Page 101 of Under the Laird’s Promise

This. This was what she needed. Freedom and fresh air and Tavish beside her.

The waterfall appeared through the trees, its roar growing louder as they approached. Water cascaded over moss-covered rocks, crashing into a pool below that looked deep and inviting despite the morning chill.

They dismounted, tethering the horses to low branches. Maighread kicked off her boots immediately, wading into the shallows. The cold water shocked her system, but she laughed at the sensation.

"Come on," she called to Tavish. "The water's perfect."

He removed his own boots more slowly, watching her with an expression she couldn't quite name. "Perfect is nae the word I'd use fer water that cold."

"Coward."

"Practical." But he waded in anyway, hissing through his teeth as the chill hit him. "Ye’re mad, woman."

"Aye. Completely mad." She splashed him, grinning. "And ye’re stuck with me."

They swam briefly, the cold invigorating after the ride. When they emerged, dripping and shivering, Maighread led him to a flat rock warmed by the sun. They spread the food between them, eating bread and cheese while their clothes dried.

"Tell me about yer faither," Maighread said after a long stretch of comfortable silence.

Tavish went very still. "What about him?"

"The debt ye mentioned. The one ye feel ye owe me faither." She kept her voice gentle. "What happened?"

He was quiet fer so long she thought he wouldn't answer. Then he sighed, his gaze fixed on the waterfall.

"It was during a border raid. Five years ago. I was young, cocky, thought I kenned better than me commanders." His hands clenched on his knees. "There was a settlement under attack. I charged in without waiting fer reinforcements, certain I could handle it alone."

"What happened?"

"I nearly got me entire patrol killed. We were outnumbered three tae one, pinned down, about tae be slaughtered." He swallowed hard. "Yer faither arrived with his men. Drove the raiders back, saved our lives. Then he took the blame when me braither demanded tae ken who'd ordered such a reckless attack."

Maighread's chest tightened. "He protected ye."

"Aye. Said it was his decision, his failure in strategy. Fionnlagh believed him because yer faither is respected, his word trusted." Tavish's voice roughened. "But I kenned the truth. I kenned I'd failed, and he'd covered fer me. Three men died because of me arrogance, and he made certain nay one ever blamed me fer it."

She reached over, covering his hand with hers. "That's why ye came when I needed help."

"I owed him. Owed him everything." He looked at her finally, his eyes dark with old guilt. "But along the way, it stopped being about wanting tae be the man yer faither saw in me instead of the reckless fool I actually was."

"Ye are that man." She squeezed his fingers. "Ye've proven it over and over."

"Have I?"

"Aye. Me faither sees it. I see it." She moved closer, until their shoulders touched. "Ye just need tae see it yerself."

Thunder rumbled in the distance. They both looked up as dark clouds rolled across the sky, blotting out the sun.

"Storm's coming," Tavish observed.

"There's a cave near here. We can wait it out." She stood, pulling him with her. "Come on, before we get drenched."

They gathered their things quickly as the first fat drops began to fall. The cave sat tucked behind the waterfall, accessible via a narrow path carved into the rock face. Maighread led the way, her hand finding purchase on familiar holds.

Inside, the space opened into a small chamber, dry and sheltered. The roar of the waterfall echoed off stone walls, creating a constant rushing sound that drowned out the storm building outside.

Tavish shook water from his hair, looking around. "Ye kenned about this place?"

"I found it years ago. Used it as a hiding spot when I needed tae escape court lessons." She settled onto a relatively flat section of floor, patting the space beside her. "Sit. We might be here a while."