The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,41

happier. Thank you for helping me.”

Thorn helped her down and a stable lad came for their horse.

Dyna hugged her quickly, and Claray’s first thought was that her sister must love her quite a bit to carry on so. That thought warmed her heart very much. Once inside, they were greeted by so many loved ones, including her Ramsay aunts and uncles, that Claray thought her heart would burst.

But she wouldn’t settle, not completely, until she saw her mother and knew she was well. After Thorn got her seated comfortably in a chair by the hearth, she turned toward the group and asked, “How long before we can travel?”

Derric said, “We’ll have to patrol a bit and see how deep the snow is. Alasdair and Els will go with me.” The two nodded in unison behind him, but then they hesitated when Aedan held his hand up.

Aedan came down the staircase and said, “On the morrow.”

“You’re certain of that?” Dyna asked. “Why so sure of yourself?”

Aedan didn’t say much, just said, “Another dream. Alex said we’re to leave on the morrow. Brin, Tara, and Riley, you’re coming with us. Logan, you still headed in that direction, even with the snow?”

“Onward to Grant land. I don’t argue with spirits in dreams.”

“We’ll leave soon,” Dyna said. “Our warhorses can get through, and I wish to get home and see Mama. We’ll ready the castle for all of you.”

Derric shook his head and said, “Dyna, you are too impatient.”

“Aye, but I have to see Mama.”

“Fine. We’ll leave at high noon. Give the sun the chance to melt the snow.”

All were stunned into silence for a moment, but Claray’s squeals of joy then echoed off the rafters. “Yule is coming and we’ll all be together!”

A few cheers carried across the hall at the prospect of heading to Grant land.

“And Thorn asked me to marry him!”

***

Thorn had to admit that the closer they came to arriving on Grant land, the more his stomach churned. It had turned out to be a lovely trip because the sun had melted enough of the snow for the horses to navigate the route easily. He’d sent a messenger to tell his sire they were headed back to Grant land and would return in the spring. The journey was easier than they’d thought it would be. The wind had been strong which left much of their path bare, tall snow drifts off to the sides.

Nothing slowed their progress, so they arrived as planned by the end of the second day after they left Cameron land. Thorn knew what he had to do.

First, he had to apologize to Sela Grant and see how she fared.

Then he had to apologize to Kyla Grant because she had hurt her ankle, too.

Then he needed to apologize to Connor Grant and ask for Claray’s hand in marriage.

He loved Claray and wished to take her for his wife. The sooner the better. He could only hope his cowardice had not changed Connor’s opinion of him for the worse. Talking with his father had made him look at everything differently. He was so glad he’d been given that opportunity.

Once they arrived, he helped Claray down and then stayed behind to settle the horses, not surprised to see Claray run off with her sister to check on Sela. Derric made his way over and, keeping his voice down, asked, “You’re going to do the right thing, are you not, Thorn?”

He said, “Aye. I will see Connor after I check on Sela. I hope she is healing.”

They made their way inside and he was surprised to see Sela Grant seated in a chair by the hearth, Jennie Grant beside her. He immediately made his way over to the hearth, but Claray stepped in front of him and whispered, “She’s better and her leg will heal, so you need not push yourself.”

He cocooned her hands in his and said, “Aye, lass. I must make amends. I acted in haste and it is partially my fault.” She stepped back, and he pulled a stool over in front of Sela. Once he set the stool down, he asked, “May I have a moment of your time, my lady?”

“Aye,” Sela said, “I’m pleased to see you’ve returned, Thorn. Later I’ll ask my daughters exactly what transpired on this trip, but I’m pleased to see you all hale after traveling through a snowstorm.”

“Aye,” he said, still mulling over his words but deciding to be direct. “My deepest apologies for acting in haste the other day