Colin's Quest (6 page)

Within an hour, they’d consumed another bottle of whiskey and sang until their throats ached. Leaning on Gwen to prevent himself from falling over, Colin picked up the bottle of whiskey and shook it.

“Another bottle,” he yelled before Gwen could stop him.

“I think you’ve had your fair share tonight, laddie. Why don’t you come upstairs with me and sleep it off?”

His glazed eyes tried to focus as he scanned the room for Quinn, Brodie, and Blaine. “I can’t find them, Gwen.”

Chuckling, she pointed to a table where the three sat, passed out, each in a different pose.

“Ach, they never could hold their liquor,” he slurred before slumping against the bar.

“Up with you, laddie.” Motioning for help, she and three others soon had Colin upstairs, tucked into her bed. Looking down at his face, peaceful in sleep, she thought of his plans and how they’d spoken of them. She knew something of young love and hoped his quest would end better than hers.

Brushing dark auburn hair away from his forehead, she placed a kiss on his brow, praying his journey would be successful. She’d wished this for him. Strong, hardworking, and honest, Colin had matured into a strong leader, a young man others respected.

Drawing the covers under his chin, she walked toward the door, taking one more look at a boy who’d become a man, knowing he’d be gone when she returned in the morning.

“Good luck and Godspeed, Colin MacLaren,” she whispered, silently closing the door behind her.

“Colin, take your brothers to the southern pasture and bring the cows closer.” Angus looked at the sky, watching the clouds shift into a formation foretelling a coming storm.

“I’ll need more than the three of us, Da.” Colin slid the gloves he’d been wearing to repair a broken corral fence into a back pocket and followed his father’s gaze. “I don’t see any thunderheads.”

“They’ll be coming, trust me. Find Quinn, Brodie, Blaine, and Sean. If they’re not enough, come back and get me and your uncles. We’ll show you how it’s done.” Grinning, he returned to his own chores, knowing there’d be no chance the boys would ask for their help.

Colin found the others and rode south. The Circle M Ranch had grown over the past five years, adding more acreage as they prospered. Angus and his family lived in the main ranch house, which included a dining room large enough to hold thirty people. At the current rate, they’d outgrow the room in a short time. Three other homes stood within four hundred yards of the main house, each with several bedrooms, a large kitchen, and small barns. Two larger barns sat across from the main house, each with two corrals for breaking and training horses.

The group rode in silence toward the pasture where the small herd grazed. It had been two weeks since his birthday and Colin had yet to announce his decision to leave. Even so, all his thoughts were on finding Sarah and bringing her home.

“What are your plans?” Quinn asked, riding up next to him.

“I leave in a week, after we get the herds moved.”

“Are you certain where she is?” Through contact with travelers coming south from Oregon, and friends who traveled north, he knew Colin had done his best to track her. He knew Dougal MacGregor planned to settle in the Willamette Valley, which covered a large area on the western side of Oregon.

“Nae. Somewhere in the Willamette Valley. I should’ve left years ago.” Colin shifted in the saddle. Since turning twenty, he’d had this argument with himself several times. However, Sarah would’ve only been nineteen at the time, and he remembered Dougal’s decision not to let her leave until she turned twenty-one. So he’d hesitated, wanting to show some respect to the man he loathed, and needing to build the ranch into something she’d be proud of. It had now been five years, a long time to dream of one woman and a shared future. Perhaps she’d fallen in love with someone else, married, maybe even had children. He shook his head, pushing the thought aside, not letting himself second-guess his journey.

“I’m going with you.”

“What?” Quinn’s comment took Colin by surprise.

“I’ve made up my mind. You won’t make the journey alone, not when I’m able to go. Da will understand. Heather rides as well as any man, and Bram is as large and strong as anyone,” Quinn said, referring to his twenty-year-old sister and eighteen-year-old brother.

Colin chuckled, thinking of Heather, stunningly beautiful and willowy, and a fireball if he’d ever seen one. “Who’ll protect her from all the suitors if you leave?” He didn’t look at Quinn, knowing he’d break into laughter if he did.

“Hell, I’ll probably have to pay someone to court her, although Ma would box my ears if she heard me say that.”

Spotting the herd, they drove them north toward a large meadow not far from the ranch houses. Afterwards, Quinn leaned against a stall, watching as Colin groomed Chieftain. Not until he’d finished did Colin reply to Quinn’s offer.

“I appreciate you wanting to go with me, but it’s a journey I’ll make alone. You’re needed here.”

“Did I give you the impression you had a choice? If so, I apologize. You’ll not go by yourself, Colin. Accept it.” Quinn marched off toward his family’s house, leaving Colin to stare after him.

Colin had waited until the following Sunday, when the MacLaren clan congregated for the weekly family supper, to speak of his decision. He’d already told his parents, who supported him, offering any help they could. Quinn had also been given the blessing of his da and ma, although his ma had been less enthusiastic about her son traveling over five hundred miles from home. The time had now come to tell the rest of the family.

 As usual, the conversations shifted at a quick pace, everyone trying to catch up with the events of the week. Colin waited, wanting to find the right time to convey his news, but getting a word in proved difficult.

“I have no interest in sewing, Ma. Besides, Da needs me out with Quinn and Bram. Right, Da?” Heather’s eyes pleaded with him to save her from sitting around in a sewing circle with her aunts and cousins.

Gillis glanced at his wife, Audrey, noting her set expression. All the MacLaren women could ride and help with the cattle, but they also knew how to cook and sew, skills Heather avoided with a single-minded intensity.

“We’ll talk about it at home, Heather.”

“But, Da—”

He pierced her with an intense glare. “At home, lass.”

Colin took the short silence as his chance to tell them of his decision. “I’ll be leaving in two days to find Sarah.” The quiet announcement caught his family unprepared.

“I’ll be going with him,” Quinn added before anyone had a chance to comment.

Brodie stared at his cousins, feeling a sense of betrayal they hadn’t discussed it with him. The three, plus Blaine, had been inseparable for years. The four made up the oldest set of cousins and whatever one did, the other three followed. He cleared his throat, his voice overriding the other comments.

“How long will you be gone?” He kept his voice low, his expression hooded, not wanting anyone else to know the disappointment he felt at not being included.

“My guess is three months.” Colin glanced at Brodie, knowing he’d made a mistake not talking to him before today. He hadn’t planned on Quinn forcing his way into the journey, but when that happened, Brodie should’ve been the first person he spoke with, even before his da and ma.

Brodie tossed his napkin on the table and stood. “I have some chores to finish.” Stalking from the house, he headed toward the larger of the two barns, disappearing inside. Picking up a shovel, he started mucking out a stall.

“I should have told you sooner.” Colin walked up next to him, leaning against the top rail.

Brodie set the shovel aside, not sparing a glance at Colin as he closed the stall gate.

“I planned on going alone. When I told Quinn of my decision, he gave me no choice, said he was going to speak to Uncle Gillis about going with me.” He cleared his throat. “I should’ve told you the same day.”

“It’s done.” Brodie saddled his horse, Hunter, and secured the bridle. Swinging up in one fluid movement, he left out the back door without another glance at Colin.

“Ah, hell,” Colin murmured.

“Where’s Brodie?” Quinn walked up beside him.

“Took off. He’s angry and I can’t fault him for it. I should’ve told him.” Scrubbing a hand over his face, Colin shook his head. “I’d better go after him, try to explain.”

“Nae. We’ll speak with Uncle Ewan. Brodie should be going with us.”

“How can they get by without three of us? Two of us is one more than should be going, but Brodie, too? I’ve already spoken with Blaine. He understands Da needs him here.”

“It’s not our decision. All we can do is ask. You’re right. He should have been told when you told me, but it’s done now. Let’s see if we can fix it.” Quinn grabbed Colin’s arm, pulling him out of the barn and toward the house where the rest of the family still sat at the table, eating dessert.

Ewan saw them approach, their gazes locked on him. Standing, he looked at his wife, who nodded. “We’ll talk in the study,” he said to Colin and Quinn. Closing the door behind them, Ewan turned toward his nephews. “We’re a fortunate family, having lots of hands to help out, many capable of carrying a man’s load.”

Colin shot a glance at Quinn, both holding their breath.

“If you agree, it would be best if Brodie rode with you, assuming that’s what he wants. It will be a long trip and I think all of us will feel better if it’s the three of you. Besides, I can’t imagine spending three months with Brodie if you two are nowhere around. What say you?”

“Aye. It would be better if he were with us.” Colin smiled before letting out the breath he’d been holding.

“It’s settled then.”

The rest of the family had gone to bed, leaving Angus and Colin to discuss final preparations for the trip. They estimated it would take about twenty-five days to reach the south end of the Willamette Valley. The best route would be to retrace the trail that had brought them to California, then take the Applegate Trail cutoff, following it all the way to their destination.

“What will you do once you reach the valley?”

Colin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Start talking to the ranchers and hope someone recognizes the MacGregor name. With three of us, we can split up to cover more ground.”

“You’ll need money.” Opening the wall safe, he extracted a bag, tossing it on the desk. “Take that. Send me a message if you need more, bringing back what you don’t use.”

Picking it up, Colin looked inside, stunned by the amount. “It’s too much.”

“You don’t know that. MacGregor may ask you to pay a dowry for Sarah. At least you’ll have some negotiating power. It’s the clan’s money. Use it to bring Sarah home.”

Colin took the bag, deciding he’d split it between the three of them so no one man would be carrying it all.

“Take this with you.” Angus held out a piece of paper.

“What is it?” Colin opened the paper, seeing one name.

“There is a colony of Stewarts somewhere in the valley. We’ve been closely aligned with them for generations. I’m certain they’ll do what they can to help you. If you find them, ask for William. Now, repeat again the route you’ll take.”

Angus didn’t let Colin rest until they’d gone over the route so many times, it became ingrained in his memory. According to his da, Gillis and Ewan were doing the same with Quinn and Brodie. Several hours later, Angus felt satisfied he’d done all he could to prepare his son for the journey. All he could offer now were his prayers, hoping it would be enough.