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showed plain
on his face.
    "'Tis possible the
Campbell's planted her in the woods to discover our plans and defenses or
mayhaps where we hide ourselves." Raibert raised a brow. "'Twould be
a good idea to find out exact ly how this lass came to be in our woods in the middle of the night, and
why."
    "I had nae thought of it, but aye, I suppose she
could be a spy." He rose from the table, "it isnae as if it has nae happened
before," he grimaced. "If she proves false, she'll rue the day she was found when I'm through
with her."
    "I did n't mean to put suspicions
in your head," Raibert put a hand on Iain's arm, "'tis on ly that ye did wish to be reminded to be more wary
in the future. I find it odd that this lass just appeared from nowhere. Just because she is bonny does nay mean
she is deceitful or untrustworthy, though. Do not judge all women by that faithless, traitorous bitch ye were betrothed too. Not all
women are like her."
    "'T was nay just one, and well ye know it. And 'tis
well rid of Isobel and her ilk I am. I need no more entanglements with women. I've had a bel ly full of them." He
finished his ale, "I think I shall speak to Elsbeth about that bag. And this lass had better hope I find no
evidence of betrayal."
    No matter how attractive he found
her, he'd have no
trouble hang ing her.
    That thought made him stop in his tracks. He shook his head to clear it. Nay! He
would give no other woman the chance or the opportunity to betray him, no
matter how pleas ing she looked or how his gut clenched at the very thought of her dy ing at the end of a rope.
    *          *          *
    " Has Elsbeth been in here?" He asked the
Cook, a short, thin woman of indiscriminate age. Though she was a tiny th ing , she ruled her domain
with a very large roll ing pin and Iain often told
her so. She always had a ready smile for Iain, though, and most often a sweet or two as well.
    "She just left, Laird,"
she did n't look up,
but continued to roll out her dough.
    "Someth ing smells good," he
sniffed the air as he reached over her shoulder, to filch a piece of the fill ing for the meat pie.
    Cook swatted his hand away, but
offered him an almost toothless grin just the same. He nodded his thanks and
left. If Elsie wasn't in the kitchens it could on ly mean one th ing , she was with his màthair . Which meant his màthair now knew about the
lass.
    He raised his eyes heavenward. Could
anyth ing else happen
this day? He headed for the stairs in the East w ing of the keep where his màthair 's
apartments were located. He would have to face her eventual ly .
It may as well be sooner rather than later.
    He took the steps two at a time,
anxious to retrieve that sack and discover what it might contain. The sooner he got this lass back to
her clan, the better.
    " Màthair ," he called as he entered his màthair 's spacious rooms
after a quick rap on the door.
    "She's in her bath,
Iain." Elsbeth informed him, appear ing in the bedchamber doorway. "Ye will have to come back later."
    Iain sent up a quick prayer of
thanks. "'Tis ye I wished to speak with first anyway, Elsie."
    She grinned at his use of her
nickname.
    "Raibert told me that the lass he found
wander ing about the
woods..."
    "Kristianna."
    "Aye, Kristianna," Iain
nodded, "she had a bag of some sort with her. Raibert retrieved it after he brought the lass,
ah, Kristianna here."
    Elsbeth nodded, but did not rep ly .
    "He said he gave it into
your care?" He fought the urge to lower his gaze from her keen, ever
observant eyes.
    "Aye, that he did."
    "I would like to know where it
is." Iain gave her his best Laird's stare to no avail. He never could
intimidate Elsbeth.
    "Why?" Elsbeth put her
hands on her ample hips.
    "I thought," Iain
cleared his throat and wondered to himself why she always made him feel like shuffl ing his feet like a wee lad, "mayhap
it would help us discover who she is and where she came from. There may be
someth ing in it that could help us return
her to her