“Even now.”
“Me da doesnae force me to do anythin’,” she said with a nod.
“You’re a most lucky girl, Keira,” the English lass said. “My father picked a husband for me and didn’t agree to end it when I didn’t like him. I am glad to see you will not suffer the same fate.”
That surprised Ruaridh. He had thought the tears she had shed were because she mourned the loss of her marriage to Lord Westall.
He didn’t understand why her father would force her to marry such an odious man, and the fact that he had abandoned her so readily annoyed him even more.
The man was a bloody coward, and it annoyed Ruaridh that the lass had to suffer such an insult from a bastard like Westall without anybody to defend her honor.
“Aye, me da willnae force me to marry,” Keira declared proudly.
“If he tries to, I’m sure you won’t give him any peace.”
“Nae in the least.”
“You’re such a brave girl, Keira,” the English lass praised. “I wish I were as brave as you. I would have stood up to my father long ago.”
“Ye can still be brave, Violet,” Keira encouraged. “When ye’re married to me da, ye willnae have anythin’ to fear again.”
“Perhaps I will send your da to fight all my enemies.”
Keira laughed, and the sound made Ruaridh’s lips twitch.
He cleared his throat and rose, walking towards his horse again, needing a moment to himself. But seeing the sun begin to dip, he called for them to move. His men sprang into action, readying the horses and attaching filled waterskins.
He watched the English lass help Keira onto the cart and laugh as she struggled and failed to get on by herself. The sight made a small smile cross his lips.
Stubborn lass.
“’Tis good to see they get along as well as they do,” Logan commented, coming to stand beside him.
Ruaridh grunted and mounted his horse, saying nothing.
Logan mounted beside him, and they looked back one last time to see if the two lasses were settled. Once satisfied, they began to move again.
“Do ye really intend to marry the English lass?” Logan asked again, taking care to keep his voice low. “I thought ye couldnae forgive them the death of yer wife.”
Yes, Ruaridh did not. It was why he hadn’t hesitated to ride into English territory with weapons to rescue Keira.
He looked over at the English lass again and found her eyes already on him. He swallowed, turning away from her.
He did hate the English for all they stood for, but this lass with her bright blue eyes was innocent of the evils they had done to him. If anything, she seemed a victim of her own people.
He only hoped he hadn’t made a grievous mistake by bringing her into his life.
5
Castle McLeod was a marvel created from an artful arrangement of brick, marble, and wood, its edges licked by heather and holly. It managed to look both sturdy and majestic as its towers rose from behind the hills, a sweet sight for her sore eyes after the rough journey she had endured.
“Home!” Keira squealed beside her, her excitement palpable in the way she squirmed in her seat, almost as if she could not wait for the horses to stop so she could run inside.
“That is our castle, miss,” she said, pointing towards it. “It is very bonny, is it nae?” she asked, her little face turned up to watch her expectantly.
“Of course, it is,” Violet replied with a brilliant smile. “You live in a very beautiful castle, Keira.”
“It also has many rooms,” Keira added. “Grannie Ava would let ye choose the one ye want. I like ye, so she would like ye as well,”she declared with such confidence that Violet fought to contain her laughter.
