Rachel turned to Kevin, but kept one eye on Connor. "Kevin, let me go get them." She expected Connor to say no again, but this time he kept quiet.
Kevin frowned. "There are at least fifteen Fergusons in the woods, what could you do?"
"The children know English. I will tell them to run to me in the forest, and then I will hide them until it is safe to bring them inside."
"It might work," Justin admitted.
Connor added, "She knows all the hiding places."
Rachel was puzzled. Of course, she knew all the hiding places and so did he -- he'd followed her often enough and now, he sounded as though he was on her side. She swore she would never understand the way his mind worked.
"Rachel is not the only one who speaks English," Kevin said to Justin.
"Aye, but she is the only one who knows the secret."
Kevin wasn't convinced. "One of us could go."
Justin shook his head, "The Fergusons would love getting their hands on you, and my English is not that good. Besides, we are far too large and with two children, we cannot easily hide."
Rachel's neck was starting to hurt from repeatedly looking up at one tall man and then the other.
"There could be two hundred lads waiting in the forest," said Kevin.
She realized that was true. "I will go all the way to the loch and come up behind them. If there are too many I will come back without the boys, I promise."
Kevin studied Rachel's eyes and finally nodded. "Not until it is dark enough."
When she was gone, Kevin looked out the window again and put a hand on Justin's shoulder. "Tell our wives what is happening. If they object, there is still time to stop her." He watched Justin leave and again turned his attention back to the woman and boys outside the wall.
Connor was certain Rachel's mother and sister would refuse their permission this time. Rachel's plan was sound, but Kevin was right -- there could be two hundred Fergusons hiding in the woods. Convinced it would not happen, he relaxed and waited until Justin came back.
"Anna said they would never keep Rachel from going out," Justin said.
Kevin seemed to, but Connor didn't understand at all. They were willing to let her go, knowing she would be in even more danger than the night before? Why? He knew of no other mother who would allow it. He wondered too, if Kevin would even ask any other mother. No, Kevin would simply order it done.
*
Rachel suspected Kevin would ask permission and was listening from her hiding place under the stairs. She heard the consent, walked out the door and quietly closed it behind her. She continued down the steps, across the courtyard, up the path and disappeared into her cottage.