He pointed across the way. “Look there at the main gate stands Fergus ready to mount his horse. He watches to ensure that all is well guarded and only those who can be trusted enter the keep.”
With a nod, she clutched Sam even closer than before as they all made their way down the hill. She could not do this. A derisive snort escaped her. What choice did she have?
They had only covered a few yards down the hillside when she heard a shout go up from the wall. Apparently, they had been spotted. With any luck, they would shoot her first, she glumly thought before the movement of her sons reminded her she needed to live for their sakes.
Men on horses streamed out the gate and pounded across the bridge. Caelan pulled her behind him. “Stay behind me for a bit, aye? Till they ken ye are my wife.”
She didn’t answer, just buried her face in Sam’s neck, tears stinging in her eyes when he trembled and whined. “Me too, Sam,” she whispered. “Me too.”
“Caelan! Is it yourself, man?” shouted an enormous man, his flaming red hair shot with gray. He sat astride a monstrous black horse and was in the lead.
“Aye, Fergus, and it pleases me to see how well ye’ve tended the keep.” Caelan stepped forward with his hand raised.
Fergus dismounted as the rest of the men reined in their horses. He caught hold of Caelan’s arm and thumped him on the back, while a wide smile split his auburn beard. His ruddy eyebrows rose to his hairline as his gaze lit on Rachel.
She suddenly felt more than a little self-conscious, standing there in her jeans, sandals, and the mound of her belly stretching her tee shirt tightly across her front.
After a polite nod her way, Fergus turned back to Caelan. “And this would be the lady of your dreams?”
Caelan drew her to his side, his arm protectively around her. “Fergus, I would like to introduce ye to my wife, Rachel, and her wee friend Sam.”
Fergus bowed, then smiled warmly at her. “’Tis a fine pleasure indeed to meet the woman able to tame this man. Welcome to Castle MacKay, Lady Rachel.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She shifted uncomfortably as she noticed the other menappeared to be quite taken aback by her clothing. She nodded at them and forced a smile.
They bowed their heads and smiled back, but their smiles didn’t reach their eyes.
Lovely. Rachel swallowed hard. Not only would she be forced to acclimate to the time, but she’d have to watch her back. They didn’t trust her, probably even feared her. Thought of her as a witch—which she was, but that was beside the point. Either way, without Caelan’s protection, she would be toast. Literally. On a stake in the middle of a bonfire.
“We nay brought ye a horse, for we didna ken if that was yourself coming down the hillside. There has been more trouble of late, but we can discuss it later. After ye get your fine new lady wife settled in the keep.” Fergus bowed to Rachel again, then turned to the other men still on their mounts. “Alec. Ian. Dismount and give your horses to the laird and his lady.”
Two men jumped to the ground and led their horses to stand in front of Caelan and Rachel.
“And I am to walk?” Emrys growled with a stamp of his staff. “I shall set a curse on your arse, Fergus. Ye always vexed me!”
“Walk? Why I figured ye would cast a spell, old man, so that ye could ride upon the winds.” Fergus grinned as he led his horse to stand in front of Emrys.
“Ye are a rude, insolent cur. Did your mother give up on teaching ye any manners when ye were a lad?” Emrys shook his staff at him once again, then mounted with amazing ease, considering his age.
Rachel eyed the horse and backed up a step. Sam growled, expressing her feelings about the situation perfectly. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to ride. Sorry.”
Caelan lifted her into the saddle, then launched himself up behind her. “Ian, ye can either ride or give Fergus your mount. My wife and I shall ride together.”
The tall, quiet youth grinned as he glanced in Fergus’s direction. “Aye, I’ll walk. I’d never hear the end of it from old Fergus if I don’t. He greets worse than a wee bairn if he has to go anywhere afoot.”
After cuffing Ian with a glancing blow, Fergus settled into the lad’s saddle. “When ye’ve fought as many battles as I have, boy, then ye can talk to me about traveling afoot. I’ve earned the right to ride wherever I go, and I dinna intend to let anyone forget it.”
“Ah, ’tis a fine thing to be home,” Caelan breathed into Rachel’s ear as he gently pulled her back against his chest.
Little Sam rumbled and growled while hugging himself tighter into her arms. She pressed a kiss to him and whispered, “I know. I don’t like it either, but we have no choice.”
A hint of relief washed across her when she spotted Maizy trotting along happily beside Emrys’s horse as though she’d followed him all her life.At least one of us is adapting, she thought as she tried to settle more comfortably in the saddle.
“Rest easy, lass. We’ll be inside the keep soon enough. After ye have the bairns, ye can learn to ride. I know just the mare for ye. She’s as gentle as a wee kitten and will be perfect for ye to get to know.” Caelan kissed the back of her neck as they started across the bridge spanning the deep ravine.
Rachel snapped her eyes shut after a glance down and sunk back even tighter against his chest.Don’t puke, she repeated over and over to herself. If crossing this was the only way out of the keep, she’d never be able to go anywhere unless they blindfolded her.
When the horse’s hooves thudded on solid ground once more, she opened her eyes to curious faces on both sides of the path. She was tempted to close her eyes again but chided herself at the cowardly thought. Word had traveled fast that the time-traveling laird had finally returned with his wife. She might aswell face this and get it over with. He had promised they would be friendly. She prayed he was right.
