When Thomas lost all his wealth helping fund a crusade, she turned her attention back to Gavin without even pausing for breath. Then she discovered the English lords.
For the last two years she had chased a noble all the way down to the English court. Gavin held out little hope that she would remain down there. No doubt at some point she would come back to chase him again.
Would marriage to Amelia be so bad? Bruce had asked him that on a couple of occasions and his answer had been the same. It wouldn’t be bad. It would just leave him numb. Duty dictated he marry to end the feud between the MacGregors and the Frazers. Could he do it?
He took another look at Heather as she walked between his men, the sun shining on her golden hair, making it look like a field of wheat in the late afternoon just before harvest. She was a ray of summer that had somehow survived long into fall.
He caught her eyes. Did she know what he was thinking? She frowned as she looked up at him. He needed to focus, stop staring at her. When he opened his mouth nothing came out. He had to clear his throat twice before his usual booming voice returned.
“We ride out as a hunting party,” he said. “If any should ask, we seek only deer not mischief. Keep your eyes open and your ears keen.”
The men began to mount their horses as Gavin turned his attention to Heather.
“My lady,” he said, holding out a hand. “Ready for a ride?”
She laughed. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He was confused for a moment but then he realized. “I meant are you ready to ride the horse?”
“Can he not take me to dinner first, get to know me?”
He roared with laughter. “You better not make jokes like that around Susanne. She’ll have you prostrated before the altar begging for forgiveness.”
“I’ll bear that in mind. You really want me to ride that?” She craned her neck to look up at Lairdkiller. His nostrils flared angrily down at her as he tossed his head.
“He’s no more than a baby,” Gavin replied, patting Lairdkiller.
“A baby? Yeah, right.”
“Here, let me help you.”
He grabbed her hips, shoving her up the side of the horse. “Hey, wait,” she said as Lairdkiller moved. She almost fell.
“Grab onto the reins,” he said as his men laughed at the spectacle before them. “Dinnae let go.”
Lairdkiller seemed to enjoy the attention, shifting again so Heather fell further. She was left dangling from the reins, her feet brushing the ground.
“Stand still,” Gavin roared. Lairdkiller saw the look in his eyes. The fun was over.
The horse stood fixed to the spot as he helped Heather up and onto the beast’s back.
“Let’s get moving,” he said, climbing up behind her and then flicking Lairdkiller’s reins. The grooms stood back warily, watching the destrier’s hooves dig deep ruts in the courtyard as they headed out through the gatehouse.
There was not a cloud in the sky. The air was filled with fall crispness. The first frosts were not far away. People moved aside on the track to let them by.
“My laird,” each one said as he rode past, doffing their caps and avoiding his eye.”
“How come they all know who you are?” Heather asked.
“They know Lairdkiller better than him,” Tom shouted. “That’s why he rides the beast, his face is forgettable.”
“Better a forgettable face like mine than an unforgettable travesty like yours,” Gavin retorted. “You’re the only man ever to be mistaken for a corpse.”
“Your mother didn’t think I was a corpse when I took her riding.”
“You’ll end the day a corpse if you mention my mother again.”
The men laughed then fell to talking amongst themselves.
