Page 23 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Nine

Lorenaturnedoverandautomatically reached for Craig.Only empty space.Then she remembered they were camping, and he slept outside so she and Edith could have the tent.

One more point in his favor that she didn’t want.

She lay flat on her back and stared at the tent ceiling.Another long day of riding was ahead of her.Once she arrived at Dun Ugadale, she would never leave again.That got her to think about something she’d not considered before.

Robin MacKay, the laird of MacKay Clan of Dun Ugadale had been betrothed to marry her, and stepped back letting his brother take his place so he could marry Helena Ross.Lorena had been a tad insulted but since she had no interest in the man, anyway, it hadn’t lasted long.

One unwanted husband was as good as any other unwanted husband.

Now she would be required to live with Helena MacKay.Would the laird’s wife resent her?Would she feel sorry for her?She didn’t want either one.Not since her mam died had Lorena lived with another woman.

There had certainly been maids and servants in both Clyth Castle and Avery’s home, but they were not women she would have become friends with.What would it be like living with another woman?What did they do during the day?To keep herself busy, she’d oftentimes worked in the kitchen so she was able to cook more than most laird’s daughters could.

‘Twould be a different life, for certe.

She then realized while she’d been busy with her thoughts, she’d been listening to the men as they prepared for the day.She looked over at Edith who was still sound asleep.She called to the maid, and she slowly opened her eyes.“Good morn, mistress.”

“I hear the men up and about.We should probably dress.I’m sure my husband will be here soon to make sure we are ready to go.”

As if her words had summoned him, his deep voice sounded from outside the tent.“Lass, ‘tis time to get up.We’ll be leaving as soon as we have something to eat.”

“Aye.”

They used the leftover water from the night before to wash their face and clean their teeth.Edith rolled up the bedding and they left the tent.Men were scurrying about, preparing for the day’s ride.

Lorena wandered over to the man who was cooking the oatcakes.She wrinkled her nose at the smell.They were obviously burned.She knelt next to him.“Do ye like cooking, Thomas?”

The guardsman shook his head.“Nay.Now were I cooking a plump pheasant or rabbit o’er the fire, I’d do all right, but these oatcakes always turn out bad enough that the men complain.”

“Do ye want me to take o’er?”

Thomas smiled at her as if she had promised him a kettle of gold.“Aye.‘Twould be wonderful.I could help get us packed up.”

Shortly, she had a stack of golden oatcakes on a plate.She wished she had butter and honey to go with it and chastised herself for not involving herself in the packing of the food for the trip.

“It appears someone kens how to cook and ne’er said so.”Craig wrapped his arms around her from behind.She glanced over her shoulder, finding it hard to rebuff him.His hair was wet, obviously having taken a bath in the creek.She reached down and took an oatcake from the plate and placed it near his mouth.

The look in his eyes was enough to bring flutters to her stomach like the ones she’d had when they had been making love.He took a bite of the oatcake and licked her finger.Her tiny flutters became a full windstorm.“Did ye sleep well?”He asked, pulling her closer.

Lorena nodded and licked her lips, causing Craig to moan.

“Are ye finished toying with each other, so the rest of us can eat and head out?”Giles watched them with mirth in his eyes.

They separated quickly, and Lorena headed back to the tent.She took a deep breath and tried to get herself under control.‘Twould not be good to let something like that happen again.The connection she’d felt with her husband was unwanted.

It didn’t take long for the men to devour the oatcakes and leftover cold meat from the day before.Before she knew it, the tent had been taken down and the horses were all packed.Craig walked up to her, the warmth in his eyes from before still there.“Do ye wish to ride with me today?”

She sniffed and raised her chin.“Nay.I feel quite well.”She swept past him to her horse.Before she could move, Giles grabbed her around her waist and lifted her to the horse.“Craig is a good person, ye ken?”

Lorena gave him a quick nod.The last thing she needed was outsiders watching them and commenting to her about her ‘wonderful’ husband.

With a signal from Craig, they all moved forward.

The ride was not as unpleasant as the day before, but still tedious.She found it difficult to sit still for long, always a problem for her.She’d received more than one smack in the face for what David had claimed was her inattention to what he was telling her to do.

‘Twas growing close to the time when she hoped Craig was about to stop, because if not, she would be forced to ask him.She shouldn’t have drunk so much of that wonderful creek water.She turned to see where Craig was when an arrow came flying past her.