"What is it, Aiden?" Dirk asked.

"'Tis mother. She's sent Haldane to find McMurdo and bring him here."

McMurdo, the murderous highwayman. "Why?"

"She didn't say, but she wants to meet with him behind the church. And it has something to do with you."

"When?"

"Whenever Haldane finds him and brings him back. I know not how long that will take."

"Damnation," Dirk muttered. "What else did she say?"

"That she would not allow the imposter—you—to take my inheritance."

Dirk shook his head, his heart near breaking at Aiden's precarious position. "I thank you for warning me."

"You are my brother. The eldest. I wouldn't wish to take what is rightfully your inheritance."

"You're a good man, Aiden."

His brother gave a brief grin and stood straighter, but then he grew serious again. "I wasn't in the great hall when Ma arrived, but one of the other men told me what you revealed. Was Ma the one who tried to have you killed twelve years ago?"

"Aye. The only proof I have is that the assassin said, 'Lady MacKay sends her regards.' And after what you've just told me about McMurdo, it makes me believe he was the man she hired."

"I was afraid of that." Aiden shook his head. "She's near mad with desperation to stop you. I must talk to her."

"That might not be a good idea," Dirk said. "If you defend me, you'll likely anger her."

Aiden shrugged. "She would never harm me. She's doing all of this for me." He gave a brief bow. "I'll be on my way now."

"Oh and Aiden," Dirk said. "If you please, don't tell anyone you saw Isobel in my bedchamber."

His face flushed, but he grinned. "Of course not." He disappeared out the door.

"Oh heavens," Isobel whispered.

"I knew the witch would start scheming again," Dirk muttered. "She must be planning to have McMurdo try to kill me again."

"What will you do?" Isobel asked.

"Catch him and make him confess everything."

***

Dirk and Keegan slipped along the south wall that surrounded the cemetery and the church. Rebbie and the rest of the men had circled around the north wall to lie in wait. The moonlight glinting off the thin layer of snow made hiding in the night more difficult. Gusts of wind off the sea made hearing at any distance near impossible.

The wall around the church was low enough to climb over. Dirk rose up slowly and peered over the top to see if McMurdo waited behind the church. Or would he meet with Maighread inside? Nay, there was some movement in the shadows of the stone building.

Dirk crouched behind the wall again, out of the wind. "He's there. I'm going inside the church to hide," he whispered to Keegan.

"He might hear you."

"We need to listen in on his conversation with Maighread. 'Tis not possible in this wind."

"No telling if she'll even come out in this cold to meet him. She may make him wait until the morn."

Dirk shook his head. "She's a tough old nag. I wager she'll meet him as soon as possible. She's desperate to be rid of me."

"Once she goes through the gate, we can block her exit and we'll have her captured," Keegan said. "I'll have the rest of the men surround the wall, and they'll capture him if he tries to jump over and escape."

"Aye, but no proof as to what they're doing. I must hear her tell McMurdo that she wants him to kill me. When I hear that, I'll have solid proof. Then mayhap, once we capture him, McMurdo will confess. If you're beside me and hear the same thing, you're also a witness."

"Very well."

They crawled across the frozen ground to the corner. The east side of the wall contained the gate. "I have a better idea," Keegan whispered. "We'll wait here and once Maighread arrives and enters the gate, we'll slip in behind her."

"That might work." Dirk glanced at the sky. "A few clouds are rolling in. They'll help conceal us."

A lone figure exited the church gate silently, then ran toward the beach.

"That's him," Dirk muttered, standing. "McMurdo is escaping. Come on." At the north side of the wall he whistled to the other men and waved them toward the beach. The outlaw's dark cloak disappeared behind a sand dune as he crested the ridge above the beach on the other side of the castle.

"Hurry," Dirk yelled, running to catch up with the bastard. Once he reached the ridge of sand dunes he could see no evidence of the outlaw. "Light the lantern," he told Erskine. "Surely he has not gone out to Faraid Head." Ice ran in his veins. He had not been to Faraid Head since that fateful day twelve years ago. He didn't wish to return now but he would if he had to. "Damn McMurdo," he muttered.

"I wager he's gone to Smoo Cave," Aiden said, breathing hard. "He hides out there sometimes."

Dirk spun to face his brother. "Where did you come from?"

"I was watching from the bushes by the stream."

"'Tis too dangerous for you. Go back to the keep."

"Nay. I'm still the chief and I'll do what I want as long as I am." He smiled, his teeth visible in the moonlight.

Dirk muttered a colorful curse.

"Smoo Cave, you say?" Rebbie asked.

"Aye," Aiden said.

"That makes sense," Dirk said. "He's probably trying to throw us off by doubling back."

Once Erskine had the lantern lit, the footprints in the freshly blown sand and the trace of snow were evident. But the tracks headed toward Faraid Head, which was naught but a maze of sand dunes, and at the end, cliffs.

Ignoring the tracks, Dirk headed the men east as Aiden had suggested, in the direction of Smoo Cave. Soon they came upon more fresh tracks in the snow-dusted sand.

"Aha. You are a canny man, Aiden." Dirk paused and lightly slapped him on the shoulder.

His younger brother smiled proudly. Once Dirk was made chief, he was going to have to find a position that would be perfect for Aiden, one that paid well. He didn't want the lad to feel he was losing anything. Of course, he was a talented musician, but he was so intelligent, he deserved another position.

The cloud cover grew more pronounced and the strong wind off the North Sea buffeted them as they left the sand dunes and moved closer to the rugged coastline again. They increased their speed. Within a half hour they neared the towering embankment over Smoo Cave.

"Careful you don't fall," Dirk warned Rebbie as they descended the narrow path that switched back and forth down the steep hillside toward the sea inlet. The other men followed. The wind was not as severe in this protected ravine because of the tall cliffs on either side.

After reaching the bottom of the trail, Dirk halted, held up his hand for quiet, and listened. He heard naught but the waves of the incoming tide and the squawking of a few disturbed sea birds.

"You stay out here, Aiden. We'll go in and look for McMurdo," Dirk said, keeping his voice low.

"Nay, I'm going in to help. I'm no longer a child so cease ordering me about."

"'Tis for your own good. I don't want you hurt," Dirk muttered in a harsh tone as he visualized McMurdo easily overpowering his much smaller brother.

"I blame myself for the strife you're having now with my mother and I want to do something to make it right."

"'Tis not your fault, brother. Besides that, you have been helping. He may have men waiting inside. Do you know how many in his band of thieves?"