Freedom.An unexpected chill traipsed across her skin.
“A great adventure!” Lachlann beamed. “And my gift to ye, sweet sister, is that I promise to not tell a soul.”
“And mine,” Calum chimed in, his smile radiant.
Brighit snorted. “Well, aren’t my dear brothers the generous ones.”
Lachlann stood and stretched. “Ye’ll be thanking me for covering for ye come tomorrow if ye’re late for the blessing.”
“Ye canna be late, lass.” Niall’s serious expression surprised her. “Yer mother will have my head if she learns what I’ve got planned. She’ll never forgive me.”
Pressing her lips together to keep from smiling, Brighit said, “Ye need not worry about me. I’ll not be getting caught.”
“Caught?” Darragh’s voice startled her, but her uncle quickly turned back toward the group as if they’d not just been talking. “Are ye getting into mischief again?”
It was suddenly very hot. Brighit dropped again, collecting the dandelions from the ground. “No good wife gets into mischief.”
She smiled at her choice of words.
“So ye wish to not be a good wife?”
Her gaze flew to Darragh to find him grinning at her. She sensed no anger, so he must not have heard any more than what he’d repeated.
She stood.
“Did ye not promise ye could make me a good wife?” he said, his tone teasing.
“Did I say that? Hmm. I do not recall.”
His hair hung loose, not pulled back as usual, and she had the sudden urge to push it away from his face. She shook herself. “Something about teaching me?”
That look of desire was back, but he held her gaze, mimicking her words. “Something about it.” His quiet voice seemed like a caress. “Within hours ye’ll be mine.”
“We’ll be wed.”
He tipped his head. “Is there a distinction?”
“I will not only be yers.” She paused. “Yewill be mine.”
She sensed his intake of breath rather than heard it. Darragh took her hand, gently leading her away from the others before turning to her again.
“And how d’ye treat what is yers?”
Brighit hesitated, not sure what the right answer should be. “I will protect it. As ye would.”
His expression relaxed into a broad smile. “And so much more.”
“And so much more.” She mimicked him back. Although she had no idea what he referred to, she was certain she would find out soon enough. The excitement was back in her belly, more intense even than the thought of slipping away tonight for a late-night venture. That thought stirred the guilt she’d been trying to ignore.
As if reading her mind, he said, “Ye enjoy yer uncle’s tales more than the other lasses.”
Her defenses went up and she straightened her back. “I am more capable than the other lasses.”
“Ah, so ye have said.”
“I could… I could easily be one of those riding along with him.” She watched him closely. “If I were a man.”
“If ye were a man.”
