“I’ll be fine. I promise. Five-day horse ride will be fine. With all the renovations I’ve done in my life, I think it’s safe to say I’ve done worse.”
She had not done worse. In fact, the pain in her legs and her bottom could very well be the worst hurt she’d ever experienced in her life. The first day of travel had gone well, and though when she’d jumped down from her mare to eat it had taken a few steps and stretching to feel herself again, it hadn’t been so bad.
But by end of day two, her inner thighs had started to rub against the saddle, even though she’d worn trews under her dress. Not only that, her bottom was so numb that she wondered if it had fallen off.
And no matter how much she rubbed it, or walked about when they stopped, nothing helped. It also didn’t help that the few armed men that accompanied her seemed quite amused by her unfortunate circumstances. Kenzie was positive they’d taken the long way round to Castle Ross and were spending less time on breaks. No doubt taking pleasure from her pain.
Damn Highlanders.
By day five, the outer lands of Castle Ross could not come soon enough. They rested the horses beside a slow flowing river, and Kenzie took the opportunity to wash her face and freshen up as much as she could. The thought of a warm soaking bath made her get the men going sooner than they probably wanted, but Kenzie had had enough. If she ever sat on another horse it would be too soon. If only she had her car, she would’ve been at Castle Ross within a few hours.
Her first glimpse of Castle Ross was nothing like she expected. It sat on a picturesque outcrop of land beside a loch. One single road led toward the castle, and the greenest land circled the building like a protective screen from the waters below. Kenzie pulled her horse to a stop, taking in the castle’s magnificence. In her own time, she’d only seen the ruins of this great home. To see it in its full glory—chimneys with smoke puffing out, windows twinkling in the afternoon sun, people milling about outside, going about their jobs—was amazing.
As they came closer, the structure became more imposing. She had always tried to imagine the castle as it once was, but with only a few walls remaining, and even those broken and crumbling with age, it was hard to tell just how large the home had once been.
Seeing it now was awe-inspiring. Castle Ross was, in one word, stunning.
“They’ve seen us,” one of her guards shouted.
Kenzie tore her gaze from the many turrets and windows of the castle, to the men who had come out from the entrance gate and were blocking their way.
They rode up to them, and seeing that her guards dismounted, Kenzie did the same, trying to stem the niggling bite of fear that trembled in her stomach that they might be seen as a threat. All would be well once they understood she was a friend of Laird Ross.
“What’s ye business with the Laird Ross this day?”
An imposing guard, with shoulders the size of a heavyweight boxer, stepped in front of the other men, crossing his arms over his chest. Kenzie couldn’t stop looking at the size of his muscles until one of her own men cleared his throat.
“I’m a relative of Gwendolyn Macleod and friend to Laird Ross. I’ve traveled here to speak with your laird.”
“Ye’re English.” The question was more like a statement that left a bitter taste in the man’s mouth.
Kenzie raised her chin, not about to let this man treat her with disrespect. “And Scottish, not that it is any concern of yours. Now, if you please, would you inform your laird of my arrival and let him choose if where I grew up affects our friendship.”
The man’s gaze narrowed on her, but a flicker of respect entered his brown orbs and some of Kenzie’s trepidation dissipated.
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take ye to our laird.”
When all of them started to follow, the guard stopped, pointing at her men. “Just the lady. Ye men stay here until our laird deems it safe.”
Kenzie turned to face her guards. “These are Gwendolyn MacLeod and Sir Braxton’s men. They are not a threat.”
“Even so, our laird will be the decider on that.”
She frowned, not wanting to leave the men who’d kept her safe for the past five days out