Page 52 of When a Highlander Vows
“Feckin’ Hell, these bastards,” Lucas said as he stomped away to jump on Searbas, kicking the horse into speed.
He could hear the squishing steps of Archie’s horse from behind him as he left the group of men to sort their own disagreements. They trotted in the growing rain toward the closest village, which was now becoming a gray blur in the storm.
But it was not far, and soon, they were under the edge of a thatched roof, tying their horses at the edge of an inn.
“We will need to find lodgin’, but I cannae think straight without a hot meal or a pint.” He held his hands out under the rain for a few seconds to wash the dirt from them.
“Aye, me either,” Archie said with a long sigh.
When he pushed open the squeaking wooden door of the inn, a waft of hot air and good smells assailed him.
“Finally,” he grumbled, his wet boots making marks on the floor as he found a table close to the hearth.
In seconds, he already started to feel a bit better. Archie slumped into the bench across from him and both rubbed their faces to brush off the raindrops from their faces and hair.
“Shite. Why in the Hell dae we have to come every time those bloody bastards have a foolish argument about a foot of land? And Laird MacGregor sits at home doin’ his ‘business’ or whatever the man said.”
“Warm and dry,” Archie added, looking into the flames in the large hearth.
It was the sullenest Lucas had ever seen his cheerful friend.
“Aye. I have never liked the man, always gaddin’ about with his fine clothes and a young woman or two nae far off. Dealin’ with other business, me arse.”
A red-haired young woman came to the edge of their table with two tankards in hand, ale frothing over the top.
“Thanks be to God,” he said, grabbing one and pulling it close, taking the first sip hastily.
“Food, Lads?” the young woman said, barely looking at them.
“Aye,” Archie said. “Whatever ye’ve got.”
She swept away, and Lucas and Archie were left to look at each other before Archie cracked a smile.
“Ye look bloody terrible.”
“Och, thanks, Lad. Ye look just as terrible, I’m sure.”
Feeling warm, Lucas tore off his sodden plaid, and hung it on the edge of the bench, hoping to get it a bit dry before he had to return outside.
“We’ll leave tomorrow?” Archie asked. “I worry that Sarah will have the bairn without me there, and I daenae like the sound of that. She has been havin’ more trouble of late.”
Lucas grinned. “I thought ye would be eager to spend the time away from the Castle when that happened. When she had Colin, ye were sickly and pale as ye listened to her screams.”
“Aye, true enough.” Archie cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “But it is nae I who experiences all the pain and sufferin’ when the babe is comin’. I need to stand strong.”
Lucas frowned at his friend. “Nan told ye that, did she nae?”
“Aye, what of it?”
Chuckling, Lucas shook his head and took another long swig of the ale. Speaking of Sarah and his Nan made him think of Caitlin and the way he’d left things between them.
I rushed away like a fearful fool, barely able to look at her afore I took off. What must she think of me?
But he knew he’d done wrong by giving into temptation. He couldn’t make love to her, taint her with his body, or give her hope that something more could happen when it could not. Even if a large part of him wanted it to. A very large part.
“She is wiser than any of us, and she was right to rebuke me,” Archie continued.
“Och, I have had enough of that woman’s rebukes. She likes to step into things that are nae her business. She’s pushed Caitlin and I to be more than what we are time and time again, nae matter what I say to her.”
