But she isn't there either.
“Cairstina!”
Did she leave? Has she escaped? I don't understand why she would leave without telling me, and how she got away without me noticing. There's no way anybody came in here, so I don't think she's been taken. I call Tate.
“I can’t find Cairstina,” I tell say, trying to hide the choked terror in my voice. “I woke up this morning and she was gone, just bloody gone.”
“Relax, mate,” Tate says. “She’s here in the kitchen with us, eating breakfast. Jotted some things down when she got here, said you were sleeping and she didn’t want to wake you.” He pauses and his voice goes muffled, as relief floods me. A moment later, he’s back. “She says she left you a note, brother. Didn’t you check?”
“Why the fuck would I look for a note?"
He chuckles, obviously not put off by my anger. “You just sound upset, Leith, is all. Now get down here for breakfast. Lachlan and his lassie have arrived, and they’re wanting to talk to you.”
“I’ll be up in a bit,” I tell him. I hang up the phone and toss it onto my sofa.
It isn't right that I get so worked up this easily. It was a simple misunderstanding; she only went up to the house for breakfast. Why do I have to jump to such funny conclusions? I look around the loft until I find it, a rolled up slip of paper that fell to the floor. I open it up and read,
Good morning, handsome. I hope you don't mind I spent a few minutes looking at you while you slept. You're at peace more when you're sleeping than you ever are during the day, except for the occasional time when you're with me. That's an honor, you know. I was loathe to wake you from your sleep, because you looked so restful. I was hungry, though, and eager for another one of those books from your sisters so I went up to the house for breakfast. And honestly it may have had something to do with wanting one of those delicious scones, not gonna lie. Come and see me when you're up?
Cairstina
I smile at the little swirly heart beside her name. Who knew a wee note like this would mean so much to me? I’ll keep this one.
I tug on a pair of trousers, a flannel shirt and a tee, and my boots. I pull on a cap as well because it’s cold outside, and head up to the house. A large black SUV is parked in the driveway, with Ireland plates. That’ll be Lachlan. He and his lass Fiona are married, and high-ranking members of the McCarthy Clan. Fiona’s mates with Islan.
Before I get to the house, I look everything over. Cars parked, dusted with snow. No one’s left, the only tire marks leading up to the house are Lachlan’s.
I do mental inventory. Today we need to see if there’s any blowback from Paisley’s fucking boyfriend, and we need to follow up with MacGowen.
Before I enter, I take in a deep breath from the cool, crisp air.
I need some time alone today. I miss the solitude and quiet of my blade sinking into the wood, my muscles burning, the satisfying heft of the ax in my hand.
I open the door and relish the sound of voices inside, rising and falling in jovial harmony.
“Och, aye, Lach, you bloody well know it,” Tate’s booming voice says from the kitchen. I kick the snow off my boots and enter the house. Everyone's quiet for a minute, and soon I know why.
Islan’s clear voice rises from the rest. “Now, it isn’t fair to say such things until we’ve actually done a side-by-side comparison, but I think I'm on Cairstina’s side. She has a really good point, Lachlan, don’t you think?”
I love that Cairstina’s taking part in the conversation though she can’t speak. She’s found a way, by gesture or note, and they’ve all welcomed her in as if she’s one of them.
“Not at all. I’d think—”
He stops short when I enter the room. “Ah, if it isn’t the man of the hour! Leave it to Leith to show up just when the hard work’s all done, eh?”
“Don’t you know it, Lach, I became captain for the simple task of being able to assign things to others."
My men laugh, and Lachlan stands to give me a manly embrace and slap on the back. His redheaded wife Fiona’s eyes twinkle at me as she stands and kisses my cheek in greeting.
During our hardest times, when we lost my oldest brother, the McCarthy family were our greatest allies. Keenan even sent some of his men, and they helped us do the jobs that we had to. The McCarthy clan matriarch came and visited my mum, and we won’t forget what good friends they were.