The Highlander's Lady (13 page)

Tears stung her eyes and she gasped for breath as her throat closed.

“Lass?” Daniel said from behind, his hold on her tightening. He leaned close, his breath tickling her ear. “What is amiss?”

Myra cleared her throat, not certain she could speak. The pain cut too deep and she had the sudden wish to drop from the horse and weep, but she couldn’t. She had to be strong.
She was a laird now. Swallowing through the knot in her throat she said, “A
midge
. I seem to have swallowed
the annoying insect
.”

She felt Daniel nod, his chin bumping her head. He accepted her lie, even though there were no bugs flying about. ’Twas the middle of winter. How kind of him. It only made her think more highly of him. No good.

Myra stiffened her back, leaning forward a little, she made a pretense of patting the horse on the neck. What she didn’t count on was the awkward position that put her in as they rode at a gallop. The momentum of the horse and her bending forward jostled her. She gripped the horse’s ma
ne
tight to keep from falling.

“Zounds!” she shouted.

Daniel hauled her back toward him, the shock of his
body planted fully against her
once more
taking her breath away.

“What the hell are ye doing?” he growled.

Myra didn’t know whether to be outraged at his shout or relieved he’d kept her from falling and being trampled to death. She went for outraged.

“Petting your blasted horse!”

Daniel let out a growl. “Dinna speak of my horse like that.”

“Or what?”

He tightened his grip around her, his lips skimming the shell of her ear. A shiver passed through her.

“Or I’ll truss ye up like a stuck pig and have ye ride the rest of the way to Eilean Donan over my lap.”

Myra swallowed. She had no doubt he’d do it. Not because Daniel was a violent sort of man, but there was something in his tone that made her believe him.

“Ye wouldn’t,” she said, as a pretense so he wouldn’t realize she fully expected he would.

“Aye, I would.”

She swallowed. “Then ye’d best hide my dirk at night.” Myra made sure her tone was hard, sharp.
She threatened his life, aye, and he didn’t need to know she’d never be able to go through with it. She’d taken a life already this week.

That he knew of. The man who attacked her in the forest had in fact been the only person she’d ever killed. Just thinking about it turned her stomach.
Too much violence had occurred in the past fortnight.

Life was hard. And she didn’t expect it to be easy, even if she was born to privilege. She’d never been one to sit around while others served her. But wasn’t she ever allowed at least a little reprieve
?

What had Father Holden told her?
Life is challenging for all, ’tis only those who embrace those challenges, take the boar by its tusks, that make it.
He’d told her that after she’d spent an entire morning on her hands and knees scrubbing the chapel floors as penance. Funny enough, she couldn’t remember what she was being reprimanded for, but she remembered his words. They resonated within her. Mother had not been able to take those challenges. Granted, she’d been taken hostage and brutally assaulted by the MacDonald when Father refused to an agreement which Myra had never been made privy to.
Shortly after she was returned to Foulis, a shell of her former self, Mother took her own life. ’Twas then Myra’s own life had become harder.

Father and Byron were both harder on her. And she’d been hidden away. ’Twas a miracle she’d been allowed to spend that one glorious hour at the feast where she’d first met Daniel.

Then again, she’d cursed ever being allowed out after witnessing him with the other ladies. Jealousy was certainly an ugly monster.

Apparently, challenge was inevitable for Myra. She’d thus far been able to survive, to come out on top. However cowardly she felt on the inside, she definitely took the boar by
its tusks each and every time it ran toward her, death in its eyes.

Defeat was not in her vocabulary and she wasn’t about to let it in now.
Myra squared her shoulders, making sure the blades
nearly
touched in the back. If she had to sit like a stone the rest of the day, she would.

Daniel chuckled. ’Twas then she realized he’d not replied to her threat.

Well, he did so now, and she could practically hear the sneer in his voice.

“Keeping your back straight and the
stinging
burrs in your words won’t sway me, lass. I’ve held ye warm and pliant in my arms. Tasted your lips. F
elt your passion ignite. I find—“
He paused a moment. “I find your ire invigorating.”

Bastard!

Chapter Eleven

O
h, how he loved to rile her up!

Daniel could practically feel fire blasting from Myra’s ears
as he threatened to truss her up. Not that he actually would, but he couldn’t help teasing her about it
. Her body was so stiff she could have been made from wood. One false move and she’d crack right down the center. He had to keep his jaw locked, teeth clenched to keep from laughing. He wished he could see her face. Her eyes were probably the size of trenchers, her lips pressed so tight they were white.

He’d get the
m
pliant and pink again. Kissing angry. Now that was something that really interested
him
. He’d kiss her slowly, brushing his lips over hers and then slipping his tongue between her lips when she opened her mouth to protest. But she’d not be able to say anything because he’d make quick work of taking over her senses, making her quiver in his arms. Turn all the anger into
passion
.

Myra… Her
enthusiastic
nature was so powerful Daniel was sure to have his hands full. And he reveled at the thought.

Och! What the hell?

Here he went again. Completely distracted by the wench. She would be the death of him.

Daniel looked up at the sky, begging for a reprieve. Looked like he was going to get it too. The clouds had turned dark grey. Ominous.

A swift wind blew, sending sharp pangs of cold through his fingers even though he wore gloves. His plaid billowed around his legs and whipped at the back of his neck. A storm was coming.

“We need to find shelter,” he called to Leo.

The man nodded. There were no inns along this road that Daniel knew of. They’d have to find
an
abandoned cottage
or at the very least a cave
. He’d even settle for one that was falling apart. As long as they had a wall and a partial roof they could make do until the storm passed.

Just a glance at the peripheral area showed there wasn’t much hope for finding shelter. No dilapidated houses. No occupied huts either. They were on a stretch of land that consisted of moors and valleys. They needed to find water. Following a burn or loch would certainly put them in place to find someone willing to house them through the storm, or a place they could hunker down.

Only problem was, Daniel wasn’t sure they had enough time to find one before the storm picked up and they could no longer ride. As it was, the wind was blowing sharply in first one direction and then another. Not a kind wind either. Great gusts that had Demon’s head facing down as he forged ahead. They had to slow their pace or get carried away.

A cold drop landed on his nose. Damn. Too late now.

More cold drops
of
snow landed on his cheeks, nose and forehead, melting at the touch of his skin and then freezing with the gust of wind.

To the left a high rise cut into the sky. Maybe they could find a cave or even an overhan
g
to huddle beneath.
He pulled the reins to the left, and nodded to Leo toward the rise. Leo gave a short nod and hollered something to the men. Within moments they were all headed in the same direction off the main road, over fields thick with tall, dead grass and grains. Untouched land. Snow began to fall harder, white clusters of icy stars.

Myra reached up, a snowflake landing on her fingertip, lingering a moment before melting.

“So beautiful,” he heard her murmur even through the din of the wind.

“Aye,” he agreed.

She tucked her hands back within her cloak and to his surprise, huddled closer to him. He supposed in the face of freezing she was more willing to take some of his heat and put her stubbornness aside.

“Laird,” Leo called.

Daniel glanced to his second who pointed ahead. Looked like the mountain split, a
crevice
wide enough that they could fit inside with the horses.
Not really a cave, but the best they could find.
Huddl
ing
in there would keep them safe from the wind, and keep most of the snow from falling on them. Would have to do. There didn’t appear to be anything better now, and the snow was beginning to fall so thick he could hardly see in front of him. The world was slowly becoming a white, grey mass.

When they arrived at the split, Daniel was pleased to see that after the initially thin opening—which would still fit the horses—the space appeared
to widen. He dismounted, helping Myra to come down beside him. She shivered in his arms and gazed up at the sky. No doubt she was wondering if she’d live to see the morning or die in an icy grave. His men dismounted as well.

“I’m going to find wood for a fire,” Leo shouted over the gusts of wind.

Daniel nodded. A fire was essential for them to live through the night. The temperature had suddenly turned frigid. Without warmth, they would all freeze overnight.

Leading the way, he paused at the opening, blinking his eyes to adjust to the darkened space. Wouldn’t it be just his luck that they’d walked into a den of bears or wildcats?
Luck was on his side for one—
it was deserted
. Grabbing the horse
’
s reins with one hand and Myra’s with the other, he led her inside, and then guided Demon in as well. They went all the way to the back.

“Will all the horses fit, Laird?” Seamus called.

Daniel glanced around.
Damn
. “Only three more. Go and see if ye can find another spot for the mounts.
”
The animals had enough fur and fat to keep them warm, but he’d just as well not lose any to exposure. They were war horses, not wild cows.

Overhead
the mountain jut
ted out creating a kind of roof so the thick snow fall came only in a few flakes within the crevice.

A few men arrived with armfuls of wood, dry enough that they could start a small fire to keep warm. Daniel settled his horse then turned to find Myra leaning against the stone wall, her eyes watching his every move.

“Are ye all right?” he asked, noting the bluish tinge to her lips.
“Come, sit by the fire.” He beckoned her close, spread an extra plaid on the ground and when she sat upon it, he wrapped her up in it. “Whisky?”

She nodded, but still didn’t speak. Handing her the skin, he watched her take a gulp.

“I do like whisky,” she said with a shy smile.

“Aye, me too.” Daniel took a long swig.

Leo returned. “Found a spot for the horses not too far from here. They are all settled and hopefully come morning they won’t have run off.”

Daniel nodded. The men rustled in their packs
,
pulling out extra plaids and food. They passed around hunks of bannock bread, jerky and Leo gave Myra an apple.

She bit into the crisp fruit, sighing.
Daniel wrenched his eyes away from the way her lips grew slick with apple juice and instead stared up through the tall mountains toward the sky. He could see only a sliver of sky, but it was dark grey and ominous. He prayed the snow fall stopped sometime in the night and that it didn’t leave them trapped in
the
hollow of the mountain. His men and he were hearty enough to hold out until they could travel once more, but was Myra?

Sure enough, she was a brave woman, had the strength of mind that most women wished they had, but was she hearty enough in body to survive a snowstorm without the comforts of castle walls, a hearth and cooks to make her meals?

“’Tis cold, but I’ll be fine,” she murmured as if hearing his thoughts.

Daniel was sure this time he’d not said anything. He studied her as she finished the apple. “Aye, ye will.”

“I can see the question in your eyes every time ye look at me.”

“’Tis only natural.”

“What? That ye’d think a woman weak?”

“Nay, that I’d be concerned for the woman I’ve pledged my life to.”

She jerked her gaze toward his, surprise written into her features, almost like she hadn’t thought he was actually invested in her.

“I gave ye my word, Myra. This may not be a love match, but that doesna mean ye are expendable to me. I mean to keep ye safe. To see ye deliver your message and that ye make it safely home with me.”

She swallowed, her throat bobbing as she studied him. He could tell she wanted to say something, but didn’t.
Instead she burrowed deeper into the extra plaid he’d given her and munched on her bannock.

Daniel turned his attention to his own meal, contemplating the future.
There was so much at stake. Myra’s message, the Bruce’s life, the Ross’ treachery, the damned English…his marriage.

“I’ve need of privacy,” Myra said quietly and moving to stand.
She clutched the plaid blanket tightly around her and even though it was slight, he could see she was trembling from cold.

Daniel jumped up beside her. “I’ll escort ye.”

“’Tis not necessary.” She shook her head, and he could tell from the set in her jaw that she would argue.

Well, he wasn’t going to let her out into the storm on her own.

“Aye, it is.”

Myra glanced at him again, that questioning look in her eyes, and he realized she to
o felt the stakes. She too was
leery
of what would happen. How could he comfort her?

With a quick nod, she turned away from him, walking toward the opening of the mountain crevice. Daniel followed close behind.

Once they’d slipped through the opening, the atmosphere was instantly changed. Snow swirled around on
th
e
ground with the wind and fell in droves atop their heads.
The grey clouds grew darker with the setting sun. It would only be a few more minutes until they were blanketed in blackness.
Daniel pulled his plaid up over his head, and watched as Myra did the same with the cowl of her cloak.

“’Tis magical,” she said, doing as she had on the horse and sticking her hand out to catch a few flakes.

“Aye, ’tis that. But can be deadly.”

She nodded, then did something completely surprising. Leaning her head back she caught a clump of flakes on her tongue, instantly melting them. Myra laughed and did it again. Daniel stood mesmerized. The pure joy in her laugh, the innocent playfulness,
it showed there was so much to her than the
tortured soul he knew she was. He could see that woman he’d danced with at
Foulis
.

Without thinking, Daniel reached out, his fingers stroking her cool, reddened cheek. Myra leaned i
nto his touch, her eyes closing. F
or a moment
time stood still and he couldn’t believe how fate had once more put them together. S
he pulled away
, her face in shadows.

“I’ll be right over there.” She nodded toward an oversized fir tree, thick with needles.

“Call if…”

“I’ll be fine.”

He nodded and watche
d, still slightly dazed as she hurri
ed toward the tree.
’Twas obvious things were changing between them. Was just a matter of them both embracing it.

Daniel kept his senses alert for danger. The last thing he needed was for his bride to be taken while she relieved herself. The wind howled
,
making it hard to hear if any person or animal approached. He walked a path back and forth from the left to the right of the fir, ready to rush behind it when she finally emerged.

She beamed a smile at him. “Ye look ready to mess yourself, Daniel. Is aught amiss?”

Oh, she had a way with words. If he didn’t know she was a lady, he might have questioned her upbringing.

He grinned at her and resisted the urge to pull her into his arms so he could show her just how he was feeling. “All is well. Let us go and get warm
by the fire
.”

Myra nodded and rushed toward the opening. The men all huddled together around a separate fire, leaving the other to Myra and Daniel. They sat close, Myra rubbing her hands together over the flames.