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for sheep to secure his fortune. I hear it is a vast fortune indeed. They say the new earl will likely sell much of the land and not bother coming to the estate." She lifted her chin, a slight motion that Evan thought revealed pride and a hint of some inner hurt.
    She loved this land deeply, he realized. So did he, although he was aware that his actions as earl did not prove that.
    He frowned. Catriona and the other residents of Glen Shee would not know that the new earl had no choice but to sell land and rent out the castle and hunting reserves to generate much-needed funds. Evan's father had left considerable debt. Although sheep could be lucrative, the old earl had been extravagant, thus leaving the new earl unexpected expenses to be met.
    After resolving some of his father's debts, he had been forced to sell part of Kildonan to clear the rest. At the moment, Evan had only modest funds left—and obligations of his own.
    Following a catastrophic bridge collapse that had killed three of his crewmen, Evan had been helping to support the three widows and their fatherless children. He had arranged for a modest yearly income for each family and was determined to see the children properly educated as well. He could donate money and take a personal interest in the welfare of each family—and especially each child—but he could not make up for the loss of their fathers, three excellent men. He still wondered if he could have saved them somehow.
    The Parliamentary commission for the construction of bridges in Scotland had cleared Evan of responsibility in the tragedy, but he had not cleared himself, might never forgive himself. Memories of that day would haunt him forever.
    "If the new earl is altering the estate, I suppose he has his reasons," he said. "Have you always lived in this glen, Miss MacConn?" He wanted to change the topic.
    "I have. I saw the people leave this glen, years ago. I can never forget that sight," she murmured.
    Evan had seen the people departing the glen too, and could not forget it. "Your family stayed?"
    "My father is the parish minister—a Free Church rather than an Established Church. Few people are left to minister to."
    He knew the Free Church had adopted a strict dogma, having split from the more moderate Established Church of Scotland several years ago. "I see. Miss MacConn, what makes you sure that the new Kildonan is like his father?"
    "My brother is his factor, Mr. Mackenzie. I have heard how the new earl neglects his property, leaving it to my brother to run, not caring about the land or the people. But the profit from the wool seems important to him." Her blue eyes fairly sparked.
    "Factor?" Good Lord, he thought. Finlay MacConn. He should have recognized the name, but had never met the new young factor. Evan's sister, Lady Jean Gray, came to Kildonan regularly and she had met with Finlay MacConn, who had assisted the old factor and had replaced him not long before Evan's father had passed away.
    Here he sat with the factor's sister, the daughter of Glen Shee's reverend, in what could seem a very compromising situations. Perhaps it was wiser to guard his identity until they could leave and go their separate ways. Catriona clearly disliked the new earl and might not want to stay—might walk out into the cold night.
    Best to say nothing now.
    "Neglect?" Evan asked. "The earl... neglects this place?" Did they truly think that? He had assumed all was well. But he had been out in the remote Hebridean Isles working on engineering projects when his father had died and had no time or leisure to come up here. His sister and brother-in-law enjoyed taking holidays at Kildonan, and so he left it to them to see to the running of the estate. Jean and Harry had reported that the new young factor was competent and trustworthy. Evan had assumed all was well.
    "He's all but abandoned the estate to his sister, my brother says," Catriona went on. "He has not returned to meet his tenants since his father's death.