Legend of a Highland Lass by Kenna Kendrick

Author:Kenna Kendrick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2020-02-19T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

T he smuggest of smiles formed in Lord Marcus’ face as he noted the spiraling smoke rising from a chimney not far in the distance. “There we are,” he said to Henry, riding alongside of him.

“What is it?” Henry inquired.

Lord Marcus gestured to the smoke. “It appears that we have stumbled across a village. My inclination tells me that our Scots probably stopped by here at some point.”

“What makes you say that, my Lord?”

Lord Marcus pointed to the ground. “Look there,” he said. “Do you see the collective hoof prints? They curve to the left—straight up to the village.”

“I have never seen this village before. I have never even heard of it. How is this possible? Don’t our people have a stranglehold on this area?”

Lord Marcus shook his head. “We are well beyond the territory that most of our English companions travel through. No, my friend, this is territory belonging to drifters, wanderers. I am more than certain that our Scots traipsed through here at some point.”

Henry nodded toward the village. “Do we go in, my Lord?”

With a smile, Lord Marcus slapped the reins on his horse and replied. “Most certainly we do.”

Lord Marcus signaled with his hand for his men to follow. The group of Englishmen rode side-by-side toward the village, approaching with a slow pace and making sure that the hoofs of their horses resounded throughout the forest. Lord Marcus took the lead, wandering into the village and seeing a series of elderly faces looking upon him with a mixture of concern and horror.

The village elder, speaking with his wife, clearly looked disturbed to Lord Marcus, the two of them speaking with urgent gestures of their hands and eyes as wide as a pair of full moons. After a moment of conversing, the elder approached Lord Marcus and forced the most cordial of smiles that he could muster, bowing and showing his contrition before saying: “My Lord. My name is Richard. I welcome ye humbly to our village.”

“My good man,” Lord Marcus said with a tight-lipped smirk. “My most sincere thanks for such a warm welcome.”

“How can I be of assistance to ye, sir?”

Lord Marcus sighed. “Oh, we are but weary travelers, my friend. We simply seek a quick respite. I was wondering if you and your people would be happy to oblige. And my apologies for arriving so unexpectedly. If this is a trouble to ask, we shall simply go about our way.”

Richard held up his hands. “Not in the slightest, my Lord. We are graced by yer presence.” He turned and gestured behind him. “Would ye care for a drink? Sustenance, perhaps?”

Lord Marcus turned to Henry. “What say you, my friend? Should we take this kind man up on his offer?”

Henry smirked, Lord Marcus sensing that his companion was getting wise to the ruse covered by a thick veneer of pleasantries that he was putting on. “Of course,” he said. “I would very much like to replenish my energy.”

“Come!” Richard said. “This way! We have a small tavern that we built not long ago.

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