the sort who’d feel any sympathy.
Henry shrugged his shoulders and went back to his spot on the ground, leaving Thorn to his brooding. To his guilt. Poor Sela would be in pain for sennights. He had ruined her chance at having a happy Yule.
And yet he regretted his decision to run…bitterly regretted it. Not only because he’d been caught by these men, but because he had run away from the one woman he’d always admired, the one he’d dreamed of marrying, and after her father had given him permission to court her!
But Thorn had injured Connor’s wife and then run, and surely neither mistake would leave a good impression.
He prayed Connor would forgive him, but not as much as he wished for Claray’s forgiveness. Even if he was not allowed to marry her, he still wished for her good impression.
By midday, they made their way into Edinburgh. He hadn’t visited the city in a long time, and there were so many more people than he’d remembered. Where had they all come from?
“We’ll never find him with this many people.”
“If your sire is here, he’ll be at one of the taverns down by the docks. The Taylor I know always worked the wharf, if I remember correctly. So he’ll be working now and in the tavern this eve.”
“Then I’m going to the harbor.”
Ewan glanced around and whistled. “Why are there so many people here, Henry?”
“Getting ready for winter. They’ll not be back until spring. Winter is nigh here and could be there’s a storm coming.”
“How would you know a snowstorm is coming before it arrives?” Ewan asked.
Henry drawled, “I’d know by all the people running for supplies before it starts. They can tell by the tree rings and caterpillars and squirrels. I don’t know how to tell, so I just watch them.”
Thorn was gaining a new appreciation for all the members of his clan, the hard workers, the ones who tried to learn everything they could about the land. Many of them had the ability to presage a storm.
“Now, we just have to find someplace to steal some coin. I want to sleep in an inn this eve.”
“Steal?” Thorn blurted.
“Aye, we’re stealing some coin. And that includes you, Taylor. Time to prove yourself.”
“And what exactly do you expect me to do?” Thorn had no intention to steal for them, nor would he sneak them into Lochluin Abbey. He just wished to find his sire, then he’d sneak away from them before they reached the abbey. The Camerons would protect him and help him get back home, if necessary. Together, they could stop the thieves before they set foot in the abbey.
Perhaps his plan was foolish, but he felt committed to it now.
“We’re going to the town stables to keep an eye out for someone traveling alone, then you’ll knock them out and steal their coin. And if you don’t, then I’ll not help you find your sire,” Henry announced, crossing his arms.
“And then we’ll have no use for you, so…” Ewan ran his index finger across his throat. “Guess what happens to you?”
Umfrey laughed behind him.
“And I guess you’ll never get inside Lochluin Abbey to the treasure then, will you?” Thorn said, tilting his head.
“What treasure?”
“Never mind, Ewan,” said Henry. “He’ll help us or he won’t eat. No hunting to be done in Edinburgh, so we need to steal if we’re to eat.” Giving Thorn a look, he said, “We’ll still keep you around until we go to Lochluin Abbey. So it’s a matter of how hungry you are. The three of us are headed to the stables. Umfrey can wait here.”
Thorn realized there was no sense arguing with the man, but he wouldn’t bend. He’d starve before he stole anything. Once Connor Grant had taken him under his wing, he’d sworn his thieving days were done. He’d not break that promise now…because he was better than that, and also because he still hoped to return home and marry Claray.
He followed them down the path toward the stables, stewing over what to do next, when Henry shoved him and Ewan behind a tree. It didn’t take long for him to realize why. Two men rode up, too caught up in their conversation to notice their surroundings. They looked to be men of wealth. Henry shushed them both, and they listened as the two men passed their horses off to the attendants and left the stables.
The man on the left said, “This storm will be brutal. How much time do you think