Page 16 of Claimed Highland Brides

Daividh turned to look in her face, his own blank and innocent-looking. “Why would I do tha’?”

“Because ye’re a Jessie!”

Daividh threw back his head and laughed. “Is that so? What would that make ye then? Ye’re the gowk who ran off wi’out any protection.”

“I dinnae run off! I went frae a walk!”

“Aye, and ye couldnae do me the courtesy of informin’ me why?”

Julieta rode between them. “Gentleman, lady, will ye stop scrauching afore someone hears? This isnae very becoming o’ ye both.”

Both of them turned to glare at her and she hunched her shoulders. “Forgive me but ye were getting very loud.”

They both deflated, simultaneously turning away from each other. Fiona returned to staring at the lake while Daividh looked stiffly ahead. Julieta sighed with resignation.

* * *

Anndrais came to a stop at the gates of Braenaird Keep, looking up at the silent castle with trepidation. There was no guard at the gate to let him in and nothing and nobody stirred in the courtyard. He surveyed the gate critically, wondering if he should climb it.

Suddenly the front door opened and a rotund woman emerged, marching to the gate to peer up at him on his horse as if he were a recalcitrant child. “Who are ye and what d’ye seek here?” she demanded of him.

He cleared his throat nervously. “I am Anndrais from Dunavar Castle. I come with a message for Miss Fiona Douglass from her uncle, Laird Donnchadh McCormick.”

“Fiona? Did he no send someone tae fetch her?” Her voice became higher with every word.

Anndrais raised his hand to forestall her hysteria. “Indeed, he did. He just wanted tae find oot what’s keeping them?”

The woman’s frown deepened. “They left here just yesterday. Surely the laird can have some patience?”

Anndrais’s shoulders slumped with relief. “Which road did they use? The west or south road?”

“They went west.”

Anndrais nodded. “Och, that explains why I dinnae encounter them as I rode.”

“Aye weel, they’re likely tae reach Dunavar afore ye find them.”

Anndrais alighted from his horse. “Would ye spare a cup of water frae a weary traveler? I have been riding without stopping.”

The woman dug a large set of keys from her pockets and opened the gate. “’Tis late. The sun is aboot tae set. Ye’re welcome to our hospitality frae the night if ye want.”

Anndrais nodded and smiled, as he led his horse into the courtyard. “I thank ‘e.”

* * *

An hour of quiet, tense riding later, Fiona, Daividh, and Julieta stopped for lunch. Daividh had made sure to pack enough provisions for himself and one other. Luckily, at the inn, Julieta had made sure to pack extra bread and butter for the road. They sat down to a feast of dried grouse, dried figs, bread, butter, and ale. After lunch they lay beneath a tree to rest.

Fiona chose the north side of the tree while Daividh moved away, seating himself on a rock and staring off towards the horizon. Julieta exhaled loudly and rolled her eyes. Crossing over to the horses, she picked up a large canteen from Daividh’s saddlebag and marched to the lake.

“Ey!” Daividh called, half getting to his feet. “What are ye doing?”

Julieta ignored him, skidding down to the water’s edge and dipping the canteen inside. Daividh subsided, thinking that she was simply filling the canteen for the journey. He was surprised when she marched back up to them and headed straight to him. His brow furrowed as he watched her approach him, eyes narrowed in trepidation.

He shouted in shock when she upended the entire canteen on his head.

“Ye’ll stop wi’ the huffing and puffing. Ye’re no a dragon. Even if ye were, I have doused yer flames. Now can ye be pleasant frae the rest of the day?”

Daividh was spluttering in shock as he wiped the water from his face and hair while Fiona stood behind Julieta, laughing uproariously. Julieta whipped around to face her, brandishing the canteen. “And ye!”