Colin's Quest Read Free Page B

wouldn’t be the one to deny Angus his part of it.
    “Come. We’ll take the lassies for a walk before going back on the trail.” Angus tugged at her hand, getting no protest.
     They hadn’t gone far when the sight of Colin speaking with a young woman had them stopping.
    “Who is she, Angus?”
    “MacGregor’s daughter, Sarah. They talk whenever the wagons stop and she can get away from her da and ma.” Angus felt bad for his oldest son. He already knew there’d be no future between a MacLaren and a MacGregor—Dougal MacGregor would make certain of it.
    “How do you know this?”
    “With so many MacLarens, nothing goes unnoticed for long. They spend as much free time together as they can.” He let out a deep breath. “I’m afraid they have no future, but I can’t bring myself to warn him away.”
    “Like my da tried to warn you off?” she teased, forever glad Angus had stood his ground.
    “And look what good it did.” He squeezed her hand, placing a kiss on her cheek.
    “Sarah!” Chrissy MacLaren squealed before she and Alana ran toward their brother. Colin leaned down, scooping Alana up while Sarah crouched down next to Chrissy.
    “What are you wee bairns doing about?” Colin asked, tickling Alana, provoking a stream of giggles.
    The girls pointed in the direction of Colin’s parents.
    Setting Alana down, his cheeks warmed at the knowing look on his parents’ faces.
    “I should go.” Sarah took a step away before Colin’s hand took hers, pulling her close.
    “No. It’s time you met them.”
    Kyla smiled at Colin, then shifted her gaze to Sarah. “Angus tells me you’re Sarah, Dougal MacGregor’s daughter.”
    Moving closer to Colin, Sarah nodded. Her father hated the friendship she had started with Colin, even threatening to keep her in the wagon day and night until they reached their destination. Her mother had intervened, telling him she and Colin were too young for them to worry over. Sarah disagreed, but kept her thoughts to herself. At least for now, she and Colin were allowed to talk as long as she stayed within sight of the family wagons.
    Kyla’s sharp gaze missed nothing. They were young, but their feelings for each other were plain to see. A knot formed in her stomach, knowing the pain awaiting her son. Dougal would never agree to a union with a MacLaren.
    “Sarah, this is my ma and da.” Colin tried to ease her anxiety. Although he’d assured her his family hadn’t brought old clan hatreds to America, she hadn’t been able to accept it. Her da lived and breathed the past, even when he’d made the decision to start over in a new land.
    “Hello. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. MacLaren.” Blushing, she leaned toward Colin.
    Angus spotted movement near Sarah’s wagon, knowing someone watched. “We need to get ready to leave, Colin. Say your goodbyes.” With that, he and Kyla turned back toward their own wagon.
    Colin’s mouth tilted upward as he looked at her. “We’ll meet after supper.”
    “Aye.” She glanced over her shoulder, sensing her ma’s eyes on her. “I have to go.” Picking up her skirt, she ran back to the wagon.
    Colin strode away, confused by the onslaught of emotions he felt each time they were together. No one had to tell him they weren’t ready to marry. He’d almost gotten into fisticuffs with Quinn when he’d joked about Colin offering a handfast with Sarah, a dying custom in their homeland. He’d told Quinn they would wed, nothing less. Afterwards, Quinn had stayed quiet, keeping his distance when Colin and Sarah were together.
    Before the trip ended, he’d offer for her hand, knowing they’d have to wait before they married. He prayed Dougal MacGregor would agree to Sarah accompanying the MacLarens to their land in California, with his da and ma as chaperones, until they’d grown the ranch enough to support more family. Quinn thought he was daft to expect MacGregor to put Sarah’s wishes above his own. Colin knew Quinn might be