Page 82 of My Brave Highlander

"You have the right of it." Dirk had explored all parts of this cave many times in his youth.

After Dirk and Keegan climbed aboard with Aiden, Erskine followed with the lantern and released the boat from its mooring. Aiden rowed across the water-filled cavern.

Although Dirk could hardly get accustomed to the idea, Aiden truly was a man now. Not a helpless little boy. But he still had that thin, lanky lad look about him. And within minutes he was huffing and puffing from the exertion.

"Get up, Aiden, and let me row," Keegan said, rising. The boat rocked.

"Careful you don't overset the boat," Erskine said, his voice echoing from the cave's ceiling. The lantern cast eerie reflections onto the wet walls.

The two cousins carefully switched positions and Keegan, with his brawny upper body strength, started rowing and the boat moved much more swiftly. They stayed to one side of the cave and avoided the waterfall. He was glad the water flow was low. In spring, the waterfall was so exuberant that taking a boat across was dangerous.

Within a couple of minutes, they arrived on the opposite side of the cave. Keegan jumped out, tugged the boat onto the bank, and secured it to the mooring beside another boat. Someone was definitely here.

Dirk could hear no sounds, save the waterfall, and no light shined from within the third, much smaller, chamber of the cave. Taking the lantern, and his sword, he advanced toward the narrow opening.

A man rushed from the darkness. Dirk only saw the glint of light off a blade the instant before it swung toward him. He lifted his own weapon just in time, his blade taking a hard strike.

He handed the lantern off to Keegan. Dirk stood in the guard stance, his blade poised and ready to strike. Now he could see his opponent was McMurdo. His hair, once dark, was now long, gray and stringy. But physically, he still appeared strong and robust.

"How long have you worked for Lady MacKay?" Dirk asked.

"I work for no one but myself." 'Twas the same voice that had said those hated words twelve years ago… Lady MacKay sends her regards.

"I understand you bought yourself a crypt in the new church," Dirk said.

"Aye, the former Laird MacKay was a good man."

"But you are not. Do you think your donation makes up for all those people you murdered?"

"I have never murdered anyone." He grinned. "And you are an imposter."

Dirk returned a sinister smirk. "You say this because you still want to believe you killed me twelve years ago when you pushed me off that cliff."

"I know not what you mean." He lashed out with his broadsword, but Dirk easily blocked the move. Again and again their blades clashed.

The man may have been a great swordsman in his day, but he was now several years past his prime. His sword arm was growing shaky.

Dirk struck just the right way, and the other man's weapon went flying.

"Aha." Dirk held the tip of his blade near the other man's throat. "Now, we're going back to Dunnakeil where you will spend some time in the dungeon. Tie his hands," he said to Erskine.

His future sword-bearer did as he asked and shoved McMurdo toward the boat. All five men climbed aboard and this time Erskine rowed while Keegan and Dirk kept their swords pointed at the criminal.

McMurdo sat quietly, glaring at each of them in turn. Midway of the cave, he leaned back and kicked toward Aiden. His booted foot struck the lad solidly in the shoulder and he toppled from the boat and into the water.

"You bastard!" Dirk yelled and shoved McMurdo face down in the boat. "Sit on him, Keegan!"

"Help!" Aiden thrashed about in the water, his arms flailing. His head went under, then rose to the surface again. He gasped for breath.

"Damnation, Aiden. Calm yourself! Row the boat closer to him," he instructed Erskine.

Aiden sank. Hell, the lad couldn't swim.

Dirk pulled off his cloak and scabbard but didn't have time to remove anything else. He feared Aiden would drown in a matter of seconds. He jumped into the water. The icy cold was a shock to his body. He swam to the spot where Aiden had gone down. Where the hell was the lad now? He ducked beneath the surface, but could see naught in this midnight, peat-tinged water. Kicking to the surface again, he heard someone yell.

"Help!"

Flinging the water from his eyes, he found Aiden a short distance away. Dirk swam toward him then grabbed him so he wouldn't sink again. "Hold on. We'll get you back to the boat."