Page 22 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

“Trouble?” she asked, wondering what he meant. “What di ye mean, trouble?”

Once again, Neacal looked shifty. His eyes darted around furiously and refused to look into hers.

“Och, naething,” he said, then unfurled his mile-wide smile, the one that made Teasag powerless to think about anything but kiss him. “So then, um, aye, we’re both going the same way, I suppose we’re going to keep bumping into each other along the way, anyhoo…”

Neacal extended a hand to hers and waited for her to take it. As she did, a tingle spread through her entire body, burning her from toe to tip. She squeezed his warm hand and placed her own inside it.

For a few yards, they walked on, in contented silence, only the sounds of the birds singing after the rainstorm to come between them. Teasag sighed contentedly. She didn’t know why, though. She was still stuck out here, in the wilderness of Scotland, with nothing but their feet to get them to Blackness. But with Neacal by her side, it suddenly didn’t seem so bad.

After a short while, Neacal looked around.

“So then, where is it then,” he asked, smiling.

Seeing as they were standing on the edge of a deserted glen, Teasag looked unsurely at him. “Where is what?” she asked.

Neacal smiled again, that wide easy grin which came so naturally to him.

“Yer cart to Blackness?” he said. Teasag watched him, the gentle wind rippling his long, straight hair all over the back of his shoulders.

“Aye, the cart!” said Teasag, as if she had forgotten all about it. “Oh dear, I didnae tell ye about that, did I?” she said.

Neacal looked at her with such wide eyes that Teasag dissolved into a fit of giggles.

“What, what is it?” he asked her in confusion.

“Sorry, Neacal, if ye were hoping for a ride on the cart, then I’m afraid there’s bad news. The cart broke down. I’m going to the next toon for help… but I also dinnae have any way o’ getting to Blackness unless someone helps me!” she blurted. “I’m sorry if ye thought that I could help ye, I mean, wi’ the cart, anyhoo…”

Neacal laughed. “Nae, nae fash lassie, an’ we’ll find our own way through. In fact, I expected to be walking anyway, the best way. Ye can always trust yer feet!”

He illustrated his point with a jaunty jig, which sent something careering from his ghillies. Almost immediately, Neacal dived on top of it, not giving Teasag the chance to even stop to help.

“Och,” he said, his cheeks pinkening a little. He retrieved the shiny object from the dirt path and stashed it back beneath his shoe. The whole thing was so quick that Teasag didn’t see what had dropped but assumed it must be a coin.

“Ye keep all yer coin in yer shoe then?” she asked, innocently, more amused than anything else. But the look on Neacal’s face surprised her. He looked as if prodded with a hot spike.

“Nae!” he protested before seeing Teasag’s confused face. “I mean, ye ken, sometimes, it, um, it’s a good idea oot here to hide yer loot, ye ken, there are always thieves…” he stopped abruptly and looked into the vista beyond them. The rain was still falling, thickly and the glen side was slowly sinking into low cloud. All around was gloomy and sodden.

Just for a moment, Teasag wished the cart had not broken. Pulling the shawl up tight to her head, she braced herself for a good soaking.

Neacal it seemed, had gone quiet. Glancing at him quickly, Teasag detected a reluctance in him - prompting her to worry it was something to do with her.

“So, then, are ye sure yer alright wi’ me just tagging along?” she asked, as a gap in the conversation opened up. Her hand was still loosely cupped in his but had fallen somewhat out a little.

At her question, Neacal looked over. “What? Of course, I am, lassie, mair than alright!” he gave her a flash of his smile, but it was short-lived, and Teasag sensed something occupied his mind. Thoughtlessly, she blustered straight in.

“Well, I suppose being set on like that by those women is enough o’ a shock for anyone!” she started, inquisitively. She had been aching with curiosity to find out what had been going on, ever since she had got here. Still, it seemed Neacal was in no hurry to give her an explanation. “So then, um, why on earth did they think that then?” she inquired, turning to look at him.

Instantly, she wished she had not asked. It was clear that Neacal was uncomfortable, shifting his gaze anywhere that she was not and becoming hesitant.

“Well, I dinnae,” he said abruptly. “I suppose I was just the nearest person around for them to blame…”

Teasag watched him fiddle with his long hair, getting wet in the rain, before pulling up his hood. Although she couldn’t help feeling curious about what had happened, it was clear that Neacal was in no mood to discuss it.

And neither was she. Because suddenly, Neacal gave her the broadest smile she’d ever seen. It shone like a sun from the side of his face, drawing her in and making her feel she could bathe in its presence forever.

“Well then, lassie, stick wi’ me… an’ together we’ll somehow get to Blackness, one way or another…!” he said, taking her hand and squeezing it tight. Instantly a bolt of electricity shot up her spine.

“Nae fash, if there’s a band o’ thieves, or even randy farmers, comin’ fer ye, I can keep them at bay…” Neacal said, bringing his head closer and making her heart beat faster.