The weird sensation that crept up her spine stayed and made her wrap her arms around her body as her paranoid thoughts roamed free.Is something important about to happen again?
17
Three weeks later, Jack’s men began work in the Castle’s caves. His Clan’s fortune had completely changed because of Isla and as busy as he was over the past few days, he still made time to meet her in the evenings so they could enjoy supper together and walk the gardens.
Jack was looking forward to doing the same this evening once he returned to the Castle. He spent his entire day at the village with his brother and cousin. They had been training the new guards added to the army he already had.
After locking those who had failed to guard the crypts in the dungeon, he needed more loyal men in his guard. His brother and cousin were in charge of the selection, but Jack liked to train them in person when he had the chance.
Now that they had gold, they could afford whatever weaponry they wished. Jack planned to make sure he groomed enough goldsmiths here in his Clan, so they didn’t have to depend much on other clans to help them process their gold.
“Those caves have been abandoned for centuries… how did ye do it, Brother? How did ye ken the mines existed?” his brother asked when Jack moved closer to them.
“I went down there to inspect and see if I could find any clue as to why the stable lad and his sister were found near there.”
He knew Elliot was still yet to understand what had happened, and Jack had been considering confiding in him about Isla for some days now. Jack didn’t know how his brother would react. Jamie already did not like Isla, he could tell as his man-at-arms rarely ever said any words to her.
Jack didn’t think his men would understand Isla any more than they did now if they found out the truth. The only one she seemed to enjoy her besides his brother was Moira and he was glad she could at least associate with someone who could keep her company.
He dragged in a deep breath and began telling his brother and cousin the story he had practiced repeatedly in his head and with Isla so no one would question their discovery. “I went inspecting the entire Castle grounds night after night when the stable lad and lass were murdered and one night I decided to check the abandoned caves beneath the west wing. The walls had cracked a bit. When I tripped and fell I discovered the ground was harder than usual, and my sheath made a clang when it hit the ground.
“Beneath me right here was the rusty, ugly-looking substance.”
“Then the goldsmith you sent for went down there and confirmed it was gold,” Aideen added with enthusiasm. Jack could tell the story excited his cousin.
“Aye,” Jack said and smiled. “This is good fortune for our Clan, thank the heavens.”
He saw his brother’s pleased nod and Aideen’s too before he patted Aideen’s shoulder and added. “I will ride back to the Castle now, ye stay here and inspect the work.”
Jack walked away from them, found his horse tied to a wooden stalk buried deep in the ground, then mounted and rode off.
It was a five-minute ride back to his Castle. The workers were working in the cave again, and he could hear the clang of metal as they hit and nipped away at the mines.
Jack was thankful the west wing wasn’t built in conjunction to the part of the Castle in use. The work ongoing there wouldn’t affect anyone who lived in the Castle and he didn’t have to worry about moving some of his people.
His heart was lighter now and it had been for days since they made the discovery. He was grateful to Isla, and there was very little he could do to show her how much gratitude he felt.
Now it was his turn to repay her. He had to help her find the gypsy who brought her here so she could return to her time.
Jack wondered why she had come here at all.Was it a curse?He wished he could make Isla stay regardless. What would he do about his growing feelings for her once she left?
Jack thought about her as he entered the Castle, and she was the first person he saw when he glanced toward the garden entrance briefly.
“My Laird,” she greeted and curtsied. Her curtsy always made him smile. She was slowly getting accustomed to the way of life here. Even her way of speaking had slowly begun to adjust too.
“My Lady.” He went to her, took her hand, and kissed the front of her palm. “How has yer day been?”
Jack didn’t need her to answer before he noticed the dull look in her eyes. Her cheeks also glistened like she had been crying, and he instantly hated that. “Isla…” he mumbled, then pulled her toward a corner of the hallway where they stood, “what is it? Have ye been cryin’?”
She shook her head and forced on a smile, but Jack noticed even that wasn’t genuine. “I just wondered what would be happenin’ back in my time. I wonder if anyone misses me. It is a sad thing because while I was with them… my friends, I never really appreciated being with them. Now I wonder if they miss me, and I would give anything to find out how they are doing.”
His heart ached as she spoke. Slowly, his chest tightened, and he felt the pressure nearly squash his breathing.
She misses her home.Jack had hoped she was happy here, and he had told himself that her adapting to their way of life meant she was happy, but she clearly wasn’t.
Am I the one who is so fond of her?
He didn’t know how best to comfort her, so he wrapped his arms around her. They stayed in the hug for some time, he lifted a hand and patted her hair back, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go to Kirkpatrick,” he said. “We will ride out tomorrow and try to find any gypsy in their main village. I’m sure we will be able to learn somethin’ and even if we don’t, the harvest is ever near now, and the fair comes first. We will attend the Birlet Shallows Fair, and I am sure ye will find the gypsy who has brought ye here… that way ye can return to yer time.”