Page 22 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

Fia’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of her village. It hadn’t been long since she had left it, but a part of her already missed it dearly, knowing she would most likely never live there again. As much as the thought of visiting excited her, she didn’t like the idea of riding all the way there, on her own, on uneven terrain. This was her first time steering a horse! How could Laird Stuart expect her to ride all the way to Duror?

“I dinnae think I’m ready,” she said. “Perhaps another day.”

Laird Stuart seemed to consider this for a few moments, before he took a few steps closer until he was right by the horse. “I’ll ride,” he said. “An’ ye can enjoy the view.”

Before Fia could say anything else on the matter, Laird Stuart was climbing onto the saddle behind her and all she could do was shriek in terror and hold on for dear life as the horse adjusted to their combined weight. It had hardly moved and yet Fia felt as though she had been terribly jostled, almost thrown off the saddle.

Much to her chagrin, Laird Stuart laughed.

“Ye’re all right,” he assured her. “I’m here.”

And there he was, indeed. At first, Fia hadn’t realized just how close they were, panicked as she had been, but now she could feel his chest brush against her back with every breath he took. His arms encircled her torso as he reached for the reins once more and Fia could feel the heat emanating from his body, draping around her like a cloak.

Fia was painfully aware of their proximity as they rode through the courtyard and came up to the main gates. She was certain all eyes were on them, watching her carefully as she shared the saddle with Laird Stuart, and undoubtedly everyone was wondering why they were even together at this time of the day, on a horse no less.

Were they wondering where they were going? Were they wondering whether Laird Stuart had an interest in her?

Does he have an interest in me?

The thought was as daunting as it was exhilarating. This was exactly what she had wanted from the moment she had found out she was going to the castle and it would mean she was one step closer to her goal, but she couldn’t help but be a little apprehensive now that she had met Laird Stuart. It was one thing, planning to deceive a man she didn’t know; it was another deceiving a man who had sat with her that night, listening to her speak about her life, a man who had welcomed her and Bane in his home.

But then she remembered Callum and the way he had treated her—as though she was worthless, as though she held no intrinsic value—and the memory fanned the flames of her fury, once again making her determined to complete her plan. It wasn’t as though Laird Stuart would suffer with her by his side. If she managed to marry him, she would be a good wife to him. She would make sure he had a happy life.

“Are ye alright?” Laird Stuart asked as they rushed past the countryside, down a winding path that led towards Duror. “Ye’re nae scared, are ye?”

The truth was that Fia was a little scared. Even when she wasn’t the one steering the horse, her nerves always got the better of her, forcing her to stiffen once more and hold onto the saddle for dear life. However, Laird Stuart’s solid presence behind her gave her some reassurance that she wasn’t going to fall. It was easy to surrender to the feeling of safety when she could feel his arms around her, his chest against her back.

And before she knew it, the village of Duror appeared before them in the distance and her chest tightened at the sight of it.