"Aye, me laird." Callum gestured to two warriors, and they peeled off from the group, disappearin' intae the trees as silently as ghosts.
Alpin maneuvered his horse closer to Mhairi's. "Stay between me and the others. If anythin' happens?—"
"I ken." Mhairi's mouth was dry, but she kept her voice steady. "Stay down. Dinnae get in the way."
His eyes softened slightly. "I was goin' tae say run, if ye get the chance. But aye. That too."
They waited.
The forest around them was suddenly too quiet. Even the birds had stopped singing. Mhairi could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears, she could feel the tension radiating from every man in their group.
Was it Ashcombe? Had he followed them after all?
Mhairi found herself holding her breath, watching the tree line for any sign of movement. The warriors around her were utterly still, weapons ready but not drawn. Waiting for Alpin's signal.
Finally, Callum emerged from the trees with the men, his expression carefully neutral.
"Well?" Alpin's voice was still quiet, still controlled.
"Hunters." Callum reined his horse in beside them. "Local, by the look of their gear. They were tracking a deer that went through here about an hour ago. They startled when they heard us coming and hid till they could see who we were."
The tension didnae completely leave Alpin's shoulders, but some of the coiled readiness eased. "They say where they're from?"
"Village about two miles east. They recognized our colors." Callum's mouth twitched. "Nearly pissed themselves when they realized they'd been hidin' from ye, me laird."
"Good." Alpin's tone was dry. "Keeps people honest when they're properly terrified of their laird."
Despite the fear still churning in her stomach, Mhairi felt a surprised laugh bubble up. "Ye're terrible."
"I'm practical." But there was humor in his eyes now. "If people think I'm fearsome, they're less likely tae cause trouble."
"Are ye? Fearsome?"
"When I need tae be." He glanced at her.
Callum cleared his throat. "Should we... continue ridin', me laird?”
He raised his voice slightly, addressing all his men. "False alarm. Resume positions. We ride on."
The warriors moved back into formation with the same smooth efficiency they'd shown before. Within moments, they were riding again, the incident already behind them.
But Mhairi couldnae stop thinking about what she'd just witnessed.
The way Alpin's men had responded to him—instant, unquestioning obedience born not from fear but from trust. The way he'd given orders calmly, clearly, without ever raising his voice or showing panic. The way he'd positioned himself between her and potential danger without even thinkin' about it.
This wasn’t just a man who'd rescued her on impulse. This was a laird. A leader. Someone his people followed because they believed in him.
And for reasons Mhairi couldn’t quite name, that realization made her chest feel tight and warm at the same time.
"Ye're starin' again," Alpin said without looking at her.
"I'm allowed tae stare," Mhairi shot back. "Ye saved me life. That comes with starin' privileges."
"Daes it now?"
"Aye. It's in the rules."
"What rules?"
