My Brave Highlander(14)

At fifteen, he had intrigued her, yet frightened her at the same time. Now, since his muscular frame had filled out into that of a man, he was even more intimidating. But she didn't think he meant her harm. Clearly, his soul was not as icy as his eyes or he would've left her out in the snow to freeze to death.

"Do you have a suggestion where we might find lodgings for the night, south of Munrick?" he asked.

"There is an abandoned crofter's hut."

He turned, frowning at her. "You jest."

She shook her head. Was he surprised that a lady, the daughter and sister of chiefs, could lower her standards so much? 'Haps he, like a lot of others, thought she was a cosseted lady who would throw a tantrum if she couldn't stay in the most elegant of lodgings.

"Is that where you stayed last night?" he asked.

She did not wish him to know anything more about her, but every time she opened her mouth, she revealed another bit of information he could use against her. In addition, he was astute and canny. Even if she didn't tell him everything, he might surmise the rest.

Still, they had to find somewhere to stay the night. Outside of Munrick Castle, or a cottage in the village, there was nowhere else to stay. She could not show her face in the village. Surely the MacLeods had searched every cottage by now, and their inhabitants would be more than happy to turn her over to their laird's brother. No matter his attempted crime, she was the outsider.

"The crofter's hut was not so bad. We built a fire in the smaller room which was more enclosed against the wind."

"Ah. If it was so cozy, why does no one live there?"

"Well, there is the small matter of the half-missing roof."

"Why am I not surprised?" he muttered. "And how much further back to this crofter's hut?"

"I'm not certain. We left early this morn." But they'd also gotten lost before dawn and followed the wrong trail for a long while. Once she'd realized they were traveling east instead of south, they'd had to backtrack. Besides, it was slow going with Beitris's bad knees and hip.

Dirk led his sure-footed horse up an incline, a hill-pass between gigantic granite mountains. The snow fell thicker at the top and the wind buffeted them with more biting force. Once they'd descended the other side, Dirk paused. "We can make better time if we all ride," he called back to George.

"Do you think you can ride pillion, sitting on my bedroll?" he asked her.

She nodded, momentarily unsettled by the thought of him sitting so close in front of her, between her legs. She had no choice but to ride astride if she wished to keep her seat. But this was his horse, and he was generous for allowing her to ride it. Trying not to further injure her hand, she awkwardly scooted back onto the soft roll of wool blankets behind the saddle.

"If you could lean back slightly, I'll be able to mount without kicking you," Dirk said. When she did, he threw his leg over and gracefully hoisted himself into the saddle.

Once George and Beitris were mounted similarly, they all increased their pace across the flatter ground. The trotting horse jiggled her about but with her good hand she held on to Dirk's rock solid shoulder.

A moment of panic seized her at the thought of riding north again, closer to the MacLeods, but the truth was she and Beitris needed help. She'd had no inkling where they would've stayed tonight if Dirk and his companions hadn't happened along.

"You are friends with the MacLeods, are you not?" she asked.

He lifted one huge shoulder and let it drop. "Our clans were allies last I heard, but I haven't been in these parts in several years."

She relaxed a wee bit after that. If he wasn't a close friend of the chief and his brother, maybe he wouldn't force her to go back to that hellish place.

"The MacKenzies and the MacLeods, are they allies now?" he asked.

"I suppose." That was part of the marriage agreement, some land switching hands, along with peace. But since she'd run away, she knew not what problems that might cause. Once her brother learned of the abuse, he would be furious. She would beg him not to retaliate. It wasn't worth the loss of life.

She also prayed Cyrus wouldn't force her to go back. He cared about her, but he was not as compassionate or indulgent as their father had been. He wanted her to grow up and accept her responsibilities, and that meant marrying whichever chief he told her to.

The wind whipped by them harder and harder. Dirk turned aside. "Are you warm enough?"

"Aye." With him sitting so near, he blocked most of the north wind. She wondered what it would be like to snuggle underneath the shaggy wool mantle with him. Toasty warm from his body heat, she was certain. Simply imagining it, she tingled. She had not been comfortably warm for a long time. Never had she snuggled close to a man for warmth, and never had such a thought been so appealing as it was now with Dirk.