Page 82 of The Eagle

“We will find a spot with our husbands,” Cait told the man who shook his head firmly.

“Ye should remain here. We may bring more.”

“Nonsense,” Bree said with a firm shake of her head. “That is to be my home, I have to help.”

The man looked to Cait. “Then perhaps just Lady Ross should stay here.”

Cait stilled and studied the man for a long beat. “Did my husband insist ye do not bring me there?”

“I have not spoken to him, Lady Ross. I was told by Mister Artair to ensure ye did not come.”

“Did he tell ye this without my husband knowing?”

The guard swallowed and remained silent.

“Where is my husband?” Cait asked, her heart thundering as a sense of dread began to suffocate her. “Where is Stuart?” she whispered.

“I do not know,” the guard admitted. “He went to help someone rescue their wife and did not return.”

It was as if the earth yanked her down because suddenly Cait’s knees gave way and she sunk to the floor. Instantly, Cora and Bree were at her side.

“Are they searching for him?” Bree asked.

The guard looked even more exhausted than when he arrived. “All I know is that he was not at the house. I was busy helping people and overheard someone say they were searching for him. That he’d not been seen since last night.”

“We will leave at once,” Cait said, gaining strength. “Immediately.”

The women rushed around the house, throwing blankets into the carriage.

It wasn’t long before they were racing as fast as was safe on the muddy roads toward the village.

Cait did not cry. She refused to believe that so soon after their marriage, her husband had been washed out to sea. His life lost at the place he seemed to have finally found himself.

Life could not possibly be so cruel.

Seeming to sense that she could not speak, Cora and Bree let her be and went over what supplies they’d brought, doing their best to arrange things in the cramped space.

It was as the guard had described, utter devastation. The village was unrecognizable from just a few days ago when they’d arrived.

There were a few people milling about, digging in the sand and debris probably searching for lost belongings.

A lone boy sat on a hill overlooking the sea with his head bowed. “Ye should go see about him,” Cait told Bree, who knocked on the roof of the carriage indicating the driver should stop. The man came to the door but did not let them out.

That is Tom, his brother is at the house. He looks for his parents, they were both lost in the storm.

“The poor wee thing,” Bree said with a hitch in her voice. “Please continue until we see those out searching for Stuart.”

A short time later, the carriage came to a stop and an angry Torac appeared. He was drenched and muddy.

“Why are ye here?” he glared at her and Cora. “There is enough to worry about without ye all here.”

“Where is Stuart?” Cait said ignoring his outburst. “Where is my husband?”

Torac didn’t reply, instead he called up to the driver to take them to the house.

“No,” Cait screamed. “Tell me right now Torac. Where is Stuart?” Panic set in and she could barely breathe. “The truth.”

Torac met her gaze. “We are searching the shoreline. He went to help a man whose wife was trapped. We do not know where she was, or in what direction they went. All we know is that the man lived in that direction.” Torac pointed forward. “I am riding in the opposite direction in case he was dragged out by the tide.”