Page 40 of Highland Renegade
A few minutes later, they rounded a bend in the road and Emily saw a flattish span of land with what looked like dug-up dirt around the edges. Ian reined in Paden and the filly stopped of her own accord.
“This is the bog. Decayed matter mixes with the mud of the soggy ground under it.” He gestured to the upturned earth. “We let this dry and then use the peat for fuel.”
“So what is dangerous about it?”
“Ye have to ken how far ye can go. As I mentioned, the ground is like a marsh. Where the peat has nae been cut, a man can sink down into it. The more ye try to free yourself, the deeper ye sink.” He glanced at Emily. “’Tis what the healer meant.”
It had sounded more ominous than that to her, but she didn’t want Ian thinking she was given to superstition.Especiallyafter all that talk about the ghost.
“Has anyone been lost to it?”
“Nae recently, although a man or two has disappeared on his way home from Taynuilt after drinking too much.”
“Taynuilt?”
“’Tis the village beyond the hill. The road winds, so sometimes the local folk cut through the bog, since ’tis shorter.”
Emily felt a shiver. “And if they are tipsy, they might get lost.”
“Aye. At night, ’tis nae easy to see where the soil gives way.”
“I suppose the men who cut the peat know what they are doing?”
Ian nodded. “Once the ground has been turned up, it allows water to seep out from the marshy part, which then allows the cutters to move farther in. But, to make sure they are safe…” He pointed. “Do ye see the boards over there?”
Emily followed his direction and could barely make out something that looked lighter than the dirt lying flat over it. “Yes.”
“When the cutters are determining how far to go, they place the boards atop the bog. If they have nae sunk the next morning, then they do another test by stepping on them. If there is little give, ’tis safe to start digging.”
“I had no idea it could be so dangerous to dig up something we use for heat. Are you sure you should endanger your men?”
Ian looked at her. “’Tis nae more dangerous than the English sending men into mines for coal.”
“I had not thought of it like that.” Emily frowned. “You must think me the epitome of a spoiled aristocrat.”
Something in his eyes changed as he continued to gaze at her. She couldn’t quite decipher what it was. A strange sensation shot through her that was part anticipation and part dread.
“I think—”
“Never mind. It was rude of me to say that.” Suddenly, she didn’t want to know what he was going to say. She didn’t want to be told that Scots thought all English aristocrats were spoiled and used to luxury. She didn’t want to be told—maybe not in words—that Scots would never consider the English friends. “It is getting late. We should be getting home.”
Picking up her reins, she nudged Muirne into a canter. She heard a Gaelic curse and then hoofbeats drumming behind her.
…
Ian decided not to try to catch up to Emily, even though his stallion could easily keep pace with the filly. One reason was because he wasn’t sure if she was angry and, in time-honored male tradition, it was much wiser to give an angry woman time to calm down. He wasn’t surewhyshe would be upset, but she had abruptly taken off… It was another female mystery mere mortal men had trouble understanding.
But his second reason for staying behind was more important, even if he’d been trying not to think about it. If they arrived in the bailey together, he would have the opportunity to assist her in dismounting. He’d probably look like a fool flying off his horse before a groom could help her, but his handsitchedto be around her waist again. To hold her just a wee bit too long and a wee bit too close…Lucifer’s horns! I truly am an eejit.
So he held Paden back, giving Emily time to reach the bailey and dismount without his help. When he walked into the castle a short time later, he heard voices—male and female—coming from the library. Turning down the hall, he made his way there.
To his surprise, both his uncles and his brothers, sans Devon who’d gone off by himself again, were gathered around Emily, who held a letter in her hand.
“I really did not expect an answer so soon,” she said.
“To what?” Ian asked as he walked through the door.
Emily waved the paper at him. “To this.”
