“I cannae. ’Tis too dangerous. There are things ye dinnae need to fash yerself o’er. Ye should consider yerself lucky that ye neednae think of such things. Now, go find Fina and dinnae speak of this again.”
“But—”
He felt bad denying Anna her request, but this was one he couldn’t, wouldn’t budge on.
“Nay. Enough.”
Not wanting to entertain his sister’s antics any longer, he left her and made his way to the stables. He had a new horse that he was in the process of training. The beast huffed when he entered, bobbing his black head up and down in greeting. Errol offered him a carrot from the bushel beside the stalls and the horse happily accepted the treat.
He ran his hands slowly down the horse’s mane, speaking in low tones. “Ye’ll make a fine warhorse one day, Dubh Bàn.” The name meant black and white, and he fit the moniker perfectly since whilst he was mostly black, he had a perfect white circle on his right rear flank. As if the horse understood his words, he dipped his head and bumped Errol’s shoulder.
Leading him out to the corral, he walked the horse in a wide circle, giving him time to adjust to the feel of having the saddle on him. Errol hadn’t ridden him yet. No one had. The beast was a little too wild for the others and most gave him a wide berth so as not to draw his ire and a kick.
As Dubh Bàn continued trotting in circles, Errol’s mind wandered. To places it shouldn’t. To people it shouldn’t. To a certain lass inparticular that it shouldn’t.
It made no sense that Moira was asking specifically for him. He could offer her naught on top of what her brothers could. But Anna was insistent. And why wouldn’t Moira tell Anna what it was she needed him for and why?
Again, it had to be a trap. Something her brothers and father had conceived.
Right?
He swore. Irritated that he’d allowed Moira to get under his skin.
Chapter Three
Moira frowned asshe read the missive from Anna. Why were men so stubborn? She needed Errol’s help. In her response, Anna said that her brother suggested enlisting her own brothers for any help she needed. Considering the map pointed her to MacLeod lands, her brothers would be of no assistance whatsoever. They would outright refuse at the mention of their rival clan. She and Anna got along just fine. She didn’t understand how men couldn’t do the same.
Somehow, some way, she needed to convince Errol MacLeod to help her in her quest. Mayhap if she offered him part of the treasure the map promised. That might do it.
It had been four days since she’d found the hidden door and the map. Luckily, her family stayed away from the annals room. For certs, they would question her about it if they saw it, and demand she ignored it.
She preferred to keep it her own secret for now.
The prospect of adventure made her heart beat faster with the promise of excitement.
Peering out the window toward the MacLeod lands, Moira worried her lower lip with her teeth. If she made her way to Errol herself, mayhap she could convince him in person. Enlisting his sister certainly hadn’t helped.
Though she was sure her friend had tried. Just as Moira wouldhave tried if the roles were reversed.
“What has yer mind so occupied this morn?” Rory, her brother, asked from behind her.
She spun in surprise and caught his eyes moving in the direction she had been looking.
“’Tis naught that ye can help me with.”
He frowned. “Mayhap, I can. Ye havenae e’en asked.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes.
“Because I ken better. Dinnae ye have sword or archery practice to get to? Da willnae be happy to hear ye are shirking your training.”
Rory had the gall to look appalled, leaning back with a palm placed over his heart. “I can best any man out there in the field. Da well kens that.”
“But, whilst they train to improve, ye dinnae, so yer skills will remain stagnant. Soon, they will be besting ye, and then what will ye do?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
“Well, Da doesnae expect me there today. I’ll be hiking to the mountains later.”
Moira perked up at that revelation. “Where?”
