Without a word,Ken stepped forward and picked up Sophie's satchel, slinging it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing. Sophie marveled at his strength, wondering what kind of man he was to involve himself in such a rescue.
"We need to go,"Colette urged, her voice hushed. "I've given the guards at the gate somethin' to help them sleep, but we daenae have much time."
Sophie's heartbegan to race again as the reality of what they were about to do sank in. They were going to escape. To flee in the dead of night like thieves. If they were caught...
She pushed the thought away.She couldn't afford to think of the consequences now. This was her one chance at freedom, and she had to seize it with both hands.
They madetheir way through the silent corridors of the keep, until they reached the courtyard. A horse stood waiting, saddled and ready. Sophie hesitated, suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of what she was about to do. She turned to Colette, a question in her eyes as she gestured between her stepmother and the horse.
Colette smiled,understanding as always. "I'm nae comin' with ye, nae yet," she explained. "I'll leave right after ye, stay with a friend for a week, then join ye at the Laird's castle."
Laird?Sophie's gaze snapped to Ken, reassessing him. He was more than just a friend of Colette's, then. A man of power and influence. The realization sent a shiver down her spine, though whether from fear or excitement, she couldn't say.
Before Sophie could ponderit further, strong hands gripped her waist. She gasped silently as Ken lifted her onto the horse with ease, as if she weighed no more than a feather. She felt the heat of his touch even through the fabric of her nightdress, and a strange warmth bloomed in her chest.
As Ken swungup behind her, his body a solid presence at her back, Sophie's mind whirled with the enormity of what was happening. In the span of a few short minutes, her entire world had been turned upside down. She was leaving the only home she'd ever known, fleeing in the dead of night with a man she'd just met.
As the horsebegan to move, Sophie cast one last look at the keep that had been both her home and her prison. In the shadows of the stable, Colette raised a hand in farewell, a bittersweet smile on her face. Then they were through the gate and out onto the moor, the keep rapidly shrinking behind them.
Sophie leaned back slightly,feeling the solid warmth of Ken's chest against her back. In one night, this man had changed the course of her life. For better or worse remained to be seen, but as the cool night air whipped past them and the stars glittered overhead, Sophie felt something she hadn't experienced in far too long.
There wasfear and hope and the undeniable, wild, terrifying thrill of the unknown. Fear. Hope.
She feltKen's breath stir the hair close to her ear, sending a shiver down her spine, "I've got ye, lass. Ye're under me protection now."
CHAPTER TWO
Kenneth Elloway's jaw clenched as he rode through the moonlit Highlands, the silent lass before him a stark contrast to the thundering hooves beneath them. Mason's cruelty gnawed at him – how could he do this to his own sister? Yet, a part of Kenneth savored the quiet, a rare respite from his chaotic life.
He glanced down at Sophie,asleep against his chest. A protective instinct flared, along with an unexpected spark of desire. Kenneth shoved the feeling aside, remembering his promise to Colette. Still, he couldn't ignore Sophie's presence, her body a tempting warmth against his chest. The softness of her hair tickled his chin, carrying the faint scent of lavender that stirred something primal within him.
His eyes tracedthe elegant curve of her neck, exposed in sleep, and he found himself wondering how it would feel beneath his lips. The gentle rise and fall of her breath sent shivers through him, each inhale pressing her closer, molding her form to his.
Kenneth's handstightened on the reins, knuckles white with the effort of restraining himself from exploring the enticing curves barely hidden beneath her cloak. He swallowed hard, his body thrumming with an awareness that both thrilled and terrified him.
As they crested a hill,the Highlands sprawled before them, bathed in ethereal moonlight. Sophie stirred, her breath catching at the sight.
"It's... it's beautiful,"she whispered, her voice hoarse from disuse.
Shock hit Kenneth first,unable to keep the surprise off of his face as he looked down at Sophie. From what Colette had told him, she didn't speak. He forced a nod, despite the fact she couldn't see him. "Aye, it is." He found himself seeing the familiar landscape anew, marveling at the play of light and shadow across the moors.
Sophie's hand came up,gripping his forearm. The touch, even through his leather gauntlet, sent a jolt through him. "I cannae believe I'm actually outside. After so long..."
Her voice trailed off,but the floodgates had opened. Suddenly, words poured from her like water from a spring, as if all the thoughts and observations she'd kept locked away for a year were determined to escape at once.
"Doye think the stars look different here than they did from me window? Oh! Look at that cluster there! It reminds me of a storyI once read about a princess who was turned into a constellation by a jealous god. Have ye ever heard that tale? Nay? Well, let me tell ye, it's quite fascinatin'. Ye see, the princess was renowned for her beauty, and..."
On and on she went,her voice growing stronger with each passing moment. She wove from one topic to another with dizzying speed – from ancient myths to the types of flowers she hoped to see, to wondering about the customs of his clan. Kenneth found himself torn between amusement and irritation. Part of him was relieved to hear her speak, to know that her spirit hadn't been entirely crushed by her ordeal. Another part longed for the peaceful quiet of earlier.
"...andof course, I'll need to find a husband soon. Colette said ye'd help with that. Do ye have anyone in mind? Not that I'm picky, mind ye, but I'd prefer someone who can read. Oh! And who likes dogs. Do ye like dogs, Laird MacAdams? I've always wanted one, but Mason never allowed it. He said they were dirty beasts, but I think he just dinnae like anythin' that might bring joy to others..."
Kenneth's head was spinning.It was as if she was trying to make up for a year of silence in a single night. "Lass," he growled, his deep voice rumbling in his chest, "I appreciate that ye've found yer voice again, but could we perhaps enjoy a moment of quiet?"
Sophie twistedin the saddle to look up at him, her green eyes sparkling with mischief in the moonlight. "Quiet? After a year of silence? I think nae, me laird. I have far too much to say and far too little time to say it."
Kenneth sighed,exasperation warring with a grudging admiration for her spirit. "I assure ye, we have plenty of time. There's nay need to say everythin' at once."
"Och, but there is!"Sophie insisted, her voice taking on a hint of desperation that made Kenneth's heart clench. "What if I wake up on the morrow and find this all a fever dream? What if me voice deserts me again? Nay, I must gab while I can, even if it fair vexes ye."
