She must look a mess. Her mother would be most displeased. She could almost hear her mother’s voice as she scolded her about the importance of taking care of one’s appearance, especially in the presence of the opposite sex. Though she was for certs that Rory was not someone she should fash about. Once again her thoughts traveled to how her father or her husband-to-be would react when they found out how she had been mistreated by Rory Hart.
“Here.” Rory offered her the skin of ale and she took a long sip. “Good morn.”
“Is it?” She asked. “It doesnae feel good. As a matter of fact, it feels positively bleak.” She stood and groaned as her back cracked. “I dinnae believe I have e’er slept so uncomfortably in all my life.”
Rory shrugged, his eyes watching her. “We have at least one more night outside. Ye should be used to it by then.”
With his boot, he stomped out the dying embers of the fire as she sat on one of the rocks and slipped on her stockings and then herboots. Thankfully, both of them had dried overnight. Hopefully, she would manage to keep herself and her clothing dry this day.
She looked up at the gray sky and frowned. The dark clouds moving lazily across the landscape didn’t look promising. She feared more wet boots, stockings, and clothing were in her future.
“We should go,” Rory stated impatiently as if she were delaying him.
Standing, she winced as her muscles screamed in protest. She would not let him see her discomfort. Refused to. Nay, she would carry on, maintaining her dignity and denying him the pleasure of seeing her suffer.
Holding out a piece of bread to her, she just stared at it, having the mind to refuse when her stomach betrayed her and let out a mighty growl. Snatching it out of his hand, Alana ate hurriedly as she watched Rory pick up her plaid, shake it out, and then roll it afore placing it in his pack.
Rory waited to ensure she had finished and then slipped his bag over his shoulders. She did the same, biting back the moan at the ache in her stiff shoulders. Once this journey was done, she vowed to never go on a hike again. These treks were why carriages were invented. Why horses existed.
Why she wasn’t on one now still baffled her. All because Rory was put off because he’d been tasked as her escort when he had plans to hike.
He could have gone on his hike after he had delivered her to her betrothed.
Just like the day afore, Rory walked quickly, causing her to hurry her steps so she could keep up, no matter how much her body didn’t want to accommodate the pace. She didn’t have a choice. She truly believed if she fell behind, he would just leave her. His oath be damned.
As he slowed his steps just a wee bit, she fell in line beside him,refusing to show him any amount of weakness. She could do this. She just needed to convince her body that it was capable. The way her body kept protesting was a sign that she needed to leave the confines of her home more often and enjoy some time in the beauty of nature that surrounded her. Her home, Auchenford, wasn’t set in such a beautiful backdrop as these lands offered, but it held its own beauty.
They climbed a particularly steep hill, and Alana slipped again. She was surprised when strong arms closed around her, preventing her from falling. Rory held her steady as she caught her balance, looking down at her with what looked to be genuine concern on his face. As soon as she was stable, he let go quickly, as if he’d been stung by a hundred bees.
On and on they went, the rain thankfully not arriving and saving her from another wet walk. With the ground remaining dry, she had less chance of slipping, which meant less opportunities to have to rely on Rory for help—which she refused. Nay, she would not ask for his assistance again.
Even when her feet formed blisters from the fast pace in which they walked. She remained quiet. Nary a whimper escaped her gritted teeth as she pushed forward.
They continued on with no respite, her feet painfully blistered so that she finally had to speak up. “Must we go at such a pace all day? Cannae we slow down?”
“Nay.”
One word. That was all he gave her. She clenched her fists. This man was truly insufferable. Uncaring. “Ye are going too fast, and I believe ye are doing it on purpose.” She finally gave in. “Are ye trying to break me?”
He paused, his back stiff and turned to her. “As ye have said more than once, my lady,” he said sarcastically. “Ye are on a schedule. I am only trying to ensure ye dinnae leave yer dear betrothed waiting overlong for yer arrival.” He spun and continued on.
Alana had no choice but to carry on, seething, as she glared at his back. A very broad back, she noted, but chased away the thought as soon as it entered her mind. Rory Hart was not someone she would give another thought to after this trip was said and done.
At least the clouds had finally broken up and the sun appeared, warming her skin. She took relief in that and tried to think of aught but the blisters on her feet as they continued on their journey.
She looked at the thick trees, tall and strong as they swayed in the light breeze. Listened to the birds twittering away as they passed. The squirrels chittering as they scattered, jumping from branch to branch, as she and Rory drew near. A hawk’s cry in the distance. The lush green of the forest. She had to admit it was beautiful. The Highlands were like naught she had ever seen. They were so very different than where she had spent all of her life in the lowlands. The landscape there was more open with less trees. The fields were green, but there was something about being this far north that changed the colors. The green was deeper. Darker. More beautiful.
She had feared that she would miss her familial home when she had left, but the beauty of the Highlands for certs would help ease her sense of loss.
“We will stop here for a brief respite.”
Alana almost cried in relief. But she didn’t. To do so would show Rory how much she was struggling, and she would not allow him to see that. She wouldn’t give him whatever sliver of satisfaction that he might gain from seeing her suffer. Instead, she nodded and excused herself so that she could take care of personal matters in private.
“Dinnae stray far.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “Where’er would I go? I dinnae ken where we are.”
His face softened, just a touch. “I only want ye to be safe is all.”
