“I won,” Ian reminded them, his arms out to the side, no weapons, showing he meant to fight no further. “We had an accord. Would ye fight me and go back on your laird’s word?”
They looked at one another, then at MacGregor, then back to one another, then to Ian, and shook their heads.
“Good.” Ian nodded, meeting each of them in the eye. “Stand back as we gather our things.”
Ian took Rhiannon’s hand and brought her into the croft. She followed his lead, her gaze behind her still disbelieving what had happened. And not at all trusting that the men would let them leave. Their horses were already saddled, as he must have done when she went to relieve herself in the bushes.
“Mount up,” he told her, his voice brooking no argument.
And not that she would argue anyway. She wanted to get the hell out of here. Rhiannon swung up onto her horse and patted her lap, but Goosie jumped onto Ian’s saddle. Fine, she’d put her into the saddlebag later. Ian did not mount his horse. Instead, he led them cautiously from the croft, their gazes on the men standing exactly where they’d left them. The fact that he’d yet to mount made her nervous. As if he fully expected another brawl and wanted to be able to move swiftly on his feet.
“The cat really does ride the horse,” one of the men said, and they broke out into cackles.
Rhiannon patted her lap, and Goosie jumped over.
“Back away, lads,” Ian said. “I trust ye to honor your laird’s word.”
They nodded, as their laird still lay unconscious, and they’d rather not deal with his wrath when he woke to find they hadn’t done as they’d been instructed.
When they reached the edge of the small clearing, Ian mounted his horse, and Rhiannon put Goosie into her saddlebag. Even as they rode out, Ian kept his eyes on the men, watching, expecting them to change their minds; no doubt, she certainly did.
But they remained where they were. A few minutes down the road, Ian glanced over at her. “We’re going hard for a bit.”
Rhiannon nodded and followed his lead, urging her horse into a faster pace. A short time later, they slowed, then went fast again. But after a few hours, the horses needed a rest from the grueling pace, and they stopped at a loch to give them water and a good rub down.
Their journey was like that for the rest of the day until nightfall. Rhiannon collapsed on the blanket she was wrapped in under the makeshift tent and was asleep the moment her head touched the ground. Ian woke her before dawn. They mounted up and rode out. The day was as the one before, and the night much the same.
But the following morning, after they’d been on the road for only a couple of hours, Ian pointed in the distance.
“Castle Buanaiche.”
Through delirious eyes, she made out the shape of a fortress in the distance. Emotion welled in Rhiannon’s chest, and she swallowed around the lump forming in her throat. She didn’t think she’d ever been so happy to see a place. Tears burned her eyes, and she clenched her teeth to avoid bursting into a crying fit, which she felt very much like she might do. She was happy and exhausted, and because of that, a complete emotional mess. And, saints, but what a relief to finally be so close to her cousin. To have made it without dying.
“I can’t believe we’re nearly there,” she finally managed to say, her throat still tight and the words strained with emotion.
“Just a wee bit more.”
Rhiannon let out a long sigh of relief. The road to this point had been arduous and filled with fear. All of which she’d tried to keep tamped down so as not to go mad along the way. But now, everything was rushing out. “I want a bath. And a proper meal. Clean clothes. A game of cards or chess.”
Ian chuckled. “I’m certain they’ll give ye all that and more.”
“And Douglass, I haven’t seen her in so long.” She swiped at the happy tears that dripped from the corners of her eyes.
“She will be verra pleased to see ye, lass.”
“Thank you so much, Ian.” She flashed him a smile, then laughed a little as she wiped away more tears. “I’m sorry to be crying. I am so grateful. I never would have made this trip on my own.”
He grinned at her and winked. “Dinna apologize for your tears. And it seems I may no’ have either, considering how ye’ve helped me along with several foes now.”
Rhiannon laughed. “’Tis true I helped, but I’m guessing you wouldn’t have been in those situations were it not for me.”
“Perhaps there is some truth in that, but I rather liked thinking ye a brave warrior woman.”
“I’ll not dissuade you from such thoughts.” She glanced back at the castle, its towers rising through the trees, and beyond that, a massive body of water.
Ian’s home was across those waters. They’d not discussed what had happened the night they were in the croft nor the confessions they’d made. Perhaps because they were both worried that the other might change their mind. She had not. A future with Ian seemed as much a dream as the castle standing almost within reach.
But the castle was there, and so was he.
