Page 35 of Never Kiss a Highlander

“Aye,” he said. Make sure the ramparts are well covered and, without raising any questions among the staff, make sure they are aware of anything out of order.”

Chapter Fifteen

Alison awoke to an empty bed. She’d only slept with Finn for a few nights now, yet she felt abandoned when she awoke alone.

She dressed quickly, anxious to see what was happening in the kitchen. The few maids and Maude, the cook, had returned to their duties, but the few who were not sick had caught whatever it was the others had so the kitchen was once again missing staff.

The kitchen seemed to be in working order.

“Good morning, my lady,” Maude said, always cheerful.

“Thank ye, and the same to ye, Maude.”

She took a mug of ale and a piece of warm bread with butter. After finishing that, she headed to the stable to take a morning ride.

That was a treat for her since she hadn’t done it the past few mornings since she’d had to see to the morning meal. After grabbing an apple for her horse, she left the keep and headed to the stables.

Old Kilmead smiled as she entered the building. “Good morn, Lady Mackay.”

It took her a minute to realize by marrying Finn she had gone from Lady Alison to Lady Mackay. It didn’t seem so odd sinceshe’d been a Mackay all her life. If things had worked out the way they’d been planned, she’d be Lady Sinclair right now.

And living at Castle Sinclair Grinigoe as Archie Sinclair’s wife. She shuddered thinking about the way he strode around the keep, like a rooster looking for a mate, yet he had a mistress he didn’t need to impress.

He certainly had not impressed her. Even if she had to butt heads with Finn for the rest of her life, it was better than being married to that man.

“I ken it’s been a few days, but I hope ye have Bonnie-Bay ready for me.

“I do, my lady. I just have to send for someone to ride along with ye.”

She told herself not to take out her anger on the old man. He was only doing what he was ordered to do by her arrogant husband.

“I doona wish to disturb anyone and take them from their chores. I will be fine by myself.” She moved to take the reins of Bonnie-Bay from Old Kilmead.

“Nay, lass. I have orders from yer husband to make sure ye doona ride out by yerself.”

“I’m my lady’s escort.” The voice behind her was familiar and brought warmth to her body parts and a frown to her face.

“Doona ye have work to do, my lord?”

He took the reins of Morag that Old Kilmead handed him, telling her the stable master knew that Finn was coming to escort her.

Although she resented having an escort—especially one ordered by her husband—she was pleased to see Finn had taken time from his busy day to ride with her.

He grinned as he lifted her by the waist and settled her in the saddle. “No more complaints about an escort?”

‘Twas her time to compromise, but not completely. She raised her chin. “Nay. But doona think ye can continue to go behind my back and give out commands and orders.”

He jumped on Morag and they turned their horses in the direction of the wide open fields and raced down the hill in the cold, early morning air.

She could tell he was holding his horse back so they could ride together since she’d seen the power of Morag. Besides the pleasant air, the leaves on the trees turning bright yellow and orange—a sure sign winter would be on its way—cheered her.

Glancing over at her husband, she felt a jolt of happiness. When it was announced by her da that she was marrying Finn, although she rebelled, she felt a wonderful sense of relief.

After the intimacy they’d had in the stable, she knew she would never have been happy to spend the rest of her life with Archie.

However, since that time, she had grown to actually be, if not happy, at least content with Finn. Aye, he was arrogant and controlling but she had to admit most, if not all of his orders had to do with her safety.

No one had cared about her safety since her brothers died. But, she told herself, there were ways she had to keep him from taking over her life.