A Very Highland Holiday - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,161
even there.
They were at least another day’s ride from his holding south of Inverness, but with exhaustion setting in along with the renewed storm on this Christmas morning, they had nothing for it save to stop at the same place he’d stayed the night before on his way to Campbell lands—Balthazar’s.
Good God, it had been a mess…But at least no one would come looking for them there.
All through the night with Sarah on his lap, he’d followed the same northern star, keeping him on the right path. The lass had been quiet, thankfully, because he’d not wanted to talk, but rather concentrate on the horrible weather and the road ahead. Not to mention any sounds from behind them.
If no one had realized she was gone the night before, they’d certainly be noticing now with the sun rising on the horizon. Christmas morning, the lass would have been expected to wed, or at the very least, woken in her own bed and joined her clan for breakfast.
Knowing that he had many hours lead and the storm to protect them, a stopover at Balthazar’s, though it seemed a risky move, would not be as dangerous for them.
“Are ye awake, lass?” he asked.
She stirred in his arms, stretching her arms out and then tucking herself quickly back into the blanket. “Aye. Where are we?”
Thane glanced toward the smoke curling into the sky just ahead, his stomach souring. This was the last place he wanted to be. Well, not the last—that would be Campbells’s dungeon. “Balthazar’s Tavern.”
“Well, this will be a new Christmas adventure.” There was a bit of excitement in her tone that he found alarming.
“Nay, lass. ’Tis no’ that kind of place. We’ll need to be on our guard. Dinna mention your name,” he warned. “And I’m no’ a Shaw while we’re here, and ye’re no’ a Campbell, understand?”
Sarah stiffened in his arms. “Who might ye be, then?”
“Munros. Headed home from the clan wedding of our cousins near Lindsay lands.”
“All right…Is there a reason ye’ve named clans who fought with the dragoons at Culloden?” She sat up a little farther, her bottom rubbing against his thighs.
Thane groaned at her movement. “Aye, we’re headed into the snake pit.”
“Oh,” she breathed out, the excitement gone from her voice. There was a long pause, and he could practically hear the questions racking up in her mind. “And are we brother and sister for this journey?”
“Nay.” He clamped his mouth closed, shifting a little farther back on his saddle. “Ye’re my wife. Then none of the bastards will see fit to mess with ye.”
“That kind of a crowd, eh?”
“The patrons of Balthazar’s fought on the other side of the battlefield, lass. And they are no’…friends of ours. They are rough about the edges. But stick with me, and ye’ll be safe.”
“Oh.” There was fear and sadness in her sigh.
“We’ll stay only as long as the weather demands,” he said.
She nodded, the top of her head tapping against his chin, nearly making him bite his tongue. The snake pit was going to be a reprieve away from this temptress. She didn’t even realize how much she was…bothering him. Perhaps it was just that it had been so long since he’d been with a woman. Not that he found the adventurous lass in his lap to be of any interest at all.
“’Tis there.” He indicated the tavern just a stone’s throw away to get his mind off her squirming, enticing body.
The tavern was built of thick, heavy stones. Tiny windows barely emitted any candlelight now that it was morning, but come night, the wee squares of light would lure in weary travelers.
The thatched roof was covered in thick snow, and Thane wondered how long it would take before a part of it collapsed in on the inhabitants. Given the state of the inside, he’d hazard to guess very soon.
Thane led Destiny on a path that had been recently cleared around the back of the tavern to where the stable was located. A young lad stood in the doorway, rubbing his hands together. A shovel leaned on the side of the stone building beside him. Clearly, he was the one who had shoveled the path. Another lad shoved him aside with an armload of wood. They’d have a nice fire going on inside to keep themselves and the horses warm. A small curl of smoke leached from the ceiling, which was good. At least they’d managed to keep the chimney clear.