astride, their skirts made full enough for discretion.
Having said their farewells on the island, they mounted quickly.
Fin had not ridden a garron in years and recalled Rothesay’s description of riding such a horse. His feet seemed awkwardly close to the ground, but garrons were strong and could carry weights greater than his with ease.
After setting out on the trail that he and Catriona had followed to the loch’s outflow, they rode only a short way before they saw a half-dozen men striding toward them. All carried swords and dirks.
Toby Muir said, “Master, that be the gallous young slink that lost his sword tae ye the day we met ye and her ladyship just yonder.”
“Rory Comyn,” Catriona said at the same time. “What is he doing here?”
“I can guess,” James said. “We heard that he and other Comyns have been casting threats about and saying that he’d have you for his wife before the month is out. We ignored them, suspecting that Granddad had other plans.” He looked at Fin.
“Well, he means to make a nuisance of himself now,” Catriona said.
“Wait and see, lass,” Fin said. “We are too many for them to stir mischief.”
“Sakes, sir, all six of them are armed. And although our party is larger, our gillies carry just dirks. You, James, and Ian are the only well-armed men with us.”
“I’m here, too, m’lady,” Toby said indignantly. “And yon other lad, as well,” he added, gesturing to James’s equerry.
“So you are,” Catriona said. But Fin could see that she still believed that if the six Comyn men attacked, the Comyns would win.
He did not think that they would attack. Glancing back, he saw that the boatmen were still within call. Also, the six men approaching looked purposeful rather than dangerous.
Knowing that the garron would be of no use to him, he told Catriona to stay on hers and swung his leg over to dismount. He saw James and Ian do the same. But he did not notice until Catriona strode ahead of them that she had also dismounted.
He opened his mouth to call her to order just as she said, “Good morrow, Rory Comyn. ’Twas thoughtful of you and these others to come and bid me well.”
Fin shut his mouth when, except for their redheaded leader, the other Comyns halted. Rory took a few more steps toward Catriona, but after a glance at Fin and another at James, he stopped before he got too close to her.
“What be this, then?” he demanded. “Why should I wish ye well, lass?”
“Because I am now a married woman, sir,” she said with a smile. “As I ken fine that you had some thought of taking me to wife, I think it was kind of you to come all this way to help us celebrate the day.”
“I heard nowt o’ this,” he muttered, frowning at Fin. Then he looked more measuringly at James, Ian, and the others behind them.
Taking his cue from Catriona, Fin moved to extend a hand to Comyn, saying, “I can understand your vexation. I’d be wroth if you had been before me, too.”
“Aye, well, I were before ye, and I’ll be after ye, come to that,” Comyn growled, ignoring Fin’s outstretched hand. Looking at Catriona, he said, “So, ye be celebrating the day. D’ye mean to say the event has only just taken place, then?”
“Hours ago,” she said, nodding. “And a fine day it is for a wedding, too.”
“There will be a reckoning for such betrayal, lass. The Mackintosh—aye, and your da, too—knew I wanted to speak more wi’ them. Yet they put me off. I came here today to make that plain to them and demand that we continue our talks.”
“There were no true nego—” Catriona broke off when Fin put a hand to her arm. She glanced at him, clearly eager to challenge Comyn’s words.
Aware that the man had talked himself into a temper that would seethe into fury before long, Fin said, “Gently, my lady. One can see that he believed that your kinsmen were still considering his suit. Forbye, when we met him before, you told me that they were. Sakes, any man would be irked by such treatment.”
“Aye, anyone would,” Comyn agreed. “But dinna think to cozen me into friendship wi’ such words, because I’ll see ye dead first.”
“Mayhap you will, Comyn,” Fin replied calmly. “But not today. The guards yonder at the castle will have noted your presence. They will likewise be eager to discuss your unwelcome presence further if you do