The Highlander's Runaway Bride by Terri Brisbin Page B

ever known.’ She stepped closer, forcing her to look up to watch his face.
    â€˜It would not have mattered who stood before my father as part of the marriage he arranged. I would have run no matter.’ She reached up and touched his hand. ‘I ran from the impending marriage.’
    His answer was a sound rather than a word. Something softer than a grunt or snort, she’d heard this quick, shallow exhalation from him before. Almost as though he was saying he would consider her words. The nod he gave then eased her worries a bit.
    â€˜Do you wish to finish washing?’ he asked a moment or two later. ‘The sun will set soon and we should return to the others before dark.’
    Not wanting to diminish his gesture of bringing her to the stream, she nodded and walked back to the water’s edge. Kneeling once more, she made quick work of washing her hands and face and all the places she could reach without undressing. The frigid water made her shiver, but it felt good to be clean of the dust of the road.
    When she finished, she held the cloth and soap out to him. Eva thought he would refuse it, but he surprised her and stepped to where she knelt and accepted it. His lower face and neck were covered with several days’ growth of beard, she noticed then. He’d shaved before their wedding, unlike her father, but not since. She suspected that he preferred to be clean-shaven when not travelling.
    â€˜How much longer before we arrive at your home, Rob?’ She yet tripped over the use of his name, but she would try.
    â€˜Three more days, if the weather holds,’ he said without looking at her. He put the cover back over the small bowl of soap and twisted the cloth to remove the excess water before standing and reaching for her hand. ‘Four if the storms of your northlands follow us.’
    She held on to his arm this time, her legs tired and unsteady. He walked to match her steps. A small thing, but she noticed it. They were almost back down the hill when he drew to a stop, facing her.
    â€˜I have a request of you, lady.’
    He stammered a few times, and she feared what he would ask of her.
    â€˜When we arrive in Glenlui, I do not wish word of your action to be spread amongst my kith and kin.’
    â€˜My action?’ she asked.
    â€˜That you ran away rather than marry...me. Some would not understand. My sister...’
    She nodded. ‘It is my shameful behaviour, but if it would please you, I will keep it between us.’ A small thing after all and one she could manage.
    â€˜And the girl? Would you instruct her?’
    â€˜Nessa?’ He nodded. ‘Certainly.’
    â€˜My thanks, lady,’ he said, as he began walking once more.
    They reached the others and set about their usual tasks to prepare for the night. She and Nessa slept in the wagon, nestled between the crates and boxes, while Rob and the men slept around the fire. She did as he asked, trying to make it more about exposing her to derision than at his request, and Nessa seemed to take it seriously. The girl dearly wanted to remain in Glenlui, so Eva knew she would obey.
    * * *
    The terrible storms of spring did not follow them south and, three days later, just before nightfall, they arrived in Glenlui, the home of the Mackintoshes. As they rode down the mountainside opposite of the keep, Eva could see the village spread out below them. Larger than Tongue, it was closer to the keep than their village was. Drumlui Keep rose to the height of several storeys and was enclosed by wide yards and high walls.
    But as they rode through the village, Rob took the reins of her horse and motioned for the others to ride on. He guided them down one of the paths branching off the road and stopped before a modest cottage there. Before they could dismount, the door opened and a woman came out, peering up at both of them before letting out a scream.
    â€˜My sister, Margaret,’ he said. ‘God help us