“There must not be very many of them.” Keegan turned aside and crossed his arms over his chest. “Else Haldane would’ve had more men with him on this side.”
“Aye,” Dirk said. “Last winter he had around a dozen. No way of knowing whether he’s added to his band of outlaws or whether some have died or found more profitable thieving grounds.”
“I’m thinking McMurdo has trained them to be as elusive as he’s always been,” Keegan said.
“Just what we need. A dozen more McMurdos.” Dirk shook his head, then glanced at the sky. “After the mist lifts, we’ll travel south until we reach a village or until dark, whichever comes first. ’Tis unfortunate there are no castles between here and Ullapool.”
They waited for over an hour and, finally, the mist rose farther up the mountains.
As they rode south, Seona and the ladies were heavily protected, with a guard on either side, when the trail was wide enough. She wished Keegan would guard her personally, but she knew that wasn’t possible. He rode farther forward, his head turning right and then left as he scanned the hills and mountains for an impending attack.
∞∞∞
Although summer days were long, their party was still severalmiles away from the nearest village when gloaming descended over the Highlands. Seona glanced west. The sun was but a glowing smudge of pink and violet when they stopped beside a stream in a wee glen. ’Twas a beautiful spot with bare mountains all around, some green and some gray granite.
A few of the clansmen built a fire while several others guarded on the outskirts. Soon the scents of roasted rabbit and quail teased her nose and made her stomach growl. Despite her hunger, her full attention had been captured by Keegan on the opposite side of camp where he removed the saddle from his horse.
When Seona noticed Isobel and Dirk approaching her, she curtsied.
“I cannot thank you enough, Lady Seona, for saving the life of my dear wife. Is there anything I can offer you in repayment?” Dirk asked.
Seona swallowed hard for she was momentarily speechless. “’Tis not necessary. Isobel is like a sister to me. I value our friendship greatly.”
“Och. Well, I can understand friendship, for I highly prize my own friends,” Dirk said. “Still, if there is ever anything you need, and if ’tis within my power to grant it, I will do so. Just let me know.”
Seona nodded. “I thank you, my laird.”
Dirk bowed, kissed Isobel’s hand and moved away from them to talk to the guards.
“You are like the sister I never had.” Isobel drew Seona into a tight embrace.
Seona hugged her, then stepped back. “I feel the same. One can never have too many sisters.” She grinned, wishing she and Isobel could live near each other, but once Seona went home she might never see Isobel again. Her throat tightened.
“I know what you want, but ’tis not in my power or Dirk’s to give it to you,” Isobel said.
Seona frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I should’ve saidwho, not what.” Isobel darted a meaningful glance at Keegan across the way. “Why do you not go speak with him?”
Heat washing over her, Seona stared down at her broken fingernails. “I think… that would not be very wise.” Surely Isobel knew of the precarious position she was in. Seona would never be allowed to choose her own husband the way Isobel had.
“It appears that Lady Patience is focusing all her attention on that handsome guard, Hugh MacMillan. You might have a few free minutes.”
Seona glanced at Patience, laughing and conversing with the guard who was about her age. Seona had never seen her aunt so talkative with a man before. What a transformation. At least she was enjoying life for once.
Seona shifted her gaze to Keegan again, where he brushed his horse while it picked grass at the edge of the camp. Everything about him enticed her—his broad shoulders and strong arms, his tall height and his many other masculine attributes. His plaid was belted about his narrow waist and weapons hung from his belt. Being a guard, he was always heavily armed. But it wasn’t just these physical things that appealed to her. He had a charming, friendly and protective nature.
“I wouldn’t know what to say to him anyway,” Seona said. Despite staying in the same castle for months, they had not truly had a conversation. They had only spoken in a very impersonal manner. A greeting, a curtsy, a mumbled thanks when he complimented her. The kiss on the hand he’d given her that morn was the only time he’d shown so much affection.
“You are in love with him,” Isobel whispered.
“Shh.” Seona turned to see who might be listening. Thankfully, no one met her gaze. “I certainly won’t be telling him that.”
“But ’tis true, aye?” Isobel grinned in a teasing manner.
“It matters not. My father would never allow me to marry anyone less than a clan chief or a titled laird. And I wouldn’t want to play with such a good and honorable man’s affections,” she said, glancing at Keegan. “It could be dangerous if my father were to think we’ve had a tryst.”
Her father had slapped her more than once for minor infractions, which was why she had to get her younger sister away from him. She prayed Talia was well and still living with their cousin, Genevieve, but many months had passed since she’d seen her. Talia was eighteen summers and Seona feared her father would marry her off to some violent barbarian before she saw her again.
