Page 11 of A Highlander's Vow

Chapter Five

Megan had stillnot recovered from her escape, and after riding hard and fast for many miles her heart was still thumping and her stomach cramped. She kept turning back waiting for Anthony and his crowd to come after them.

On the other hand, the way things were in the keep since Anthony had taken over after the old laird had died, no one would be sober enough to even know she was missing until well into the morning.

That also made her wonder why Anthony had said they were to leave at first light. She was certain the man hadn’t seen first light since he’d been a lad.

“What are ye looking for, lass?” Gregory said as he dropped back from the front of the group to ride alongside her.

“Anthony, or The Gunn. I just doona believe I was able to get away from them so easily.” She was tired from lack of sleep and growing sore from riding so hard and fast. The horse they’d stolen from the Sinclair keep was not the best one there.

“One of my men are about a mile behind us to watch for anyone coming after us. Ye need no’ be concerned. I will take care of ye. No one will take ye away from me.”

She wondered what he meant by that. They still had not settled the matter of her marrying him. She felt a need to honor Robert’s request, but she was tired of men telling her who she should spend therest of her life with.

First at a mere seventeen years she’d been sent to Robert, then before Robert was barely in his grave, Anthony had ordered that she marry The Gunn, and then Gregory Mackenzie showed up with a very old note about him marrying her.

All these things were wearing her down, and she noticed Gregory glancing at her from time to time. She sighed, not wanting to ask Gregory to stop for a break, but she would be forced to soon.

Almost as if he read her mind, he turned to her and said, “I think we will stop for a short while to give the horses a rest and a chance to drink.” He waved in the direction in front of them to the east side. “There is a creek beyond the trees there.”

He turned back to the other men. “We will stop here for a short break.”

By their surprised expressions, they apparently were not used to breaks after such a short time, but she was grateful for Gregory’s consideration.

He walked over to her horse and lifted her off. She got a strange feeling where his warm hands touched her. She looked at Gregory when he set her on the ground, and he studied her in an odd way.

She shook her head and turned to walk to the creek, but stumbled between the pain in her ankle and also where the inside of her legs had rubbed against the horse. Her entire miserable life from the past few weeks seemed to catch up with her. Tears came to her eyes and she tried very hard to wipe them before Gregory noticed.

Apparently, she had not been discreet enough because he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his body. “I’m sorry ye have to go through this. If there was an easier way to get ye to Castle Leod, I would do it, but I am certain either Anthony or The Gunn or both will come after us.”

She shivered, thinking about the life she would lead if The Gunn did end up catching them.

Gregory smiled down at her as she hobbled along to the creek. “I can hear yer thoughts, Megan. Doona concern yerself with being caught.” He turned her to him and face to face said, “Robert and I made that vow. I’ve never broken a vow in my life. Ye are safe. Believe that and trust me.”

*

As they madetheir way to the creek carefully in the dark, Gregory thought about what the lass had been through. They hadn’t spoken enough to know what kind of marriage she’d had, what sort of husband Robert had been. Did her experience with marriage to Robert have to do with the reason she seemed so reluctant to marry again?

He took his time helping Megan to the creek. “I think if ye sit near the edge of the water and put yer sore foot in there, the coldness might help the pain.”

If there was any coolness to be had,hecertainly couldn’t find it. Her soft, warm body, with the feel of all her curves against him was certainly not lowering his temperature.

Megan’s scent of lavender and something else sweet reached his nose as he helped her settle on the ground, her sore foot free of stockings and shoe.

“With the sun rising, we’re going to have to pick up our pace. I have every reason to believe Anthony and The Gunn are getting ready to ride now. Once ye’ve had enough time to ease yer foot, we’ll have to go.”

Megan’s face turned a bright red. “I…um…” She cleared her throat. She lowered her head and spoke to her lap. “That is, there is something…”

Almost as if he’d been hit on the head, he realized her need to find a place to take care of her personal necessities. He looked around and spotted a small area with bushes, almost creating a shelter. He wavedin that direction. “Ye can use the space over there.”

She nodded and started to get up, her face reflecting the pain in her foot. “I think I will give ye my horse when we start up again. I suggest ye take my horse, Apex. He’s a good horse who likes to work with his rider and not fight him. Then ye can sit easily and enjoy the ride, not spend yer time trying to get yer horse moving.”

She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He reached out and helped her up and after picking up her stocking and shoe, gave up on watching her hobble and swung her into his arms.

“What are ye doing? Put me down.”

He grinned at her red face and obvious agitation. “’Tis fine, lass. I hate to see ye in pain.”