been traveling for a good long while and is exhausted."
"She is too stiff in my arms to be sleeping."
She had nearly fallen asleep until Ward spoke, startling her a bit. But it was true. She'd been trying to stay awake, attempting to keep her distance from the hot-blooded Highland laird she was seated against. She finally relaxed the rest of the way, too weary to fight it any longer. And mayhap, he would quit asking any more questions of her.
He tightened his hold on her again, probably fearing she had drifted off to sleep and could very easily fall off his horse.
***
Ronan smiled when Sorcha's head fell against his chest. Now, he was certain she was asleep.
When they reached Dunloch Castle, several of their clansmen stopped their chores to see the woman in Ronan's arms. Who would have ever thought a trip to see to a crofter's troubles would result in Ronan discovering a lass in distress?
One of his men hurried to take the woman from him so that he could dismount.
"Is she wounded?" Fagen asked, carefully taking her into his arms.
"Nay. She is sleeping. Take her to the room off the kitchen. She can slumber there until the meal is served." Ronan dismounted and a lad took his reins.
Their dark-haired sister, Elspeth, rushed out of the keep to greet them and her dark brown eyes focused on Fagen carrying the lass. "What has happened?" she asked, worried. She was the most sweet-tempered lass, always concerned about the welfare of their clan and since their mother died, she had overseen the staff.
Ronan explained what he suspected, concerning the lass.
"Should I see to her?" Elspeth asked, wringing her hands.
"Nay. Let her sleep. For the time-being, she can stay in the room off the kitchen." When Elspeth turned to head back to the keep, Ronan said, "You can see the lass later." He was afraid his sister would wake her and try to learn all there was about her, when the woman needed to rest most of all.
Elspeth nodded and hurried off.
"So what do you think?" Ward followed Ronan into the keep as Alban stopped to speak to a sweet lassie.
"That she lied about where she is from. But she is dressed too fine to be just a peasant."
"And her horse? Do you believe she truly had one?"
"Most likely. She had a few reddish horse hairs on her léine and the mud splatters also, that appear to have been caused from a horse's gallop through a wetter region. After the meal, I want you to organize fifteen men to sweep the area in search of her horse and the men who stole it, if it is true. I want the horse and the men brought here if you know or even suspect a horse doesna belong to them."
"Aye. Do you want Alban or me to be in charge of the search?"
"You, with your hawk's sight. Mayhap you will spy her horse when no one else can." Ronan stopped and turned to face Ward. "I really dinna see how you do it."
"My hawk's sight." Ward grinned. "I will organize the men at once, and following the nooning meal, we will be off."
"Aye. And let me know right away if you have any success."
"Will do." Ward strode back outside.
Ronan knew his brother was pleased he had been right—this time.
Red-faced and highly flustered, Cook practically ran into the great hall to speak to Ronan. Her dark eyes were wide, which didn't quite seem to be the reaction he would expect. He assumed she didn't like that the lass was allowed to sleep off the kitchen when he had not first talked to her about it. Even though the castle and everyone who lived within was under his rule, he was amused that Cook had claimed the kitchen and the storage room as her own.
"Aye, what is it? I take it that the lass—"
"She is armed with a kitchen knife and threatening us with it, my laird!"
Chapter 3
Sorcha had awakened in a small dark room to the sound of loud, banging noises and fearing for her life, she had quickly found a knife and armed herself.
Her heart thundering in her ears, Sorcha eased her way toward the entryway, intending to make her escape. She
"She is too stiff in my arms to be sleeping."
She had nearly fallen asleep until Ward spoke, startling her a bit. But it was true. She'd been trying to stay awake, attempting to keep her distance from the hot-blooded Highland laird she was seated against. She finally relaxed the rest of the way, too weary to fight it any longer. And mayhap, he would quit asking any more questions of her.
He tightened his hold on her again, probably fearing she had drifted off to sleep and could very easily fall off his horse.
***
Ronan smiled when Sorcha's head fell against his chest. Now, he was certain she was asleep.
When they reached Dunloch Castle, several of their clansmen stopped their chores to see the woman in Ronan's arms. Who would have ever thought a trip to see to a crofter's troubles would result in Ronan discovering a lass in distress?
One of his men hurried to take the woman from him so that he could dismount.
"Is she wounded?" Fagen asked, carefully taking her into his arms.
"Nay. She is sleeping. Take her to the room off the kitchen. She can slumber there until the meal is served." Ronan dismounted and a lad took his reins.
Their dark-haired sister, Elspeth, rushed out of the keep to greet them and her dark brown eyes focused on Fagen carrying the lass. "What has happened?" she asked, worried. She was the most sweet-tempered lass, always concerned about the welfare of their clan and since their mother died, she had overseen the staff.
Ronan explained what he suspected, concerning the lass.
"Should I see to her?" Elspeth asked, wringing her hands.
"Nay. Let her sleep. For the time-being, she can stay in the room off the kitchen." When Elspeth turned to head back to the keep, Ronan said, "You can see the lass later." He was afraid his sister would wake her and try to learn all there was about her, when the woman needed to rest most of all.
Elspeth nodded and hurried off.
"So what do you think?" Ward followed Ronan into the keep as Alban stopped to speak to a sweet lassie.
"That she lied about where she is from. But she is dressed too fine to be just a peasant."
"And her horse? Do you believe she truly had one?"
"Most likely. She had a few reddish horse hairs on her léine and the mud splatters also, that appear to have been caused from a horse's gallop through a wetter region. After the meal, I want you to organize fifteen men to sweep the area in search of her horse and the men who stole it, if it is true. I want the horse and the men brought here if you know or even suspect a horse doesna belong to them."
"Aye. Do you want Alban or me to be in charge of the search?"
"You, with your hawk's sight. Mayhap you will spy her horse when no one else can." Ronan stopped and turned to face Ward. "I really dinna see how you do it."
"My hawk's sight." Ward grinned. "I will organize the men at once, and following the nooning meal, we will be off."
"Aye. And let me know right away if you have any success."
"Will do." Ward strode back outside.
Ronan knew his brother was pleased he had been right—this time.
Red-faced and highly flustered, Cook practically ran into the great hall to speak to Ronan. Her dark eyes were wide, which didn't quite seem to be the reaction he would expect. He assumed she didn't like that the lass was allowed to sleep off the kitchen when he had not first talked to her about it. Even though the castle and everyone who lived within was under his rule, he was amused that Cook had claimed the kitchen and the storage room as her own.
"Aye, what is it? I take it that the lass—"
"She is armed with a kitchen knife and threatening us with it, my laird!"
Chapter 3
Sorcha had awakened in a small dark room to the sound of loud, banging noises and fearing for her life, she had quickly found a knife and armed herself.
Her heart thundering in her ears, Sorcha eased her way toward the entryway, intending to make her escape. She
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