Read Reckoning (Book 4 of Lost Highlander series) for Free Online

grabbed his face and turned it back to her. “‘Twas me,” she cried.
    Pietro groaned and stepped forward, but Lachlan surreptitiously held out his hand to stop him, wondering how Bella would proceed. None of this had been part of their quickly cobbled plan. It had always been assumed Gordon would take the rightful blame. Gordon stood back with his lips pressed together, all the color drained from his face. He wasn’t sure of this new turn either, it seemed.
    Cormag stared at Tavish’s body, then looked at Bella, his face softening. If Lachlan hadn’t seen it himself, he never would have believed it, but the guard’s eyes filled with tears.
    “What happened, Bella?” he asked, his tone completely different from the harsh one a moment ago.
    He actually reached up and wiped away Bella’s tears. Lachlan couldn’t make himself look at Pietro, couldn’t tear his eyes from the scene unfolding before him.
    “My father threatened to kill my husband,” she said, small and wavery, her big whiskey colored eyes locked with Cormag’s. “He attacked Gordon, then turned on me when I begged him to see reason.”
    She fluttered her fingers at her throat, which was still red from Tavish’s hand prints. She paused a moment to catch her breath, all eyes rapt on her. Cormag patted her shoulder and swept her tousled hair behind her ear.
    “How did ye do it?” he asked.
    It was a fair question. Someone as small as Bella would have a very hard time lifting the sword, let alone finding the strength to thrust it clean into a man’s back.
    She shook her head. “I dinna know. I was so frightened, my heart was beating so fast. I thought I was dead for certain when he … when he had his hands locked around my throat. But when he turned on Lachlan, I-I just did it. I grabbed the sword from Gordon before he knew what I was about, then it was all- it was all just a blur. May God forgive me for what I’ve done.”
    Her face wrinkled up and she reached out to Lachlan as she collapsed against Cormag’s chest. The guard looked horrified and quickly stood with her and turned her over to Lachlan.
    “The physician will be here soon,” Cormag said, turning to Gordon. “We must act swiftly. Clean up the blood. Do ye intend to bribe him or threaten him?”
    “Both if we must,” Gordon said. “We must protect Bella.”
    “Aye.” Cormag turned to Lachlan and gave him an appraising stare. Lachlan held Bella close and rubbed her back, trying not to feel the fuming rage that Pietro was directing at him. He met Cormag’s eye and held it until the guard turned away with a nod. “Aye, we must protect Bella.”

Chapter 4

    They stared at the little blue book, a sweet keepsake of a young girl. Surely nothing menacing about a diary. But why was it locked away in a hidden wall safe, why had it called to her through disturbing dreams? Holding it in her hands made Piper’s skin crawl with fear.
    “Is that your grandma’s diary?” Evie whispered.
    “I think so,” Piper said in a normal tone, which sounded like a shout in the hushed room. She felt like swearing.
    “Well, this is awesome,” Evie said. “We can find out why she left the estate, maybe learn more about your gift.”
    “I wouldn’t call it that,” Piper said, beginning to pick at the heart padlock. It was tiny and frail and popped open with very little fiddling. She turned and shrugged at Evie. “Should we open it?” she asked.
    “Jeez, Piper. How can you be so calm?” Evie grabbed her elbow and led her to the seating area, all but shoving her into a chair. She sat down next to her and leaned over expectantly.
    Piper sat with the diary in her palms, looking down at the embossed gold lettering. She ran her thumb over the smooth, shiny leather binding and then looked at the fireplace. Three logs sat neatly on the grate, purely decorative for the sake of the tourists.
    Piper imagined a roaring fire, into which she would throw the book. She was so completely over mysterious