The lads were but welcoming them back, but Ronan couldn’t very well share that truth with Mairi. “I doubt they’ll come out into the open. A wolf is ever cautious when humans are about. The cry ye hear is nothing more than a call to assemble the pack.”
“To look for breakfast?” She tugged on his sleeve. “Come on.” She cast another nervous glance up the hillside. “Let’s get going.”
He caught her arm as she skidded across a patch of ice. “Take care, lass. There is no need to hurry so. I promise ye. The wolves willna attack.”
“I’m not running because I’m scared. . . .” She held tight to his sleeve and urged him forward. “I’m hungry too.”
Ronan picked up his pace and ducked his chin to hide a smile. Although his lady love would never admit it, she feared the wolves. He could smell it. An ever louder rumble echoing up from the valley pulled his attention away from her false bravado.
He pulled her to a stop and stepped in front of her, holding her firmly behind him against her vain attempts to wriggle around his side. “Stay behind me until I can tell who yon riders be.”
Mairi twisted around him again.
Ronan lifted her up by the shoulders and firmly settled her behind him again. “It is neither the time nor place to test me, woman. Stay behind me or I’ll tan yer arse once I am finished protecting ye.”
She opened her mouth but quickly closed it and slid behind him as the riders topped the last snow-covered rise.
The pair of dusky black horses thundered closer, their massive strides eating up the ground. Their wild shaggy manes rippled in the wind and their long tails fluttered like dark threatening banners. The riders resembled great hulking bears. Wooly hides were lashed about their calves and draped across their shoulders. A flash of tartan tied to the horses’ bridles eased Ronan’s mind. MacKenna colors. Granny Sinclair must have sent the riders in search of them after hearing the thunder of the time portal.
As the two men drew closer, Ronan tensed again. The rider on the left resembled one of the dreaded marauding Vikings of the north. Aye and for sure, it was the very man himself. Colum Garrison. His fiery brows knotted into a murderous scowl as he locked an unblinking stare on Ronan.
The black-haired rider on the right pulled his mount to a stop. The huge warhorse pranced sideways, snorting out great huffs of mist as his hairy hooves dusted the air with loose snow. “Hail, Sutherland.” Gray MacKenna nodded then turned and smiled down at Mairi. “Welcome home, my good sister.”
Mairi edged closer to Ronan. His heart warmed as she leaned into him, silently trusting him to protect her. She shielded her eyes against the sun’s glare as she looked up at Gray. “You must be Gray?”
“Aye.” Gray held out a hand toward the other rider. “And this is Colum. Husband to yer sister, Kenna. Another brother well pleased to finally meet ye.”
Ronan tightened his arm around Mairi’s waist. The man did not seem pleased. He looked as though someone had pissed in his ale.
Colum slowly tore his narrow-eyed glare away from Ronan and looked at Mairi. His face immediately softened, lightening to a less angry shade of red as he smiled. “Welcome, Mistress Mairi. My wife will be overjoyed to see ye.”
“I can’t wait to see her either.” Mairi’s smile faded a bit as she looked first at Colum then up at Ronan. “What’s . . .” She paused as though struggling to find the right words. “What’s the deal between you two?”
“I am sure thefinechieftain will explain it once ye’ve had a chance to settle and warm yourselves.” Colum turned and nodded toward another rider leading two additional horses toward them. “Diarmuid brings yer mounts this verra minute.”
Ronan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from rising to the bait. The way Colum spit out the wordfineleft no doubt as to how the man felt about Ronan. He nodded toward Colum. “Yer good brother and I share a wee bit of history.”
Mairi arched a brow.
“I shall explain it all to ye later.” Ronan turned Mairi toward the small roan-colored mare Diarmuid led over to them. “Allow me to help ye mount so we can be on our way.”
Mairi backed away from the approaching horse, her eyes growing wider with each step. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
The docile animal grunted out a low, soft nicker and stretched an inquisitive nose toward Mairi.
Ronan eased her closer, pulled the glove off her hand, and held her curled fingers out to the horse. “See? The wee lass merely wishes to greet ye. Let her have a bit of a snort so she’ll know ye better.”
“You want me to what?” Mairi turned and stared at him as though he’d just suggested she jump off a cliff.
He hugged her back against his chest, then gently walked her closer to the horse. With one arm around her waist, he slid his other hand up beneath her arm and held her hand palm up to the horse. He pressed his cheek against the side of her face, breathing in the delicious scent of her as he whispered, “Let the lass smell ye. She needs to know the sweet scent of the woman she is meant to serve.”
The gentle mare whickered again and stretched her whisker-covered nose closer.
Mairi’s hand tightened on Ronan’s hand at her waist. “She’s just so . . .” Her voice trailed off as the horse buried her nose in the palm of Mairi’s hand. “She’s . . . prickly. And soft.” Mairi giggled and rubbed the horse’s nose.
Ronan gently released Mairi as she stepped forward and smoothed her hand up the horse’s reddish brown cheek. Mairi’s smile and her soft laugh fair warmed his soul. Lore a’mighty, how had he survived so many centuries without her?
“She’s just like her sisters. They had never been around horses either.” Gray propped his hands atop the rise of his saddle and leaned forward. “Did ye see any of those glowing eyed monstrosities they ride in the future?”
