“Oh, yes, I ken Helen well,” Bailey smiled.
Thunderclouds rolled in on the frown that crossed Tilly’s forehead at the mention of Helen.
“She’s one o’ ours, is she? Is she pretty?” Tilly muttered under her breath.
Kieran shook his head at her, a silent warning that she was pushing the point too far now. Tilly’s shoulders drooped in admission as she continued, “All right. I feel slightly better. I will feel completely better if ye tak’ some men with ye, Kieran.”
“I considered it,” he replied, “I will tak’ some men with me, have them scout the area nearby, but I dinnae feel it is really necessary. If it is a trap, then I would rather it be only me who suffers for it. A few o’ them will travel there with me, an’ we will get there early enough so that we can scout the area an’ mak’ sure there is nae a trap or anything dangerous. If I feel safe enough, I will send them back. If not, I will keep them with me, hidden in the forest. That way, ye ken I am protected an’ they will ken where I am, either way.”
“Are ye sure yer thinking straight, Kieran? Yer taking big risks for a woman ye barely ken. I dinnae feel this is a wise move,” Tilly said, crossing her arms across her chest.
“I think ye best watch yersel’, Tilly,” Kieran said, drawing himself up to his full height as he stared her down, “I am the Laird o’ this clan. I dinnae mak’ decisions lightly, an’ I dinnae go out o’ my way tae put my clan in danger. Ye may be my sister, but ye still answer tae me. I understand yer worried, but I willnae have ye question my authority.” Kieran glared at Tilly before doing the same to Bailey, who shrank in on himself slightly. “Are we clear?”
Both Tilly and Bailey nodded mutely.
Silence reigned for a minute before Tilly took a deep breath and said, “I don’t think yer thinking straight. I can see ye have feelings for this Sassenach, brother. Ye need tae be careful.”
“Tilly,” Kieran said, the warning clear in his tone.
“Sorry,” Tilly mumbled, her eyes dropping to the floor.
“Good. I will be meeting her at sunset, at the old, abandoned hunting cabin up in the woods. If I so much as sniff that one o’ ye is followin’ me or sendin’ someone tae dae so, I will have ye both locked up in the dungeon for a week with nae food, ye hear me?”
The stunned expressions on their faces felt oddly satisfying to Kieran, whose patience had just reached its limit.
There was no more than an hour left until sunset – it was time that he made his way to the cabin.
Kieran was not one to leave a lady waiting.
* * *
The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon, throwing rays of fire throughout the sky, when Vivien reached the old cabin.
She was not surprised to see another horse was already tied up to a tree in front of the cabin and a flickering flame in the window. She smiled to herself, knowing that her heart should not be leaping out of its place in her chest, but not caring that it was.
Vivien had not even placed her foot on the bottom step before the door flung open to reveal the strongly built form of Kieran. The light in his eyes promised he had been waiting as eagerly as she had, the twitch of his lips into a half-smile showing his joy that she had finally arrived.
“Sassenach,” Kieran said, reaching out to take her hand as she climbed the couple of steps up onto the front porch.
“Sir Kieran,” Vivien smiled, looking up at him through her eyelashes.
“Aren’t ye a sight for sore eyes?” he said, as he led her into the small cabin. He had prepared a small fire in the hearth; the evenings still held that slight tinge of winter’s last icy grip. It was pleasantly warm inside the cabin – especially for one that was largely abandoned.
“Don’t make me blush, Kieran,” Vivien said, trying her best not to giggle like a young maid.
“I cannae promise that, my Lady.” He winked at her with that roguish grin on his face.
Vivien had to fight every inch of her mind and body to keep from throwing caution to the wind and launching herself at Kieran with wanton abandonment. It took every ounce of control she had, but she managed it somehow.
Kieran had cleaned off the furniture that remained in the cabin; there was nothing of much value there, but he had swept the floor, cleaned the chairs and table, and brought a blanket with him. Vivien felt tears prickling the back of her eyelids at the thought of the care and attention he had gone to ensure her comfort. It had been unnecessary; they would not be there long, and there really was no need to court her.
Vivien fought the gasp that threatened to expel itself.
Was this what it felt like to be courted by a man? She wondered for the first time in her life if men really would put in effort for a woman they truly cared about. This was something so unexpected that she could not help but be taken aback by the care that Kieran always seemed to show her.
“What was so urgent, Sassenach?” Kieran asked, his eyes searching hers. Vivien took a steadying breath, doing her best to ignore the pounding of her heart and the ache she felt where Kieran’s hand had been holding hers.
“It’s Lord Stone. He’s going to attack your castle,” Vivien said, after a few moments had passed. She felt ashamed that she was party to the behavior of her husband. She despised his actions, but she was powerless to stop him. There was nothing she could do but warn Kieran and hope it was enough to help.
