“Long story,” John said again.
The chief of the Sinclairs folded his arms over his chest and squinted suspiciously. “And how does it end?”
John grinned at him. “I’ll let you know. It isn’t over yet.”
“Ach, lad—as I said, Donal MacLeod hates Sassenachs. He’ll kill ye.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Dair’s scowl deepened. “Ye’re not making any sense.Whyare ye going to Iolair to see Gillian MacLeod? Tell me that much of the tale.”
John wondered if his friend would stop him, or even hit him. “She loves me. And I—”
But Dair interrupted. “Gillian? Shy little Gillian? I’ve never heard her say two words together. How did—? Och, come back inside. Have something to eat, sleep on it.”
Forget her, he meant.He couldn’t do that. He’d tried.John slipped a bridle over the head of a fresh garron.
“Donal MacLeod’s not known as Fearsome for naught—especially where his daughters are concerned. I know that from experience, lad. Ye’d best talk to Fia about this.”
John strapped his gear behind the saddle. “You mean I should let her talk me out of going.”
Dair didn’t deny it. “Why not marry Elspeth if ye want to settle down? She’s a good woman, and no one’s going to gut ye for daring to ask for her hand.”
“Connor Sinclair might,” John said, shrugging. “He’s the one who wants to wed Elspeth.”
“Do ye love her?” Dair asked
“Elspeth? No. That was over nearly a year ago.”
Dair rolled his eyes. “I meant Gillian.”
Surely Gillian should be the first to know. He tightened his lips and said nothing.
Dair groaned. “Ye love her that much, do ye?”
A lump formed in John’s throat. “Aye.”
Dair put his hand on the garron’s bridle, stopping John. “It’s over a hundred miles across land. That’s at least five or six days of hard riding—if ye travel fast. Ye could go by ship. TheVirgincould have ye at Glen Iolair in two days, and ye’ll need someone to watch your back when Donal hears.”
John considered, but shook his head. “No. I think I’d best do this alone. A longer journey will give me time to think of what I’m going to say when I get there.” He led the garron out of the stable, and Dair followed.
“There’s something ye should know before ye leave. It’s important,” Dair said as he mounted, but John grinned. Now he’d decided, nothing would stop him.
“Tell me later,” he said and kicked the garron to a gallop.
“I love her,” he told the horse as they flew along the cliff top before turning west. “I love her!” He shouted it again, to the sea, hoped that if Daniel’s spirit was still out there, beneath the waves, he’d hear and approve.
The fact that Gillian might be carrying his child wasn’t thereasonhe was going. It was just the excuse. He’d made his choice at last, and love trumped all else. He wanted her, and children, and every joy life would give them, and he’d face any peril for her, take any risk.
Even asking the Fearsome MacLeod of Glen Iolair for her hand.
* * *
Gillian looked around her father’s hall. The huge room hummed with conversation and laughter, and every table was full. Each laird assumed she’d choosehim,and they all sat smug and smiling among their equally smug clansmen, puffed with pride.
She clasped her hands together so tight the bones ached. Her suitors were becoming impatient.
It had been four weeks and two days since she’d left Edinburgh, and John hadn’t come.
