Bound to the Highlander(28)

The man looked mortified, yet James could not tell him how little danger he was in if MacKay and his clansmen risked their cover for some reason. Still, the sun had set and dusk approached like a dark omen. Silvery twilight cast an eerie impression over the horizon and Arion fidgeted beneath him.

“Father, surely God is on our side,” Calum said.

“I have blessed you and will pray for you, m’lords. Now I must see to Lady Aileana, for I am certain she is as worried as I.”

The priest scurried off before James could offer even a little reassurance.

“What are your thoughts?” Calum asked. “Can Fergus be this daft?”

“I can’t imagine even an oaf like Fergus MacKay would expose himself now. My fear is the others have come back and are working a larger radius. Pray brother, pray Fergus is merely idle,” James said.

Of the two options he posed, he’d take a bored Fergus MacKay any day.

Gwen entered the stable with two satchels of provisions. Her smile lingered on Calum. Interesting.

“You may have to play heroes tonight, but you don’t have to do so on an empty stomach,” she said and passed one to James first. “For you, my lord. My lady insists upon it.”

James nodded, and left the stable. Calum followed moments later. They ate the roast pheasant and bread in silence and he was grateful for the momentary respite to gather his thoughts. Try as he might, they reverted back to a yellow-haired lass whose hold on him grew with each passing second. The scene in the garden still sent dark thoughts into his already rattled frame of mind.

She’d planned a rendezvous right under his nose and played innocent about it. She let him kiss her, and kissed him back. Those were not the actions of a young woman in love with someone else. She was either well skilled in the art of seduction or—well the alternative wasn’t likely considering her actions regarding the cousin to date. The kiss should have revealed her true feelings, instead, it left him with more questions. In any case, his scout’s report provided an escape from the woman and her confounding behaviour.

He tried hard to shake her from his thoughts, but her desire-hazed eyes kept intruding. God how he loved feeling her body pressed against him when she yielded. The stirring in his loins, when their tongues touched, told him he had better retreat else he’d have carried her off to his bed. This woman would have him on his knees, and as weak as a boy, if he weren’t careful. He had to regain his wits over this lass, and soon too if he were to get the information he needed regarding the cousin. God help them both if he were to surrender to his growing desire.

She was all contradiction. Virgin. Seductress. Leader, too? She did what Chattan said she would - effectively handle the affairs of the estate - and he couldn’t have been more surprised. In no time she had determined the correct course of action. He’d not seen any fear in her eyes. She was all strength and confidence. This young woman operated as though she’d been chief all along. James shook his head. Too many questions and no answers.

With a grimace he shoved the empty satchel back into the saddle’s side pouch and steeled himself to the immediate task of locating the raiders. The rising full moon allowed them to find the main road leading toward Moy Hall with ease. The road was wide and he knew it well.

“May I make an observation?” Calum asked.

“No.” He was in no mood for idle chit chat.

Calum laughed. “Well, I’ll damned well make it anyway.”

“Of course you will.”

“I’ve been speaking with the lady’s maid—”

“The heretic?”

“She’s not what you think, Brother. She’s a wise-woman, a healer.”

“You may want to take what that woman says lightly. I expect she’s as superstitious as the priest.”

“Regardless, they both have the lady’s best interest at heart. I’ve learned some interesting things about them”

James stopped his horse. “Was this before or after you lay with her?”

“What?”

“Did she bewitch you into her bed so she could fill your head with nonsense?”

Calum stopped his horse. “You are way out of line! I have not bedded her and I believe she offers genuine concern regarding her lady’s feelings toward the cousin.”

“The cousin? What did she say about him?” Perhaps the woman would serve useful after all.

“Oh so now I have your attention?” Calum chuckled. “I wonder if you feel more for Lady Aileana than you care to admit. I’ve seen the way you look at her, like she is some extraordinary delight meant for you alone.”

James shrugged, not willing to let Calum see the full extent of his musings regarding the lady. “You may share your information or we ride in silence. It is of no matter to me.”