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Authors: Foery MacDonell
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he will come home to us. And ye must do yer verra best as laird until he does.‖
―Aye, then.‖ Ian nodded.―I shall. I had word today Cumberland‘s troops are spreading out from Inverness. Likely they will be on our doorstep soon.‖
―Then we shall have to prepare ourselves, shan‘t we?‖ Molly stood and drained her whisky. ―We will begin in the morning. Now, ye need to sleep so ye can have yer strength for the task.‖
―Aye, mother,‖ Ian agreed as Molly bent to hug him.―I will be to bed soon.‖ ―Good night then,‖ Molly said softly as she left the study with a strong sense of foreboding.
Chapter Eight
―Pillaged and burnt 29 May, 1746,‖ Carrick read the plaque which stood in front of the ruined Invergarry Castle. It was now fenced completely around with no way to enter and investigate.
Having deposited Guinness, the cat, with the animal-loving Lydia and closing up the house, they had come to Invergarry to be wed a few days after the ball.
―I left here 21 May, 1746.‖ Carrick counted aloud.―That means...‖
―Today is 27 May.‖ Hamish stated. He and Olivia had joined them.
―Well,‖ Carrick reasoned.―If I am correct, in my time, it will happen day after tomorrow. And there is no a thing I can do. Do ye ken what happened to the family?‖
―No.‖ Hamish shook his head.―But I‘m sure we can find the answer.‖
―It‘s okay, Carrick.‖ Cat put her hand on his shoulder.―You couldn‘t have done anything if you had been there. We can go to Beinn Fhithich though, and see what there is of that.‖
―Aye, so we shall.‖ He took her hand as they began walking back to the nearby hotel where they were staying.―A lovely old manse this,‖ he gestured toward the Glengarry Castle Hotel, once a Victorian mansion.
―And a great choice for your wedding,‖ Olivia chirped, trying to cheer everyone as usual.
―I‘ll fetch the car,‖ Hamish offered and strode ahead down the long, tree-lined drive, Olivia in tow.
―You‘re still looking a bit green, Carrick,‖ Cat observed.―Is it from the plane, or seeing the castle?‖
―Aye.‖ Carrick stopped and looked sheepishly at her.―The plane was a bit of a turn. I‘ll never understand how such a great metal beast remains in the air. But truth is, the castle was more of a fright.‖
―I can imagine.‖ Cat nodded. ―You must be worried to death about Molly and Ian.‖
―Verra much.‖ He took a deep breath and started walking again.―Nothing I can do in the here and now, so best to get on with it.‖
―In ye go.‖ Hamish pulled the rented Mercedes next to them.―Are ye up to the trip, Carrick?‖
―Oh aye, I think so,‖ he answered, climbing into the back seat with Cat.―Let us see what remains.‖
―It looks great!‖ Olivia exclaimed as they rounded the bend to find the looming great house of Beinn
Fhithich.
―No burnt nor bombed at least,‖ Carrick agreed, as the car pulled to a stop in front.―Vacant though, it
appears.‖
―Great!‖ Olivia lept from the car.―Then we can explore.‖
―Be careful, Olivia,‖ Cat warned as they walked up the front stone steps to the door.―We don‘t know
how bad it is inside. It looks like it has been abandoned for some time.‖
Carrick pushed carefully on the wooden door.―‗Tis empty,‖ he said, stepping into the hall.―Full of
dirt, but no much else.‖
―Oh my!‖ Cat took a breath as she entered the large sitting room to the right.―I remember this room so
well. When I last saw it, there were tapestries and lovely chairs.‖
―Aye, Cat.‖ Carrick put his arm around her.―You recall correctly. Welcome home, such as it may
be.‖
―Aye.‖ Hamish cleared his throat.―Welcome home to ye both,‖ he said, handing Cat a packet of
papers.
―What is this?‖ Cat took the packet and turned it over to open it. Pulling out the papers, her face lit and
a smile flooded her expression.―Oh, grandda!‖ She threw her arms around him.―How can I thank you?‖ ―What is it?‖
―Aye, then.‖ Ian nodded.―I shall. I had word today Cumberland‘s troops are spreading out from Inverness. Likely they will be on our doorstep soon.‖
―Then we shall have to prepare ourselves, shan‘t we?‖ Molly stood and drained her whisky. ―We will begin in the morning. Now, ye need to sleep so ye can have yer strength for the task.‖
―Aye, mother,‖ Ian agreed as Molly bent to hug him.―I will be to bed soon.‖ ―Good night then,‖ Molly said softly as she left the study with a strong sense of foreboding.
Chapter Eight
―Pillaged and burnt 29 May, 1746,‖ Carrick read the plaque which stood in front of the ruined Invergarry Castle. It was now fenced completely around with no way to enter and investigate.
Having deposited Guinness, the cat, with the animal-loving Lydia and closing up the house, they had come to Invergarry to be wed a few days after the ball.
―I left here 21 May, 1746.‖ Carrick counted aloud.―That means...‖
―Today is 27 May.‖ Hamish stated. He and Olivia had joined them.
―Well,‖ Carrick reasoned.―If I am correct, in my time, it will happen day after tomorrow. And there is no a thing I can do. Do ye ken what happened to the family?‖
―No.‖ Hamish shook his head.―But I‘m sure we can find the answer.‖
―It‘s okay, Carrick.‖ Cat put her hand on his shoulder.―You couldn‘t have done anything if you had been there. We can go to Beinn Fhithich though, and see what there is of that.‖
―Aye, so we shall.‖ He took her hand as they began walking back to the nearby hotel where they were staying.―A lovely old manse this,‖ he gestured toward the Glengarry Castle Hotel, once a Victorian mansion.
―And a great choice for your wedding,‖ Olivia chirped, trying to cheer everyone as usual.
―I‘ll fetch the car,‖ Hamish offered and strode ahead down the long, tree-lined drive, Olivia in tow.
―You‘re still looking a bit green, Carrick,‖ Cat observed.―Is it from the plane, or seeing the castle?‖
―Aye.‖ Carrick stopped and looked sheepishly at her.―The plane was a bit of a turn. I‘ll never understand how such a great metal beast remains in the air. But truth is, the castle was more of a fright.‖
―I can imagine.‖ Cat nodded. ―You must be worried to death about Molly and Ian.‖
―Verra much.‖ He took a deep breath and started walking again.―Nothing I can do in the here and now, so best to get on with it.‖
―In ye go.‖ Hamish pulled the rented Mercedes next to them.―Are ye up to the trip, Carrick?‖
―Oh aye, I think so,‖ he answered, climbing into the back seat with Cat.―Let us see what remains.‖
―It looks great!‖ Olivia exclaimed as they rounded the bend to find the looming great house of Beinn
Fhithich.
―No burnt nor bombed at least,‖ Carrick agreed, as the car pulled to a stop in front.―Vacant though, it
appears.‖
―Great!‖ Olivia lept from the car.―Then we can explore.‖
―Be careful, Olivia,‖ Cat warned as they walked up the front stone steps to the door.―We don‘t know
how bad it is inside. It looks like it has been abandoned for some time.‖
Carrick pushed carefully on the wooden door.―‗Tis empty,‖ he said, stepping into the hall.―Full of
dirt, but no much else.‖
―Oh my!‖ Cat took a breath as she entered the large sitting room to the right.―I remember this room so
well. When I last saw it, there were tapestries and lovely chairs.‖
―Aye, Cat.‖ Carrick put his arm around her.―You recall correctly. Welcome home, such as it may
be.‖
―Aye.‖ Hamish cleared his throat.―Welcome home to ye both,‖ he said, handing Cat a packet of
papers.
―What is this?‖ Cat took the packet and turned it over to open it. Pulling out the papers, her face lit and
a smile flooded her expression.―Oh, grandda!‖ She threw her arms around him.―How can I thank you?‖ ―What is it?‖
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