Free Highland Wolf by Hannah Howell

but after three years one can still ken what sort of lass she is despite that. Aye, and wee Meggie loves her. The wee maid Annie who helps her with the child says Annora is a fine lady, sweet and kind and patient with Meggie. To me, weel, the first time she made Meggie giggle, I kenned she was a good sort.” Big Marta sighed. “Your bairn was a sad wee lass ere Annora came. And Annora does her best to be sure Meggie isnae under Donnell’s eye much, ye ken, turning his anger to her own self if needed.”
    “He beats them,” James said quietly, a renewed anger tightening his voice.
    He avoided people and tried to speak as little as possible, afraid to risk his disguise. Even so he had learned a lot. People seemed to like to talk to a man they did not think understood all they said or, at least, could never repeat it correctly. One man had quietly told James, after a long rant on all that had gone wrong since MacKay had taken Dunncraig, that there was something about him that made a person feel he could be trusted. James was not sure he fully believed that, but was glad that it was so, for it was proving very helpful.
    One thing he had learned was that Donnell MacKay and his first were brutal men. They used their fists and worse to enforce their rules and strengthen their hold over the people of Dunncraig. James expected that the torture and death of so many of his guard had been enough to make people understand the danger of complaint or resistance. Hearing strong, brave men scream was something that made many pause for fear of sharing that fate. It was hearing that MacKay took his fists to Annora and Meggie that had enraged him and nearly made him do something foolish. It had taken hours to calm himself after that. The fact that he could not immediately do something about it, might even have to stand back as it was done again, caused a hard knot of bitter anger to lodge in his belly.
    “Aye, he beats them but nay so badly that there is much damage,” Big Marta said quietly.
    “And that is supposed to make me feel better?”
    “Just said it to make ye nay try to do anything that might help them yet lose ye all else. Only once did MacKay become so enraged with Annora that he wasnae careful, but Egan pulled him away ere he could do too much damage. I took care of the lass then and it was bad, but naught was broken. Nay, not e’en her spirit. I realized then that she had some, quiet and weel hidden that it is. ’Tis what keeps her here. That and her love for wee Meggie.”
    “I am nay finding out what I need to ken fast enough,” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair.
    “Ye didnae think the mon would leave a written confession lying out for all to see, did ye?”
    “Impertinent wench.”
    “Aye, and proud of it. The proof is there, I am sure of it. There is something or someone who can expose all that bastard’s lies and trickery.”
    “Ye sound so sure of that.”
    “I am. He is too careful. A mon that careful kens that there might be something out there that can hurt him. He is a mon who has secrets he needs to keep anyone from guessing.”
    James just nodded as he watched Annora and Meggie play some skipping game around the back garden. “If I could prove my innocence, MacKay could then be hanged many times o’er for the killing of so many good men.”
    Big Marta sighed heavily. “Aye, that was a verra dark time. I think I may ken where some of the few who escaped are hiding.”
    A flicker of hope danced in James” heart, but he had had too many disappointments lately to allow it free rein. “Where?”
    “I will ken the whole of it soon. Need to be careful about such things as I wouldnae want to be the one who caused the death of any of those few lucky ones who survivedMacKay’s arrival.”
    “Nay, of course not.”
    James sighed and started to turn back toward his workroom only to have Meggie suddenly look straight at him. She smiled at him and waved. James returned the gestures and then