“Anywhere.” Isobel snickered. “I remember one thing that surprised me the first time. Although I should have known, considering how men are always staring down at my breasts.”
Seona felt her eyes fly wide again, then tried to hide her shock.
“Men love to kiss and suckle nipples,” Isobel whispered.
“Heavens, you cannot be serious.” Seona felt like the most naïve person on earth at the moment.
“Indeed, I am. That is why they’re always gawking at women’s breasts, even when they’re covered by layers of clothing. They also like to fondle, squeeze, kiss, and stroke them.”
Seona cleared her throat. She had never imagined such a thing, but she had noticed men, at times, would stare at her chest when they thought she wasn’t looking. But even more interesting, she remembered her nipples had tingled when they’d been pressed to Keegan’s hard chest. They had seemed to yearn for something. His touch?
“’Tis enjoyable for the woman, too,” Isobel said. “It makes her more ready for his… invasion, so to speak.”
“I see.” Surely, ’twas sinful to speak of such things, but she had been wondering about them. “I thank you for telling me. I’ve been curious for some time. And I don’t want to be too shocked on my wedding night.”
“Well, you won’t be… now that you’ve seen Keegan naked.” Isobel beamed a wide, mischievous grin.
“Shh,” Seona hissed, wondering if Isobel was mad. She could not marry Keegan, even though ’twas what she wished for most in the world.
“A good eve to you, ladies,” said a deep male voice behind her.
Seona spun to find Keegan approaching, his hair still wet from the dip in the loch. Thank the saints he’d been too far away to hear Isobel’s whispered, shocking words of a few seconds before… hadn’t he?
“Good eve,” she mumbled, feeling a bit tongue-tied.
Keegan was fully dressed in his belted plaid, but Seona was very aware of what lay hidden beneath his clothes. A heated blush covered her skin and she was thankful for the dim light of dusk.
“A good eve to you, Keegan,” Isobel said. “I need to discuss something with Dirk.” She bypassed him and strode away.
Don’t leave me alone with him, was Seona’s first thought. Though she knew not why. ’Haps because she still felt mortified, having been caught spying on Keegan naked. Or maybe ’twas because she now knew far more about what happened between a man and woman in bed.
“Do you have time for another knife fighting lesson now?” Keegan asked.
She inhaled a deep breath and tried to forget all the newfound sexual knowledge and conflicting feelings swirling within her mind. The sight of Keegan’s naked body had been disturbing yet intriguing to her, but he was the same generous and kind man who was teaching her how to defend herself. He was the same man who had saved her life twice and who kissed her gently.
She loved spending time with him, but she had been outside for a while, long enough for her aunt to have finished her sponge bath.
Seona glanced toward the nearby cottage. “I’m not certain. My aunt may send for me in a moment.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“What? Nay.” Surely he couldn’t detect she had been recently thrown off-kilter. “’Tis only that my aunt…” Has been bathing and ’twill be my turn next. Could she say that to him? Nay, ’twould not be acceptable. Besides, it made her recall how he had bathed in the loch.
“Aye?” he asked, his brows quirked.
She couldn’t believe how she was bungling this simple conversation. “Will be looking for me,” she finished, though she knew she was repeating herself and making no sense.
“How is her ankle?” Keegan asked.
“It pains her.”
He nodded. “’Twill take time to heal.”
“Aye.” There was so much she wanted to say to him, and share with him, but her tongue felt stuck to the roof of her mouth. She needed time to absorb everything she had experienced and learned today.
“Did she say anything to you about riding with me?” he asked.
“Nay.” Not yet, anyway. But Seona suspected her aunt would complain at the first opportunity.
When the cottage door opened, Seona held her breath. Two of the maids emerged. When they spotted her, they headed in her direction. Aye, just as she’d expected. A few feet away, they paused and curtsied. “Lady Patience asked us to send you inside.”
“I’ll be there in a moment.”
When the two didn’t move, Seona glared at them.
“Aye, m’lady.” They hastened away.
“Och. I hope you never send such a fearsome look my way,” Keegan said with a half grin. “I do believe the heart of a warrior beats inside you, Lady Seona.”
She snorted before she could stop herself. “I doubt that.” She glanced toward the cottage again, seeing that the two annoying maids were standing by the door, watching her. “Well, I had best go before Lady Patience herself comes to retrieve me on her injured ankle. I bid you goodnight, Master Keegan.”
“A good night to you, m’lady.” He bowed.
Before Seona reached the cottage, her aunt, now making use of a crooked cane, joined the two maids at the entrance. Her gaze flew past Seona to Keegan, then her eyes narrowed.
“I’ll have a word with you inside, Seona.” Her aunt motioned toward the doorway.
Seona proceeded into the cottage.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I need to have a private word with my niece,” Patience told the owner of the cottage and the other two maids who’d remained inside. They all exited silently. Lady Patience could easily intimidate servants, but she didn’t scare Seona. Her only leverage was that she would tell Seona’s father everything.
Once the door closed behind them, Patience said, “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about Keegan. I don’t like that you have been riding behind him all day. ’Tis indecent.”
Chapter Nine
Seona knew Aunt Patience would complain about her riding with Keegan earlier that day.
“My mare is unsafe,” Seona said. “I was afraid to ride her. She went mad during the storm and bolted, in case you don’t remember.”
“I remember!” Her aunt paused in her limping trek to the chair by the fireplace to glare at Seona. “Don’t be impertinent with me, young lady.”
Ignoring her, Seona continued with calm reasoning. “Chief Dirk said I should ride with Master Keegan. Do you wish to nay-say a chief?”
“Nay.” Patience slumped into the chair by the fire and propped her crooked cane next to her. “But you didn’t even protest. I ken what you’re thinking, lassie,” she snapped, pinning Seona with a perceptive stare. “I see how you blush when he looks at you.”
Seona felt her face heat.
“Aye, just like that.” Her aunt pointed at her.
How on earth could Aunt Patience see Seona’s face in the dim candlelight? She was too blasted observant. Seona sat down in the chair opposite her and didn’t comment.
“I’m not daft,” Patience said. “I was once a pretty young lass like you are. And I know how men are, especially charming rogues like that commoner.”
Immediately bristling, Seona stiffened. “He is no commoner,” she said firmly. “His grandfather was a baron and a chief, just like my own father. Keegan is a gentleman of the clan.”
“He is a scoundrel,” her aunt insisted. “Good for naught but to lure a good lady into sin and ruin her reputation. If you give him half a chance, he will steal your virtue and forget your name the next day. He is not fit to marry, so don’t even be thinking of it.”
“I’m not.” ’Twas a lie, but what else could she say? Her father would never allow it, and besides, Keegan had never mentioned marriage. ’Twas but her own outlandish fantasy.
Her aunt’s eyes narrowed. “What happened when you were alone with him during the storm? And last night, when he snatched you from the tent, wearing naught more than your smock? He returned wearing only a shirt.
’Twas shocking.”
“As you already know, he let me borrow his plaid because I was cold. Naught more. He saved my life twice. Do you care so little for me that you cannot appreciate that?”
Seona knew she was challenging her aunt, but she needed it. Patience’s glare intensified, but Seona held her gaze, waiting for an answer.
“Nay,” she finally confessed. “I am thankful he saved your life.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“Not yet. But I will,” Patience grumbled. “My concern is what happened after the rescue.”
“Do you honestly think I’d bed down with a man outside while someone is trying to kidnap me or during a horrendous storm?”
“Well…nay, I suppose not.” Her aunt shrugged. “But I don’t trust him. He could take advantage of you or force you.”
Seona shook her head. “Keegan is not that type of man.”
“What type of man is he… since you know so much about him?”
“Kind and protective. He risked his life to save mine.”
Her aunt lifted a brow. “Aye, well… he’d best not get it into his head he has a chance with you. Your father would never approve of him.”
“I ken it.” But her father was daft, valuing wealth and prestige over strength of character.
“Get the maids in here to help me over to the bed. I’m tired,” her aunt said.
“Very well.” Seona strode to the door, opened it and summoned the maids. After they helped Patience into the bed, Seona took a sponge bath and changed into a clean smock.
While she was getting into one of the four beds, Isobel arrived to spend the night inside the cottage with them.
Seona couldn’t sleep, nor could she talk to Isobel about anything of importance with her aunt and the maids so close. She felt safe enough within the stone walls of the cottage, but she missed Keegan… maybe because she’d ridden so close to him all day. The feel of his hard, strong body had become familiar. Addictive. Would she be allowed to ride with him again?
***
Two days later, Keegan and the MacKay party were finally drawing closer to Ullapool. He was still annoyed that Seona’s aunt had insisted she ride a separate horse both days. He had argued that Seona couldn’t ride her own untrustworthy one. They’d compromised and Seona had temporarily switched horses with one of the guards. Keegan didn’t like it but he had to live with it. They’d been riding daylight to dark most every day, and everyone was exhausted and short-tempered, especially Lady Patience. ’Haps her injury added to her bad mood.
He put her from his mind and thought of someone more pleasant. He grinned, remembering how he had enjoyed Seona riding with him for those few hours two days before. Now, he simply rode close to her in the event something threatened her safety. He relished the secret smiles she sent his way. But they’d had no more opportunities for a moment alone or for knife-fighting practice.
It had to be around midday but the sky was thickly overcast. The terrain turned from moorland to rough and rocky as they approached the pass through the mountains. Most everywhere he looked now, he saw gray granite and scrubby gorse bushes.
Something struck the ground nearby. An arrow?
“We’re being shot at!” Keegan glanced up at the cliffs above them and saw a figure with a bow drawn. “’Tis an ambush!” Keegan yelled, raising his targe and urging Curry forward, between Seona and the outlaws. “Archers!”
Their archers leapt to their feet and took up positions. A few fired arrows up toward the cliffs.
Dirk dismounted and slapped his horse on the rump. “Escort the women further along and take cover behind those boulders,” he told Keegan.
“I’ll protect them with my life,” Keegan said.
“I thank you, cousin.” Dirk directed five more of the guards to help Keegan.
Much as he’d love to be at the forefront, fighting the knaves, Keegan knew protecting the women was the main goal.
“Haldane may come after you because he’s wanting to kidnap Seona,” Dirk said.
“Aye. That bastard,” Keegan muttered, motioning for the women to precede him and head for cover. “Get behind the boulders.” Once they were beyond the range of Haldane’s archers, he and the guards helped them dismount.
Keegan stood peering out, the women and most of the horses behind him. Aside from Keegan, MacMillan, and four other guards, the rest of the men were fighting beside Dirk.
“Surround the women,” Keegan told the guards with him. “The outlaws may try to sneak up from behind again.”
“What do you see?” Isobel asked. “Is Dirk safe?”
“Aye. Naught is happening yet.” At least, nothing that he could see. The outlaws were no doubt doing something sneaky. Keegan wanted to be standing beside Dirk, ready to take down Haldane if he came close. The weasel was likely too afraid to face Dirk and fight hand to hand. Haldane was no match for him, anyway, and he knew it. He’d have his archers do most of the work. But they would run out of arrows eventually.
Keegan glanced around, making certain no one had circled behind them. He had to keep on high alert because Haldane had a powerful obsession for Seona, and he couldn’t lose her at all costs.
Facing forward again, he noticed the movement of plaid behind a bush off to the side, near Dirk and the others.
“To the left!” he called out.
Dirk shifted his focus. “Come out, wee cowards, and fight like men,” he yelled.
More than a dozen men broke from the bushes, charging Dirk and his guards. ’Slud! Haldane’s force was far bigger than last time, making the two sides more evenly matched. Where the devil had Haldane found more men? Some were several years older than most of Haldane’s gang.
Keegan cursed, annoyed he couldn’t join in and help protect the chief. Although, clearly, his cousin could protect himself. He dealt two of them killing thrusts with his sword.
The gray-haired McMurdo engaged Dirk in swordplay. Dirk was the stronger fighter and he drove McMurdo back, while the other guards fought the remaining outlaws.
A movement up the hill caught Keegan’s attention. One of the younger men in Haldane’s party, Gil, drew back his bow.
“Dirk! Up the hill!” Keegan shouted.
Just after Gil released the bow string, Dirk leapt to the side. The arrow struck Dirk’s lower leg.
“Iosa is Muire Mhàthair,” Keegan muttered.
McMurdo came back after Dirk.
“Damn the old bastard,” Keegan muttered, yearning to charge forward.
“What is happening?” Isobel asked behind him. “Is Dirk hurt?”
“Shh.” Keegan waved her back. There was naught she could do about his injury now. If he allowed her to get hurt, Dirk would string him up.
Rebbie moved in to help Dirk, beating McMurdo back. But Dirk was holding his own despite the arrow protruding from his calf.
Two more of Haldane’s men fell beneath the blades of the MacKay guards, both of them too young to be seasoned warriors. Keegan knew them, for they had both been part of the MacKay clan before Haldane had gone rogue and led the other lads astray.
Where was Haldane, anyway?
Keegan surveyed the area around himself and beyond. “Keep alert,” he told the guards.
Five men emerged from behind a rock formation several yards behind them. Haldane led the charge, his long red hair flying back in the breeze, his teeth bared in a snarl, and his green eyes glinting with pure bloodlust.
“There!” Keegan told the guards.
Placing the women between himself and the boulders, Keegan assumed the guard stance. In passing, he noticed knives in both Seona’s and Isobel’s hands. He hoped they could protect themselves if need be. But he didn’t want it to come to that.
Haldane avoided him and engaged one of the other guards in swordplay. Coward.
Keegan had never before seen the scraggly man who ran toward him. Though he looked scrawny, the first blow from his sword was passable. Keegan was faster and stronger and three stri
kes later, he ran the man through the abdomen. He shrieked and collapsed, writhing in pain. After disarming him, Keegan turned his attention to the other outlaws. One of the guards had already cut one of the knave’s throats. Haldane and the other two turned tail and ran the way they’d come.
He couldn’t believe what cowards they were. “Come back, you bastards!” Keegan yelled. He wanted to finish the three of them off.
Once they’d disappeared from sight like terrified rabbits, he glanced back toward where Dirk and the other men were fighting.
Despite his injury, Dirk was still slashing and thrusting.
His blade sliced McMurdo’s shoulder and the older man jumped back. Then he fled.
Twenty feet away, he turned back and yelled for the other men to retreat. He obviously knew the outlaws were on the losing side of the skirmish now, even with the reinforcements they’d found along the way.
Rebbie chased after McMurdo, but the old man was quicker than he looked. A few of the other brigands fled to the left, down an embankment and through the bushes.
“Is Dirk hurt?” Isobel demanded, sidling up to him.
Since the outlaws were gone, he could reveal the truth. Still, he grabbed her arm so she wouldn’t go running out there too soon. “An arrow struck his calf.”
“What? Oh good lord!” She tried to jerk away from him. “Unhand me, Keegan.”
Dirk limped in their direction, his face red, eyes wild and jaw clenched.
Keegan released Isobel. Making sure Seona was beside him for her own safety, he moved toward Dirk. Isobel fussed over him, crying.
“Calm yourself, Isobel. ’Tis naught to worry over. Merely a flesh wound,” Dirk said, his voice rough. He was obviously trying to hide his pain.
“How do you feel?” Keegan asked him.
“I’ll live.”
“How will we remove it?” Isobel asked.
“Rebbie will do it. Go over there with the ladies so you don’t have to watch. I don’t want you to pass out.”
“Are you mad? I’ll not be passing out.”
“Keegan, make her stay with Lady Seona.”
“Lady Isobel.” Keegan motioned toward the boulders.
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