“I’d love naught more than to keep making love to ye all night, Kitty. But I fear ye’ll be in pain tomorrow. And we both need the sleep since I dinna ken where we shall lay our heads next.”
“Rab, canna we just go to Edinample? I want to go to our home. We must face yer parents, eventually. Either we will be welcome and start our life together there, or we willna and we’ll ken to search elsewhere.”
“We could, but that doesnae settle things with yer family. We’ve already sneaked away and gotten married. To nay see yer family and only go to mine feels wrong.”
“But ma uncle is more likely to kill ye than yer father is to kill me. I’m nay ready to be a widow.”
“Do ye really wish to tell him in a missive?”
“Nay. But we need to before anyone else does. Óg may do what he can to shield me, but if Mòr learns from someone else, he’s likely to raise MacFarlane’s Lantern.”
“That’s the last thing we need. Ye’re entire clan rallying. There’ll be a full moon next sennight. They’ll reive aught we have that isnae already being given as restitution.”
“Aye, well, we MacFarlanes have been reivers for generations, so dinna take it personally.” Catherine tried to lighten their darkening mood. “Do ye think we could lead Óg to Edinample? We go to yer parents, talk to them, then we ride to Inveruglas with Óg and his men.”
“If that’s what we do, we need to either catch Óg or let him find us. If he gets to Mòr first…” Neither Rab nor Catherine wanted to repeat the obvious.
“Do ye think he would set off so close to dark tonight? Or will he set off in the morn?” Catherine worried about Andrew riding in anger in the dark.
“Likely in the morn, which will only make him more furious. For the faults I might find in the mon, I canna deny he loves ye, Kitty. I ken ye look at him as a brother, but it’s just as obvious that he sees ye as his sister. I dinna ken how he will take fearing he’s lost another.”
Catherine offered a toothy grin and waggled her eyebrows. “Stay close to me. I’ll protect ye.”
“And who is going to protect ye from me?” Rab growled as he rolled over and entered Catherine once more. Their movements weren’t as impatient, as frenzied, this coupling. They clung to one another as they tipped over into euphoria. They fell asleep in one another’s arms.
Chapter 15
“Ihavenae seen ye this at ease in three years,” Cullen commented while the men saddled the horses. Catherine stood with Father Michael expressing their gratitude and goodbyes.
“I havenae felt this at ease in three years. Granted it will disappear the moment we ride through those gates, and guarding Catherine is all I can think aboot.”
“Catherine?” Cullen’s brow furrowed.
“Aye. I need to remind maself that I canna use ma pet name for her with everyone. They willna respect her as a married woman or as the future Lady MacLaren. I owe it to her to be sure I always treat her with the respect and dignity she deserves.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Cullen smirked.
“Arselick.”
“Ah, a name ye will never tire of using in public.” Cullen grinned and clapped Rab on the back before Rab went to stand beside Catherine.
“It isnae much, but there are some bannocks and dried fruit in the sack.” Michael explained as Catherine held up the bag.
“It’s more than enough, Father. Ye’ve been generous to us since we showed up on yer doorstep.” Rab extended his arm, which Michael accepted. The man had been a priest for several years, but his brawny forearm was a testimony to his life before the monastery. The former Sutherland warrior shook Rab’s arm then offered the group a blessing before they rode out.
They’d only ridden a half hour before Rab began to worry about Catherine being too uncomfortable. He glanced at her so many times that she finally canted her head and cocked an eyebrow. His gaze dropped to her mound before looking up. At her confused expression, he frowned and looked down again then to Timber’s head. Catherine’s eyes widened, but she offered him a warm smile and a nod.
“How far do ye think we can go today?” Catherine kept her tone low, but she knew the men could hear. She suspected they wondered the same thing. She knew Rab had only shared the basics of their plan with Cullen. The guards would go where Rab told them, and they would do so without argument. But that didn’t mean they weren’t curious.
“I dinna ken. We’re headed west now. Eventually, we’ll have to turn north again if we’re headed to Edinample.”
“And further west if we’re to go to Inveruglas,” Catherine whispered. Rab nodded. They’d agreed that morning before they left the hostellary that they aimed for Edinample but were prepared to change course if they needed. They still intended to search for Andrew along the way.
The party continued along the road, stopping for their midday meal. Twinges of guilt nipped at Rab for keeping his men from their families, but he couldn’t send them home and keep Catherine safe. He mulled over their choices as they ate the bannocks and fruit. Catherine’s gentle smile told him she understood his concerns and suspected what he was thinking. They were on horseback once more when the horses had rested. Rab prayed the day would be uneventful.
* * *
“Bluidy bleeding fucking hell!” Andrew hurled his half-empty mug across his chamber, crashing it against the wall. One of his guards, Darren, stood not far from where Andrew’s anger left a trickle of whisky down the door. “Where the hell is Lady Evina? Lady Catriona?”
