Page 78 of Outlaw Ever After

Alex chuckled.

“Is it true what the maids are saying, sir? That ye’re the—”

“That I did.” Alex tousled the lad’s head as he felt Peigi’s gaze burning into his back. She didn’t seem to be missing these tiny hints. “Though I’m nay certain I could have beaten ye . Yer sister Gertie was telling yer grandmither that ye’re the reigning champion.”

Thomas looked away bashfully, when he finally seemed to recognize Peigi atop Faunus.

“Mi lady .” He bowed, the others falling silent. “Forgive me, I nay realized it was ye, for ye look…different .”

Thomas grasped Alex’s tunic sleeve, pulling him down to his ear. “I hope ye win the bride prize.”

Alex’s eyes connected with his songbird’s from where he stooped, gazing up at chestnut, bay, and amber heaven swirling in her guarded eyes.

“The lady brought ye Samhain tidings,” he announced.

“Blessed Communion.” Nerves wavered Peigi’s smile.

They gawped up at her, then him, then her. He approached Alpin. “Shall ye invite the lass in?”

Alpin narrowed his eyes. “But she’s a Grant,” he whispered, to a round of shushing from the others.

The horse leathers creaked as she fidgeted. Alex glanced back at her as if making an astute evaluation, bracing his chin on his thumb.

“Aye…so she is.” Then he faced Alpin again and folded his arms resolutely.

“But after what her sire did to—”

“Sir Alexander,” Peigi said. “I’m happy to leave them to their celebration—”

“Last I checked,” he interrupted her, “’twas nay the lady who beheaded yer laird when she would have been, oh, a lassie herself.” He cocked a brow, hearing Peigi’s sharp intake of air.

Alpin swallowed. Forced a stilted smile. “Mi lady, we welcome ye to our communion.”

“Good man.” He slapped Alpin across his back, causing him to lurch, when Alpin leaned toward his ear and dropped his voice.

“Ye think to marry her to win us back?”

The observation sat sourly in Alexander’s gut. He didn’t answer as he squatted down to a child, withdrawing a coin from his sporran and holding it up between them. “What say ye offer Comyn hospitality, lad, and fetch the lady a drink.”

Eyes lighting up at the boon, the child beamed. “Aye, sir!”

He nodded his approval and spun the child around, patting his rump to send him on his task.

Then he turned back to Peigi. He wanted to wipe away her worry behind her poised visage. Such quiet armor, but he’d seen glimpses beneath the cracks.

“This was a mistake, Alex,” she breathed. “This was indeed a job for a Comyn lady and I’ve overstepped.”

He reached up to her. Slipped his hands around her waist as he felt the villager’s eyes upon them. Christ, so slim a waist. His hands nearly spanned her in that tender space between hips and ribs. Too thin.

She braced his shoulders. “Really, I should nay— Oh !”

He plucked her down, though he steadied her against him, her breast to his chest. Keeping her tucked close, he laced his fingers with hers and withdrew another coin from his sporran, flicking it off his thumb to Thomas and ruffling his scruffy hair. “Will Freuchie’s finest groom water my horse?”

“Aye, mi laird.” Grinning, Thomas guided Faunus away.

He turned to the villagers.

“What ails the lot of ye?”