Megan bit back a sigh. How much time would this trip take up? And how dangerous would it be? At this time, it was likely dangerous for them even to set foot outside the Keep, and this Mistress Weatherby seemed to live miles away.
And that wasn’t even touching on how tense and grim Ryder seemed to be. Whenever Megan glanced out of the window at him, she saw him sitting bolt upright in the saddle, grim and stern, eyes raking the landscape around them as if he expected an attack.
Didhe expect an attack? Perhaps.
“Did ye write to yer sisters, by the way?” Alaina enquired.
“Hm? What? Oh, aye, I did. How long do ye reckon it’ll take to get fitted for dresses?”
Alaina and Sophie exchanged glances, and Alaina shot Megan an odd stare.
“It takes as long as it takes. It’s always worth it, ye ken.”
“Perhaps for some,” Megan sighed, shifting uncomfortably. “I’ve never cared much for dresses. Buyin’ them always seems like a waste of time to me.”
Sophie giggled. “Wedaenae think that.”
Alaina laughed, and Megan broke into a smile.
“Aye, aye, each to their own,” she chuckled. “I cannae wait to see the two of ye in yer lovely dresses, that is for sure.”
The smile faded from Alaina’s face. “There’s nae much point in that,” she huffed. “I cannae go anywhere. Nobody can see me. What’s thepoint?”
Megan tilted her head. “Was there somewhere in particular ye wanted to go with yer new dress?”
A slow flush spread over Alaina’s face, and she kept her gaze pointedly down at the book in her lap.
“Nay,” she answered, missing a beat. “Of course nae.”
Megan said nothing, but narrowed her eyes. It was pretty clear that there was something Alaina wasn’t telling her. The question was most likely notwhereshe wanted to visit with her new, beautiful dress, butwhoshe wanted to visit.
Carefully composing a question in her head, Megan leaned forward, poised to speak. Alaina glanced up uncertainly, clearly braced for questioning.
“Alaina…” Megan began, but got no farther, because at that point there was a cry from up ahead, and the coach lurched to a sudden stop.
Megan was nearly thrown forward into the opposite seat, managing to save herself at the last moment.
“What is it? Are we bein’ attacked?” Alaina gasped fearfully.
“Megan, what’s happenin’?” Sophie cried, clutching her sister.
Megan bit her lip hard, straining her ears. She heard cries and a scuffling sound from the road ahead, and the horses whickered. Pulling back the curtain, she peered out just in time to see Ryder gallop past, face grim.
“Stay inside!” he shouted to her. “Lock the doors!”
Alaina gave a gasping moan of fright and shrank back into the corner of the carriage.
“They’ve come for me,” she whispered. “Whoever it is, they’ve come for me.”
“Aye, but they’ll nae take ye,” Megan shot back. “Nae with yer braither protectin’ ye. Nae withmeprotectin’ ye. Stay here.”
She reached for the knife on her belt. It wasn’t as good as a bow and arrow, but she’d never have been able to sneak that onto the coach.
“Ryder said we were to stay here,” Sophie pointed out.
“Aye, but that was for ye, nae me,” Megan responded.
Pushing open the door, she jumped nimbly down, closing it behind her.
