Page 7 of Highlander’s Dangerous Love

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There is nothing quite like the fresh air of the forest to lift the spirits. Not that Colin particularly needed his own spirits lifted — he was generally a rather easy-going man. Bryce, however, was more high-strung. He needed constant external stimulation or he became restless and grouchy. Lately, he was becoming more and more preoccupied with his duties as son of the laird. Sometimes it was hours of poring over paperwork from tenant farmers, merchants, and noblemen, which Bryce found exceedingly boring and frustrating. Hence the hunting expedition. Colin had decided it was beneficial to all that he, Bryce, and some of the other men go out hunting. It would bring food to the castle and let the men blow off some steam. When Colin had presented these reasons to Bryce, the latter had joked that he ought to make Colin a diplomatic advisor when it came time for him to be laird. Colin did not hate the idea.

Right now, the conversation had turned far away from diplomacy and tenant farmers as they rode on horseback through the forest. Many of the men were discussing the lasses they found pretty at the celebration a few days prior. Some were more gentlemanly about it than others, but it was amusing to see who liked whom.

“Any lass catch yer eye then, Bryce?” Colin asked, his voice jovial.

“Oh, aye. Plenty. We’re fortunate tae live in a place with so many bonny faces.”

“Has his lairdship said anything about marriage again?”

Bryce sighed deeply. It was his personal opinion that he was too young for marriage, being only twenty-one, but his political position and birth rank dictated that he make a good match as soon as he could. And he definitely could — he’d bedded his fair share of lasses at the tavern. None of them were worthy of being the wife of a laird, though. It wasn’t rude to say that; there was a certain caliber of woman that was suitable for such a role, and a mere tavern wench was not it.

“Aye. Wants me tae find someone as soon as possible.”

“He’s a healthy man, is he not?” Colin asked.

“Aye, but he grows older by the day. His eyesight isnae what it used tae be. Soon he’ll not be able tae read anythin’, and he claims that’s when he’ll pass the lairdship on tae me.”

“An’ he wants ye to have a wife ‘afore then,” Colin pieced together.

“Indeed. So there’ll be lots of feasts this summer. I expect we’ll find ye a wife as well,” Bryce said with a wink.

“Och, I dinnae ken aboot that,” Colin said, even though he knew exactly whom he wanted to marry when the time was right.

They rode side by side together in silence, the voices of the others just background noise in the grand forest. It was right lovely in summer — everything was lush and green and alive. Birds chirped in the trees, small animals rustled in the shrubs underfoot, and the sun broke through the foliage brilliantly. It was impossible to feel bad on a day like this.

“Have ye set yer cap at anyone?” Colin asked again. The thought of marriage was still fresh on his mind, especially after the kiss he’d shared with Gemma in the corridor only a few days ago.

“I have indeed. An’ when the time is right, I’ll ask her father an’ make preparations.”

“Who, then?”

“Only the bonniest of lasses for me, young Colin. Gemma Gordon shall be my wife.”

Well, that was unexpected. Now the beauty of the forest that Colin had been admiring earlier seemed dark and dangerous. It was no longer a pretty day at all. Bryce’s words hit him like a stone to the gut — a feeling he’d unfortunately felt before. Had Gemma shown him any genuine interest? Were they seeing each other in secret? Were they courting all this time and Colin had been too blind to see it? He felt a little dizzy and gripped the reins of the horse just a tad too tight. His nails left crescent shaped-marks in the meaty palm of his hand.

“I see,” was all he could manage to say.

“I havenae asked her nor her father yet, but I’m sure she’ll say aye. She’s a kind and obliging woman. A lairdship is nothin’ tae scoff at,” Bryce continued.

All of those things were true — that Gemma was kind and that a lairdship would afford her great opportunities.

But he didn’t want it to be true.

Colin’s sudden silence and sullen manner seemed to make Bryce uneasy.

“Hey, what’s got tae ye?” He asked, looking over at Colin with a quizzical expression.

“Stomachache,” was all Colin could think to say.

If Bryce did not believe him, he did not show it. At any rate, there was not much time for either of them to assess one another’s behavior, as Bryce’s horse began to buck and panic.

“Woah there lass, what’s the matter?” Bryce asked, patting the mare’s neck. The poor beast neighed and whinnied, kicking up her front feet, and Colin could see that her eyes were wide with fright. He scanned the surrounding area to find out what had caused the horse to act so, but saw nothing. Still, the animal was obviously upset, and animal senses were often much finer and more particular than human senses. She only continued to whinny and buck, with more and more force each time.

Bryce looked thoroughly worried as well, but he still tried to calm his beast. Then suddenly, the horse rose on two legs, completely throwing Bryce off. Colin’s attention was divided; he was concerned for Bryce, who fell rather hard on the dirt, but he now finally saw what the problem was. A snake had crossed the path in front of them. It was clearly just a small garden snake, and meant no harm, but the movement and scent of it must have frightened the horse. Colin’s own horse did not think twice of it, though he could tell his own animal was a little agitated at the whole ordeal. Bryce’s mare took off in the opposite direction, headed back to the castle.

The others in the hunting party had stopped after hearing Bryce’s horse, and called back to see what was the matter.