Bram propped up his head on one arm. “He’s not much of a protector, is he?”
“I don’t know about that,” Nairna mused. “If someone were to invade, they’d likely stumble over him.”
Bram caressed the skin of her hip for a moment before he withdrew from her body. The morning sun filtered through the crevices of their house, and Bram stood up to get dressed. Already she saw the determination on his face.
“We’re going together, Bram,” she reminded him. If he left her behind again, he would withdraw even more. Worse, if he didn’t find his brother alive, he would never forgive himself.
Bram’s face didn’t falter. “I’m not putting you in danger, Nairna.”
“I know that,” she amended. “And I promise, I won’t follow you to Harkirk’s stronghold. As I said, I will stay with my father.”
“We’re not going as far as Ballaloch,” was his answer. Dismay pooled inside her, for she could sense the cold, vengeance-minded husband returning. She couldn’t yet abandon her desire to intervene in another way.
Her father had a tentative alliance with Harkirk—why couldn’t he negotiate the safe return of Callum?
The sound of horses approaching made her reach for an older gown from among her belongings. She dressed quickly and opened the door, only to find the chief and a dozen men arriving, heavily armed.
Alex regarded Bram with a suspicious look. “I thought you would be ready to leave at dawn.”
Bram glanced at her, and Nairna flushed, not wanting to admit the reason her husband was late. Instead, she interjected, “I’m going to travel with you. You’ll stay at my father’s house at Ballaloch and you can learn what you need to know about Lord Harkirk, before entering the fortress.”
Alex’s expression was neutral as he thought about her offer.
“She’s not leaving Glen Arrin,” Bram insisted. “I won’t allow it.”
“But she isn’t asking to go with us to fight Harkirk,” Alex said. “She’s asking to visit her family and give us a place to make our plans.” He exchanged a look with Bram. “It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have the protection of Hamish MacPherson.”
“I am not bringing Nairna into this,” Bram argued.
“But my father may have a way of getting more information about Callum,” she insisted. “It would give you an advantage.”
Alex studied her, as if trying to determine whether or not she spoke the truth.
Please believe me, she prayed silently.
Finally, the chief gave a nod. “She comes with us, Bram. It makes more sense to stay with Hamish than to camp on our own. That would only draw Harkirk’s men upon us sooner.”
Nairna sent him a grateful look, but the chief seemed uninterested in her personal feelings. Instead, he sent one of the men to bring back a horse for her while Bram prepared his mount.
Within another half-hour, Dougal returned, holding the reins of a mare Nairna hadn’t seen before. When he came closer, he said, “I didn’t want your mare to be burdened while she’s carrying her foal. This is Gavina, and she’s got a calm temper.”
He didn’t meet her eyes, and Nairna understood that he was feeling guilty for having lost Laren’s glass.
“Thank you, Dougal.” She accepted the reins of the horse. “And I’m sorry about what happened last night.”
His mouth tightened into a line. “So am I.”
She touched his shoulder. “I know you’re wanting to come with us to free Callum. But we need men to stay here, especially after what happened at Cairnross.” She forced him to meet her gaze. “Please, will you protect Glen Arrin?” Amid the other men, she caught Alex’s impatience. But this time, she didn’t want Dougal attempting to follow.
The lad looked down at the ground and nodded. Nairna gave him a slight hug, causing his ears to brighten with embarrassment. “Good. And there’s something else I need from you.” She pointed to the doorway of their house, where Caen lifted a sleepy head. “Will you watch over Caen?”
Dougal eyed the dog and Nairna added, “He’s quite a fierce animal, really. He’ll tear out a man’s throat if he threatens a MacKinloch.”
A slight grin perked the lad’s mouth at her sarcasm, when the dog yawned and closed his eyes again. More than likely Caen would sleep through an invasion. But after Nairna finished packing her supplies, Caen woke up and got to his feet, trotting forward. He sniffed at Nairna as she ordered him, “Be good while I’m away.”
Dougal knelt to pet him, and Caen licked his hand. Satisfied that both would be safe after they left, Nairna mounted her horse and joined the others.
But as she followed the men, trying to keep in their midst, her husband’s annoyance was palpable and he would no longer look at her.
