Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens Page A

and me made me distrust him immediately.
    I drew myself upright and in my most patrician voice said, "I am. Please take me to Kilgannon. At once." I put my foot on the gangplank and he called out to someone behind him.
    As I climbed, my progress hampered by my skirts and the swaying of the gangplank, Angus's face appeared over the rail of the ship. He said something in Gaelic, which I assumed was a curse and was grateful that I did not understand. He moved to the top of the gangplank and glowered down at me. "Mary Lowell, what are ye doing here? Have ye lost yer mind, lass?"
    "Not yet, Angus," I said as I reached the deck. Becca stopped by my side. Angus glared from under his eyebrows while Malcolm stood next to him, examining us. Behind them I could see the sailors, some looking worried, some laughing. They looked like very ordinary men, most dressed in Highland fashion. They did not seem threatening. The two in front of us, however, were another story.
    Angus frowned. "Did ye no’ get my note, Mary?"
    "Yes, Angus, of course," I said. "How else did I know to come here?" I looked behind him. "Now, please let me see Alex."
    "Ye canna see him, lass. Go home. At once." "I will not. I came to see Alex and I will see him."
    Angus turned to Becca, who met his glance with an anxious expression, her enthusiasm for this adventure obviously ebbing. "Miss, can ye not take yer friend home where she belongs? It's a foolish thing for ye to be doing. Go home."
    I answered before Rebecca could. My heart was pounding and I was as unsure of our situation as she, but I would not let them see that. "I will not go home, Angus. If Alex is ill I will see him."
    Angus shook his head. "He is too ill to see ye, lass." He turned to Becca again. "She has no sense. Take her home."
    "I will not go," I said. "And if you do not show me which is Alex's cabin, I will wander around until I find it." I moved toward the stairs that led below deck , but Angus placed himself squarely in front of me. Behind me, Malcolm laughed.
    "Can ye do nothing?" Angus asked Rebecca.
    "You might have noticed, sir," said Becca, sounding much calmer than she looked, "that Miss Lowell is quite headstrong." I shot her a look of displeasure, "Determined," I said.
    "Foolish," Angus said, annoyed. "Mary, do ye no' ken that this is no ‘a place for a woman like ye?"
    "Angus." I lowered my voice so that only he could hear. "If Alex is ill, I will see him. If he is not ill and does not want to see me, I would know that too. I need to know."
    His eyes widened in surprise, but he answered me in a quieted voice. "How could ye think that, lass? Alex would never lie to ye, nor would 1.1 wrote ye the truth of it. He is ill, lass."
    "Then all the more reason for me to be here. I will see him. Please."
    He nodded. "So be it, lass. But it's ye who will answer to him, not I. Alex will no’ be pleased by this."
    I did not answer as I followed him below decks , though my heart was hammering, and I exchanged a look with wide-eyed Becca. She trailed behind us without a word, but I imagined she'd have much to say to me later. The boat swayed with the movement of the water as we descended, and I gripped the rope railing. Below decks the light was dim, but the brig seemed clean and tidy, the smell of cooking wafting through the deck. Angus led the way along a short passage and stopped to knock on a door. Malcolm joined us, standing behind Rebecca. There was no answer to Angus's knock and he opened the door, placing his hand in front of me to prevent me from entering.
    "Wait a moment, lass. He's probably sleeping." He disappeared into the dark cabin and closed the door behind him. We waited in silence until he reappeared, a lit lamp in his hand. "He's asleep. Ye may come in to assure yerself he is ill, and then ye must leave."
    I followed him into the cabin. It was a small space with three berths lining the walls. Angus hung the lamp on a hook where it lit the room with a warm glow. In the middle of the