Saddling Dubh Bàn quickly, Errol left within minutes. The lad may have not seen where Moira was headed, but he kenned.
Northeast.
Errol had no doubt if he headed Northeast, he would catch up to Moira. He could ride faster than she and even if she had a two-hour lead on him, he could get to her in half the time. He was sure of it. His horse was fast, and he would push him to his limits.
There was a half-moon hanging low in the sky, lighting enough of the ground in silvery brightness to see the ground in front of him.
His horse was sure-footed as they thundered out of the village and into the woods that would lead them to the sea and their last destination.
The whole time he rode, he fashed that he would come across Moira’s crumpled body after being thrown off her horse. The further he rode on, the more relieved he was that he didn’t see that.
But lord above, what was she thinking riding alone? Not just alone, but at night as well? Traveling alone as a lady during the day was dangerous enough. Adding the anonymity of darkness and the danger multiplied ten-fold. Not only that, she was a Hart riding alone through MacLeod lands. Errol didn’t want to think about what would happen to her if she came upon some MacLeod men in the woods.
He made a silent plea that she was safe and hadn’t met any harm. He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if something happened to her. It didn’t matter that she was out of his care at the time.
At no point on this journey was she supposed to be anywhere but in his care. Under his guardianship. If he couldn’t manage that, her brothers and father would surely see him hang.
Noticing the trampled pine needles and crushed leaves on the ground, he was sure he’d found Moira’s trail. He frowned. It looked to him like there were two travelers. Had she met up with someone? Or mayhap she hired someone to escort her to the next destination. Nay. He didn’t believe that to be the case. Firstly, she didn’t trust easily, which was a good thing. But, secondly, she didn’t have any coin to pay anyone to escort her.
He supposed she could have promised them part of the treasure she would uncover, but after the attack they suffered previously, all in the name of those who were after the treasure, he didn’t think she would speak so freely of what her intentions were.
That left the option that someone was following her.
His heart picked up speed and he gripped the reins tighter. Moira could be in grave danger. He had to get to her fast. Driving his heels into Dubh Bàn’s side, he urged the horse to push harder.
*
He heard thethunderous pounding of hooves approaching in the distance.
The MacLeod had tracked down the Hart wench.
He growled and pulled on the reins of his horse, veering him to the right so they could hide in the shadows of the trees whilst the MacLeod rode by.
The appearance of the laird-to-be meant that he would need to cut down both of them. It wouldn’t be easy. It would be harder now thathe was joining her.
But he would figure it out.
One way or another, neither the MacLeod nor the Hart bitch would make it out of the highlands.
*
Dawn was crestingwhen Errol got his first glimpse of Moira riding her mare up ahead. He breathed a sigh of relief seeing that she was alone, and no harm had come to her.
Only the tracks of her horse could be seen on the trail. Mayhap it was only a coincidence that someone else was riding on the same route as she was earlier. Whoever it was, they were no longer here.
He slowed his horse, so the sound of its pounding hooves didn’t startle Moira and cause her to topple off her mount.
As he neared, he noticed Moira’s back stiffen. She heard him approaching. She didn’t look back, but he did watch as she leaned forward to scratch her leg, at least that was what she wanted the casual onlooker to see. He kenned better. He’d seen that move afore.
She wrapped her fingers around the hilt of her small dagger and brought it up with her, hiding it along the inseam of her arm.
Since she was aware he was there. That someone was there, he thought it best he call out to her. That way she wasn’t frightened and could set herself at ease.
“Moira,” he called out, his voice loud enough for her to hear, but not so loud that it would startle her.
Her head turned slightly to the left. Was she trying to see him out of the corner of her eye?
“Moira,” he called again. “Halt.”
