“Tall? Thin?” Robert searched his memory for a Rachelle.
“She may no’ have lived here when ye left. Her maither, a MacKendimen, brought her back here from the Borderlands when her faither died. ’Tis no matter if ye dinna ken her—ye will meet her soon enough. They married last spring.”
“And Brodie?”
“I think he is away on the laird’s bidding. I havna seen him around the village in weeks.”
“Weeks?” She nodded her reply. A trip at this time of year? In the uncertain weather and traveling conditions of the changeable Highlands? That did not make sense to him.
“What can ye tell me about Sandy?” Her fierce shiver at his question said more than her words ever could.
“He came back some months ago to marry Anice and then left right after the wedding.” He didn’t miss the look of disgust on her face.
“And?” he probed for more.
“And, good riddance to bad rubbish,” Robena lifted her hand from his and stood, clearly ending the topic of conversation. “So, Robert, how long do ye stay in Dunnedin?”
“For as long as it takes to find someone else to fill and train as steward. Then I’m back to Dunbarton.” Robert stood and walked to the door.
“And what is waiting for ye there? A wife?”
“Nay, I have no wife awaiting my return.”
A frown drew her sable brown eyebrows together. “Then why do ye return to Dunbarton?”
“My life is there—I am castellan to the MacKillop at that holding. I came h—... here only to see to Dougal’s last days and to help Struan until someone else can take over.”
“Well, Robert, my door is always open to ye while ye are here.”
She stood on tiptoes and braced her hands on his shoulders. He knew what she wanted and he gave it without hesitation. He, too, was curious about the feelings remainingbetween them. Her lips were warm and she rubbed them against his. He opened his mouth slightly and moved over hers, slanting his head to make the touch easier. When she responded by parting her lips, he slipped his tongue inside and tasted her more deeply, thrusting slowly, then more quickly. She moaned and he brought his hand up to the back of her head and held her closely. The kiss deepened and went on and on and he knew she enjoyed it as he did.
He let the many emotions run over him—kinship, comfort, remembrance, passion, longing. His body started to respond in kind to her movements against him. As much as he’d like to stay and continue this reacquainting, he had much to accomplish this day. There would be time for this later. Lifting his head slowly, he gazed into her eyes. No whore’s trickery there—she was moved by their kiss.
“Well, Robena, I fear I must go now. I will be back at another time.”
“Aye, Robert, ye do that.”
He put his cloak on and pulled open the door. Leaning down, he kissed her lightly on the lips in farewell. He had to know; the question burned in him.
“Do ye like doing this?” Robert glanced around the cottage.
“Most times, I do, Robert. ’Tis no’ a hard life for me.”
“Will ye promise to tell me if ye want to change from it?” The least he could do for a childhood friend was to find her a new place if she had need of it. No one in Dunbarton would know her and she could start over there, if she wanted.
“I will, Robert. I promise.”
She reached up and kissed him again as he backed out the door and pulled it closed. He stood up, straightened his cloak, and walked to the gate. Without looking, he stepped onto the path and into Anice.
Anice stumbled as Robert’s body knocked into hers. The icy ruts beneath her feet, coupled with her ungainly size and shape, made it difficult to remain upright. He reached out to grab her, to steady her. The men of the clan knew not to touch her, even in passing, but Robert did not know yet of her abhorrence to being handled.
Her body tensed in response to his handhold on her forearms. Without thinking about how tenuous her position was, she shook off his grasp. Her sharp and sudden movement away from him caused her feet to slip out from under her and she fell to the ground. Only his quick action kept her from landing hard on the frozen ground.
“Well, my... Anice, ’twould seem that I save ye again from injury.” His eyes twinkled as he pulled her up from her seat upon the frozen ground.
“Aye, Robert, it does seem that I owe you my thanks for last eve and for this.”
Anice pulled her hood back onto her head and straightened her cloak. Her heart thundered in her chest and her breaths were labored. She stood still, trying to calm her body’s reactions to both the fall and the touch.
