Paisley shakes, shuddering.
"Paisley, get your sister on the phone immediately." And for the first time in her life, she does exactly what I say, without question, without backtalk. Cairstina stares at both of us.
“The bloody Aitkens have gone,” I mutter to Cairstina. I can see Tate and Mac moving in the shadows behind the rectory. They’re disposing of the body of Dougal Reilly, but she doesn’t need to see that. “But you have to come home with me, Cairstina.”
She wraps her arms around my neck.
Paisley pipes up. “Islan’s safe, she’s with Fiona and Lachlan. Leith, you know I think Aitkens would’ve ambushed you if not for her.” She nods to Cairstina.
Cairstina won’t look at either of us. She kneels and gathers Bailey to her chest, holding him as if she needs the comfort.
What does Paisley mean?
“She called your name, Leith. If she hadn’t called your name, Aitkens would’ve clocked you from behind.”
I stare at Cairstina in wonder. “You… called my name?”
Someone did. It was her?
She reaches her hand to her throat, opens her mouth, and tries to speak again but obviously can’t.
The poor lass looks shattered. I put my arm around her shoulders. “Come back with me.”
She nods. I put my arm around her shoulders as Mac and Tate join us.
Mac gives me a sardonic grin. "Sort of getting used to this," he says with a chuckle. “Might as well start drawing a salary from the fucking church."
I shake my head at both of them, relieved that the girls are safe. I’ve long since suspected the Aitkens had something to do with the death of Tavish. What more have they done? What has my father done?
It might make me a bullshit fucking captain, but I'm more concerned about the rift between me and Cairstina than anything else. What can I do to bridge it?
I turn to Cairstina. "How did you get here?"
She points a couple blocks down. I gave her a curious look, and she pulls out her phone sheepishly. A minute later another text comes in.
I took an old, dilapidated car that didn’t look like anyone was taking care of or wanted anymore, and drove it nearly to town. I couldn't take it all the way in, because something happened to it?
She looks sheepishly at me.
“What do you mean, ‘something?’”
She bites her lip, and another text comes in. I think it may have overheated or something. It stopped driving altogether and there was a flashing red light on the dash.
I stifle a groan. “Color me shocked you were able to drive it that far," I say, giving her a stern look. "That was the old car Mac was fixing up, but he didn't have the right parts for it. It's been sitting around unused for months now."
Oh. She hangs her head and doesn’t meet my eyes.
I’m sorry and will make it up to all of you.
She turns as if to walk away, but I grab her hand. “Where the bloody hell do you think you’re going?”
She stares at my hand in shock, then tugs my arm away from her. Pursing her lips, she sends me another text. I meant what I said in the text. I don't belong here. And as grateful as I am for you saving me, with the knowledge that I will never, ever go back to my childhood home, I need to find a different place to go now. I came here to borrow some money from Father MacGowen, and to find my new place in the world. I'm very sorry to leave you like this, but if it's all the same to you it's time for me to go.
"It's not all the bloody fucking same to me! Are you out of your mind?" I realize that we’re causing a scene in the middle of the street, and even Tate, who doesn't like to tell me what to do, is clearing his throat.
"Get in the car, Cairstina," I growl at her, pointing to the back. She shakes her head stubbornly. "If you don't, I'll be forced to do what I did the first day I found you.”
She gives me a curious look, then finally sighs and texts again.
You can’t always make me do what you say with brute force.
“Oh?” I say, giving her a stern look. “Watch me.” I lower my voice, pleading. “You come with me.”
She sighs. I’ll come just this once, but only because I want to be sure Islan is safe and I want to… apologize to your mum.
It’s a start, so I nod. I can work with this.
Lachlan comes and picks up the others. They all know instinctively that I need alone time with Cairstina. I don't know what's gotten into her head, but I know that whatever it is I need to get it out. I know that the past few weeks together have meant something. And I may not be the Captain of the clan that I should be, but I also know who I am.