Ghosts of Culloden Moor 28 - Hamish by L.L. Muir

Author:L.L. Muir [Muir, L.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Though they made far too visible a procession as they left Odin’s Helmet behind, they encountered no Redcoats and thankfully, everyone remained visible—to Hamish at least. He was fairly surprised when he noted Shepard’s Rock far to the right. The old woman’s cottage wouldn’t be far then. At least they would be able to find it in the darkness descending all about them.

He led them into the deepest, most shrouded part of the woods, with large willows that offered concealment. There, he removed the bairn from his back and they all sat upon the cool ground to rest.

When the air moved, he tasted blaeberry tarts. And he imagined what the old woman might do if he knocked upon her door again, and this time with three, perhaps four hungry bellies to add to his own.

“We must be verra careful,” he told his companions. “I must go speak with the old woman. I only need to say our business is concluded. If ye believe ye can go on, we can continue down to the river. Of course, it will mean traveling in the dark.”

The woman gave him an incredulous look. “What are you talking about? I told you it’s my cottage. They don’t need to go any farther.” She grimaced. “Do they…eat?”

He decided it would be wiser to save his breath to cool his porridge rather than argue with a stubborn ghostie. So, he suggested only that she trust him, then motioned for them all to stay where they were.

He was halfway to the wattle and daub house before his spine told him, with a tingle, that he was being followed. He turned sharply, but the rag-tag mob that followed hadn’t a red coat among them.

“I told ye to stay put,” he hissed, and gave each one of them a hard stare.

The woman looked about her, but not once did her notice catch on the children. That problem, at least, was still a problem.

She sighed dramatically, put her nose in the air, and marched forward without a care for how much noise she made when she passed him by.

He hurried up behind her and took her elbow. “Ye go the wrong way.” He steered her to the left.

She mumbled something, but went along. When they reached the clearing, he bullied them all back into the trees. After they were sufficiently cowed, he left them put, went to the door of the cottage, and knocked twice. Thankfully, the string wasn’t visible on the outside of the door, so he was certain the old woman was in.

For fear of that pole and blade greeting him, he stepped back when the door cracked open. Smoke from within snaked out to sting his eyes.

“You again.” The old woman narrowed the gap and peered at him with one eye.

He blinked rapidly and ran his hand down his face. Her eyes widened a bit when she spied his father’s ring, and it gave him an idea.

“Well, madam, I have removed the criminals from the mountain. Ye can rest easy.

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