“Nae yers?”
He shook his head. “Me faither married twice. Logan always felt that his sister was treated poorly by me faither, and perhaps he was right. But that’s in the past. Logan and I must work together to keep the girls safe. We have that in common, at least.”
Megan read quickly through the letter. It was brief and to the point, requesting an update on the health of both Alaina and Sophie, and asking if there had been any further attacks or attempted kidnappings. The tone was calm but not unfriendly, addressed affectionately and simply.
Megan did not know much about the various lairds of the Highlands, of course, and Laird MacAdair was just a name to her, much like Laird MacCulloch had been.
“It’s good to ken that Alaina has powerful friends besides her braither, at least,” Megan responded, handing back the letter.
“Aye, I agree. He’s been investigatin’ this kidnappin’ business just like I have, but he’s got nay leads. We agree that we are dealin’ with a serious, intelligent threat.”
This made sense. Megan glanced across the table to where Sophie and Alaina were talking animatedly to Ewan. Sophie’s nervousness and Alaina’s anger seemed to have faded away a little, which loosened the knot in Megan’s chest just a little.
They’re children. Alaina shouldnae have her freedom restricted at this important time of her life, and Sophie shouldnae have to deal with all this anger and fightin’. It’s nae fair!
Life, of course, was never fair. Drumming her fingers on the table, Megan glanced back at Ryder. He was already looking at her, his expression intent. She wished, not for the first time, that she knew what he was thinking.
“He talks about sendin’ Alaina to live with him,” Megan remarked. “He mentions his fortifications and the measures he can take. Do ye think she’d be safer there?”
“I daenae,” Ryder responded tartly. “And if Alaina thinks that she has no freedom here, she would feel as much at her uncle’s. He would be far stricter than I. Nay, I want to keep her here, under me eye. She’s me sister, and I can take care of her.”
He eyed her closely, as if expecting her to argue. Megan, however, only nodded.
“I understand,” she responded. “If it were me sister, I would want to keep her close.”
“Look at Megan and Ry, Ewan!” Sophie crowed, cutting into Megan’s thoughts. They both shifted apart, turning to look at each other. Sophie, Ewan, and Alaina were all staring at them, half-smiles on their faces.
“See how close they were, and how they looked at each other! That’s love, is it nae, Ewan?” Sophie chirped.
Megan felt color spread across her face. She wanted to deny it, of course, but that would hardly make her seem like the man’s betrothed.
Ryder gave a short cough and rose to his feet. “When ye have finished breakfast,” he announced tensely, “we’ll go and meet the dressmaker.”
He strode out without another word, never once looking back.
A man in love indeed,Megan thought, biting back a smile.
CHAPTER 9
It wasa good day to stay inside. Megan would have preferred that.
It was raining, not particularly unusual for the Highlands. Rain came pattering down in grayish sheets, streaming down the coach window. The Keep courtyard was sodden, more puddle than cobblestone, and after they passed the walls and entered the forest, the fields and woodlands were all mud.
We could have set up a fire in Alaina’s room,she thought moodily.We could have read books, or eaten, or talked… too late now. Instead, we’re outdress shoppin’, of all things.
Alaina and Sophie seemed excited, at least. They sat huddled up on one side of the carriage, a rug spread over their knees. Megan sat alone on the other side, staring out of the window. The lurching and rocking made her feel sick, and the roads only seemed to be getting worse the further they traveled fromthe Keep. The rain pattered on top of the carriage, echoing and making her feel even more restricted and ill at ease.
I hate carriages. I hate enclosed spaces. I wish he’d let me take a horse.
She’d have much preferred riding, even with the rain. But Ryder had said that he wanted her in the carriage to watch the girls, and that seemed to be a fair request. She couldn’t argue with it, at the very least.
While Ewan sat on the back of the carriage, hanging on tight, Ryder had chosen to take his horse. When she pulled back the curtain of the coach window, she could see him right beside them, sitting high in the saddle, focused and alert. He wore a heavy cloak made of plain gray wool, without any pattern or tartan, and a hood drooped heavily over his head.
He glanced at her, perhaps sensing her eyes on him. The rain seemed to make his eyes greener than ever, a sharp glint of brightness through the gray. Abruptly, she let the curtain drop. Sitting back in the seat, Megan heaved a sigh.
“Do we have much longer to go?” she asked.
“About half an hour,” Alaina answered. “Mistress Weatherby is the finest dressmaker in these parts. Apparently, she used to travel all over the Highlands, makin’ clothes for various lairds and ladies at an extortionate price. She cannae travel much now, bein’ old, but we do get the dresses cheaper now.”
