Page 21 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

She didn’t tease him for it, despite the fact she wanted to know more about it. It seemed too cruel. “I suppose ye dinnae. What about other lasses, then? Have ye lied to them?”

Liam stayed silent for a few moments – his gaze glued to the horizon. In the end, he took a deep breath and gave Muriel a small shrug. “I dinnae have much time for things like that.”

Muriel hoped Liam would elaborate, but he didn't, and she didn't think it was appropriate to ask. Besides, it was better for her to know as little about him as possible. He had already made a big impact on her life after saving her no fewer than three times and she was certain that she would never forget him. She didn’t want to become so attached to him that she would miss him, too.

Muriel spent the rest of the day chatting with Liam about everything and anything, though she avoided getting too personal, preferring to keep their conversation as superficial as possible. When she reached dangerous territory, like her mother or Liam’s own family and his past, she quickly changed the subject.

It matters little anyway, I’m sure. I’ll be meetin’ them soon.

Even though they weren't far from Argyll, they had to camp in the woods that night, the darkness catching up with them before they could reach Liam's house. She could hardly sleep; her eyes remained wide open and her limbs trembled with a nervousness she couldn’t control. Every shadow she glimpsed from the corner of her eye was a threat, every rustle of the wind a warning that someone was there to take her life. Even Liam seemed agitated. He sat still; staring at the fire but his shoulders were up by his ears, muscles tense and body ready to strike.

Will he stay awake all night? He’ll be exhausted by the morrow.

Muriel, on the other hand, felt safer knowing Liam was keeping an eye on her. With him by her side, she would be safe even if another assassin came after her, as the previous one had threatened. With that in mind, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, waking up every hour or so with her heart thumping in her chest.

Each time, she found Liam awake and ready to comfort her with a gentle, “Go back to sleep.”

By the time the first morning light woke her, she had managed to get no rest and the same seemed to be true for Liam. His eyes were red and puffy, with dark shadows under them that betrayed his exhaustion. Muriel couldn’t help but feel bad for him and wished that she already knew how to defend herself so that he could get some rest instead of worrying about her wellbeing all the time.

Relying on other people wasn’t something she liked anyway. Her mother had taught her to do everything herself, despite the fact that her father had employed two servants to cook and clean for them. She never wanted her daughter to be dependent on others.

If only she kent how to fight, she could have taught me.

“Did ye rest?” Liam asked her when she sat up and stretched her arms above her head.

“Nae,” she said. “Did ye?”

“Nae. But it doesnae matter. We’ll both feel more at ease tonight in Argyll.”

“Do ye think we’ll make it by nightfall?” Muriel asked.

“I’ll do me best to get us there,” Liam said. “We were lucky there wasnae an attack last night. It wouldnae be wise to risk another night outside.”

Muriel couldn’t agree more. She craved the safety that a keep would provide her, as well as the rest that would come with knowing she was not in danger. A part of her couldn’t wait to get to Argyll. Still, another part of her dreaded the moment she would meet Liam’s family.

Are they nice? Kind?

Are they kind to him?

She didn’t have any time to ask about Liam’s family before he urged her to get into the wagon. But once there, Muriel could ignore her curiosity no longer.

“What’s yer family like?” she asked. “Do ye think they’ll mind?”

“I already told ye that they dinnae care about the danger,” Liam said.

“Aye, but… will they mind me?”

Liam huffed out a small laugh at that; turning to look at Muriel with a grin. “Nae,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll love ye.”

Liam’s reassurance put Muriel at ease. She responded with a smile of her own and sat back; enjoying the rest of their journey to Argyll.

It was late in the evening when the McAlpine castle appeared in the distance and Liam pointed it out to Muriel. She shifted in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make out the building in the fading light. It was bigger than she had imagined, a grand structure of sturdy stone perched on top of a small hill, surrounded by grass turning the glorious green of spring. Muriel could only imagine how lovely it would be in the height of summer, bathed in golden sunlight.

“That’s yer home?” she asked. “I didnae ken the McAlpine clan is so large.”

“Sometimes I think it’s larger than it ought to be,” Liam joked; giving Muriel a cheeky wink. “I have more cousins than I can count.”

“Better than having none,” Muriel said.