The Highlander Who Stole Christmas - Eliza Knight Page 0,6

help.”

The lad glanced down at the coin in his hand, and Thane could practically see the thoughts about what he’d spend it on popping from his mind.

Outside of the barn, Thane took Sarah’s satchel and attached it to his saddle.

“Wait.” She touched his arm, and he ignored the frisson of heat that shot through him. “I need my cloak so that no one will see me.”

This was ludicrous. She was actually helping him abduct her. This chore could not have been any easier. He was a little disappointed.

“Good idea.” With his mount blocking him from the crowd in the bailey, he tossed the beard and wig, took off the red jacket, hanging it on the trough and then put on his own cloak.

A few minutes later, they were riding outside of the gates with no one the wiser that Father Christmas had just stolen the best prize of all.

Chapter Three

Though the snowfall had ebbed before Thane arrived on Campbell lands, the storm had steadily picked up since they’d ridden away the night before. Save for a few short breaks to rest Destiny and relieve themselves, they’d ridden through the night. At times Sarah was alert, leaning away from him, and at other times her body sagged against him.

He’d pulled her onto his lap and given her the extra blanket he had, and she’d buried herself inside of it so much that he could barely see her. If not for the weight of her body against him and the unintelligible words he could hear her murmur in her sleep, he might not have known she was even there.

They were at least another day’s ride from his holding south of Inverness, but with exhaustion setting in along with the renewed storm on this Christmas morning, they had nothing for it save to stop at the same place he’d stayed the night before on his way to Campbell lands—Balthazar’s.

Good God, it had been a mess…But at least no one would come looking for them there.

All through the night with Sarah on his lap, he’d followed the same northern star, keeping him on the right path. The lass had been quiet, thankfully, because he’d not wanted to talk, but rather concentrate on the horrible weather and the road ahead. Not to mention any sounds from behind them.

If no one had realized she was gone the night before, they’d certainly be noticing now with the sun rising on the horizon. Christmas morning, the lass would have been expected to wed, or at the very least, woken in her own bed and joined her clan for breakfast.

Knowing that he had many hours lead and the storm to protect them, a stopover at Balthazar’s, though it seemed a risky move, would not be as dangerous for them.

“Are ye awake, lass?” he asked.

She stirred in his arms, stretching her arms out and then tucking herself quickly back into the blanket. “Aye. Where are we?”

Thane glanced toward the smoke curling into the sky just ahead, his stomach souring. This was the last place he wanted to be. Well, not the last—that would be Campbells’s dungeon. “Balthazar’s Tavern.”

“Well, this will be a new Christmas adventure.” There was a bit of excitement in her tone that he found alarming.

“Nay, lass. ’Tis no’ that kind of place. We’ll need to be on our guard. Dinna mention your name,” he warned. “And I’m no’ a Shaw while we’re here, and ye’re no’ a Campbell, understand?”

Sarah stiffened in his arms. “Who might ye be, then?”

“Munros. Headed home from the clan wedding of our cousins near Lindsay lands.”

“All right…Is there a reason ye’ve named clans who fought with the dragoons at Culloden?” She sat up a little farther, her bottom rubbing against his thighs.

Thane groaned at her movement. “Aye, we’re headed into the snake pit.”

“Oh,” she breathed out, the excitement gone from her voice. There was a long pause, and he could practically hear the questions racking up in her mind. “And are we brother and sister for this journey?”

“Nay.” He clamped his mouth closed, shifting a little farther back on his saddle. “Ye’re my wife. Then none of the bastards will see fit to mess with ye.”

“That kind of a crowd, eh?”

“The patrons of Balthazar’s fought on the other side of the battlefield, lass. And they are no’…friends of ours. They are rough about the edges. But stick with me, and ye’ll be safe.”

“Oh.” There was fear and sadness in her sigh.

“We’ll stay only as long as the weather demands,” he said.

She nodded, the