Return by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2020-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FIVE

Grieve cursed his clumsiness with words, and with women. For a moment there, it seemed they'd shared the same thoughts, and then it had all gone wrong. Was he supposed to say he heartily approved of their fathers' plot? That couldn't be right – she had made it very clear that she would follow her own heart, not her father's plans.

He scarcely paid attention as she showed him the other three watchtowers and the harbour, introducing him to everyone they met. He smiled and nodded and shook hands, accepting more cups of ale than was good for him.

More than once, he'd had to take a trip into the bushes, to Rhona's amusement.

On the third such detour, she'd waited until he'd climbed back onto his horse before she said, "At least you gave me a show of your own this time. 'Tis a fine arse you have, Lewisson. A mite pale, but I don't suppose it sees much sun."

She'd been watching him piss? Grieve's face grew so hot he feared his skin would crisp off. And then...he smiled, at the knowledge that she'd been watching him. Maybe she was not as cold to him as he'd thought.

He hurried to catch up to her. "Are there any other parts of me you consider fine?" he called.

She tossed her head. "I'm sure I'd have to see more of such parts before I could make a judgement like that."

He drew even with her. "And what parts of me would you like to see more of, my lady?"

She darted a glance at him, then looked away. "I'm sure I don't know. But you have seen all of me, so it seems only fitting that I should see all of you. And I thought we agreed to use first names, not...anything else."

"So we did. And if my lady wishes to see all of me, she has only to ask."

She closed her eyes. "Grieve..."

"Yes, Rhona?"

"Stop. We have arrived."

Grieve looked around. "This is no sanctuary. A sheltered depression, out of the wind, with the river running alongside, but it is too open. The enemy would only need to follow your trail here, and there would be no escape. You'd be slaughtered."

"And yet no enemy has ever taken Rum Isle," Rhona said softly. "You see that waterfall?"

Grieve's gazed followed her pointing finger. "It's pretty," he said cautiously.

Rhona laughed. She slid down and began to unfasten her saddle. She gave her horse a slap on the rump in dismissal and carried her things toward the waterfall.

Grieve hurried to do the same. But the buckles refused to unfasten, so by the time he'd freed his horse, Rhona was nowhere to be seen.

"Rhona?" he called, feeling like a fool. He set off for the waterfall, wondering if he would see her from there.

The waterfall turned pink, before she emerged from behind it, brushing water droplets from her cloak. "Are you coming, or are you waiting for an enemy army to appear?"

It was another natural watchtower, Grieve guessed, as he scrambled up the damp rocks to where Rhona stood.

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