"Aye, a few. We'll travel as fast as we can." He wished he could reassure her more, but he didn't intend to make empty promises.
Darack offered his elbow and Mairiana took it, glad for his strong support over the uneven ground. 'Twas almost dark in the wood. She felt wayward, running off alone with a man she barely knew. But her brothers knew him, and if they trusted him, she should, too.
"Do you know this area well?" she asked as they proceeded through the trees toward the road on the other side.
"I've only been along the road a couple of times."
"I'm sorry to be so selfish," she blurted, feeling guilty.
"What do you mean?"
"Because of me, you'll likely lose your job at the stables."
"Do not fash over it."
Because of his frown, 'twas obvious to her thathewas the one fashing over it.
She wanted to ask why he had been working in the stables, but decided against it. Maybe he had to do whatever work he could get to survive, and she did not wish to make him feel embarrassed about it.
When he and his cousins had visited her brothers a few years ago, she had been too young to dance with the men, but she had noticed how handsome Darack was, with his dark hair and rich brown eyes. She had thought him extremely arrogant at the time, but had she misread him? He did not seem at all arrogant at the moment.
He now wore a very short beard which made him look somewhat different, but just as attractive. She had not immediately recognized him. She wondered if he was trying to disguise himself. Did he have to skulk about and avoid the authorities because of the MacGregor name? What had his life been like, being a member of an outlaw clan? Surely, 'twas far different from her own life and that of her brothers. Once she knew him better, she would ask him. 'Haps her brother could hire him for a better paying job. But would he see it as charity and be too proud to accept it?
Was she trying to think of ways to keep him around Rornoch once she arrived back there?
Nonsense.
She heard the rushing water of a burn close by, and soon they came upon the stream. How difficult would it be to cross? The water reflected the moonlight and she could see a few rocks sticking above the water to step on.
"I'll help you across," Darack offered.
"'Tis very kind of you."
Before she expected it, he lifted her into his arms. Startled, she threw her arms around his neck and held on. He traversed the stream in three strides.
"Good heavens," she breathed. "I didn't expect you to do it so quickly."
He placed her back on her feet and drew her hand around his elbow once again. "No need to waste time."
Well, he didn't. 'Twas a certainty. Though she had only been in his arms a matter of five seconds, the imprint of his hard, strong muscles remained on her body. She vividly recalled the silky feel of his cool hair sliding over her hands. Most importantly, she'd felt safe. Somewhere deep down, instinctively, she'd known he would never drop her.
After emerging from the trees, they walked at a brisk pace along the muddy road for almost an hour, during which time she kept looking back, listening for hoof beats.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
"Nay, not overmuch. I'm jittery and wanting to put as much distance between myself and that murderer as possible."
"I cannot believe he murdered a guard." Darack shook his head. "Still, I hope they don't find his body until we are many miles from here. They could implicate either of us since we left in such haste."
Ice-cold terror sliced through her as realization struck. "'Twould be my word against his. Would anyone believe what I heard him do? I should've been watching too, so I could be an eye witness."
"That wouldn't matter. He's a future clan chief," Darack grumbled. "They'd likely believe him over both of us, regardless of what you saw or heard."
"I fear you're right. Good heavens. I wish I'd never come here. I wish…" Why on earth had she been so gullible as to fall for Alec's smooth talking and handsome face? He had been so convincing when he'd said he loved her. He had seemed completely enamored with her. "How well do you know Alec?" she asked.
"I've never talked to him. Because of who I am, I try to avoid important people like chiefs or future chiefs, unless our clans have been allies for many years, like the MacKerricks and Grants. We MacGregors must be very careful not to draw attention from the wrong people. We especially wouldn't want word to reach King James that Chief Grant—my cousin, Ewan—is sheltering several MacGregors, for it would put his life in danger, too."
"Aye, 'tis true." She had never considered it much, but Darack's life could be in danger at any moment.
