Page 53 of A Highlander's Vow

Chapter Twenty-Three

Gregory spent histime thinking about his marriage and leaning against the doorway of the abandoned bothy they had found to avoid the rain. He was still quite surprised that he was indeed married. Had he known how satisfying it could be, he might have not been so against it.

Except not every lass was Megan. He had to smile when images of his wife flashed before him as she had settled in Castle Leod. She and Beth had seemed to get along well, which was very important since she was the laird’s wife.

Megan also seemed interested in helping Emma with ill clan members.

Megan had also gone from a nervous, reluctant bed partner to an enthusiastic one. He felt his cods stiffen as he thought about how, given his marriage was begun in an unusual way, it had turned out quite well.

“Ye better get some sleep, Mackenzie, instead of pinning after yer wife.” Luke grinned at him as he rolled over.

As much as Gregory wanted to lash out at the man, ’twas true he was thinking about Megan. About missing her. Caring for her. Protecting her.

And loving her.

The next morning Gregory was up and ready to be on their way,kicking the men on the feet to get moving. If they rode hard all day today, despite the rough terrain in front of them, they should reach the outskirts of Edinburgh by the end of the next day.

He’d really thought he would have caught up to Sinclair and his group by now, and was beginning to become anxious that perhaps the man had not brought Megan to Edinburgh, and he would never see her again.

Then he shook himself. The Gunn was laird of his clan and it was not likely that his determination to steal his wife would include actually leaving the country.

After a breakfast of food they’d gotten in the last village, wandering off their path for a while, they rode. Hard and fast.

A few hours passed and they came across an inn. Since Gregory was anxious for a hot meal, he held up his arm for the men to stop. “A good hot meal will hold us until we reach Edinburgh. And the horses could use some food and a good rub down.”

They left their horses in the stable and entered the inn. A man was behind the counter at the end of the room. “Do ye wish a room for the night?”

“Nay,” Gregory said. “Just a good, hot meal and then we must get back on our horses.”

The man nodded and the five of them took a seat at a table. The innkeeper brought them each an ale, and shortly after that a woman who apparently was his wife entered the room with a trayful of steaming bowls and bread. Gregory licked his lips. She laid the food down and put two loaves of still-warm bread on the table.

She paused for a moment and studied him, but then walked off.

“She’s a bit old for ye, Gregory,” Ethan said with a grin.

Gregory grunted and dug into his food. I didn’t matter to him how old any lass was. All he wanted was his Megan.

They ate in silence and all requested a second helping. Once their appetites were satisfied the woman returned to the table, her handsclasped at her abundant waist. “Would ye like some tea?”

They all shook their heads. Gregory said, “Ye can bring us another round of ale and then we must be off.”

Again she hesitated and studied him for a minute. “Are ye headed to Edinburgh?”

Gregory leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Aye.”

She fumbled with her hands for a few minutes, and he said, “Out with it, lass. Ye’ve been trying verra hard to no’ say something to me since I arrived.”

She reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a necklace.

Gregory leaned forward and took the necklace from her hand. Looking up at the woman, he said, “Where did ye get this?”

“It depends. What is ye name?”

“Gregory Mackenzie of Castle Leod.”

A bright smile broke out on her flushed face. “I am Mrs. Bruce, wife to Marcus Bruce, the owner of this inn. A lass named Megan Mackenzie gave this to me and said to watch for ye. She is headed to the king in Edinburgh with men she doesna want to be with.”

Gregory broke into a sweat as he looked at his mother’s necklace that he’d given to Megan after their wedding ceremony. It meant a great deal to him and to Megan, so he knew she would only give it to this woman if she was in dire straits.