The Scot's Pursuit - Keira Montclair Page 0,51

stretching her face as she patted his arm. “I’ll stay with Lora for a night or two.”

“We’re headed back to MacLintock land, and ’tis a long ride. Why not lean back and rest? You seem tired.”

“I am,” she said, her eyelids drooping. He could see how she fought to remain awake.

“Just close your eyes, listen to the birds and the sounds of the forest. We have the rest of our lives together.”

She was asleep within seconds.

***

Branwen awakened as soon as they arrived on MacLintock land. It was eerily quiet, but the guards at the gate let them in quickly. They left their horses at the stables and made their way into the great hall, Branwen taking Lora’s hand as they walked. Her heart hurt for the poor girl, whose eyes were wide with fright.

“You do trust this clan?” Lora whispered.

Branwen squeezed her hand and said, “Aye, I do. They are wonderful. You’ll see. And I’ll sleep with you so you’re not alone.”

“Promise?”

“Aye, Alick’s mother has been kidnapped so he will be up late planning their attack, if I were to guess. He must focus on saving her.”

Once inside the hall, Dyna led them over to the hearth. Moments later, two large Highlanders came flying down the staircase, one of them with a comely lass with curly red hair.

“All is well?” the first asked.

“Aye,” Alick said. When the group reached the hearth, he introduced Branwen and Lora to his cousins, Alasdair and Els, and to Joya, Els’s wife. “Is Emmalin with the bairns?”

“Aye, she was exhausted so I sent her to bed with them,” Alasdair said, throwing more wood on the fire in the hearth. “Sit down. We’ll eat and listen to all you have to tell us.”

“Where’s Grandsire?”

“He’s gone to bed, too. Worrying about Aunt Kyla is difficult. ’Tis a good idea. He’ll want to be awake to speak with Uncle Jamie and your sire, Alick. They are expected first thing on the morrow,” Els said.

Joya hurried into the kitchens with Dyna, returning with meat pies and ale for all. When they reached the hearth, they set the trays on a nearby table and Dyna focused her attention on Lora.

“Sit,” she said warmly. “You’re welcome here. We have near four hundred warriors to protect this castle, many of them the finest in all the land.” She waved at the food and drink on the table. “Help yourselves, everyone.”

Branwen’s stomach growled and she blushed to her toes when everyone looked at her.

Lora said, “I guess they didn’t feed you any more in the dungeon than I ate in the cave.”

Alasdair and Els stared at the two lasses in shock.

“Dungeon?” Els asked.

“Aye,” Branwen said. “My father tried to marry me to a cruel old man so I ran away.”

Lora said, “And I ran with her because that man is my father and I hate him.”

No one said anything for a few moments, but then Joya asked, “How did you end up in a dungeon?”

Branwen explained while they all listened with keen interest, their mouths slightly agape.

“So you were by yourself all that time, Lora?” Dyna asked when she finished.

The lass nodded, her gaze misting. “Being in a cold cave alone was better than being around my sire. I knew someone would come. Branwen told me to believe in Alick.”

“I saw your shooting earlier,” Dyna said. “You are an archer?”

She blushed. “Branwen taught me. I practiced all the while she was gone. It helped me pass the time, though I have some thickenings on my fingers now.”

Alick grinned at Branwen, then shifted his gaze to include Lora in his comment. “I couldn’t believe all three of you shot arrows at our attackers…”

“Wait,” Alasdair said. “You were attacked, too?”

“On the way back. About six or eight of Thane’s men is my guess. At first it seemed like there were only a few, but they kept coming. It was difficult to see in the dark, but it surely heartened me to see so many arrows flying through the air.”

Lora said, “I think I missed,” her cheeks still pink.

“Doesn’t matter,” said Els. “Just the thought of being pierced by an arrow unsettles most warriors. Still helped.”

They ate and chattered for a while, but exhaustion suddenly fell over Branwen like a dark mantle. “I think…”

Dyna said, “Come, I’ll take you abovestairs. Lora, are you ready?”

“Aye. I’m verra tired. And in the morn, if I could clean up, I’d be glad to go along if you need another archer.”

Dyna said, “Oh, you’ll both be coming. We need all