by Eliza Knight
“I’m certain ye harbor regret.” His tone was filled with ice. “But ye needna have tossed yourself into the firth over it.”
Greer frowned. “I didna toss myself into the firth.”
“Ye werena trying to end yourself?”
“Nay, of course not.” She bit her lip, recalling vividly how his own sister had perished. Lowering her voice, she said, “I swear on the life of my mother, I didna want to…perish.”
His lips tightened, the muscle in the side of his jaw clenching and unclenching.
“In any case, I can see ye havena forgiven me for what happened last we met.” She gazed around the very bare and masculine chamber, noting the only feminine touch was her chemise that hung to dry before the fire.
“I saved your life. Isna that confirmation of forgiveness?”
“’Haps.” She shrugged. “Or it was just human compassion.”
“A warrior canna have compassion.” He shook his head at her like she was a child. Given her circumstances, she was sincerely doubting she possessed any maturity.
“All warriors have compassion. ’Tis the reason they fight.” The reason they save people… Greer knew in that moment that she needed to make a change. Turn a new leaf. The fact that he’d saved her was a chance to change her outlook on life, and her priorities.
If possible, his scowl deepened. “I dinna think ye understand a warrior’s heart.”
“Mayhap ye dinna understand yourself. Please turn around.”
But he didn’t move. Instead, his glittering blue gaze bore into her as though he wished to know all of her secrets. As though he could in fact see them outright. She felt exposed, more so than she truly was. Beneath the blankets, she was naked. He’d lain with her. Warmed her. He’d likely seen every single part of her flesh, and yet that stare right then and there while she was fully covered made her feel more bared than any bit of displaying her skin could have.
“Please,” she said, breathless from his regard.
His mouth hardened, and he gave a curt nod.
Greer waited until he finally turned around, and then she pulled back the blanket. Her body rebelled against the chill air touching her skin, but she didn’t care. Making certain his back was fully turned, she raced on tiptoe across the chamber, grabbed hold of the warm chemise, and pulled it over her head. Then she tugged a plaid off the bed and wound it around herself. She wrapped it beneath her arms like a gown and tied it with one of the bed curtain ropes. “Ye can turn back around now.”
Grim grunted. Sadly, she did not recall his actual name. Everyone had called him Grim, and it had stuck in her memory. As had the losses he’d suffered. It only endeared him to her more, like an injured animal in need of coddling.
She supposed she should remember his name, as it was her spear that had pierced his thigh. If he knew she was unaware of it, he’d likely be insulted enough to toss her back into the firth.
Greer had never gone spear fishing again after that incident. She couldn’t even eat fish anymore—criminal according to her clan, but since her mother also did not eat fish, or any other meat for that matter, she found herself with plenty of tasty dishes to eat at Dunrobin.
They came face-to-face, his startling blue eyes on her. Once more, she had the intense feeling of being bared. His gaze swept from the top of her head down to her toes, lingering in places that made her flush. Goodness. No one had ever stared at her like that before.
“Ye’re wearing MacCulloch colors.” His voice was gruff, but she was so filled with relief at learning his clan, she barely noticed.
MacCulloch. She recalled his name almost instantly then—Roderick. But Grim seemed to suit him much better, given she’d yet to see him smile. When she spoke, she tried for nonchalant, but she wasn’t certain she could pull it off given her heart pounded behind her ribs. “I had little other choice if I did not want to wander around mostly undressed.”
He nodded, his expression still set in stone.
Greer cleared her throat, nervously patting Jewel on the head. “I need to get home. My father is probably tearing apart the countryside searching for me. And I’d rather he not wage war thinking I’ve been taken.”
Grim winged a brow. “Somehow, I believe that your father knows better.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” She crossed her arms over her chest, all nerves instantly gone, and her hackles raised.
“That he willna think ye’ve been taken. From what I recall, ye were always a bit of a hellion. Some things never change, aye?” The man had the gall to wink at her.
Greer’s mouth fell open, and she stared incredulously at him. “Ye’re just rude.”
He shrugged.
“Well, it doesna matter what he thinks happened to me, for soon he will know the truth of it. I need to get home. Will ye take me?”
“Aye.”
A sudden pummel of panic hit her. The idea of crossing the firth so close after her accident left her wavering on her feet. “On horseback.”
“Nay. A ship will be faster.”
Greer felt the blood drain from her face. “Horseback,” she croaked. “Please.”
He frowned at her but finally gave a curt nod. “All right.”
Relief flooded her that he’d so readily accepted. Although, it had been easier than she thought it would be. A little too easy.
Jewel stood at her side, peeping between the two of them, her massive tail thumping against the floor.
“Why did ye agree so fast?”
“Because ye belong under lock and key, and I’m certain your da will see to it. And also, because I can imagine the pain your family must be going through right now, believing the worst.” His gaze flicked away from her, but not before she took in the note of pain that flashed through his eyes. “As for agreeing about horseback versus ship, I’d rather not deal with any dramatics.”
“I am never dramatic.”
He raised a skeptical brow.
“But I thank ye all the same,” Greer said, determined to take the higher road.
He nodded. “I’ll get ye something to eat.”
“Just some bread is fine.”
“Bread? Ye’re not a prisoner, and I’ll not be having ye go home to tell your da that all I gave ye was bread.”
“But I love bread. Besides, ye will have given me more than that. Ye’ve given me back my life. I will be forever in your debt.”
He glanced back at her, the tiniest grin doing away with his grimace. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?” She swayed.
“I will take ye home. But on one condition.”
Her heart started to pound. If he said anything about a ship… “What is that?” She braced herself for some bit of revenge to get back at her for his injury.
“Ye must pass a test of skill. Nay, make that three tests of skill.”
Greer’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t hide her shock. He had to be mad. “Do ye nay recall what happened the last time we did a test of skill? I could have killed ye.”
“Which means ye’ll be even more careful this time.”
Greer shook her head. “I dinna fish anymore. And I...I fear what happened has robbed me of the ability to sail… I canna get in a boat.” The only place she’d felt safe besides with her family had been at sea. Saints, but she prayed one day she’d be able to sail again. But not today. And probably not tomorrow either.
“Fair enough.”
She pondered his easy acceptance. “Tell me what the tests are.”
He shook his head, looking rather mischievous. “I’ll fetch ye something to eat. We’ll leave when ye finish. Unless ye need more time to rest?”
“I am eager to get home. And please…” She bit her lip. “Ye must know, I dinna eat meat.”
“As ye wish.”
He didn’t even flinch or look at her as though she’d grown a second head. How odd.
“Bread and butter are fine,” she continued to see if he’d heard her.
“Eggs?”
A moment later, he was gone, and she was left to stare out his window. The view of the firth from here was mesmerizing. It was a glittering blue-black, reflecting the trees, marsh grass, and dunes filled with gorse bushes, heather, violets, and wild thyme. In all that tranquility, she found her jaw clenching at the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. It reminded her how the waves had crashed into her the night before. She shuddered.
What a fool she’d been. This was exactly what her parents had worried about. Maybe that was part of the reason she’d gone out. She’d wanted to show her mother and father that she could handle it. Well, she’d just proven them right.
In a major way.
Greer swayed on her feet, feeling the sense of what she’d done, and what could have happened, quite deeply. She reached out for the stone windowsill and gripped the cool rock for balance.
She was lucky to be alive. And she owed her life to Jewel and Grim. Kneeling down, she grabbed hold of her pup’s big head and kissed her between the eyes. “Thank ye, Jewel, for saving my life.”
Jewel let out a faint bark of approval and licked her chin.
“Mayhap he’ll bring ye a nice meal, too.”
“She’s already eaten more than all the hounds in Gleann Mórinnse combined.”
Greer tried not to jump at the sound of Grim’s voice. He’d returned quickly with a platter that made her mouth water. Fresh-baked scones, butter, blackberry jam, two eggs, and a cup of milk. And even though he said he’d fed Jewel, he dropped a bone on the floor anyway. The dog scrambled toward it, the same way Greer wished she could scramble toward the platter.
“That looks incredible.” She followed him with her gaze as he set it on the table and tried hard not to pounce on it.
“Come eat. Our cook makes the best scones in the Highlands.”
“Well, if your cook has the best scones, my mother makes the best pasties.”
“Does she now?”
“Aye. Apple is my favorite. And I suppose if I pass your skill tests, I’ll share them with ye when we get to Dunrobin.”
He chuckled. “Go ahead. Sit. Eat.”
Greer didn’t argue, and descended on the platter of food just as the waves had descended upon her currach. The scones were filled with currents, and she topped them liberally with butter and jam. The boiled eggs were cooked to perfection. And the milk… It tasted like it had just come fresh from the dairy.
“I’m glad ye have a full appetite,” he remarked.
“Is that one of the tests?”
He smirked. “Nay, but if it were, ye’d have passed with flying colors.”
“I am honored.” She shoved a bite of egg into her mouth.
“Are ye certain ye’re ready to leave? ’Twould be best if we could depart soon. Ye’ve already slept through an entire day.”
“I did?”
“Aye. I found ye on the beach yesterday morn. Took ye quite a while to warm up.”
Greer’s face heated. “I must thank ye for not…taking advantage of the situation.”
“I wouldna have. Besides, there were people in the chamber with us.” He plucked one of the eggs from her platter and ate it.
“Who?” She bit her lip, staring down at the jam, hoping he didn’t notice her reddened face.
“The healer, my brother, a few servants.”
Greer watched him go to the wardrobe, open it, and pull out a satchel. He tossed in two shirts and a few pairs of hose.
“And they all saw me…like that?” Was it possible for her to feel any more humiliation?
“Ye were covered. The healer did check to make certain ye had no other injuries. How are ye feeling now?”
She blew out a sigh and picked at a scone crumb on the trencher, rolling it into dust. “I feel good. Energized now that I’ve eaten. My body is a little sore, but I’ve spent much time swimming. So nothing I willna recover from soon.”
“Ye’re lucky ye didna sustain any further injury when your currach capsized.”
Greer picked up another crumb and this time popped it into her mouth. “Did it ever show up on your beach?”
“Nay. Not that we’ve seen. Were ye alone?” He attached a bracer to one wrist and then the other, sliding daggers into the leather holsters.
She swallowed, watching him arm himself for a journey with her. “Save for Jewel, aye.”
Grim shook his head. “A miracle.”
“And ironic, do ye nae think?”
“Ironic how?” He paused with his weapons to face her.
“That I rolled up onto your shore? I nearly killed ye once. What do ye think that means?”
He grunted and shoved his hands through his hair. “Nothing other than I should expect more things to roll up on my shore from yours.”
Greer laughed at how he deflected her superstitions so easily, but that didn’t cease her from thinking there was more to it than that.
Chapter Five
“Are ye certain ye want to take her alone with the Ross clan growing more hostile? And should the lady not require a chaperone?”
Jon sounded like an old crone clucking around the lass. In fact, the wrinkle of his brow did remind Roderick of their old governess.
“Are ye volunteering?”
“Nay, not me, but a female.”
“What female? The healer? She’d never make the journey on horseback. I intend for us to travel fast and hard. I want her home with her people, and I want to deliver that message to Magnus Sutherland myself. Besides, the more of us that are traveling, the more suspicious we’ll appear to the Ross clan. They’ve got to have scouts watching.”
“Aye. Scouts that will see ye leave with the lass and follow. Why can ye nae insist she take the birlinn? Ye’d be there in a few hours.”
Roderick thrust a hand through his hair, feeling the same frustration. His brother was right, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to toss her onto a ship. The way she’d looked when she insisted on horseback, pale as a ghost and trembling. It hadn’t been Greer. Not the Greer he knew. “The lass just nearly drowned. When I mentioned it, she didna take it well. It will only be a few extra days on the road. I’ll take a contingent of men, in case Ina Ross and her damned men attack. In the meantime, ye keep a tight rein on the castle, and keep the blasted Ross men away from our livestock.”
“I’m on it, brother.” Jon paused, then rushed out with, “and try to smile while ye’re on the road with her.”
“Smile? Have ye been tippling the whisky already, brother?”
Jon chuckled. “Nay, laird, not as yet. But I do recall how ye met the lass to begin with. Was it not when ye thought having her to wife might be favorable?”
A mistake to be sure.
“Ye’ve gone mad. I need ye to do me a favor. Take her dog on a birlinn to Sutherland shores. Let them know I’ll be delivering their daughter and the news of a possible uprising. That way, they can stop fretting over her disappearance, and mayhap they’ll meet us halfway.”
Jon rocked on his heels. “I see what ye’re doing. Ye want to be rid of her quick. Ye’ve been avoiding any talk of marriage since—”
“I’ll stop ye there, brother.” Roderick held up his hand for silence and shook his head with disappointment. “We’ve had this discussion over and over again. I’ve no interest in getting married.”
“Ye might not have any interest in getting married, but…” Jon hesitated, perhaps thinking about his own survival should he continue. But then his tongue kept on wagging. “’Tis your duty to the clan. And as your tanist, ’tis my duty to remind ye I dinna want the job.”
“Ye may be my heir,” Roderick gritted his teeth, “but, dinna remind me of my duty. I’m well aware of what it is.”
Jon held up his hands and took a step back. “I dinna mean to offend, my laird, only to remind ye. The elders have been grumbling to me about it, and I said I’d mention it to ye. Now there is a lass, a beautiful one at that, whom ye’ll be traveling with, whom ye were
interested in a possible union with previously. I only urge ye to keep an open—”
“Ballocks, ye sound like our governess. Grow some steel between your legs and leave off, Jon, else I’ll be tempted to call ye out to the field and pound it into ye. Or worse, arrange a marriage for ye.”
Jon exaggerated a shudder and then chuckled. “Duly noted. I willna say another word.”
“Good.” Roderick gave a firm nod.
Jon smirked. “The hound and your message will be delivered. And our lands will be in the good hands of this bachelor while ye’re away, that I can promise.”
“I trust it will.”
A commotion by the front entrance of the keep sounded, and both Roderick and his brother turned to see what was happening. Everything transpired in a massive blur. A big, black furry shadow whirled through the great hall like a tornado.
It would seem that Jewel had decided at that moment to go on a tear—and she’d chosen the narrow circular staircase as a good avenue for it, knocking one of the maids on her arse on the way, and tackling a guard at the base. Greer, her red hair coming loose from her plait, was chasing after the hound. Roderick got a good view of them both. He was struck with the madness of it, and how very much Greer and her hound appeared to be perfect for each other. He found himself smiling for the first time in months.
Jewel was running in speedy circles in the great hall, dodging anyone who made an attempt to restrain her, and ducking beneath the legs of the seneschal. But being of such massive size, she only ended up giving him a lift for a few feet before he finally tumbled off. Jewel ducked under the trestle table, knocking over a bench and upending one on the opposite end. The rushes swirled like tempests as she ran, tangling in her fur.
All the while, Greer shouted for her pup to cease. “Jewel! Stop! Sit! Down! Nay!”
The hound ignored all of it, turning the once well-ordered great hall into a mockery. Chairs were upended. The table where he played chess was knocked to the ground, pieces scattered with indifference. Nearly everyone that came into contact with the dog was either taken for a ride or knocked on their arse.
Watching the slow destruction of both the great hall and his people as they stumbled over themselves in an effort to regain control of the animal, Roderick tempered the urge to laugh. There hadn’t been this much comical excitement at his keep since he’d been named laird, and perhaps not even before then.
