He caught himself before he uttered a retort. The idea of Robbie escorting Celeste anywhere made him uneasy. The man would take advantage of her at the first opportunity.
“What do you want, Dougal?” she repeated.
“I want to be left alone,” he said, reaching up to touch the mare’s cheek. “I don’t want any part of her battle.”
She inclined her head. “Then I will see to it that she leaves.” Pausing a moment, she added, “But when she returned from your hut last night, she was crying.”
Resentment edged his temper at the suggestion that he’d caused her tears. “I did nothing to her.”
Laren gave a sympathetic smile, “I know that, Dougal.” Her eyes softened as she continued, “But I saw the way she was watching you. And I know that you asked her to wed you two years ago.”
He couldn’t hide his surprise. “How did you find that out?”
She sent him a secretive smile, ignoring his question. “She came back for a reason.” Laren reached out to pat the mare. “And I think it’s because she loves you still.”
Her gaze turned searching, but he shook his head. “She wants me as a guard, nothing more.”
Laren eyed him with concern. “You are my brother by marriage, and you deserve more than a life with these horses.”
“Let it be, Laren,” he said. “I enjoy my life the way it is.”
She nodded. “So be it. But I thought you’d want to know that she’s leaving now. There are men lined up, wanting to be her escort.” With a nod to him, she walked back in the direction she’d come.
A line of men. It didn’t surprise him, not with Celeste’s beauty. She had a face men would die for and a body that had kept him awake all night long.
Dougal grimaced, remembering the softness of her mouth against his. He wanted to spend a night losing himself in that sensual mouth, learning every inch of her slender body. But those thoughts were dangerous.
Dougal ran his hands over Ivory’s back and swung up into the saddle. He needed to clear his head and exercise the mare.
He rode past the gates, keeping Ivory in a controlled canter. The ground was uneven, and he wanted her to have a sure footing. As he let her go, his mind blurred with the question of what Celeste wanted from him. She’d said she didn’t want to be his enemy.
He didn’t want to be friends, either. Beneath the anger of the past two years was the desire to prove himself to her. To make her regret her choices.
When he reached the edge of the MacKinloch lands, smoke rose from a distant fire. A few tents were set up, and he pulled the mare to a stop, wondering who was there. One man emerged from his tent, and Dougal spied the glint of chainmail armor.
Though it might be only English troops, it was too small a group for an invasion. More likely, they had come for Lady Eiloch.
The safest thing to do was to put his family first, letting her go. And yet, the thought of surrendering her to these men was impossible. Celeste had put her trust in him, wanting him to keep her safe. Though he might not want to be involved, neither did he want to see her harmed. Her blue eyes haunted him, and her kiss had awakened a temptation that simmered beneath his skin.
Damn her for it.
Dougal turned Ivory back, urging her toward their fortress. As the horse picked up speed, he considered what to do. Giving Celeste back to the soldiers wasn’t safe. She’d fled Eiloch, and if they’d sent armed men after her, their intent was not friendly. He didn’t even know if they would keep her alive.
But the last thing he wanted was to bring this battle into Glen Arrin, where his friends and family might be harmed. Although she was safe here, it might be better to lead them away. Perhaps toward Locharr or Cairnross.
He rode through the gates, already knowing what he must do. Celeste was waiting on the far side of the fortress, already mounted on her horse while Nairna finished giving her more supplies. Half a dozen men stood at the ready, while her gaze scanned each of them. The men waiting were all unmarried, some barely into adulthood, while other, older men had been widowed. Every last one of them was staring at Lady Eiloch as if he wanted to share her bed. And she, in turn, looked uncomfortable at the prospect.
When Nairna caught sight of him, she sent him a chiding glare. Dougal ignored her and rode forward until he reached the front of the crowd. Celeste’s face relaxed visibly, as if she’d been hoping he would change his mind.
When one of the men ventured too close, Ivory whinnied, rearing up, and Dougal had to hold fast to keep from being thrown off. He spoke to the mare lightly, nudging her with his knees to bring her away from all the people. Only after he’d calmed her did he look back at Celeste.
“The soldiers from Eiloch are just beyond the hill,” he said. “And if you don’t want to be caught, you should come with me now.”
Celeste had no idea where Dougal was guiding them, but he kept up a relentless pace. They left Glen Arrin through a hidden gate near the back of the fortress, but it wasn’t long before she spied Lionel de Laurent and his men in pursuit.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she leaned forward against her horse, praying Dougal could get her to safety. She hardly cared where they went, so long as it wasn’t back to Eiloch.
Her horse could not keep up with his mare, who was breaking hard through the meadow. She’d never seen any animal move with such speed. When she glanced behind, Lord Eiloch’s men were gaining on them. Though Celeste urged her horse faster, she feared there was little hope of losing her pursuers.
