“They don’t need them any longer,” Conall commented as his horse stepped around the dead bodies left to rot in the mud.
Reade nodded and trotted around to Maddock, who spoke gravely. “Well, the Campbells will certainly know we were here. So much for no’ drawing attention.”
Reade pursed his lips and glanced around the blood-stained road. Of course, Maddock didn’t care for Reade’s decisive, if impulsive, reaction to the highwaymen.
“At least we shall have good news for him regarding the attacks on MacDonald roads,” Reade said. “Come. Let’s ride before any more Campbells decide to come to their aid.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
When they rode pastthe gate, tired and covered in streaks of dirt and blood, Seamus met them. He must have seen the rag-tag troupe approaching, and the expression on his face indicated he understood what had happened.
“I thought I told ye no’ to draw attention.”
Maddock shrugged at his father. “’Tis difficult to do when ye are a MacDonald on Campbell land. I’m surprised we didn’t attract more attention.”
Seamus approached Reade as he slid off his horse. Flint was at his side, wrapping his hands around the steed’s reins.
“And of this Paden character? Any sign of him with the Campbells?”
Reade shook his head. “No’ on the borders. And if he’s coming to our lands on the regular, I canna imagine him seeking refuge farther south. Maddock and I, we think he may no’ have found refuge with them at all. We should start investigating the woods on the Campbell borders.” Reade handed his reins over to Flint and slipped his leg over his horse. “However, we do have a wee bit o’good news. ‘Tis a decent chance Ranulf and Ian may no’ have to worry about highwaymen for a time. We dispatched a half-dozen of them right on the border.”
Seamus crinkled his nose, then pursed his lips and nodded. “Aye. I’ll take that as something to be gained and send a missive to them. Yet, we dinna know where this Paden rat might take his refuge. First, ye should eat, and whilst ye eat, we can strategize. The woods are thick to the south.”
Maddock joined his brother and tossed his reins to Flint. The other men followed suit with the younger stable lad before heading toward the main hall doors. Kitchen maids had set out platters of dried meat, oatcakes, and hardy scotch broth soup. The hearty aromas helped temper the bloody drudgery of the day, and Reade’s stomach rumbled. He hadn’t broken his fast in the morn, so eager he was to begin his search for Paden, and now his body protested that hasty decision.
Mairi handed him a damp cloth so he could wipe the dirt and blood from his hands and face. As he swept the rag over her forehead, his gaze roamed the hall, looking for his absent wife. Reade stepped up to Mairi.
“Have ye seen Blair this morn? Did she break her fast?”
Mairi handed a cloth to Hewie. “Nay. Your mother took a platter to the lass earlier today. But I have no’ seen her.”
Reade’s eyes narrowed at Mairi’s response. Was Blair still upset over what had transpired the day before? Despite his growling stomach, he strode away from the tables toward the stairwell. Was she not coming for a midday meal?
He followed the curve of the steps, and his wife appeared, looking pale yet beautiful and making her way down the stairs. It seemed every freckle on her face stood out in contrast to her skin, yet her eyes brightened when her gaze landed on Reade, and he reached for her as she neared the bottom step. His arm slipped around her waist, for support, aye, but he also had this sense of wanting to touch her, hold her – hell, after the bloody Campbell encounter, he wanted to sink his cock into her more than anything – as a way to connect with her. Their tether was far too precarious to deny.
Blair leaned into him, and his embrace engulfed her.This.This was what they needed to make sure that nothing, not Paden, not the Campbells, not their pasts, came between them again.
