Page 5 of When a Highlander Vows
He hadn’t expected her to fight him. He’d thought he was being perfectly generous. It was even more than Seamus had been expecting. No doubt he’d only meant for Lucas to give his sister money and check on her well-being every so often. Not ask her to move in with him.
But his grandmother had insisted on this, and it made more sense anyway. Then, he would not have to leave the safety of his castle or take time out of his duties when he did travel to other clans to see to the health of one woman.
“So? How did it go?” Archie asked as Lucas approached him.
Lucas threw up his arms and began to pace. “Bloody lass dinnae agree!”
“What?” Archie asked, and Lucas could tell he was amused.
The older man was a cheerful sort, and it had irritated Lucas over the years how calm and happy he could be in any situation. He was almost smiling, and it irked Lucas even more.
“She refused! Said she doesnae need a protector, said she can stay here perfectly on her own. Can ye imagine?! Called me honorable and noble offer, charity!” He moved back and forth, his hands on his hips. “So, I told her that she had nay choice. I’ve come all this way just for this! It was me duty to help her. She can prepare herself, or she can be taken to the Castle by force.”
“Me Laird, is that wise?” Archie asked softly, and Lucas pinned him with an angry glare.
“I cannae be returnin’ to the village every few days to see how one lass fares. This is much better, and now me grandmaither can have a companion of her own. She feels sorry for the lass bein’ all on her own out here.”
Archie nodded but said nothing more, merely went about silently preparing the horses. Lucas walked away from him and went to the edge of the hill, staring out over the village. Duty, honor, noble acts, these things had been drilled into him since he was a youth. His parents had not been the role models of these attributes, rather his grandmother had told him that these things are what make a laird. More than land or power. And hewas not going to let a young little upstart with no one else in the world scoff at his offer, telling him that she didn’t need it.
He turned back to the house, willing Caitlin to open the door. He had made a threat, and now he had to go through with it if she didn’t come out. That would not be to his liking, and he was certain it wasn’t what Seamus had envisioned.
After he stewed for a little while longer, the door opened, and Caitlin emerged wearing a belted McDougall plaid and a bag in hand. The young woman behind her held another bag. Archie rushed to grab the bags from the ladies, and Lucas walked slowly up to them. He was close enough to hear Caitlin say, “Mary, thank ye so much. I will sort out the details of yer employment later. Please tell Rachel I said goodbye, but I will be back, I am sure. I am sorry she wasnae here today for me to say goodbye to.”
Mary nodded, tears in her eyes, and Caitlin hugged her. Lucas felt some remorse, but he would not apologize for offering shelter and protection to a lone woman. Even if she hated him for it.
“So, ye’ve agreed then?” he asked stupidly, and she turned around to glare at him.
“Aye, Me Laird, as ye can see. Shall we go?”
He nodded. “Archie has provided ye with yer own horse, Lass. It is a few hours’ ride to the Castle, even though it looks close. So yecan understand why it is far easier to have ye come and live with me.”
Caitlin looked at him as if he’d grown two heads. She put her hands on her hips and frowned.
“I cannae ride, Me Laird. Me eyesight is too poor for me to see great distances. It would be very dangerous.”
“Och, aye, of course,” he said, nodding along as if he’d considered this. A little red crept into his cheeks as he understood his mistake. “Well, then, ye will ride with me. For the sake of safety, of course.”
“Of course.” Her angry expression softened then, and she looked back at the house once more. “Will I ever get to return here, Me Laird? There are people under me care. They are employed by me. I will need to bring money for them and to check on them.”
“It will be handled. I can assure ye. Ye will nae have to worry for their welfare.”
She brightened at that, and as Archie secured the bags to the extra horse, she walked up to Lucas. As if they hadn’t argued at all, she gave him a brief smile.
“I have never been to the Castle before. Is it very large?”
“Is it—” he was shocked that she’d ask such a question. “Of course it is. It’s a castle.”
She frowned again, and he felt guilty. Clearing his throat, he said,
“Me grandmaither will be happy to have ye, Lass. She has been wantin’ a companion for many years.”
He’d tried his best to soften his voice, but she only nodded and did not reply. Biting back a sigh of frustration, he gripped her at the waist and lifted her into the air without another word.
She gave out a shriek in surprise, but she sat where she was planted, and wrapped her cloak about her. Lucas fought the urge to think more about how sweet her waist felt in his hands, and how he had held her in his arms for mere moments. The scent of her hair was in his nose too.
Rosewater.
Scowling, he jumped up behind her, determined to say hardly anything as they rode off, leaving Caitlin’s home behind.
