The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,40

I’ll tell you all about it, but first I need to get you back to your sister.”

“Where is she?” She stepped out of his arms and gathered the last of her things while he took her saddlebag out to tie it to his horse. When he returned, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her out to his horse.

“Thorn,” she giggled. “I’m quite capable of walking.”

“The snow is too deep for your tender feet. I don’t want them to get any colder than they already are. You can tell me everything once we get back to Cameron keep, where she and Derric are waiting for us. I’ll set you directly in front of the warm hearth.”

He got her settled on his horse and climbed up behind her.

“Don’t worry, lass. I’ll keep you warm until then.”

She couldn’t have asked for anything more. Her grandparents had saved her, the man she loved had found her, and now she was to be married.

Thorn did a fine job leading them back across Cameron land, the sunbeams striking the landscape, making it sparkle and shine. “Thorn, isn’t it beautiful? With the sun out, the snow sparkles like diamonds. I’ve never seen it more stunning. This has turned out to be a most wondrous day. One I’ll never forget, and to think…it happened away from Grant land.” Perhaps she could convince herself to let go of her old fears.

Especially now that she knew she had two special angels watching over her. She couldn’t wait to tell Thorn all about it.

“The only thing more beautiful is you, lass. I thought I’d lost you.”

“So now please tell me. Where did you go?”

He heaved a weary sigh. “When I saw the pain your mother was in, I left because the guilt was too much for me to bear, but then I decided to look for my sire and return after Yule. I intended to send a messenger back, but a gang of reivers set on me and made me take them to Lochluin Abbey to steal coin for them.”

“Oh, Thorn. How awful. How did you get away?” She watched him over her shoulder, knowing from the clench of his jaw that there was more emotion involved in this story than he’d admitted. But she’d give him the time to tell her what had happened at his own pace.

“Oddly enough, I met my sire there. He’s been working in the abbey for some time now. He’s nearly blind, and he thought working for the nuns would make up for leaving me. He wasn’t able to come back to Edinburgh for several years, so he believed Nari and I were dead. But I’m glad I found him. I offered him a home at Clan Grant, but he declined and I promised to return in the spring or summer. My sire and I got rid of the reivers, so they’ll not bother us again.”

“Should I ask?”

“Nay, the important part of the story is that I found my sire and he wishes us well. Now, more than ever, I’m eager to make you my wife. He helped me understand life in a new way. It made me realize that sometimes things happen for unexpected reasons.”

She stared at him, wide-eyed. “I think you are correct.” She thought about what her grandparents had told her, about the nudge they’d given Thorn.

“I regret that I ran from you. It wasn’t my bravest moment, but if I hadn’t ridden off, I never would have found my sire. I may not have realized just how much you mean to me, lass. And naught is more important than that…than you.” He kissed her cheek.

Claray leaned back against him, and his arm wrapped around her, his closeness soothing her in a way she couldn’t explain. Had she ever been happier than she was at this moment?

She thought not.

When they reached Cameron keep, Thorn took Claray directly up the shoveled path to the keep, knowing the snow was too deep for her to navigate. As soon as they arrived, Dyna opened the door and raced outside, a squeal coming from her. “Claray, are you hale? I was so worried about you, but Grandmama came to me in a dream and told me you were fine, and I was going to come after you anyway, but Derric made me wait, and I was so hoping Thorn would find you…”

Claray couldn’t help but laugh at her sister’s exuberance. “I’ve never heard you talk so much, Dyna. I am fine, and I’ve never been