“I canna believe this is happening.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her skin.
“Neither can I.”
Gretna met his tender gaze. “Did ye tell Ian?”
Remy let out a choked laugh. “Do ye think I would be standing here right now if I had?”
Gretna swallowed as she thought about her brother. “Ye are his closest friend. He wouldna hurt ye, Remy.”
“While I thank ye for yer vote of confidence,” Remy replied, wrapping his arm around her waist. “I donna think that our friendship extends tae the very fact that I wish tae be with his sister.”
Gretna laid her head on his shoulder.
“It doesna matter. I will talk with him.” Ian would see that they cared for one another and wouldn’t stand in the way of her happiness. She knew that was all that her brother wanted for her.
“Let’s not dwell on it tonight. I just wish tae hold ye while I can.” Remy sighed.
So they positioned themselves near the fire, using the blanket from the horse to provide some sort of barrier between them and the ground. Gretna lay before the fire and Remy settled behindher, wrapping his arm around her waist and pressing his lips into her hair.
“Sleep,” he whispered.
She snuggled against his hard body and for the first time in weeks, she fell into a dreamless sleep.
21
Remy pulled the horse to a stop, frowning as he watched the sun set in the distance. He had hoped they would reach Wallace land before night fell but it looked as if that wasn’t going to be the case.
“Why are ye stopping?” Gretna asked, her back resting against his chest.
“The sun is setting,” Remy responded, looking around. “I think we are going tae have to stop for the night.”
She groaned but he nudged the horse forward, moving down the road. He knew how she felt, longing for a comfortable bed and a bath to wash off the dust from their hard ride, but he couldn’t risk her safety, not now. “There’s a home up ahead,” he told her. “Perhaps they will let us stay in their barn for the night.”
Gretna didn’t respond, but by the time they arrived at the small farm, she was sliding off his horse before he could. A man and a woman came out of the farmhouse, the woman eyeing them warily as Remy dismounted. “We mean no harm,” Remy called out, holding up his hands. “Just seeking shelter for the night.”
“And perhaps a bit of food,” Gretna added.
The man exchanged glances with his wife before he nodded. “Aye, ye can stay in the barn. Mah name is Clen. This is mah wife Sheren.”
“Remy,” he answered, sliding an arm around Gretna’s waist. “This is mah wife, Gretna.”
He felt her stiffen beside him, but Remy knew it would be easier to explain that they were wed than not. After all, he planned on placing a ring on her finger the first moment after he got Ian’s approval.
And if the laird didn’t allow it, well, Remy didn’t know what he would do.
They were ushered into the house, the smell of stew heavy in the air. “Ye can sit there,” Sheren announced, pointing at the small table. “Do ye wish for food for yer men?”
“Nay,” Remy said with a shake of his head. He could see the evidence of struggling in the farmhouse and the meager food that graced their table, knowing his men could find an animal to eat tonight. “Just a bowl for mah wife.”
“Ye need tae eat as well,” Gretna murmured as they sat on the bench together.
He leaned down, brushing his lips over her ear.
“I donna think they have enough.”
She remained silent as Sheren sat a bowl before her and after eating only half of it, she pushed it to him.
