Page 41 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

Brenna wasn’t sure how she’d ended up in bed the night before, but she was happy to have slipped out from his heavy arms without waking him. She had things to do, and morning was the only time of day it was safe to walk around without her guard. Not going would have been a missed opportunity.

She smiled up at the sunshine as she left the hall and went to the stables. After packing a few oat cakes and honey mead she eagerly rushed off to enjoy the August morning without worrying about Ewan being around.

Jamie, the stable hand, smiled and waved as she stepped into the stable and went to her horse’s stall. Pulling the stall door closed behind her, she wiggled off her skirts so she was in her trews and shirt. It was easier to ride without a skirt, but she didn’t go about the keep dressed like a man.

Leading Merlin out of his stall, she whistled a tune while saddling him. The groom smiled and left her to work, knowing she liked caring for her horse. The tall stallion reminded her of the day she’d married her husband when they’d gifted each other their horses.

When Merlin was ready, she hopped up and swung her leg over to mount. It wasn’t the most graceful approach, but she’d learned to mount without a block so she could get on and off her horse wherever she wished.

She trotted him out of the gate and through the village. The horse had tensed in anticipation, and when she gave him the nudge, he flew into action across a field and over a short wall. The horse slowed on his own as they approached the kirk. It wasn’t their first visit, and he knew the way well.

After dismounting and selecting a handful of flowers, she entered the graveyard and placed the bouquet on Geordie’s grave. Resting her head on her knees, Brenna took a moment to enjoy the warmth of the morning sun on her back. Usually, it was earlier when she came, the sun too low to offer much heat.

She remembered the heat from Ronan’s body when she woke that morning. “Ronan has returned,” she told his grandfather quietly. “He’s had a few injuries but is in otherwise good health. I worry more about the injuries one can’t see. He has nightmares, and I wish there were something I could do to help him.”

She touched her tender throat, recalling how those nightmares haunted him. And how dangerous one’s mind could be. “I wish you were here. I miss you.”

She stood and brushed the grass from her backside. She placed kisses on each of the headstones. “I love you.” Letting out a sigh, she went to her horse to retrieve her bow.

Feeling like someone was watching her, she pulled her dirk from the scabbard at her hip. She would not allow Ewan to catch her unaware. In the forest, she stepped quietly behind a tree and waited.

A few minutes later, someone stepped into the woods on the same path she’d used. She’d thought she at least had the peace of the mornings, but now Ewan had also ruined that. She sprung out to attack as soon as he walked past the tree where she was hiding. Kicking the backs of his legs caused him to stumble down to his knees, and she took advantage by grasping his hair and jerking his head back to place her dirk at his throat.

“Good morning, wife,” Ronan said calmly.

She released him immediately and then helped him rise to his feet. “My apologies. I thought…I thought you were someone else.”

“I guess I should be grateful you didn’t wish to kill me. Who were you expecting?”

She shook her head, not wanting to tell him she might have killed his uncle if the opportunity presented itself. “A woman must protect herself, even on her lands. It is a sad truth, but the truth nonetheless.”

“Interesting you speak of truth while you avoid it.”

Her eyes went wide as he called her out.

She’d told the warriors to be patient and wait until Ronan was ready to hear the truth. She’d told them to answer honestly if he asked a direct question. But here she was, not following her own orders.

“Very well. I thought you were Ewan come to trouble me. I normally have peace in the mornings for the drunkard sleeps until noon most days. But the other day he…” She paused and considered. “You followed me to the forest that morning as well?”

“Aye.”

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Trying to catch me in a tryst with my imaginary lover? Is that why you came here today? I thought you would have given up this ridiculousness yesterday after you visited the Campbells’ home.”

“I have.”

“Then why do you slink about following me and nearly scaring the life out of me?”

“I believe it was I who was in danger.” He glanced down where she still held tight to her blade.

“If I’d killed you by accident, I would have never forgiven myself,” she said while guiding it into the scabbard at her hip.

He smiled then, the crooked pull of his lips that showed his dimple to distraction. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”

“If you are not trying to catch me up at something, why are you following me?”

He shrugged. “As you guessed, I saw you as you came to the woods to hunt. I wondered if I might join you today.” He nodded to the bow and quiver of arrows he’d dropped to the ground during her attack. He looked about and frowned. “I dare say we’ve probably scared any game away.”

She nodded and pressed her lips together to hide her smile. They’d surely not see anything out of the stomping and shouting they’d done.