he rounded a corner, he noticed that people were gathered outside the shop. His face paled as he thought of Lucy. Had they discovered her? He rushed forward, but was stopped by a burly arm.

"Where are ye gaeing?" the guard asked, his mustache twitching as he glared at Ian.

"Tae my shop! What's happened? Is anything wrong?" Ian asked. Rory trailed behind him, looking around at the crowd.

"We hae reports of thieves breaking intae yer shop. There were two men," the guard said.

"They went off that way!" one of the neighbors said, pointing behind the guard.

"Would ye kindly step inside and check the damage?" the guard invited Ian to step into the shop with him. Ian wrung his hands nervously. As soon as he entered, his gaze fell straight upon the basement hatch, and he was glad to see that it was still closed. The guard stood by the counter, waiting expectantly. Ian quickly skipped towards him, and Rory came into the shop as well. The guard looked at him suspiciously.

"This is my apprentice, Rory," Ian explained.

"And it's just the two of ye here?" the guard asked.

"Aye," Ian nodded. He gestured for Rory to look around. They inspected their stores and supplies. He noticed that one of the cupboards had been open and a number of tools had fallen out, but a quick inspection showed him that nothing had been taken.

"It doesn't look as though anything is missing, thank goodness," Ian said.

"Nae, it seems that the alarm was raised before they could dae any damage. There are tae many thieves in the village," the guard bemoaned, shaking his head.

"I'm sure ye will be able tae catch them all. We are all safe with ye lads around," Ian nodded, respectfully. "I appreciate yer vigilance, but I dinnae think there's much more ye can dae here. Ye might want tae check the other shops in the area. I may nae hae been the only one targeted."

The guard rocked back on his heels and harrumphed, suggesting that he didn't need to be told how to do his job. He strode to the door. "I would get that fixed as soon as possible if I were ye. If they're sensible, they would nae come back here, but I hae never known thieves tae be sensible."

The smile lingered on Ian's face until the guard stepped outside. Tense breath then dripped out of Ian as he turned towards the basement.

"Watch the door," he ordered. Rory skipped towards the door, leaving the tools on the floor. He had picked half of them up and placed them back in the cupboard. Ian tried to open the basement, only to find that it was locked. He strained against the bolt, but the hatch wasn't budging.

"Lucy," he whispered, careful to not speak too loudly in case anyone overheard him. "Lucy, are ye down there? It's safe tae come out now," he said, but if she was down there, she wasn't making any noise. Had she locked herself in the basement for safety, or was something blocking the exit? There was a small possibility that the thieves might have discovered her and taken her away with them. He prayed that this wasn't the case, not knowing what he would do if she was kidnapped.

"We need tae find her," Ian said, pacing around the shop.

"What if she's gone?" Rory suggested. Ian stopped in his tracks.

"What dae ye mean?"

"She might hae gotten scared and thought the only chance she hae tae stay safe was tae run away."

Ian considered it for a moment, but then shook his head sharply. "She would nae hae left without saying goodbye. She hae to be here somewhere. I cannae believe that she would leave." He moved to the window and desperately looked out to the streets. Now that the excitement was over, the throng was separating away. The guard had moved on, and people were returning to their homes. Ian wondered if Lucy had found a way to leave the shop. He went outside and found someone who was loitering there, asking them who had first raised the alarm.

They shrugged. "Some lass. Dinnae really see her. She was wearing a cloak. Dinnae know where she went, either."

It had to be Lucy, Ian thought, but where would she have gone? He strode around the perimeter of the shop, feeling grateful to her for sacrificing her own safety in order to raise the alarm. She had put herself in danger to prevent thieves from burgling him. Had she panicked when the guard arrived? Where was she now? He hoped dearly that Rory wasn't right in thinking she had left, but this might have been the opportunity she needed. The guards had more to worry about than just her, and they might be inclined to abandon their search for Lady Boyd's jewels.

He headed towards the alley and passed some crates, but there was no sign of her. He walked up and down, peering into every shadow, until suddenly a hand clamped around his mouth and pulled him back. Although he was taken by surprise, it only took him a moment to realize that it was Lucy. Her scent gave her away. The air was swimming with it, and he knew that he would recognize it anywhere.

He turned and grabbed her arms, smiling widely.

"Lucy!" he exclaimed, and then quickly caught himself, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I thought ye were in trouble. What happened?"

"Two men came intae the shop. They broke down the door. I overheard them. They hae been watching ye, Ian. They suspected that ye hae something else other than the forge, and they were gaeing tae turn the place upside down until they found it. I dinnae want all yer hard work tae be undone. I could nae just sit there and wait for them tae find the basement."

Ian frowned and scratched his head, cursing under his breath. "I knew I should hae been more careful."

"What dae ye mean?"

"The men, I think I know them. They came up tae me while I was making a delivery. I hae a wee bit tae much tae drink, and I think I said more than I should hae. This is all my fault."

"Ye could nae hae known they were watching ye sae closely."

"But ye put yerself in danger, lass. Ye should nae hae come out here."

Lucy shrugged and smiled. "It was either take my chances in the shadows or take my chances with them, and I trusted the shadows more. I know what the distillery means tae ye. I could nae see them destroy it."

Ian gazed into her eyes. She didn't yet know quite what the distillery truly meant to him, but there was time for that later. He was overwhelmed with guilt and grief, and a sense of relief that she was safe. He pulled her into a warm hug and held her tightly. Their cheeks pressed against each other and their heads angled so that they were soon staring at each other, locked in an intense gaze. He saw her eyes searching him for something, something that he thought he had lost a long time ago. He could feel it again, stirring inside him. Their breath swirled together as they leaned into each other, hungrily kissing, as though this was their last moment alive.