The Scot's Pursuit - Keira Montclair Page 0,14

and we do. That may be reason enough for him to say nay.”

Alick thought for a moment and said, “I’ll find a way. I’ll not allow her to be married off to that disgusting old goat.”

“You’re just like your mother,” Da said, shaking his head softly, although he had a small smile. “Get an idea in your mind and you won’t leave it be, will you?”

“Mama? Why do you say that?”

“You don’t recall the story about your mother taking it upon herself to chase a villain down all by herself? The two of us were taken prisoner, kept in a dungeon, and all because your mother was worried about Grandsire and his injury. She does not hear the word nay at all.”

Alick stared after Branwen. “Then I guess I am just like Mama. My mind is set. Branwen will be mine someday.”

Chapter Five

Branwen pushed on the bruises her father had left on her wrist. Usually, she did her best to forget his mistreatment, but this time was different. This time she would force herself to remember, give herself a reason to leave.

She wanted to see Alick one more time before they left. It was nearly midnight and she knew her sire and brother would be abed. The perfect time to sneak away. Many of the lasses had left, so it was easier to escape the lasses’ chamber than it had been the night before. Once in the passageway, she made her way down to the hall and then slipped out into the cold of the night.

Would he be awake, as she’d hoped? And, if so, would she be lucky enough to find him?

She strode through the courtyard, pulling her hood over her head, and meandered toward the gate. Passing the stables, larger than any stables she’d ever seen before with three buildings pressed together, she smiled at the quiet sounds of the horses nickering and settling in for the night.

On a whim, she stepped inside the back entrance, moving from horse to horse, looking for a friendly beast. She had more animal friends than people, although she knew that to be her sire’s doing.

A chestnut horse with a white marking on its face whinnied at her, so she found an apple in a bin and handed it to the majestic animal, watching it toss its mane this way and that as it chewed on the sweet treat.

“Branwen?” a shadow called to her from the end of the passageway between the stalls.

Whirling quickly, she ran for the door she’d used to enter, fearful someone else had discovered her. But the hand that snaked around her waist felt familiar, comforting, and when he turned her about to face him, she saw it was him.

Alick MacNicol.

“Alick, your pardon. I feared it was someone else,” she whispered, grateful when he did not immediately release her. His scent reached her, apple and an ale if she were to guess. Something pleasing to her.

“May I escort you outside?”

“Please. Far away from here.” She settled her hands on his shoulders, feeling the hardness beneath her fingers. Reveling in it. How she wished to let her hands roam farther, down his arms, across his chest. She even had a desire to touch the bare skin of his chest, although she knew not what caused her to have such thoughts. “I wished to see you again. We may be leaving after the midday meal.”

Carnal desires, she’d overheard her sire say once to a peer.

The way her sire had said it made it sound dirty, but nothing she’d done, or wanted to do, with Alick seemed dirty.

“I’d hoped you’d stay two more days, but I know others are taking their leave.” Then he leaned in and kissed her neck, sending a tingling feeling all through her body. “And how far away shall I take you, lass? Shall we go to the meadow or the loch? Or shall I whisk you off to my cousin’s castle in the Lowlands?”

She leaned into his ear and whispered, “Aye, I’d like that.” Where had this sudden boldness come from?

He gave her an odd look, as if waiting for her to explain her comment, but she did not. She just took his hand, and they left from the back entrance to the stables. To her surprise, he led her directly through the gates, ignoring the guards’ curious looks.

She was grateful to leave, but still she asked, “You do not worry outside your gates?”

“Nay,” he said. “The guards are always close enough. You’d be surprised how