“I’m no’ so certain.”
“Let’s give it a try and see, aye?”
Mary nodded. “We must, or I’ll never see my sisters.” Cameron wrapped her travel cloak around her shoulders and escorted her out of the keep, half expecting someone to stop them, but the others they passed merely smiled and nodded in greeting. They met the healer in the bailey, and Mary told her where they were going.
“Dinna fash,” the healer told her. “We’ll manage, and I’ll keep an eye on yer da.”
Mary squeezed her hand. “Thank ye.”
“Now get ye gone afore yer da finds out and orders the gates closed against ye.”
Cameron was glad to see the notion of being stuck here got Mary moving even faster. They mounted up and headed out, their erstwhile pack-horse tied to his saddle, six Rose warriors riding escort in their wake.
Mary nearly criedin relief when they left the gates of the Rose keep behind them. She’d felt trapped by her obligations for years, but had never felt physically trapped until today. She didn’t know if her father would have closed the gates against them, but she was perfectly happy not to find out. Instead, she needed to thank Cameron for reminding her she was no longer under her father’s control, and for freeing her from Rose’s walls, even for the short span of a visit to Brodie.
She took a deep breath and smiled at the serious expression Cameron wore as they rode along. She guessed he was on the lookout for trouble. His eyes moved constantly, taking in the woods and countryside around them.
She worried less about what lay before them than about the possibility of hearing Rose riders thundering after them from behind. “Do ye think the countryside is still overrun by gallowglass men, this long after ye were wounded?” Mary asked.
“Nay, I dinna. If they were about, we’d have seen some at Rose’s gates long before now, counting on Highland hospitality to force us to feed and shelter them. Likely they’ve gone home to Ireland or settled in with Domnhall at Dingwall or on Islay.”
“Then what are ye looking for?”
“Nothing and everything, lass. ’Tis a habit of long-standing and one that has spared my life many times. Even with our escort along, I willna be lax now, of all times, with ye here.”
The hours passed quickly, and almost before she knew it, the Brodie keep rose before them and they passed through the gates.
“Mary!” Her middle sister Annie’s voice rang out across the bailey as Mary, with Cameron’s help, dismounted and gained her balance. She hadn’t ridden for so long in months, and despite several stops along the way, the pins and needles in her rump, legs and feet told her she needed to get out of the keep more often.
She ignored the discomfort, and with a smile for Cameron in thanks, went to embrace her sister. “Surprise!”
“Da got my missive, then? Yet he is no’ with ye?”
Mary shook her head. “He did, and nay. In fact, he refused to allow me…us…to come, but…”
“Us?” Annie interrupted and peered over Mary’s shoulder. “Ah, Cameron!”
Cameron stepped forward then. “Cameron Sutherland.”
“I ken who ye are…”
“Mary’s…husband,” he added.
Annie whirled, mouth agape, and skewered Mary with her gaze. “Husband?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but turned back to Cameron. “Ye wasted nay time, I see.” She studied him for a moment, grinning.
“The very same, and nay, I didna.”
Annie stepped forward and hugged him. “Catherine and Kenneth will be so pleased with yer news.”
With a bemused glance at Mary, Cameron returned the hug, then released Annie and moved to Mary’s side.
Mary squeezed his hand. “Are they here?”
“Aye, of course,” Annie answered with a grin. “And eager for the kirking, they are. They’ll be even more eager, now ye are here. Come inside. Ye must betired from yer trip.”
In the Brodie great hall, Annie got them seated while sending for food and drink, her husband, their youngest sister, and Kenneth.
Before long, the hall filled with squeals and laughter as the sisters greeted each other. The men took their ales to seats near the hearth while Mary looked both sisters over.
