Rhiannon scooped up Goosie and deposited her into the satchel attached to her mount, and Ian shook his head, still amazed that they had a feisty cat on the trip with them. If a fortnight ago Noah had told him that he’d soon be traveling with a cat and a woman who could throw a dagger better than most men, he’d have laughed him out of the castle.
Life worked in mysterious ways. For there was another revelation Ian had discovered: perhaps he wasn’t as satisfied in his solitary life as he’d previously believed.
10
Despite their heated morning, the rest of the day, they barely spoke. Riding hard on the road, then slow through the woods when Ian spotted a caravan or other riders ahead. No matter if they were in Scotland now, he wanted to avoid anyone on the road who might put them at risk.
They’d had to sit quietly hidden for half an hour at one point as a long trail of merchants passed on the road. Goosie had jumped from the satchel, winding her way through the crowd, and Rhiannon had winced the entire time. But either no one noticed the cat among them, or they assumed she was a stray.
Rhiannon was grateful that Ian was so intent on keeping them hidden as they traveled, even if it were from a group of merchants who would hardly cause them harm. And with his careful tactics, they weren’t detained along the way and made a good leg of the journey into Scotland. The deeper they journeyed north, the more the weight that had settled on Rhiannon’s shoulders started to lift. Each passing hour was an hour closer to her cousin. To safety and an escape from the fate her brother had laid out for her.
However, just like the night before, tonight they were going to have to camp in the open rather than find a place to rest their heads at a tavern, given what had happened last time. And while Gavin and Sarah seemed used to strife with their inn being on the border, Ian didn’t want to bring any more danger to innocent people, which she completely understood and respected him for. Despite all his wild bravado, Ian was, deep down, a very caring man.
They made camp—a single makeshift tent for her, as he explained he slept better outside without being covered. Though her movements were slow, showing her exhaustion, Ian seemed to have endless energy. She helped to remove the horses’ saddles, settling them on the ground for seats and stroked her horse’s body, neck to flank. The sweet animal sighed with pleasure at the break. Goosie, the only one to have rested well on the ride, took off for a hunt.
Rather than risk a fire tonight, Ian pulled some of the provisions given to them by Gavin and Sarah from his satchel. Bannocks and jerky. Rhiannon settled on her saddle, a blanket on her lap for warmth, and chewed thoughtfully on her jerky as she glanced at Ian. The man was handsome. Wild hair, stormy eyes. Everything about him exuded power and allure. And, oh my, he kissed like a dream. She’d never been kissed like that before—with such fervor, such passion. There was a big difference in kissing Ian, a man and warrior, and the adolescent son of a neighboring lord. Her belly did a little dance as she thought about how her breasts had pressed to his thick chest, her mouth melting on his. She wanted to kiss him some more. To toss her dinner and slide onto his lap.
She hoped that she’d arrive at her cousin’s castle soon—and she didn’t want to think about how many more days were ahead of her, even though she needed to know. Because if she had to stare at Ian’s face for much longer fantasizing about kissing him more, she was liable to stand up, yank him up, and give herself over completely.
But that one time would have to be enough. Decadent memories. She hadn’t escaped one unwanted marriage to fall into another one, no matter how handsome he was or how delicious his kiss was. She wasn’t ready to commit herself to someone. Not yet.
Rhiannon just needed to get to her cousin. To be safe. She could think about her future later.
“How long is our journey?” Talking about anything but kissing was necessary to pull her mind from her wanton pondering. “I’ve never been to Scotland or the Highlands before.”
“’Haps another day or two to my brother Alistair’s castle. We’ll rest and get cleaned up there, restocked on provisions, and then a few more days to Noah and Douglass’s.”
Blast… There was still so much time. Perhaps that was the wrong question to ask.
“Oh, that will be nice.” And it would. Staying with Alistair meant fewer nights on the road and less time alone. Plus, there was the added benefit of possibly bathing at the castle. Days of travel dust covered her skin, and her gown could use a good scouring. She was grateful for Sarah’s extra chemise and hose, so at least the clothes right next to her skin felt cleaner than her gown. But still, all of her and those items could use a good soak and scrub.
“Aye, and ’twill be a night we dinna have to worry about anyone sneaking up on us.”
She nodded, glad he was honest about the dangers since she’d been thinking the same thing on the road with him. Her eyes roved around the slowly darkening forest, imagining outlaws lurking. Behind the castle walls, she’d always felt safe. And even when she roamed, she’d always had a guard, like now with Ian. Not once had she ever considered how precarious safety could be and how easily it could be swept away until her brother had eviscerated the last remnants of her naiveté.
“And a hearty meal,” Ian said. “Alistair’s cook is one of the best. Probably could make this jerky taste like a fresh roast.”
“Oh, is that so?” Rhiannon’s mouth watered a little at the idea of a fresh roast. Besides Sarah’s delicious stew, she’d not had a warm and savory meal in weeks since her brother had not seen fit to advise his cook to make one for her. Just crusts of bread and cold porridge.
“I’ve tried to lure him back to Orkney, but he wouldn’t go, and I suppose that’s just as well since I’m never there anyway and Alistair would likely kill me for it.” He tossed a piece of jerky into the air and then caught it in his mouth.
“Impressive,” she teased, and he answered with a grin and a wink. “Why are you never at your castle?” She bit into a dried Bannock, crunching.
Ian looked away, seeming to study the trees, but she thought he was avoiding eye contact. “I was for a little while, but…” He let out a short laugh. “It may sound dumb to ye.”
“Try me.” She chomped on another bite.
“I was bored.” He shrugged. “I know that is no’ really a good answer, but ’tis the truth.”
Rhiannon gasped a laugh. “Bored? Bored being the man of the castle?”
“No’ much was happening.” He popped the cork on his water-skin, took a long swallow, and then passed to her. “We’re a ship’s ride away from civilization. The Vikings are no longer attacking. ’Tis a rather peaceful existence.”
Rhiannon savored the cool water on her throat, which was dryer than she’d realized. “And you’re not a peaceful man.”
“Hardly,” he snorted.
Returning the cork to the water-skin, she passed it back. “I noticed that. I can see where a man with your spirit would grow restless.”
