Haunted By A Highland Curse: A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance by Emilia C. Dunbar

Author:Emilia C. Dunbar [C. Dunbar, Emilia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

“I still can’t believe that you know how to ride a horse.”

Unlike with their mother, when the words seemed to sting somewhere deep in her pride, Iris’s little jokes were easier. Caoimhe was able to laugh them off or jab back as sisters did, able to take shots so long as she could dish out a few of her own. Iris had learned to ride years ago, in an effort to impress several of the sons of Old Man Angus when they went into the militia. It had only served in her breaking her leg and being laid up grouching for four weeks. That had been a particularly long summer.

“I don’t,” Caoimhe explained quickly with a laugh. “But I aim to learn.” She smiled, a little indulgent over her own fears. “I just need to stop my hands from shaking in their presence first.”

Iris’s giggle drew the attention of Roy, his head popping out from the open stable door; his body following a moment later. He was wiping down his hands on a rag, his fingers damp with water from dowsing the hay.

“Miss Caoimhe,” he said, his tone surprised and pleasant. He then spotted Caoimhe’s companion and corrected himself. “I mean…Lady Caoimhe.”

He sketched an awkward bow.

“Roy, please meet my sister, Iris Webb. Iris, this is Roy, our head stablehand. He’s taken on the impossible task of teaching me to ride a horse.”

“Not impossible, my lady!” Roy contradicted, reaching out to take Iris’s hand and offer a brief kiss to her knuckles.

“Just time consuming?” Caoimhe offered instead, and Roy’s smile stretched to his ears.

“As you say,” he agreed, tugging at his forelock.

The three of them laughed.

The weather was good that afternoon and the sun bright. Their giggles were caught by the breeze, swirled around them like a dancing echo and then carried off over the tops of the trees. Caoimhe could hear the leaves rustling and smiled as she smelled that crisp scent of fall in the air. Autumn was definitely coming.

“I wanted to show Iris Lady’s—”

Caoimhe never finished explaining that she wanted Iris to see the mare. Instead, her words were cut short when a dark and ferocious bark shot through the air like an arrow to the heart. Caoimhe became frozen in place, her arms even coming up towards her face in a defensive gesture against the noise. The growls were angry, barking one over another, an argument between beasts.

She felt herself shudder and only calmed when Iris’s hand came to her shoulder and she was able to look out towards the estate.

Niall had just stepped out from the kitchen doors, his dogs at the heel, and fighting with one another for a large stick they had found. A simple command from their master and they all bent to heel, their angry calls silenced.

Caoimhe took a long and calming breath.

Roy was watching her with a look of worry.

“Are you alright, Miss Caoimhe?”

“It’s the dogs.” Iris spoke before Caoimhe could catch her breath and assure the man that it was nothing.

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