Granny waved her words away and patted Lilia’s leg. “She’ll take care of you, gal, as best she can even if she is in a foul mood. She loves you as much as I do. Just doesn’t always show it.”
“If you say so.” Granny sending her guardian along touched Lilia’s heart more than she could say. Only the eldest time runner of each line was blessed with a guardian to help them navigate through life from cradle to grave. A guardian was a kindred soul—a lifelong friend and protector.
“I promise I’ll watch out for her.” Lilia looked past Granny. Trulie and Chloe were patiently waiting at the edge of the bailey, holding their torches high to beat back the darkness while the men readied the horses. Lilia had insisted they leave as soon as possible. She didn’t care that it was well past midnight by the time they got the supplies readied. A frantic urgency gnawed at her heart. Daybreak would be soon but waiting for the full rising of the sun to begin their journey wasted too much precious time.
Lilia sat taller in the saddle, forcing a smile to Trulie. “I’ll watch out for Karma too, Sis. I promise.”
“Watch out for yourself,” Trulie advised. “Karma and Kismet will be fine. They’re wicked sly when they need to be.”
“I wish I could send Oren wi’ ye but Mama said no.” Chloe scurried up, stretched on her tiptoes, and held out a length of purple ribbon. “Tie this ’round yer braid. ’Twill bring ye luck in getting Uncle Graham back.”
“Thank you, Chloe.” Lilia took the ribbon and tied it tightly around her hair. “I feel safer already and I’ll have Uncle Graham back in no time.”I hope,she silently added.
Chloe blew a kiss then scampered back to her mother. Oren perched on the wooden hitching post beside her. The great white owl spread his wings their full glorious span then fluttered them a bit before resettling them back against his body. It was almost as though the bird, in his own way, was blessing the journey and wishing them luck too.
“Are ye ready then?” Gray brought his horse up beside her. His dark scowl almost made her laugh out loud. All the men were more than just a little perturbed that she was coming along. But once she’d shown them how good she was with a sword and bow, they had acquiesced—grudgingly.
Granny, Trulie, and Chloe waved their torches one last time then hurried back inside the keep. Lilia clenched the reins tighter, hoping the family superstition held true. Granny had taught them all at an early age that you should never watch your loved ones leave. If you did, you risked them never returning. Always part face to face with kind words and a smile. That guaranteed your loved one would have a safe journey and make it back home safe as well.
Gray cast a frowning glance at Colum and the three other MacKenna warriors selected for the task. With an almost imperceptible nod, he turned his horse and led them all through the bailey, under the ancient stone arch carved with the clan crest, then across the bridge connecting the impenetrable stronghold of MacKenna Keep to the mainland.
Once safely across the bridge, Karma took the lead. He looked like a silent shadow skimming across the ground, his trotting lope set at an impressive land-eating pace. Lilia urged her horse to catch up with the great black dog and stay close to him. Odds were that Karma would find the Buchanans faster than the several runners Gray had sent out ahead of them to home in on the rival clan and discover their location. Karma’s instincts and sense of smell missed nothing.
Lilia fought the desire to push her mount into full gallop. Got to be patient.Levelheaded. Save berserker mode for the Buchanans.
Gray and Colum caught up with her, aligning their horses on either side of her.
“Stay between us. Aye?” Gray said. The half-light of approaching dawn made his dark look even more stern. There would be no arguing with her brother-in-law on this point.
“If anything happens to ye, there’ll be hell to pay with Mother Sinclair and yer sisters,” Colum added, his reddish-blonde brows knotted with a stern look of his own.
Lilia didn’t bother answering. Just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Protective alpha males.Delightfully delicious but hardheaded. She hitched back the urge to give in to tears. What she wouldn’t give to have her own hardheaded alpha back in her arms right now.
Glancing to her right, Lilia looked past Colum’s wild red hair whipping in the wind. A pale morning mist, soft as a lover’s touch, already stroked the rugged unforgiving landscape. This close to the sea, the land was wild and rocky but even in the gentle light of the new day, velvety patches of green and stunning purples of blooming heather hinted at the breathtaking beauty the full rising of the sun would soon reveal.
Cresting the sea, the horizon was just beginning to lighten. The warm yellow-pink glow slowly crept ever higher brushing away the winking lights of the stars. The sun’s fiery rim barely peeped above the glistening waves as though shy about bringing the dawn.
New day. New hope.They had to get to Graham today. Lilia worried with the leather reins, willing Graham to hold on.
Karma’s deep baying bark interrupted her thoughts and the rhythmic pounding of her horse’s hooves against the packed earth.
“He’s found something.” She spurred her mount faster, rushing to cross the narrow glen and catch up with the dog somewhere beyond the next hill.
“Dammit, woman!” Gray thundered past her; his sword already drawn. “Stay back until we see what the beast has found.”
“Like hell I will.” Lilia crouched lower, urging her horse into full gallop. Gaelic cursing filled the air around her, triggering a wicked smile as she clenched the reins tighter and leaned forward like a seasoned jockey. Her brothers-in-law might as well learn now; she did as she wished, not as she was told.
Lilia crested the next hill, then pulled her mount to a full stop.
Gray had stopped his horse, his form seeming quite relaxed. He sat with hands folded atop the front of his saddle and head tilted slightly to one side. As Lilia pulled up beside him, he nodded toward the base of the hill at a lone tree growing beside the glistening path of a creek. “It appears Karma has something for us—and though the light be dim—I do believe that be a Buchanan plaid in the beast’s mouth.”
Lilia was first down the hillside. She eased her horse closer, peering up into the leafy branches of the great sprawling oak that had more than likely thrived for centuries in the sheltered glen beside the stream.
Gray, Colum, and the other three MacKenna warriors followed behind her with their weapons readied.
Karma stood at the base of the tree, hackles up, fangs bared, and the remains of a shredded plaid snagged in his bottom teeth. Gnashing and popping his jaws, he lunged upward against the broad gray trunk of the tree. His deep booming bark nearly shook the ground.
Kismet perked up, sitting taller on her padded seat. Ears pitched forward and the tip of her tail twitching, the black cat vibrated with a high-pitched growl. Her tail slowly grew in diameter, puffing up from the very tip and lifting a stiffened ridge of hair all the way up her back to between her ears.
