The news provided her with a glimmer of hope, easing the ache deep in her bones and her heart.
“Up ahead, lass.” Callan pointed.
Traveling with him had been eye-opening. Some people were rude and said awful things to him, others were afraid, and a few were spoiling for a fight. All this time on the road had made her grateful to have him as a traveling companion. If she’d been traveling alone after her escape, Lucy realized she would have been in a world of trouble.
The inn gave off a welcoming vibe with its thatched roof, timber walls, and the scent of wood smoke.
“I’ll see to the horses.” Callan dismounted as if he’d been out for a lovely ride in the country instead of riding for a million years. It was disgusting how sleeping rough and riding all day didn’t bother him in the least.
“While you take care of the horses, I’ll go in and inquire about food and lodging.”
Dismounting stiffly, Lucy stretched, and when no one was looking, bent over to press her palms flat to the ground, the stretch feeling good to her poor body. Callan led the horses to the adjacent stables, where a teenage boy hurried out to take the reins, eyes wide upon seeing Callan.
Wearily, she made her way inside, thinking that the inn was an ideal place for her husband and his men or her own men to stop for a rest.
Lucy hoped Margery was doing well being out on the road for so long, and while she knew that Thomas and the men would keep her safe, she worried over the woman who had served her so well for the past two years.
This early in the day, the inn was practically empty. After inquiring about rooms, and ordering a bath, Lucy went out to the stables to tell Callan there was indeed, room at the inn. Itwould have been funnier if it was Christmas instead of barely a week until Halloween.
The stables smelled pleasantly of horses and hay as she stepped inside.
“Callan?”
He stepped out of a stall, patting his horse.
“They’ll be well taken care of here.”
She brushed a bit of straw off her dress. “They only had one room, but we can share.”
The affronted look blew away a bit of the weariness as a smile rippled across her face.
“Nay, lass. It wouldna be proper.”
Her brow arched up. “We have been traveling together for what feels like a hundred days. We’ve slept near a fire every night. What’s the difference?”
The blasted Scot shook his head as if she were daft.
“I will sleep with the horses.” Then he muttered under his breath in Gaelic, making her glad she didn’t understand what sounded tone-wise like rather a lot of grumbling about vexing women.
Lucy put her hands on her hips. “Whatever. Dinner will be ready in a few hours. You will come inside and eat a proper meal.”
“As ye say, Lady Blackford.” He teased.
The sarcastic retort never left her lips as a heavily laden cart rolled to a stop, pulled by two beautiful gray horses. Travelers, much like messengers, meant news. In the small town she’d grown up in, they all knew the mail person who always had juicy gossip to share when she brought the mail and packages.
Callan nodded to the man, who didn’t look the least bit surprised to see a Scotsman at an inn in the middle of nowhere.
Lucy waited until the man clambered down from the cart and spoke with the stable boy.
“Good day to you, sir,” she greeted him. The merchant was well-dressed, with a friendly smile.
“And to you, lady.” When he saw her looking at the cart, he waved her over, eyes crinkling.
“My name is Aaron. I am at your service. Come and see. I come from the coast bearing many exotic offerings.”
“Lucy, Lady Blackford. And this is Callan.” Normally Lucy wasn’t formal and just gave her first name, but she wanted any they met along the way to know she was Lady Blackford, in case the travelers ran into William or the men during their journey.
Aaron went on with his spiel as she and Callan looked over the goods he had to offer. Thank goodness she’d kept coins sewn into the hem of her dress and cloak so the mercenaries didn’t steal it from her, otherwise they would have had to resort to theft during their journey. It was bad enough her captors tried to take the daggers William had given her. The comforting weight of them in her boots made her smile.
