he said, returning her
inspection. “And you, lass? Did they harm you in any way?”
“I am fit, as you can see, m’lord. They extended every
kindness to me.”
“Except the kindness of leaving you in our care to begin
with.”
“Well, they regret that bit of doing and are anxious to make
amends. Have they not shown it by this gesture?”
“I will answer that if we make it as far as Craigmoor without
being attacked from the rear.”
Robert laughed. “You are a distrustful lad, but I ken the
way of it. Take your lass. She has already formed an attachment for you. God
knows, I heard of it often enough.”
MacAlpin laughed and whirled his horse around. A moment
later, he joined his men at the edge of the clearing. The sun broke through the
mist, striking his red hair and turning it the color of fire. As he rode past,
the MacAlpin warriors turned and followed him into the trees.
Stephen looked at Juliette, thinking he had never seen
anyone who more resembled a drowned rat, or anyone more dear to him.
She put a hand to her wet head. “I fear I am a mess, m’lord.
It is not how I would have desired you to see me for the first time in many
long days.”
He kept his mouth tight, but knew the pleasure he felt at
the sight of her showed in his eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that you missed
me?”
“Yes, m’lord. That is exactly what I am saying. Did you not
miss me as well?”
“Aye,” he said. “I found I didna enjoy stripping for my bath
half as much as when there is a certain lass about to spy on me.”
“Then I shall endeavor to spy on you often.”
“I shall give you the opportunity soon.”
“It cannot be too soon to suit me,” she said, seeming to
take delight in Stephen’s laugh.
“Am I to believe Robert then? Is it true you fair talked the
MacAlpins to death?”
“I fear that is the truth, m’lord, but it was not without a
purpose. The MacAlpin is not much of a talker, you see. He rarely says a word
until after the evening meal.”
“Aye, Angus says he is like a bagpipe. He never talks ’til
his belly is full.”
She laughed and he found himself drinking in the beloved
sight of her. “I have missed you, Juliette.”
She smiled. “But you said I was a troublesome lass,” she
replied.
A smile played about his mouth. “Aye, that is the part I
missed most.”
“I think we shall get along, m’lord.”
“I know we shall,” he said. Then, holding out his
hand toward her, he added, “Come, lass. Let us go home.”
“Home,” she said, placing her hand in his. “I like the sound
of that.” With a teasing smile, she asked, “Which way is home, m’lord?”
Stephen barely had time to nod in the direction of his men
when Juliette said, “I’ll race you.” Kicking her horse into a gallop, she rode
toward the group of astonished Gordons.
For a moment, he watched her ride, then he turned his horse
around and dug in his spurs until the black beast leaped forward. “You are
still a troublesome lass,” he called out to her.
“Aye, and you like it,” she shouted back.
“Aye,” Stephen whispered. “I do at that.”
Epilogue
They were married in the chapel at Craigmoor Castle a few
weeks later, Lady Juliette Pemberton becoming the bride of Alexander Stephen
Gordon, the Seventh Earl of Gordon, Laird of the Gordon clan.
As the minister said the words that joined her to him
forever, Juliette was reminded that good things do come to those who seize the
opportunity. With a satisfied sigh, she realized she had fulfilled her destiny.
She had become the bride of the Black Scot.
But in her heart, she knew she would always be simply
Stephen’s wife.
About Elaine Coffman
Long before she began writing novels, Elaine Coffman taught
elementary school and language and learning disabilities, never dreaming that
she would one day embark upon a new and exciting career as a novelist. Elaine
began writing in 1985 and her first book was published in 1988, and she
captured
inspection. “And you, lass? Did they harm you in any way?”
“I am fit, as you can see, m’lord. They extended every
kindness to me.”
“Except the kindness of leaving you in our care to begin
with.”
“Well, they regret that bit of doing and are anxious to make
amends. Have they not shown it by this gesture?”
“I will answer that if we make it as far as Craigmoor without
being attacked from the rear.”
Robert laughed. “You are a distrustful lad, but I ken the
way of it. Take your lass. She has already formed an attachment for you. God
knows, I heard of it often enough.”
MacAlpin laughed and whirled his horse around. A moment
later, he joined his men at the edge of the clearing. The sun broke through the
mist, striking his red hair and turning it the color of fire. As he rode past,
the MacAlpin warriors turned and followed him into the trees.
Stephen looked at Juliette, thinking he had never seen
anyone who more resembled a drowned rat, or anyone more dear to him.
She put a hand to her wet head. “I fear I am a mess, m’lord.
It is not how I would have desired you to see me for the first time in many
long days.”
He kept his mouth tight, but knew the pleasure he felt at
the sight of her showed in his eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that you missed
me?”
“Yes, m’lord. That is exactly what I am saying. Did you not
miss me as well?”
“Aye,” he said. “I found I didna enjoy stripping for my bath
half as much as when there is a certain lass about to spy on me.”
“Then I shall endeavor to spy on you often.”
“I shall give you the opportunity soon.”
“It cannot be too soon to suit me,” she said, seeming to
take delight in Stephen’s laugh.
“Am I to believe Robert then? Is it true you fair talked the
MacAlpins to death?”
“I fear that is the truth, m’lord, but it was not without a
purpose. The MacAlpin is not much of a talker, you see. He rarely says a word
until after the evening meal.”
“Aye, Angus says he is like a bagpipe. He never talks ’til
his belly is full.”
She laughed and he found himself drinking in the beloved
sight of her. “I have missed you, Juliette.”
She smiled. “But you said I was a troublesome lass,” she
replied.
A smile played about his mouth. “Aye, that is the part I
missed most.”
“I think we shall get along, m’lord.”
“I know we shall,” he said. Then, holding out his
hand toward her, he added, “Come, lass. Let us go home.”
“Home,” she said, placing her hand in his. “I like the sound
of that.” With a teasing smile, she asked, “Which way is home, m’lord?”
Stephen barely had time to nod in the direction of his men
when Juliette said, “I’ll race you.” Kicking her horse into a gallop, she rode
toward the group of astonished Gordons.
For a moment, he watched her ride, then he turned his horse
around and dug in his spurs until the black beast leaped forward. “You are
still a troublesome lass,” he called out to her.
“Aye, and you like it,” she shouted back.
“Aye,” Stephen whispered. “I do at that.”
Epilogue
They were married in the chapel at Craigmoor Castle a few
weeks later, Lady Juliette Pemberton becoming the bride of Alexander Stephen
Gordon, the Seventh Earl of Gordon, Laird of the Gordon clan.
As the minister said the words that joined her to him
forever, Juliette was reminded that good things do come to those who seize the
opportunity. With a satisfied sigh, she realized she had fulfilled her destiny.
She had become the bride of the Black Scot.
But in her heart, she knew she would always be simply
Stephen’s wife.
About Elaine Coffman
Long before she began writing novels, Elaine Coffman taught
elementary school and language and learning disabilities, never dreaming that
she would one day embark upon a new and exciting career as a novelist. Elaine
began writing in 1985 and her first book was published in 1988, and she
captured
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