A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,72

only representatives. The Gunns and Oliphants were at each other’s throats, so Nelson would consider Edgar’s death as a gift to Liam and his clan. Money and women were what kept them civil to one another at court.

“Aye, I’ll ride with you. The Gunns have no love lost with the Rosses.” Edgar raised his mug and toasted his pledge.

“MacBain?” Matthew looked at the last man to speak.

“I’m in.” Stephen sounded the least confident, but he’d placed one of the highest wagers.

“Then we ride out before dawn. Campbell will have stuck to the roads for her sake. We ride over land to catch them.” Nelson was pleased by the sound of authority in his voice.

“You still haven’t told us what you plan to do once we catch them.” Stephen narrowed his eyes, doubt niggling at him. His clan had barely recovered from their encounter with the Camerons. Lady Cameron was Lady Sutherland’s daughter, which made her Laurel’s cousin. The women were hardly close, but they shared blood. The last thing the MacBains needed were the four strongest clans in the northern Highlands descending upon them, and Magnus’s glare reminded him that his own clan would be forced to face the Rosses, Sutherlands, Camerons, Sinclairs, and Mackays.

“Don’t forget she’s Lady MacLeod’s cousin too,” Magnus whispered to Stephen. “Do you want them on your doorstep too?”

Stephen considered his options. He’d committed to Nelson, and he didn’t trust the man not to stab him in his sleep. But he didn’t need to start a feud on behalf of his clan, nor did he think he’d survive his uncle if he turned up at home to announce the six mighty clans were chasing him. He nodded to Magnus. He would ride with Nelson, but the first opportunity he had to leave the group, he would.

“Be ready to leave an hour before sunrise.” Nelson put coins on the table and rose. Matthew followed him, grinning at Edgar and Stephen before he and his brother left.

“We’re deep in the shite now,” Stephen muttered.

“Nay. But we will be deep in the coin,” Edgar countered.

“But everyone wagered Campbell would fail. How can you think that you’ll win aught?” Magnus knew he would lose money since he’d betted that Brodie wouldn’t woo Laurel.

“Because we adjusted the wager to how long their marriage would last. We never stipulated how it would end,” Edgar reminded the men who remained.

“You’re a fool, Gunn.” Magnus rose. He only tolerated Laird Gunn at court to keep up appearances that their truce held. If they’d been in the true Highlands, they would have already drawn swords days earlier. Magnus would ride for Varrich and warn his cousin, but he knew he would reach home days after whatever happened. He walked out of the tavern with Seamus. “My men and I leave as soon as I return to the keep. You’d do well to leave too, lest you wish to die in your sleep tonight. MacDougall won’t risk us informing the Bruce or Campbell.”

“Aye. That’s why I head to the keep now. We’d be safer if we rode together until I turn west.”

“Aye.” Both men hurried back to Stirling Castle, not casting a backwards glance at the town. The Mackenzie and Mackay contingencies rode out within fifteen minutes, putting as much distance between them and Stirling as they could despite the dark.

Twenty-Two

Laurel gazed at the stars as Brodie snored softly beside her. She knew she should be asleep, but it was her first night sleeping in the open in months. She’d traveled with the royal couple on summer progress each year the journey happened, but she’d always slept in a tent with at least four other ladies. This was the first time since her last trip to Balnagown that she lay out in the open. She imagined how the stars came to be, God placing each one. She picked out shapes by connecting the pinpricks of light. They’d made camp near a pine forest, and the heavy scent filled the air. It reminded her of how Brodie smelled after he bathed. She nestled closer to him, and he tightened his arm around her.

“Cold?” Brodie whispered.

“It’s all right.” Laurel patted the muscular arm around her waist.

“Can ye nae sleep?”

“I’m enjoying the stars too much.”

“Ye ken they’ll be there in four more nights when ye can watch them from our bed.” Brodie yawned as he drew Laurel as close as he could, his heat almost stifling her. He’d opted for taking a longer route back to Kilchurn, but it