When he kissed the back of her hand, she relished the feel of his warm, sensual lips on her skin. Heat rushed over her, and she wished his lips were caressing hers instead.
"I will see you later, then," he said.
When he exited, she felt bereft and alone, even though Tavia was there, handing her a chunk of bread.
"Sir Colin is a handsome lad," Tavia said.
"Aye, he is."
Tavia snickered. "And how did you figure this out?"
"Anna told me, but even before that, I knew or sensed it." She didn't want to tell Tavia that she'd traced her fingers over Colin's face. Surely that was too intimate. But she wished to do it again. It seemed forever since the nights she'd slept in Colin's arms, even though it had only been a couple of days. Those two times were all it had taken for her to become accustomed to his touch and sleeping well-protected against his warm, strong body. She craved that feeling. When might she get to sleep beside him again?
***
Red Holme rode east through the Highlands, leading his two remaining men, Dobson and Scroggie. Damn Cameron and his men for killing Mungo at the campsite. Where had Cameron gotten so many men in a few hours' time? There had to have been over a dozen.
Holme glanced around at the dull-gray granite mountains, having no inkling where he was. Finally, the rugged mountains gave way to gentler rust-colored, bracken-clothed hills. Aye, this area was starting to look familiar. He had been here over a decade ago, and 'twas not far to Rhodie Castle.
When he thought of how the Cameron clan had stolen his birthright, fury gnawed at him, making him more determined than ever for vengeance.
Rhodie Castle had been held by the MacKillican clan for generations, given to his direct ancestor by King James II for loyalty and service. Why should the Camerons have it now, given to them by King James VI? 'Twas true that his da had refused to appear before the king or pay the exorbitant fine levied against him. And finally his da had killed the king's representative who'd come to put him in his place, but 'twas naught more than the man deserved.
'Twas all in the past. At present, if Holme couldn't have Rhodie Castle, neither would the Camerons.
Although Holme was outnumbered, as he always had been, that wouldn't matter, for he was going to use new tactics. He would pick off the Camerons one by one if he had to, until he downed Chief Cameron himself, the man who was responsible for his father's death. And of course, he would execute Colin Cameron, too.
Finally, Holme and his men crested a familiar hill and he spied Rhodie Castle in the distance, gleaming pale against the golden-brown, bracken-covered hills.
He was home, finally, after all these years.More than anything, I want to reclaim it for you, Da.But since King James would never allow him to hold it, he would at least ensure the thieves did not live to enjoy it. Then, his father would no longer see him as a weak coward. His father would be proud of him.
Making certain no one spied them, Holme and his two men gradually moved closer to the castle and sat amid the bushes and trees, watching the closed portcullis. Sooner or later, a Cameron would step out.
