her head high. They entered the keep and a stunning woman with titian hair greeted them.
“This lovely lady is my wife, Lillian.” John took the woman’s hand and kissed it. “Fallon will be accompanying us to Turnberry. But she will need to change her clothes before we break our fast.”
Lillian smiled. “I would be very happy to help.” She placed her hand on Fallon’s forearm. “Come with me, I’ll show you where you can clean up. I’m sure I have something that will fit.”
John gave a curt nod, turned, then left them alone so they could tend to Fallon’s needs.
Grateful for their kindness, she welcomed the offer of a clean gown, the chance to wash her face, and to comb her hair. A bowl of porridge and tankard of ale never tasted so good. Refreshed and her needs sated, she anxiously awaited their departure. The quicker they got to Turnberry, the sooner she’d see Bryce.
Despite the grumbling and wayward glances, none of the Kennedy warriors openly voiced their objection to taking a woman on the trip. Astride a black destrier and looking every bit a leader, John wore a padded linen gambeson, leather gauntlets, and hauberk of mail.
“If you plan to join us, lass, best you mount.” John pointed to a palfrey tethered to a post. “Her name is Sage and like most woman has a mind of her own and needs a firm hand.”
Fallon pulled herself into the saddle with ease then dug in her heels, prompting the spirited animal to lunge forward.
They rode nonstop for hours, covering many grueling miles before the sun dropped to just above the horizon and twilight’s shadows crept across the path.
John slowed his horse to a walk and twisted in his saddle to face her. “You’ve done well, Fallon, but you must be getting tired and hungry.”
“I’m fine,” she lied. Her legs were numb, her back ached, and her stomach had been growling for the last two hours. “Will we reach Turnberry before dark?” Her pulse sped up at the thought of seeing Bryce.
“If we maintain the pace, we should arrive within the hour. You failed to tell me the reason for this urgent trip. It must be very important to risk your life.”
Fallon chewed on her bottom lip. “Why do you journey to the coast with one hundred heavy horse and armed men?” she countered.
“I’ll be joining with other Scottish forces in an endeavor to drive out the English. We will take you to the edge of the village, but you must complete the last part of the journey alone.”
“The Bruce is not in Turnberry?”
“I dinna mention King Robert.” John frowned.
“There was no need to say his name. I am aware of his return to Scotland and need to speak with him on a matter of great importance.”
“Is he the friend you spoke of?”
“Nay.” Fallon shook her head. “But the missive I need to deliver involves the king.”
John reined in his horse. With a wave of his arm, he motioned for the men to halt. “Mayhap you should explain yourself, m’lady. Out of respect for your uncle, I dinna push the issue, other than to ask your name, when we were at my keep. Mainly because I believed you were going to Turnberry to meet a friend and it had nothing to do with Robert. Now that you have revealed the reason you travel, I refuse to take you any further without full disclosure. I’ll not put the king in jeopardy.”
Fallon swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her heart pounded as she tried to decide what to do. She had already said too much.
Dare she tell him the rest?
Her uncle warned her that the MacDougalls were not the only Scottish clan who refused to endorse or accept Robert the Bruce’s claim to the throne. For that reason, he told her to trust no one and not to reveal her secret to anyone but the King. True to his word, Laird Kennedy had seen her safely to Turnberry. He’d also declared his loyalty to the Bruce.
“I’m waiting.” John drummed his fingers on the pommel of his saddle.
“Until recently, I lived with my uncle in his croft
“This lovely lady is my wife, Lillian.” John took the woman’s hand and kissed it. “Fallon will be accompanying us to Turnberry. But she will need to change her clothes before we break our fast.”
Lillian smiled. “I would be very happy to help.” She placed her hand on Fallon’s forearm. “Come with me, I’ll show you where you can clean up. I’m sure I have something that will fit.”
John gave a curt nod, turned, then left them alone so they could tend to Fallon’s needs.
Grateful for their kindness, she welcomed the offer of a clean gown, the chance to wash her face, and to comb her hair. A bowl of porridge and tankard of ale never tasted so good. Refreshed and her needs sated, she anxiously awaited their departure. The quicker they got to Turnberry, the sooner she’d see Bryce.
Despite the grumbling and wayward glances, none of the Kennedy warriors openly voiced their objection to taking a woman on the trip. Astride a black destrier and looking every bit a leader, John wore a padded linen gambeson, leather gauntlets, and hauberk of mail.
“If you plan to join us, lass, best you mount.” John pointed to a palfrey tethered to a post. “Her name is Sage and like most woman has a mind of her own and needs a firm hand.”
Fallon pulled herself into the saddle with ease then dug in her heels, prompting the spirited animal to lunge forward.
They rode nonstop for hours, covering many grueling miles before the sun dropped to just above the horizon and twilight’s shadows crept across the path.
John slowed his horse to a walk and twisted in his saddle to face her. “You’ve done well, Fallon, but you must be getting tired and hungry.”
“I’m fine,” she lied. Her legs were numb, her back ached, and her stomach had been growling for the last two hours. “Will we reach Turnberry before dark?” Her pulse sped up at the thought of seeing Bryce.
“If we maintain the pace, we should arrive within the hour. You failed to tell me the reason for this urgent trip. It must be very important to risk your life.”
Fallon chewed on her bottom lip. “Why do you journey to the coast with one hundred heavy horse and armed men?” she countered.
“I’ll be joining with other Scottish forces in an endeavor to drive out the English. We will take you to the edge of the village, but you must complete the last part of the journey alone.”
“The Bruce is not in Turnberry?”
“I dinna mention King Robert.” John frowned.
“There was no need to say his name. I am aware of his return to Scotland and need to speak with him on a matter of great importance.”
“Is he the friend you spoke of?”
“Nay.” Fallon shook her head. “But the missive I need to deliver involves the king.”
John reined in his horse. With a wave of his arm, he motioned for the men to halt. “Mayhap you should explain yourself, m’lady. Out of respect for your uncle, I dinna push the issue, other than to ask your name, when we were at my keep. Mainly because I believed you were going to Turnberry to meet a friend and it had nothing to do with Robert. Now that you have revealed the reason you travel, I refuse to take you any further without full disclosure. I’ll not put the king in jeopardy.”
Fallon swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her heart pounded as she tried to decide what to do. She had already said too much.
Dare she tell him the rest?
Her uncle warned her that the MacDougalls were not the only Scottish clan who refused to endorse or accept Robert the Bruce’s claim to the throne. For that reason, he told her to trust no one and not to reveal her secret to anyone but the King. True to his word, Laird Kennedy had seen her safely to Turnberry. He’d also declared his loyalty to the Bruce.
“I’m waiting.” John drummed his fingers on the pommel of his saddle.
“Until recently, I lived with my uncle in his croft
Similar Books
