Page 36 of Abducted By the Highlander
Unfortunately, it was hard to remain annoyed with him when he was so solicitous and held her arm in a protective gesture as they left the inn. And she certainly wasn’t oblivious to the admiring glances slanted his way from more than a few young women. Indeed, by the time they’d collected their horses and were once again heading to the market so he and Symon could purchase the goods for the camp, she had all but forgotten why he had vexed her so.
Maybe she had forgiven him, but that didn’t mean he was in the right. And when they were next alone, she would be sure to let him know.
Chapter Fourteen
After they returnedto the camp, the women and bairns crowded around them, eager for the goods they’d brought back. Hugh dismounted, but it appeared Roisin was still irked with him as she swiftly dismounted her mare before he could assist her.
He had no idea how to breach the gulf that had cracked open between them and wasn’t sure why she’d taken such offense to his comments. He had only wanted to end the conversation before he said something incriminating in front of Symon. God knew, he almost had. Five years ago, when the MacGregors had seized land and murdered several Campbells in the process, the earl had been left with no choice but to respond.
Any man would have done the same to protect his clan.
Except for a dangerous moment, he’d forgotten Symon was listening to every word. Forgotten that he was living the life of an outcast in a rebel MacGregor camp and that his only tenuous link to survival was maintaining the masquerade of loyalty to Darragh and his clan.
From the corner of his eye, he watched Roisin as she led her mare across the plateau to his tent, where Grear and her wee dog greeted her as though she’d been gone for a month. And then he lost sight of her as Darragh stood in his line of sight, his arms folded, the familiar grim expression on his face.
“Any trouble?” He addressed his comment to Symon.
“No, the market was busy. We won’t be remembered.”
Darragh transferred his one-eyed gaze to Hugh. “Did the lassbehave herself?”
The lack of respect in Darragh’s tone when he referred to Roisin irritated him but since defending her would only draw more unwelcome attention her way, he locked it down. Even if it did nearly choke him. “Aye.”
Darragh glanced at the women who were transferring the goods they’d bought to the tents. “We’ll be moving on at first light.”
Taken aback, Hugh forgot caution. “Why?”
Darragh returned his attention to him. “’Tis my decision, that’s why.”
Hugh clamped his jaw shut, but inside frustration raged. Although his missive to the earl would reassure Roisin’s kin that she was alive and well, the carefully coded directions to the town, where he’d hoped to ensure her safe transfer to the earl’s men, would be for naught.
“Did something happen while we were gone?” There was no hint of Symon’s usual cheerful manner.
“No. I made the decision after Hugh brought the MacDonald lass into the camp. I’m not happy keeping her with us. We’ll meet up with our MacGregor brothers in the east, who have more resources to leverage her safe return to her kin.”
Outraged, Hugh glared at the older man. “Ye said ye wouldn’t use her as a hostage.”
Darragh shrugged. “Changed my mind.”
“Come, Sergeant.” Symon grasped his arm. “We’ve work to do.”
Hugh took a deep breath as Darragh turned away and made his way over to the other men before he glanced at Symon.
“What work?” He sounded disgruntled but couldn’t help himself. All he wanted to do was seek out Roisin and clear the air between them.
In answer, Symon took the bridle of his horse and led the way to the far end of the plateau beyond the rocky outcrop where they let the horses drink from the river. As they removed their horses’ saddles,Hugh reluctantly acknowledged the other man had done the right thing in cutting short the conversation with Darragh.
Goddamn it.It was becoming harder by the hour to keep his thoughts to himself whenever Roisin was involved.
“’Twas always Lady Roisin, wasn’t it?”
Hugh shot him a sharp look. “What?”
“The bonny lass ye told me about in Eire. She was never yers though, was she?”
Hugh glared at him as denials tumbled through his mind. But before he could push out a credible rebuttal, Symon added, “I can see why ye fell for her, and I don’t mean her noble blood or even her face. She looks as sweet as honey, but she’d keep any man on his toes with that quick tongue of hers.”
In Eigg, she’d never said a sharp word in his hearing, nor given him a disapproving glance or argued with him the way she had since they had crossed paths again yesterday. She’d been gentle and kind and all his protective instincts had roared to the surface, along with the fantasy of one day calling her his, so he could defend her from the world forever.
