Page 34 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

“Anyhoo,” said Neacal, finally coming back to life again. “So much for all our daydreaming. What are we gonnae do about this, eh?”

When Teasag looked, it was to see Neacal dramatically outstretching his arms at the horizon.

“What?” she asked, looking up. “I dinnae follow ye?”

Neacal grinned quickly. “Night, lass, the night is comin’ an’ round here it falls hard as a donkey’s yard…”

Teasag looked at him unsurely. “Well, we’re nowhere near to Blackness. I was hoping we could ha’ got there tonight!” she looked around the darkening landscape hopefully. “Maybe we can still go a few more miles, an’ reach the edged of toon afore nightfall…”

“Aye, but nightfall has other ideas oot here, lass,” said Neacal. He pointed to the clouds in the distance as the light gradually fell.

“It gets dark quick oot here,” he explained. “Wi’ nae villages or camps about to light the way…” “An’ by the looks o’ it, it’ll be a moonless one, too. Afore ye ken it’ll be as black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat!” he insisted, glancing about.

Reluctantly, Teasag could see that he was right. “Well, what are we gonnae do?” she said. “There’s nae other toon on the way, at least, not unless ye wanna turn back an’ follow the road to the village back there…”

Teasag indicated the narrow lane that they had crossed some time ago, the one that she had sent the blacksmith down, in search of the stranded cartman.

The road that the smithy had disappeared down was a good while back. Even as she pointed, Teasag knew it was almost as many miles back as were left in front of them to Blackness.

Neacal came over to her and placed an arm around her. “Nae,” he said. “I dinnae think we should do that…,” he looked about them thoughtfully.

The warmth of his hand permeated her shoulder, tingling, and spreading along her spine.

Almost as soon as his touch was upon her, she wanted him to do more. It wasn’t just enough to feel his heat radiating through her glowing skin. Her senses screamed for more.

The wind and rain had cooled her down, but it had done nothing to dampen her desire. Although her body was chafed rigid by the wind, inside, she ached to be touched. And just when it seemed that no clothing she possessed could protect her from the open skies, the thrill of his touch warmed her instantly.

As Neacal took her hand, she wished desperately that he would lead them through the windswept horizons and lay her down somewhere. It didn’t matter where. It could be anywhere, just as long as he was by her side.

Trees dotted around the glen beckoned temptingly, offering themselves as beacons of shelter. Right then, Teasag wanted nothing more than to take his hand and lie down next to him beneath the boughs.

But Neacal did not lead her to seclusion. Instead, he brought her hand in his and stroked it softly. “I think we should call it a night…,” he said softly.

For an instant, Teasag’s heart leaped. Just for a moment, she thought that he really was going to lead her to a quiet spot. But then, after the imprint of his touch - lingering awhile on her hand had faded, she realized this was not the case.

Instead, Neacal smiled, and withdrawing his hand, took the pretty mare and led her through the narrow passage that straddled the waterlogged glen. As the small horse plodded along, Teasag watched him thoughtfully. After a while, he turned to her.

“It’s nae really safe oot here, lassie,” he said as if he had been thinking about this for some time.

“Aye,” said Teasag, guardedly. She wondered where this was going. “S’that’s why I thought we should speed up, an’ get there faster…”

“Nae, it’s too late for that,” said Neacal, simply. “The light’s gone noo.”

The pair of them looked to the horizon, darkening over with black cloud. Teasag looked at the heavy skies and felt cheated.

There had been no sunset, no shades of red and yellow bathing the glen side in their warm hues. The typically stunning Highland sunset had simply cut straight into the dark of night.

Now all around was darkening, and fast. As Neacal looked down at her, seated on the horse, Teasag knew he was right about not going any further that night. She looked at him and sighed.

“Aye, alright,” she said reluctantly. “So, we stay here?” she added, looking desultorily around them. There was nothing in the immediate vicinity, save a few trees for them to shelter between.

Teasag looked unsure at Neacal, but he shook his head.

“Nae, nae here, it’s too near the main path,” he said, taking her hand once more. Instantly, Teasag’s heart danced, it was stupid, but when he held her, she immediately felt safe.

“Where, where are we going?” she said, although, at that moment, she hardly cared.

“We cannae stay here, we might be seen. This is brigand country ye ken, darlin’,” he winked, sliding her hand into his.