Colmac offered nothing more than a small smile then embraced his friend goodbye and joined Rona. “Have ye everything ye need, lass?”
“Aye.” She peered down at him from beneath her hooded cloak, her eyes brighter than usual. “Any word from the scouts ye sent ahead?”
“All is well,” he assured, swinging up behind her.
They were not journeying all that far, so they took fewer horses. That way there would be less for his clansmen to return to the castle once he and his fellow travelers boarded the boat. After that, he knew without a doubt, the MacLomains would be awaiting them on the other side of the loch. They always were. Even if they were not, the walk was not all that far and the land far safer.
“’Twill be close timing beating the storm,” she remarked. “But if all goes well, we should make it.”
“Aye,” he murmured in her ear, inhaling her flowery scent. He wrapped his arms around her and took hold of the reins. “I suspect things will go verra well, lass.”
When she trembled ever-so-slightly, he knew it had nothing to do with the brisk air.
“I dinnae see why ‘tis necessary we share horses,” Brighid muttered. She and Aaron came alongside them on his horse.
“Ye know well why ‘tis best.” Rona grinned at her. “Besides, ye look quite fetching all bundled up in Aaron’s arms, Auntie.” The corner of her mouth shot up. “Especially with yer cheeks all aglow like that.”
“Och, ‘tis cold!” Brighid cozied back against Aaron. He, in turn, appeared just fine with that. “And what of ye, lassie? I dinnae think I have ever seen ye look so...what is the word I am looking for?” She appeared to mull it over before her devious gaze slid Rona’s way. “Smitten I’d say...downright—”
“Ready to leave,” Rona cut her off, settling back against Colmac. “And looking forward to going home.”
“Aye then.” Colmac gestured at the others, and they set out into the snow covered woodland. “How did ye sleep, lass? I had little chance to speak with ye when we broke our fast.”
“Honestly, ‘twas difficult to rest,” she confided. “Not for lack of comfort, though. Yer bed is quite nice. Thank ye for letting me use it.”
“’Twas no trouble at all.”With any luck,‘twill soon be yers. But of course, he did not say that. “Like ye, I slept verra little. There was much to think about.”
“Aye,” she agreed softly. “Did ye come to any conclusions?”
“Aye,” he said just as softly, again breathing in her scent. “And ye?”
“I think mayhap I did.”
What were they talking about precisely? Her walking away? Or him getting a second chance? Because he most certainly wanted one in every sense of the word.
“And what conclusions were those?” he asked.
“That I dinnae wish to be angry with ye anymore for things that happened so long ago.” She glanced over her shoulder, pinning him with her lovely eyes. “Things went as they did and I dinnae want anger, bitterness or regret to make decisions for me about my future.”
“I didnae know ye felt so strongly.”
“Back then, I felt verra strongly.” Rona settled against him while they made their way through the trees. “’Twas heartbreaking the way ye turned from me.” She sighed. “What I learned last night was another matter entirely. I dwelled upon it for a time only to realize what ye did back then for yer brother is one of the verra reasons I care so deeply for ye. Ye have always been the least selfish person I know and I cannae fault ye for staying true to that.”
Stark relief unknotted his shoulders. He had prayed she would truly forgive him, and it seemed she had. He went to speak but snapped his mouth shut when the horse neighed.
Activity ahead stopped them in their tracks.
