Page 70 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
“Thomas wanted to update me on how our faither and everyone else back home was doin’. He mentioned our siblings, how they’re managin’ in me absence, and…”
Sensing her hesitation, Hunter asked quickly, “And how is yer faither’s health?”
Erica’s chest tightened as she recalled Thomas’s words. “He said our faither hasnae improved, but that the healer has him on a new tonic that eases his pain.”
“Is that what’s troublin’ ye, or is there more?”
“There’s more,” Erica admitted, her fingers gripping her skirts tightly. “He mentioned somethin’ odd. He said there had been a rider near the borders. A stranger on horseback, circling the keep at odd hours. None of the guards recognized him, and he never approached them—even disappeared when they rode out to meet him. He just… watched.”
Hunter’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. His back stiffened, his shoulder rose to his ears, and his gaze sharpened with a predatory intensity. “A rider? How long has this been goin’ on?”
“Thomas didnae say, but the impact was enough that Reid insisted he write to me about it. I reckon he kenned I would share it with ye.”
A tense silence settled between them. Erica could almost see the wheels turning in his mind, considering possibilities and forming strategies. He looked around, most likely for Calvin, who was nowhere to be seen.
“Why did ye nae tell me this sooner?” he asked, his voice clipped.
“I wasnae sure it was worth mentionin’,” she admitted. “I thought maybe Thomas was bein’ overly cautious, or that it could be a coincidence. But now…” She hesitated, her voice growing softer. “Now, I’m nae so sure…”
“What does yer gut tell ye, Erica? Do ye honestly think that this is all just a coincidence? The arrow, me absence, Calvin’s warnin’?”
“Nay, I dinnae think it is. Though, I’m nae privy to whatever it is that has pulled ye away from the castle. So, ye have kept things from me for me own ‘safety’, and look where it’s gotten us.”
“A stranger watchin’ McFair, possibly followin’ ye here… it’s nae something to keep to yerself, Erica.”
“There’s more,” she added bravely, her cheeks flushing.
“Och?” Hunter murmured, giving her the space to voice her concerns.
“It’s just a feeling’, now that me mind is workin’, but… Struan might ken more than he lets on.”
“Struan again?”
“Aye, he seems too keen on certain things. Me family, the competition, our marriage, an heir, Lily. It feels like he’s orchestratin’ something, controllin’ the situation from behind the scenes. I mentioned puppets before, but what if it’s true?”
Hunter stayed silent, her words hanging in the air between them.
“Maybe he thinks he’s helpin’,” she relented. “But if he’s pushin’ ye in ways that arenae right for ye or Lily, that’s something to consider.”
“Calvin,” Hunter said, his eyes landing on something just over her shoulder.
“I’ve heard it all me Laird,” a low voice growled from the shadows.
The man-at-arms stepped out into the light, revealing himself.
Has he been there the whole time? Of course, he has.
“Calvin will go to McFair Keep to investigate this with the guard and meet with yer faither on me behalf.”
At that, Calvin silently slipped away.
Erica heard his footsteps retreating down the corridor. “Why can I nae go too? I could take Lily with me, and we’ll both be safer there,” she pressed again.
“I willnae get into this again. Me decision is final—dinnae press me.”
“I’ll nae submit to ye, Hunter Buchanan,” Erica hissed, fire behind her words.
But before either of them could say another word, they heard a soft voice from behind them. “Are ye two fightin’ again?”
