Page 1 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

CHAPTER ONE

“T raveling alone, Miss? That’s mighty brave for a lassie oot here!”

The lad’s voice was curious but had an edge to it. They had traveled for many miles now, and this had been the cartman’s first attempt at conversation since leaving the McCallum lands.

With the wind and the rain whooshing in her ears, Teasag could barely hear, but as the tired horses slowed to a reluctant trot, she saw the lad look at her keenly.

A tired ache filled the young woman’s limbs. The rickety cart was barely meant for passengers, at least not the human sort. There had been three of them on the first leg of the journey, squashed in amongst the churns of milk that the cartman had been delivering.

The pair of elderly sisters traveling with her had talked nonstop since leaving the McCallum lands. And even now, their incessant prattle rang on in Teasag’s ears, and, she suspected, the young cartman’s too.

Since then, Teasag had reaped the peace of the open fields, watching distant men hard at work bringing in the harvest. All around, the air was thick with grain, flying about on the errant wind. That was until the rains had closed in, pushing against the landscape with the force of an ox.

But despite getting a lashing, Teasag had barely flinched. She was too lost in thought, wondering what might be in store for her when she reached her destination. As the night deepened around them, it became harder and harder for her to pick out even the most basic detail from the open moors around.

Soon, darkness had consumed the glen side, reeling with rain and gusts of wind. But Teasag was well accustomed to the weather, and as she sheltered from the cold rain, she barely noticed it. Slowly, the black night faded, sinking into a gray fog that clung to the distant town's edges.

“Miss?” the young lad’s voice came again, but this time battling against the wind and her own thoughts.

Even as the cart bumped along the winding tracks into the town, Teasag was still deep in contemplation.

The cartman gave a slight cough as he slowed to a halt along the narrow-cobbled passageway on the outskirts of the village.

“Well, this is it,” he said, his reedy voice carrying on the wind. The young lad shifted his brown eyes onto her with concern. “Are ye sure there’s nae one to meet ye, lassie? A sweetheart or the like?”

Sweetheart, just the sound of that word was enough to send a dart into Teasag’s heart. As if she needed any more reminders that she was alone!

“Och, nae!” she bristled. Suddenly, she bolted upright, alert to the darkened alleyways surrounding them. Squinting into the grayed skies, she struggled to make out anything beyond a higgledy-piggledy mass of shapes. Slowly, they unraveled as houses, some small and one very big.

And before long, they had stopped right in front of the tallest one. In the distance, she could make out a flickering light. Then, a door opened, sending out raucous gusts of laughter.

Immediately, Teasag tensed.

“Nae sweetheart? Well, nae fash lassie, there’s an inn right here where ye can stop for the night, afore ye carry on in the morn,” said the lad kindly, his warm brown eyes fastening onto hers.

“Wh-where will ye be?” said Teasag, looking around, her mind racing. It hadn’t occurred to her that she would be the only passenger. She had assumed the elderly ladies would be traveling all the way to Blackness with her. However, the pair alighted at one of the tiny villages just over the McCallum clan border, shaking their frail bones and wrapping their hoods before shuffling out into the oncoming storm.

Now it seemed as if the young cartman, a lad she knew vaguely from the McCallum keep, was not going to be coming either.

“Me, I have lodgings wi’ a good pal further doon in the village,” the lad said, with a gappy smile. “There’s only room for one, if ye ken what I mean, miss, though,” he said, a knowing grin rippling through his sly face.

“Och,” said Teasag, realizing only too well what he meant. Her soft cheeks pinkened in the pale light. Her usually pale features were washed in a rosy glow from the open fields, and the sun’s kiss had emboldened the faint ring of freckles which covered her nose.

Of course, if Teasag could see herself, she would have instantly pulled a face. Most of her life was spent indoors, cultivating the cool white complexion of a French queen. She was not much given to the outdoors, and so far, the weather only reinforced her dislike.

“The Inn’s usually got plenty o’ space, though, I’m sure ye’ll find it good enough for ye, e’en someone who’s used to a laird’s keep!” he said, looking closely at her, concern etched into his young face. “That’s if yer sure yer nae meeting someone?”

“Nae!” said Teasag, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt. Grasping her travel bag, she dismounted from the rickety cart. “Is it nae so hard to believe that a lass can be an’ her oon an’ mair than that, dinnae need a man!”

Her voice rang out, a little sharply into the darkened passageway leading to the front of the tavern. Just at that moment, the heavy oak door tore open, and two enormous men spilled out, almost falling on top of them in the narrow street.

“Watch it!” one of them roared at the cringing lad. Teasag shrank back, making herself as small as possible, as the two men, both smelling strongly of whisky, pushed back their way through them.

As they passed, one of them, a barrel-like man, turned to Teasag. “Dinnae need a man? I can change yer mind, darlin’!” he leered. For a moment, he lingered there, breathing whisky fumes over her, before staggering off, to both her and the lad’s relief.

As they went, Teasag cursed inwardly. It was bad enough being stranded out here, alone, without her actually advertising the fact to the entire town.

But the young cartman’s words had caught her off guard, bringing home that she was alone, in a strange town, with the sound of men’s laughter ringing in her ears.