Page 27 of Lost with a Scot
Aiden kept his promise, and no dreams haunted his beautiful lass that night. He slept lightly, stirring to wakefulness each time she moved on the bed, just in case she needed him. She looked better this morning. Her tawny brown eyes were bright, and shadows no longer darkened her face. Her tempting mouth curved up in an enchanting smile when she saw him. She and Lydia met him and Brodie outside the inn, ready for the journey ahead. Anna wore a dark hunter-green carriage dress that had sleeves embroidered with acorns and oak leaves. She was like a woodland sprite or a tree nymph come to life.
She came toward him, her movements elegant and careful as a queen. He had the wild urge to set her free, like removing a falcon’s hood and setting the bird loose upon the wind.
“Is our coach ready?” Anna asked him.
“Aye. And I have my horses ready to travel. And the lad, of course.”
“Cameron?” She glanced about, looking for the little boy he had told her about before she fell asleep the previous night. It had been so sweet to sit beside her while she lay in bed and tell her about the child he’d taken under his wing. She’d watched him with drowsy amusement, and he knew his voice had put her to sleep, which was what he’d intended. Lydia often teased him about how his voice was soothing.
“Cam, lad, time to leave,” Aiden hollered toward the stables. The boy marched out to meet them, an overstuffed burlap sack slung over his small shoulder. Cameron had slept in the stables the night before, even though his father had been in no condition to harm the boy after the thrashing he’d received from Aiden and Brodie. Cam halted when he saw Anna, his face turning red as he attempted a courtly bow. The bag fell off his shoulder, and he had to heft it back up all over again.
Anna took the boy’s greeting in stride and dipped into a low curtsy.
“Master Cameron, I presume?” she asked him.
He nodded proudly. “Mistress Anna,” he greeted.
Brodie stepped up beside Aiden and chuckled. “He may have been born a MacLeod, but I reckon the lad is a Kincade now.”
On that, Aiden agreed. Brodie was right. The Kincades did have a soft spot for orphans and children in need.
“Pack yer bag in the top trunk, Cameron, and then we’ll be off.”
The boy climbed onto the back of the waiting coach and set his sack inside the trunk Aiden had left open for him. Aiden checked on Thundir and Bob one last time. Anna followed him to the back of the coach. She looked between the tall dappled-gray gelding and the smaller bay mare.
“Is this the injured one?” Anna gently stroked Bob’s nose and neck. Her lack of hesitancy told him she was comfortable with horses.
“Aye, she is doing much better. We’ll travel slow. The ride to Kincade lands is but a day, and we will eat lunch to give Bob here time to rest her leg. She and Thundir will follow behind the coach.”
“Bob?” Anna giggled. “That’s her name?”
“Cameron thought she was male. The name stuck.” Aiden grinned.
“Well, Bob, you are a beauty.” Anna gave the mare a cuddle, then stepped back and watched Aiden check the leads connected to the back of the coach.
Lydia and Brodie were already inside. Aiden and Anna took the seat opposite them, with Cameron wedged between. The little boy talked everyone’s ears off for the next few hours until he wore himself out and fell asleep against Anna’s shoulder.
“He’s such a little darling.” Anna brushed sandy hair back from the boy’s eyes while he slept.
“We’ll introduce him to Isla when she and Rafe come to visit,” Lydia said. “They would make good playmates.”
“Who are they?” Anna asked.
“Remember how I told ye about our oldest brother marrying Joanna Lennox? And Joanna’s brother Ashton married our sister, Rosalind? Well, Joanna’s other brother, Rafe, took in a orphan. A wee lass close to Cameron in age. Her name is Isla.”
“Ah. More Lennoxes, I see.”
“Rafe is the wild one,” Brodie added with a chuckle. “He’s our favorite Lennox.”
“That’s because he’s trouble like you.” Lydia poked a finger in Brodie’s chest. “When you lot kidnapped me, he knew you had the wrong sister and didn’t say anything. He thought it was all an amusing lark.”
“That is why I like him best,” Brodie reiterated. Lydia rolled her eyes.
Anna laughed, and Aiden relished the soft, delightful sound. He was glad to see her so happy. By the time they stopped at a coaching inn to eat, Cameron was awake and full of boundless energy. Aiden and Anna laughed as he ran about the meadow near the inn and played with a dog that belonged to the innkeeper.
They dined at the inn and rested the horses before continuing on toward Castle Kinkade. Aiden invited young Cameron to ride up with the driver to keep the boy entertained, and then he untethered Thundir from the back of the coach and mounted him to take some time to stretch the gelding’s legs. A few minutes into his ride, he decided that he would travel farther ahead and reach the castle before the others.
As he rode around the nearest bit of forest, he reached the bottom of the hill that sloped upward to the gray stone Castle Kincade. The sight used to cause him fear, but now... so much had changed. Ever since their father had died and Brock had married Joanna, the castle had managed to change from a grim tower of stone to a majestic edifice. Aiden smiled a little at the thought of showing Anna all the nooks and crannies and introducing her to his wee beasties. He kicked his horse’s sides, and Thundir galloped faster up the hill toward Aiden’s home.
