Promise of a Highlander

by Baker, Katy

  "I'm fine," she said hurriedly. "They're making porridge inside."

  Ross handed Traveler's reins to one of the stable boys with instructions to brush the big horse down then led the way inside the inn. The serving staff were busy putting the benches back on the floor and laying out dishes and spoons.

  Mistress Martha came hurrying from the kitchen and served them herself, a large bowl of porridge with warm bannocks to go with it. They ate in silence.

  Lia looked at Ross. His attention was fixed on his breakfast. "How did you sleep?"

  He glanced at her and shrugged. "Well enough." His gaze went beyond her and he suddenly tensed. Lia glanced over her shoulder and saw Morag, the woman who'd propositioned him last night, standing at the bottom of the stairs. She was tying the laces of her bodice. Spotting Ross, it seemed as though she would come over but then her gaze flicked to Lia and her expression hardened. She gave Ross a cocky smile, blew him a kiss, and sauntered out the front door.

  Ross stood abruptly, tossed a few coins onto the table, and stomped out into the yard. With a sigh Lia shoved the rest of the food into her mouth before climbing to her feet to follow him.

  The stable boys were still brushing down Traveler but Ross tossed them a coin and bade them leave. He slung the saddle bags over the horse's back.

  "Mount up," he instructed Lia.

  Traveler turned his head and stared at Lia with murder in his eyes. Yet he stood placidly at his master's command whilst Ross held the stirrup for Lia. It was too high and no matter how hard she tried, Lia couldn't get her foot in it. With an exasperated grunt, Ross grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her unceremoniously into the saddle.

  Lia gritted her teeth, biting back an angry retort. So she wasn't good with horses. She'd love to see Ross try to drive a car, damn him!

  He swung up behind her, clucked to Traveler, and sent him trotting out into the street. Ross set a quick pace through the waking town and his expression was dour, precluding any attempt at conversation.

  Lia sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long day.

  ROSS GROUND HIS TEETH as they rode through town. He longed to be free of this place. There were too many memories. Too many reminders of the man he'd once been. First there had been Robert MacCollum in the stable yard. A younger son of a rich merchant, he was fond of drink, gambling and women. Once, Ross had been just like him and the two of them had been as thick as thieves. Then there had been Morag, an expensive whore who'd he'd entertained on more than one occasion. Like meeting Robert, seeing her again had reminded him of his old life. Of the man he used to be. Of the man who had died that day on the cliffs.

  He didn’t want to remember that man. And, more importantly, he didn’t want Lia to know what he'd once been. She thought him honorable. It was a pleasant fantasy.

  They reached the outskirts of town. Ahead, the southern road glimmered like a ribbon in the early morning light. He kicked Traveler into a canter. Lia let out a shrill yelp and almost lost her seat, only keeping upright by clinging onto the saddle horn. With a muttered curse, Ross slowed the horse to a walk. Curse it all! The lass didnae even know how to sit in the saddle properly! The journey would take twice as long at this pace!

  As they traveled, the crofts and cultivated fields surrounding town began to be replaced by wilder terrain. After a couple of hours of traveling in silence, Ross called a halt by a stream so he could let Traveler drink. Lia all but fell from the saddle and he caught her as her knees buckled.

  She righted herself, pushed away from him, and wobbled unsteadily over to the stream where she crouched for a drink. Ross watched her for a moment then stomped off in the other direction, climbing a rise so he could get a look at the land beyond.

  The Highlands spread out to the south like a patchwork blanket. Far, far into the distance he thought he caught the glimmer of the sea, but that might have just been a trick of the light.

  A sudden shrill whinny cut through the air. Ross whipped around and sped back down the rise to find Lia and Traveler facing off. The warhorse was looming over her, his ears flat, his lips pulled back whilst Lia—looking nervous but resolute— held out her hand on which rested a clump of grass.

  "Back!" Ross cried, coming between them. "Traveler! Back!"

  The stallion snorted, shook his mane out, and then turned and walked over to the stream to drink.

  "What were ye doing?" Ross demanded of Lia.

  She glared at him. "What did it look like? I was trying to make friends with your hell-beast! An animal, I've come to realize, that is just as bad-tempered as its master!"

  With a growl, she threw the clump of grass at his feet and then stood there staring at him, bristling like a cat. Her eyebrows pulled together, wrinkling the skin between them. Lord, but she was beautiful when she was angry: her cheeks faintly flushed, the wind tangling her hair around her face in a way that made him want to reach out and curl it around his fingers.

  But if he did anything of the sort, he'd likely get a slap for his troubles.

  Ah, curse it. Why did this woman make him feel like he should be apologizing all the time? Wasn't it enough that he'd promised to see her to Dun Ringill?

  He heaved a sigh. "Aye, he's as bad-tempered as his master. But both of us have a bark that is worse than our bite. Come, I'll show ye the way to his heart."

  Ross walked down to the stream, gathered up Traveler's trailing reins, and led the big horse back to where Lia waited. He took a handful of oats from the saddlebag and held it our for Lia.

  "Here. Take it."

  Lia eyed him dubiously but then reached out her hand and allowed Ross to drop the oats into her outstretched palm. He guided Traveler to stand in front of her. The stallion flattened his ears and bared his teeth but Ross laid a quieting hand against his neck until he relaxed.

  "He's a warhorse," Ross explained. "Trained to fight in battle. If I'm ever unseated, he will use his hooves to defend me. As a result, he sees almost anyone as an enemy. At least until he gets to know them. And the one sure way to win him over is through his stomach. He's a greedy beast but he willnae take food from someone he doesnae trust. Here. Hold out yer hand."

  Lia slowly raised her hand and opened her palm, flattening it out. Traveler snorted and looked ready to bite but Ross murmured some calming words.

  "Take a step forward and hold yer hand up."

  "Are you kidding?" Lia said incredulously. "Look how he’s glaring at me! I’m sure he wants to take my fingers off!"

  "He willnae hurt ye," Ross replied. "Trust me."

  She pulled in a deep breath and held her hand up, right beneath Traveler's nose. Ross kept a soothing hand laid on the beast's neck whilst Traveler eyed Lia warily, trying to decide if she could be trusted. Lia stood her ground, making not a sound. Then Traveler suddenly swiveled his ears forward, dipped his head and lipped the oats off Lia's hand as daintily as a lady.

  Lia laughed in delight.

  Traveler lowered his head and began sniffing at Lia's clothing, searching for a treat.

  "See, he likes ye," Ross said.

  Tentatively Lia reached out and stroked the velvet tip of Traveler's nose. "There's a good boy," she murmured. "Maybe you're not so scary after all."

  "I’m glad ye have made friends. It wouldnae be much fun riding all the way to Dun Ringill with the two of ye at war.”

  She laughed lightly. “No, I don’t suppose it would.”

  He liked the sound of her laughter. "Would ye like me to teach ye to ride? From yer efforts so far anyone would think ye've never ridden a horse before."

  "I haven't.” She shrugged. "I'm the only child of an engineer. I grew up around engines and machines and construction projects. When I was six, instead of teaching me to ride a horse, my dad taught me how to take apart a car engine and put it back together again." She cocked her head. "But yeah, I’d like to learn to ride. It could be fun."

  He showed Lia where to put her hands on the saddle in order to pull herself up. She still couldn't get her
foot into the stirrup so Ross lifted her by the waist and helped her into the saddle. She settled herself into her seat.

  "Thanks."

  Lord, but it felt good touching her. "Ye are welcome." He climbed up after her, gathered the reins and held them out. "Here."

  "You want me to take the reins?” she asked warily. “I'll likely have us both on our asses in the dirt!"

  "Ye willnae. Trust me.”

  Hesitantly she took the reins.

  "Ye hold them just so." He guided her hands into the correct position. "And try to keep yer weight centered in the saddle so when the horse moves, ye move with him. When ye are ready, give him a nudge in the ribs with yer heels."

  Lia gripped the reins and then booted Traveler hard enough to send him dancing forward. Lia cried out and Ross grabbed her waist to keep her in the saddle.

  "I said nudge!" he laughed. "Not scare him to death!"

  "Sorry.”

  Ross nudged Traveler gently, and he took off at a sedate walk. Lia gripped the reins so hard her knuckles went white. She looked utterly terrified. Ross kept his hands resting lightly on her waist.

  Just to keep her steady, he told himself. But that was a lie. He found himself enjoying the contact a little too much.

  LIA WISHED ROSS WOULD take his hands off her waist. Or rather, she wished he wouldn’t take his hands off her waist and that was what was bothering her. She could hardly concentrate when he touched her. Warmth from his hands seeped through her tunic and she felt the pressure on her skin acutely, even though his touch was only light

  Oh, hell.

  "He's pulling right," Ross said by her ear. "He's seen that clump of gorse and wants to eat. He'll take liberties if ye let him. Guide him with the left rein like this."

  He laid his hand gently over hers and tugged. He had to lean forward to do it and was so close now he was almost touching her, his breath warm and soft against her neck. A tingle slid down Lia’s spine. She glanced over her shoulder to find his face close to hers. Their eyes met, and she saw something in his gaze that brought a tiny exhalation from her mouth.

  Traveler snorted suddenly, tossed his head, and then swung around to the right. The movement was so sudden the reins were yanked from Lia's grip.

  With an annoyed growl Ross grabbed the reins, and with an admonishment to the horse to behave, pulled him firmly in the right direction.

  "Dinna worry. Traveler always tests the boundaries,” Ross said. “He does it with me still, even though I raised him from a foal. Here, take the reins again or he'll think he's won."

  To Lia’s enormous surprise, Ross turned out to be a patient teacher. As they traveled for the next few days, he taught her how to urge Traveler into a trot and how to use her knees to keep her seat. He even dismounted, walking at her side and leaving her in full control of the huge animal. To her delight and surprise, Traveler did exactly as she asked him, instead of bucking the instant Ross was out of the saddle and dumping her into the mud as she'd expected.

  It was nearing midday several days later when they reached a cross-roads. Here four wide, muddy tracks converged. At the point where they met a small wooden cross had been set atop a stone pillar.

  Ross approached the cross and gazed up at it for a moment before examining the roads radiating from it like spokes from a wheel.

  "We'll have to take the upland way," he announced at last, nodding to a trail that wound up a wooded hillside. "If we go by way of the coast, as I intended, it will add at least another two or three days to our journey."

  He climbed into the saddle, the leather creaking as he settled his weight behind Lia. He took the reins back from her, clicked to the horse, and turned him towards the upland road. As they climbed, the trees closed in on either side of the trail, their branches tangling overhead so the road became almost like a tunnel.

  Lia turned her head from side to side, disliking the thick shadows beneath the boughs. It began to rain. An incessant pitter-pat drummed off the leaves although the branches were so thick that very little fell on the travelers.

  The rain grew steadily heavier as they climbed and a mist began rising from the ground, filling the space between the trees like a gray blanket. Ross swore softly under his breath but didn't slow their pace. Then the trees disappeared and the muddy trail beneath Traveler's hooves was replaced by damp, springy heather as they came out onto the upland.

  Lia got the impression of open landscape around them but the mist and rain had become so thick that she could barely see more than ten meters in any direction. She didn’t like not being able to see what she was walking into.

  "Here."

  Ross reached behind him, rummaged in the saddlebags and pulled out his spare cloak. He spread it over the pair of them and Lia clutched it gratefully, holding it closed beneath her chin against the cold, misty air.

  "Can you see where we're going?" she asked Ross.

  "Barely." His eyes were scanning the ground, searching for the trail.

  They slowed to a plod. Traveler slogged across the slushy ground, looking thoroughly miserable. Here and there Lia thought she spotted scraggly bushes, but they disappeared into the shifting mist almost as soon as she spotted them.

  She hunkered down into Ross's cloak wishing she had a flash light or a flare or something else that would let them see where they were going.

  Then she spotted something in the mist ahead. A darker shadow against the gray.

  "What's that?"

  Ross guided Traveler cautiously closer. The shape grew more distinct as they drew nearer, squat and weathered by time, erupting out of the misty ground like a clawed finger, it took Lia a moment to realize what she was seeing.

  It was a standing stone.

  Chapter 8

  The monolith tilted slightly and stood perhaps the same height as Lia and as broad as her outstretched arms. Not a single bit of moss or lichen grew over its surface which gleamed slickly in the mist. The stone was so dark it seemed to swallow the light, an island of darkness in a white, ethereal world.

  Ross let out a sudden hiss and pulled Traveler abruptly to a halt.

  "Back! Back!" he cried, yanking the horse away.

  When they’d retreated to a safe distance Ross sat rigid, staring at the stone. The color had drained from his face. Something flared in his eyes that Lia couldn't quite decipher. Was it fear? Rage? Or a bit of both?

  "Ross!? What is it?"

  "Fae," he whispered, glancing at the shifting white world around them. He laughed suddenly, the sound having more than a little hysteria in it. Spreading his hands wide, he cried, "Ha! A nice trick! Here I am then! Come out and face me!"

  He swung his leg over the saddle and dismounted.

  "Where are you going?" Lia cried in alarm.

  But he wasn't listening to her.

  "I did what ye asked!" he bellowed at the stone. "Now do yer part! Give me my bargain, damn ye!"

  A prickle of fear slid down Lia’s spine. What the hell was he doing?

  Ross marched towards the stone, and for a second Lia feared he would slam right into it. But he halted a hair’s breadth from its slick surface.

  Turning to scan the swirling mist, he bellowed, "I offer my life in return for our bargain! Is that not enough?"

  Traveler shifted suddenly, snorting and dancing back. Lia grabbed the reins, sawing at them to bring the animal under control. Traveler's eyes rolled and he flattened his ears against his head in sudden terror. Lia felt a shift in the atmosphere: a rush of wind, suddenly cut off, as if a door had opened and closed.

  Then out of the mist came soft laughter. It echoed from all around and Lia couldn’t pinpoint its source. The sound of it set her hair on end.

  "Where are ye?" Ross bellowed. "Ye made a bargain with my father, now make one with me! My life as payment, isnae that how it works?"

  The mists shifted and for a second Lia got a glimpse of a small, wizened old man with a head as brown and bald as a nut standing several paces away. His eyes were fixed on Ross,
pure black like balls of polished onyx.

  The mist shifted, obscuring the figure, but the voice spoke again. "Nay, I will make no bargain with ye, Ross MacAuley."

  "Why?" Ross shouted. "What more can I offer ye but my life?"

  The laughter came again, like nails scraped across slate. "What would I gain from such a bargain? I exist to bring pain to yer kind. I live to sow suffering to mortal men. What more could I do to ye that ye havenae done to yerself? Ye are already in torment."

  "No!" Ross bellowed. "I will have my bargain! I have searched for ye for years! Ye willnae deny me now!”

  He pushed away from the standing stone and ran into the mist, disappearing from view.

  "Ross!"

  Lia pulled Traveler around in a circle but could see nothing but the swirling curtains of mist.

  The cruel laughter came again. "I said only that I wouldnae offer ye a bargain. But I will take yer life if ye offer it so willingly."

  Lia’s neck prickled. What was going on? What was that creature?

  Gripping the saddle horn, she swung her leg over the saddle and jumped to the muddy ground. Traveler reared suddenly, eyes rolling, in fear. A trained warhorse who could ride into battle without flinching was suddenly terrified. With a shrill cry he galloped away, disappearing into the mist.

  Lia clenched her hands into fists, breathing heavily. A terrible, angry malevolence filled the hilltop. It pressed down on her like a huge dark hand, turning her blood to ice. But she had to find Ross. She stumbled through the mist calling his name.

  I will take yer life. The words the wizened old man had spoken chilled her to the bone. They had been so cold, so full of hatred.

  The mist had thickened, bringing with it a numbing cold that seeped through her clothes right into her bones. It felt as though she waded through treacle. She searched the white blankness, panic ripping through her.

  "Ross!"

  ROSS HALTED. HAD THAT been Lia’s voice? Around him the white fingers of mist clutched at his clothes, his hair, trying to disorient him, lead him astray. But Ross would not be thwarted. Not this time. He'd searched for too long, lost too much, to be denied now.