“All right.”
“And we will be riding fast and hard. This will nae be an easy, enjoyable trip.”
“I expected that.”
He thought a minute longer as he tidied up the rest of his things. He wanted to leave within the hour, not have to wait forIona to prepare for the journey. Letting out a sigh, he raised an eyebrow at her.
“I will nae be able to escort ye back here in a few days. I will be at the castle.”
“I have made arrangements to ride back with the patrol in two days time.”
“Ye seem to have everything thought through. If I did nae ken any better, I would think that ye already and yer bags packed and?—”
She held up her bag, the one she had been holding behind her back for their entire conversation. He chuckled and shook his head.
“All right. Ye can ride with me. We leave within the hour. Can ye make it to the stables and find a horse?”
He hardly managed to get the question out before she was racing out of the room to do just that.
As agreed,Iona met Finn out in the courtyard five minutes shy of an hour later. Her back was slung over the back of one of the mares from the stables, already saddled and ready. She was petting the beast's nose, whispering something soft and gentle. His horse was waiting for him with an empty saddle right next to her. Two or three others had decided to join them and ride back to Glenkirk, though the majority of Seamus' forces opted to stay put.
Having already said their goodbyes, Flora, Brid, and the others were nowhere to be found. He didn't mind. It was one less time he had to lie to his sister about why he needed to go. Even outside in the courtyard, he could still hear Campbell's laugh and the sickening crack of a whip.
“Are ye ready?” he called out to Iona, brushing off the haunting memories.
“Aye. Just waiting on ye.”
He nodded and walked over to her. Without warning, his hands went to her waist, and he lifted her into the saddle. As soon as she was settled enough that she wouldn't fall off, Finn let go and went to his own horse.
“I want to make it before the evening meal,” he called out to the group. “We will nae stop unless absolutely necessary. Keep an eye out.”
They rode hard and fast, leaving no room for conversation. Finn preferred it this way. Iona had an odd way of getting under his skin and turning his world upside down. And he was in no mood to talk, no mood to contemplate all the ways he could be better.
With his attention kept on the road ahead of them, the journey passed by fast enough. As he had planned, they made it back to Glenkirk Castle an hour before the evening meal.
There was no feast or fanfare to welcome them back, the way there had been at Murray Castle. The few men who had remained greeted him, but that was all.
Dismounting, Finn walked out the stiffness in his legs as he made his way over to Iona.
“Do ye ken where ye are going?” he asked a bit awkwardly.
He had to remind himself that she had spent several days inside the keep. She would surely know her way around.
“Aye,” she answered with a smile. “But I will let ye ken if I need any help.”
“Listen,” he called out, stopping her from turning and leaving the courtyard. “I was thinking about it, and I would be happy to escort ye back to Murray Castle. My men have been able to manage here without me this long. They will nae miss me for an afternoon while I take ye back to the others.”
“A-are ye sure?”
“Aye. I find I have missed riding for the sake of riding. The fresh air will do me good.”
“I guess that settles it, then.”
“Sleep here tonight, in whatever room ye are most comfortable. And sleep as long as ye need. I can imagine ye need it if ye have been without yer tonic for two weeks. When ye are ready tomorrow, I will bring ye back.”
“Thank ye, Finn.”
Iona stepped towards him and placed a hand on his arm, before she reached up on the tips of her toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.
