Page 40 of Desiring the Highland Laird
Chapter Fourteen
He sounded likeshe was a problem that needed to be handled. She stomped over to him and nudged him around to face her. When he did, she shoved the stone at him.
“Fine, then. Take this cursed stone back. I never want to see it again.”
When he refused to take it from her, she grasped his wrist and pressed it into his hand. He held it, staring down at it for a long moment before slipping it back into his pocket. He took her by the waist and helped her back up on the horse, then settled into the saddle in front of her. Despite all her misgivings, her anger, and her ill feelings about him, she still wrapped her arms around his waist for self-preservation.
They rode on. As they did, the rains came, falling in sheets around them. When the first drops hit her on the top of the head, she pulled up the hood of the cloak to ward them off. It didn’t help. Callum remained sitting straight in the saddle as he kicked the horse into a full-on gallop to get back to the keep as quickly as possible.
By the time they arrived at Dundale, it was nightfall and she was soaked to the bone and freezing. The wind and rain were both bone-chilling cold.
He galloped into the bailey, sliding off the horse immediately and handing off the reins to the stable hand. Then he reached up to help her off the back of the horse. She slid into his arms and immediately shoved away from him. Quick as her legs wouldtake her, she hurried to the door and pushed it open, entering the keep’s great hall.
A warm and inviting fire blazed in the hearth. Hamish and Malcolm sat at the long table enjoying ale. Evie halted there, unsure what to do next as they both gaped at her. Hamish jumped to his feet, shock registering on his face. The shock was quickly replaced with a smug grin. Malcolm, meanwhile, remained where he was as he sipped his ale.
Callum came in behind her, kicking the door closed with the heel of his boot.
“Well, what are ye staring at? We’ve returned.”
Then he stomped off to the curved stairs and disappeared. The hot tears threatened again as she stood there, her hands in fists, her hair and her clothes dripping all over the floor.
“Och! Mercy me!” Roslyn exclaimed when she saw her standing there. She hurried over. “Ye have returned?”
“Y-yes.” Evie’s teeth chattered.
“Let’s get ye in some dry clothes, lass, before ye catch yer death.”
“My m-mother used to say that,” she said, wishing her mother was here to take care of her, to soothe her ragged nerves, and give her a hug.
Roslyn put an arm around her shoulders and led her from the great hall. “Say what, lass?”
“That I’ll catch my death if I don’t put on a coat or shoes or whatever.”
She shivered uncontrollably as Roslyn took her through the keep to another wing, away from Callum. She was relieved she didn’t try to take her to him because she would have flat out refused. Instead, they ended up winding through a few corridors until they came to a chamber that was large enough for two people. This must be where she spent her evenings. As theypassed by two servant girls, Roslyn told them to bring in the copper tub and fill it with steaming water.
“That will fix ye right up,” she said.
She merely nodded, trying to control her shivering.
In her chamber, Roslyn sat her in a chair by a blazing fire. Then she bustled about the room to find something suitable for her to change into. By the time she had gathered dry garments, the girls had entered with the tub and filled it with hot water.
Evie was so grateful for that she didn’t even complain when the woman helped her out of her soaking clothes and into the tub. She sank down into the steaming water that smelled like lilacs. The warmth of the water pressed through her, warding away the chill. Roslyn even helped to wash her long, tangled hair.
As she lathered up the locks, she said, “When ye left here, I dinnae think to see ye again.”
“I didn’t think I’d be returning.” Evie closed her eyes and relished the feel of the woman’s nails on her scalp as she scrubbed away the day’s torment.
“Can I ask what happened?” It was a tentative question, one in which Evie was all too happy to answer.
“He intended to dump me off with the Sinclairs,” she said. “Am I that much of a problem, Roslyn?”
“Och, nay, lass. Callum can be a wee bit of…” She paused, choosing her words, then, “an arse at times.”
Evie giggled at that. “No kidding.”
“How did ye convince him to return here with ye?” She sounded genuinely curious.
Evie sighed. She wasn’t ready to tell the tale. She wanted to enjoy the bath, the scrubbing of her scalp, and nothing more.
