But in her heart, Blair was a pragmatist too, so she considered her options, in the off chance Paden had slipped past the MacDonalds’ attention and found her in the woods today. If he did, then she’d ride off as soon as she saw him. Or if he caught her unhorsed, she’d simply hedge the truth, explain that she was waiting to hear anything, and to meet up again. Then she would have the time to rush back to the Glenachulish keep, confide in Reade concerning Paden’s empty threats, and see if he or his family wanted to pursue Paden and his brigands.
Her mind was made up. A peaceful afternoon ride it was.
Mairi handed her the satchel and sent her off with a caution to return if the mist worsened to rain. “We dinna want ye to catch a chill, aye?” Mairi quipped with a wink and a smile. Blair nodded with a smile and rushed out the rear kitchen door, through the misty, damp courtyard, to the stables at the far end of the walled-in castle property.
Flint worked alongside another young man Blair hadn’t met — most likely another son of a local crofter looking to improve his lot and learn a skill. They bowed to her when she entered, and once Blair explained her intentions for the day, Flint and his apprentice burst into action, readying the same, dark brown palfrey she’d ridden previously.
They helped her mount and settled her into the saddle. Flint walked the horse to the double stable doors, peered outside, then raised his clear, young face to her.
“Milady, are ye sure ye want to ride by yourself in this? Rain is sure to follow soon. Look at the clouds.”
Indeed, the clouds were dark gray to the west. She gave Flint a kind smile. “Thank ye for thinking of my welfare. I shall only be a wee bit off, in the woods to the south. I vow I shan’t go far off the trail, and I should be home before the rain.”
Flint pursed his lips briefly, silently telling her what he thought ofthatidea, before nodding and handing the reins to Blair.
“Aye, if ye say milady. But if ye dinna return soon, I’ll send milord after ye.”
“Please do. I’ll need him if I get stuck in the mud. I’ll return shortly, Flint.”
Her palfrey plodded off into the mist as Blair smiled to herself. Even the stable lad was concerned for her welfare! The rumors of the MacDonalds and the harsh assessment of this clan by her dead husband made her realize how pernicious rumors could be. No wonder Reade had thought the worst of her when she’d arrived! She could only imagine what vile rumors he’d heard about Mungo and herself.
She directed the docile horse down the same path she’d ventured with Adaira. While she had lived at the Glenachulish for going on a month, she’d only gone past the castle wall the one time before. Blair didn’t relish getting lost in the rain, so sticking to the main road seemed prudent.
Once the trees thickened, Blair found the place where she believed Adaira had stopped before, slipped off the saddle, and lifted the reins so they looped over a branch under a tree. Leaves had burst from their buds, but the thin growth didn’t offer much protection from the misty air. She flicked her eyes to the sky, judging how much time she had before the mist became full rain. Not much time. Better to get to work.
She had only taken three steps into the trees when a voice called out to her.
“About time. Ye’re late. ‘Tis good for ye that ye decided to show today.”
Blair stilled, her eyes focused on the ground in front of her.
Nay. Paden hadn’t really shown up, had he? Waited for her to return? How had he eluded Reade and his scouts? Truly, she had begun to think of the man as naught but a bad dream, a holdover from her previous, miserable life. That was why she hadn’t bothered to show up when he’d requested. The MacDonald lands had become her sanctuary, yet this demon of a man managed to breach it.
She slowly lifted her gaze to find Mungo’s portly cousin leaning against a thick green oak tree, gloating. Swallowing hard, Blair hardened herself before speaking, hoping her voice did not shake like her insides did.
“Paden,” she responded, trying to keep her words to a minimum and not share more than she should. She wanted to share nothing with this man. He represented everything that had hurt her in the past. The MacDonalds were everything good and kind, and she’d guard them with every ounce of courage she possessed.
He shifted heavily and took several steps toward her until she easily made out his scraggly beard and pock-marked skin. Any closer and she was certain she’d smell his decaying breath. She remained still, struggling not to recoil from his presence.
“Do ye have anything for me? Ye better, since I had to wait. ‘Twould be better for ye if ye did.”
She believed him, but even if she had information, she wouldn’t share it. And what did he expect from an outsider lady of the hall? It wasn’t like she was present at any meetings with the Laird, or that he shared any sensitive information with her. What was he expecting? Unless Paden wanted to know Adaira’s sewing techniques, Blair had nothing for him.
“I’m no’ privy to any of the MacDonalds’ goings on, as I told ye before. I spend my time in the solar or kitchens. They share naught with me.”
She wasn’t expecting the hit when it came, so she was doubly shocked and Paden’s smack to her face flung her backwards. Blair scrambled to catch her footing and holding her hand against her offended skin as she cowered under the tree at her back. Now she did wish to recoil from him. Paden was more dangerous than she’d estimated, and she regretted not saying anything of him to Reade.
“I warned ye, Mistress Gordon,” Paden hissed at her as he took another menacing step forward.
His words struck something inside her as hard as his hand had struck her face, something deep and aching and more bold than she ever presumed to be.
“MacDonald,” she spat back as she straightened her back. She dropped her hand from her throbbing cheek and flipped her dewy hair off her face. The expected rain had started to fall. “Mistress MacDonald. I’m no longer a Gordon, thanks be to God.”
His face twisted into a scowl that would have frightened the devil himself. As it was, Blair’s insides turned liquid at that evil look as he leaned in close to her.
“I warned ye, lass. We shall meet two days hence, and we will see what information ye have then. Consider those two days a gift, lest ye, your pretty friend, and the MacDonalds will pay for your imprudence. Best ye obey me this time.”
Paden’s eyes flashes of irritated fury, and his arm moved. He raised it to strike her again, but this time she saw it coming and braced herself for it.
