Page 18 of The Highland Heir

He couldn’t remember the last time his fatherhad actually looked at him with anything other than anger ordisappointment on his face. It was nothing but a waste of time towish for anything different.

Kieran was not the son the laird had wanted.He wasn’t the beloved result of a love match between Rolfe Sinclairand his cherished Muriel. He wasn’t Brody Sinclair.

Not for the first time, Kieran wondered whathis life might have been like if Brody had lived. He often thoughtit would have been better to have a brother with which to confidein when he was upset by his father, but he’d had Ellie forthat.

And what if his brother was more like theirfather, and he had two people who hated and resented thevery sight of him? It was much easier to think about all the wayshis life would have been made worse by having a brother.

But at times, he saw glimpses of how it mighthave been if having Brody would have kept his father’s heart fromdrying up completely. Would the laird have enjoyed having twolittle boys running around? Would he have played with them both?Would he have loved them both?

Such thoughts made no difference. Kieran wasa man now. And for the next few days at least, he would have areprieve from sitting next to his father at Girnigoe and bearinghis indifference.

“I’ll have thehorses brought round,” Teague said, shaking him from his thoughts.“Thank ye for seeing Ella safely to Kildary.”

As Kieran threw a few things into his bag, herealized how excited he was to be away from Girnigoe Castle and,more importantly, his father. But it wasn’t until they were ridingout through the gates that Kieran realized the other cause for hisdelight.

He was with Ellie. Alone.

It was almost insulting that no one suggestedothers join their party for propriety’s sake at least. No one elsewould be needed to protect Ellie. Teague knew Kieran was a fiercewarrior and would give his last drop of blood in defense of thechief’s daughter. But didn’t anyone care about Ellie’sreputation?

It was not even questioned that an unmarriedwoman was traveling alone with an unmarried man.

Whether it was a compliment to his honor oran insult to her appeal, he couldn’t say. He imagined it was morethat everyone assumed they held no attraction for one another.

He looked over at her, with her long, sablehair flowing over her back and a smile on her face, and wondered ifshe held any attraction for him.

For he had noted her beauty on manyoccasions. Especially of late, despite his attempts to keep suchunwelcome thoughts away.

He would never act upon it. Not just becausehe was betrothed to someone else and could not offer marriage aftersuch a thing. But he respected her too much for a dalliance, and heknew they could not be anything more than friends. While notlowborn, she was not considered worthy of a laird’s heir.

It was ridiculous for anyone to think himbetter in any way. She was smart and compassionate. In fact,everything honorable about him had come about from being herfriend. He was certain of it.

That line between them had been there alltheir lives. Silently lurking. They may have pretended it didn’texist, but it remained. He feared one day soon that line betweenthem would rise up and become a wall.

That would be a sad day indeed.

*

Despite Ella’s worry for her aunt, she hadbeen excited about the trip to Kildary since the moment her fatherhad told her Kieran would escort her.

After reading Jenny’s letter for herself,Ella was even less worried for her sturdy aunt. It seemed Jennymentioned having an ague that had kept her resting rather thangoing to the Ross games at the castle.

Knowing Jenny as Ella did, she may haveexaggerated the illness to get out of the festivities.

Of course, Ella said nothing of this to herfather because she enjoyed visiting her aunt. And she surelywouldn’t mind spending time alone with Kieran either.

As they rode out of the castle gates, shewondered if this would be the last time she and Kieran would betogether like this.

While no one batted an eye that he wouldescort her alone, it wouldn’t be acceptable after he was wed. Notthat Ella imagined he’d be available for such things. No doubt hisnew wife would keep him wrapped up tight in her bed.

Ella certainly would.

She felt her cheeks turn warm at the thought,the memories from her dreams coming unbidden to her mind. Sheglanced over at the man next to her. She saw her best friend. Andwhen he smiled, she saw the boy she’d grown up with. But he was nolonger a boy.

He was a warrior if she’d ever seen one, withmuscles along his arms that twitched from the smallest movement ashe adjusted the reins or brushed back a lock of his overlongmidnight hair.

“Why are you staring? Has a bird shite on myback again?” he asked, scrunching up his nose in disgust. God saveher, the man was even enticing when he spoke of bird shite.

Her lust was fortunately replaced withlaughter at the memory. Even if only momentarily.