Page 32 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
"Aye. I plan to sit by her side. Daenae worry, take yer time on this very important village trip," Jessica teased.
"She is a guest of Clan McDougal and should be treated well, after all she's done," Hunter said.
"Are ye tryin' to convince me or yerself?" Jessica winked and walked out of the courtyard.
Hunter groaned in annoyance. The morning air was crisp as he waited in the castle courtyard, his boots scraping the stone as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
A few moments later, Cassandra appeared, her figure framed by the grand entrance of the castle. She was dressed in a simple green riding dress, her hair braided neatly down her back. Whenshe spotted Hunter, she gave him a wary smile, but he couldn’t help noticing the slight flush on her cheeks.
“Good mornin’, Gilmour,” she greeted him, her voice laced with a hint of tension. “I will ride on me own horse, so ye need nae trouble yerself.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow, the reins of a sturdy saddle horse firmly in his grasp. He moved toward her, his boots thudding softly on the ground.
“Aye, ye do, lass, this one’s for ye,” he said, his voice steady. "That horse over there is mine."
Cassandra’s eyes widened in surprise, and her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red. She crossed her arms, clearly frustrated. “Ye’ve done that on purpose, haven’t ye?” she accused, her voice slightly breathless with indignation. “Trickery cause ye ken I'd fall for yer playin’”
Hunter smirked, an amused glint dancing in his eyes. “Maybe I did, lass,” he said with a teasing shrug. “But it’s me castle, me clan, and me right to do so. Now, daenae make a fuss.”
She muttered something under her breath, but he caught the slightest curve of her lips as she tried to hide a smile. Hunter couldn’t help but feel a rush of warmth at the sight of her trying to hide her amusement. He handed her the reins with a flourish and offered her a hand to help her mount. “Come on now, lass. Daenae be shy.”
His gaze met hers, and for a second, the world around them seemed to fall away. He took her hand, his grip warm and firm as she climbed into the saddle.
“Ye always make things so difficult, Hunter,” she muttered, though her words lacked any real bite. “I can hardly believe ye sometimes.”
Hunter smirked, watching her settle onto the saddle. He mounted his own horse, giving her a sideways glance.
“Aye, I make things difficult, but ye’ll thank me in the end. I’ve got a knack for what’s best for ye, lass.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a spark of something in her gaze that Hunter couldn’t quite place.
“If yer thinkin’ ye can boss me around like ye do yer clan, ye’ve another thing comin’.” Her voice was playful but laced with challenge. “I’ve got a mind of me own.”
“I ken, lass,” Hunter replied, his voice low and filled with an unspoken promise and a memory of what she was like when they first met. He was amused that she was playing on that memory now.
“But sometimes, yer mind needs guidin’. Ye’ll see.” He gave a small nod, urging his horse forward. “Now, let’s be off. We’ve a village to visit, and I’ve nay intention of lettin’ ye miss a thing.”
As they rode out of the castle grounds, the air seemed to hum with the unspoken tension between them. He watched as Cassandra rode beside him, her posture stiff at first, but gradually relaxing as the horse’s gait grew steady.
The distance between them was still too close for comfort, yet it felt like a long stretch of untapped possibilities. Every time she glanced over at him, Hunter caught the faintest flicker of curiosity in her eyes, as if she was trying to figure him out—and he found he liked it.
“I’ll admit,” Cassandra said after a few moments, breaking the silence, “the castle is grand, but I do enjoy a proper village. What do ye plan to do with me once we’re there, then?”
Hunter smiled to himself, his eyes focused ahead. “Well, first, we’ll find ye some dresses,” he teased, watching as she huffed and swatted at the air in mock protest. “Then, we’ll have some food, and if ye’re lucky, I might show ye a few of me favorite places.”
Cassandra tilted her head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “And what places might those be? Ye’re nae takin’ me to any taverns, are ye?” Her voice was light, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. “I’ve nay interest in drinkin’ with rowdy folk.”
“Aye, ye need nae worry, lass. Nay taverns. But ye may find a few surprises along the way,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur. He stole a glance at her, watching the way hereyes flicked toward him in curiosity. “Now, what do ye say? Shall we make a day of it?”
She didn’t reply immediately, but her lips curved upwards, her cheeks still flushed from their earlier exchange. “I’ll hold ye to that promise, Hunter,” she said, her tone light but with a hint of challenge. “Just daenae expect me to make things easy for ye.”
“I wouldnae dream of it, lass,” Hunter replied, his smirk widening as they continued their ride toward the village.
There was no mistaking the chemistry between them now, a steady undercurrent that both excited and unnerved him. But for the moment, all he could do was enjoy the ride—and the company.
The village lay nestled between rolling hills, its thatched-roof cottages and stone buildings standing firm against the winds that swept down from the Highlands. Smoke curled from chimneys, filling the crisp air with the scent of peat and fresh-baked bread.
Children ran barefoot through the narrow dirt paths, while merchants called out their wares from wooden stalls set up along the main road. The hum of daily life was steady yet peaceful.
