“Elder brothers? Can I expect them to come hammering on my door wanting to knock seven bells out of me too?”
“Not likely. They’re—” She paused. “They’re a long way from here.”
“Back in this Manchester of yers?”
“Yes,” she said in a small voice. “Like I said. A long way from here.”
She looked suddenly so vulnerable that Reid wanted to pull her into his embrace and tell her that everything would be all right. Gone was the confident, fiery-tempered lass who’d confronted him on the riverbank only moments ago. Gone was the bold woman who’d worked through his ledgers and sorted them into something resembling a system. Instead, she became a woman who was lost and alone amongst strangers, many of whom would harm her if they could. A woman who was trying to put a brave face on it, despite what she was feeling inside.
A sudden surge of protectiveness welled up inside him. “Lass,” he said, putting a finger under her chin and tilting her face up to look at him. “Abigail. Ye will see yer brothers again. And until then, I will keep ye safe, just as I promised. Do ye believe me?”
Why did it feel so good to touch this woman? Why did the nearness of her send his thoughts skittering and his senses roaring? Why did she make him promise things that he had no right to promise?
He had no answers to any of these questions. All he knew was that as Abi gazed up at him with those clear, depthless eyes, he knew he would do all in his power to keep his word to her, whatever the consequences of that might be.
She didn’t answer him for a long moment. “Yes,” she said at last. “I think I do.”
Her answer meant far more to him than it should. It had been a long time since anyone other than his men had trusted him. Certainly not his family, and certainly not a beautiful woman who sent his pulse racing.
“Good,” he murmured. “That’s good.”
Before he knew it, he was bending his head towards her for another kiss and she was going up on tiptoes to meet him and—
“Ahoy there!”
Reid jumped back. Swinging around, he saw another barge coming down the river, its captain waving at him. He recognized the man as Lloyd Drummond, a smuggler he’d employed to bring weapons downriver.
“Ye two go right ahead!” the man shouted with a huge grin on his face. “Dinna let me interrupt!”
Reid glanced at Abigail. She blushed to her hairline and was busy brushing down her dress although it didn’t need brushing down as far as Reid could tell.
He scowled at the man. “Keep yer clever remarks to yerself, Drummond! Tie up at the south dock. My men will be there to help ye unload.”
The captain looked Abigail up and down in a way that made Reid want to throttle him, then gave Reid an approving wink.
“As ye say, my lord.”
He shouted to his crew and the barge carried on past Reid and Abigail, rounding the bend of the river out of sight.
Reid needed to get back. He’d tarried too long already, distracted by Abigail. He needed to ensure the barge’s cargo was unloaded safely and properly stored. Then he needed to hear the reports of the scouts. After that there were missives to be penned to Laird Campbell and several other allies. Then...
He sighed. Ye gods, there were a million and one things he needed to do.
“Like that is it, huh?” Abigail said. She gave him a rueful smile. “You look like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
“Not the world, only Dun Treve, and that’s heavy enough.”
“You need a pick-me-up. Hot chocolate and a slab of cake works for me.”
“Hot chocolate?”
She shrugged. “It’s a drink where I come from. A very sweet drink.”
“Aye, we have one of those. It’s called whisky. And ye are right: it usually helps immensely. However, seeing as it’s not even midday, I’m afraid that particular avenue of pleasure will be denied me. Such is my lot in life.” He sighed dramatically.
Abi laughed and the sound of it sent a thrill right through him. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh and when she did, her eyes sparkled. Could this be the same woman who’d been after his blood only a short time ago?
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
