The Locket of Dreams Read Free Page A

told them they must always ride with one of the grooms! Those girls are wild.’
    ‘Och, but wild lassies wi’ a guid seat, my laird,’ replied Duncan dryly.
    ‘Well, they won’t be able to sit on them for a while,’ retorted their father, repressing a proud smile. ‘Hamish, you take some of the men and head towards the village. Duncan, Angus and I will search to the north, while theothers search south. Sound a horn or whistle if you find them. Cameron, you stay here and harness the carriage, ready for when I send for you.’
    The horses galloped off in different directions, with the dogs and men running behind. Rain began to fall in white sheets, obliterating the view.
    Waving and gesturing, Sophie tried to steer the searchers towards Charlotte and Nell, but they still could not hear or see her so she abandoned them and flew back on her own.

    Down below, Sophie could see Charlotte huddled beside Nell, trying to shelter them both under her cloak. Rain was falling in pelting torrents. Sophie alighted beside Nell and took her hand.
    Nell shivered violently at the touch, then groaned and rolled over, her right hand clutching her left shoulder.
    ‘Nell, thank God you are alive. Are you hurt badly? Talk to me!’ Charlotte pleaded.
    Nell groaned again, rolling on the ground. She coughed and spluttered, spitting out blood.
    Charlotte knelt by her side, wiping the blood away with the skirt of her petticoat, nearly shaking Nell in her anxiety.
    ‘Please speak to me, Nell,’ she commanded. ‘Where do you hurt?’
    Nell shook her head groggily.
    ‘All … over,’ she finally whispered. ‘My … arm hurts … and my shoulder.’
    Charlotte sighed in relief, then leapt to her feet.
    ‘Come on. We’d better get you home so that Nanny can have a good look at you. Can you stand?’
    Nell shook her head.
    ‘No. I … feel … dreadful.’
    ‘You will be fine,’ Charlotte cried. ‘I will bring Rosie over to that stump, you climb on and I will lead you home.’
    Charlotte grabbed Nell under the armpits to haul her to her feet. Nell screamed as a white pain seared through her arm, her body shaking with tremors. Flossie whined anxiously, trotting around them in a protective circle.
    ‘Oh, I am so sorry. I did not mean to hurt you! What should I do?’ Charlotte said, panicking. ‘Nell, if I ride back for help, will you be all right until I get back? Flossie will guard you.’
    Nell looked up at her with eyes dilated with pain. Charlotte thought for a moment, discarding several plans.
    ‘Nell, I cannot lift you onto Rosie,’ Charlotte decided. ‘You will have to stay here while I go back for help. I will be as quick as I can, I promise.’
    Nell tried to lift her head but nearly swooned with the effort. She bit her lip and nodded slightly.
    Charlotte pulled up her skirt, loosened her petticoat and pulled it off. She folded it into a rough pillow and slipped it gently under her sister’s head.
    ‘I will fly like the wind,’ she promised, stroking Nell’s forehead.
    Charlotte leapt into the saddle and urged Rosie into the fastest gallop of her life. Through her mind ran images of Nell lying alone and injured, possibly dying.
    Sophie felt torn between staying with Nell, or following Charlotte. She stayed beside Nell and Flossie until sheheard the distant call of a horn echoing plaintively over the hills and loch. Sophie zoomed towards the sound. She could see Charlotte galloping over the moor, and a horde of horsemen flying towards her.
    ‘Papa, Papa,’ Charlotte cried thankfully, nearly tumbling from Rosie’s back into her father’s arms as they reached each other. ‘Nell is badly hurt. Her head is bleeding and I think she may have broken something.’
    Laird Mackenzie hugged Charlotte to his chest.
    ‘I pray Nell will be all right, my lovely. Where is she?’
    ‘Near the wall, down by the loch,’ Charlotte replied.
    ‘Good. Angus, fetch the carriage. Find blankets and send for the surgeon. We will meet you on