Rogue of the Moors by Cynthia Breeding

Author:Cynthia Breeding
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Rogue;Scot;Highlander;clan;MacLeod;MacDonald
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2016-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Dawn’s light had not yet broken when Bridget climbed into the wooden dinghy and Robert dipped the oars into the still, black water to row out to the Sea Wolf. She was sneaking away like a thief in the night, but she wanted to be gone by the time the MacDonalds rose. Shauna knew Bridget was leaving since Robert had brought her down to the shore, and she’d also left a note for Joanna, but Bridget didn’t want to see the MacDonalds—especially Alasdair.

Robert stayed silent during the short expanse to the ship. Bridget was grateful for that since Shauna had argued with her about leaving. She’d accused Bridget of running away from a chance for happiness. Perhaps she was running away, but not from happiness. She was running from misery. Alasdair’s story wouldn’t end as Robert’s had. Isobel was here. She’d been compromised and might be with child. Alasdair would do what he was honor bound to do. Shauna pleaded with her to stay and see if Isobel increased. In the end, Bridget had won, although her sister didn’t know how close she’d come to persuading her to stay. She’d come to care for the MacDonalds as she did her own family.

A sailor on deck lowered the rope ladder and Robert held it taut while Bridget climbed up, grateful for the breeches Margaret had lent her the night of the fire. The sailor helped her over the rail while another took the portmanteau Robert handed up.

Bridget leaned over the rail, and Robert gave her a small salute before he pushed away from the hull. She waved her hand and tried to smile, but she felt it wavering as he rowed back to shore. She was going to miss all of them.

A tall man with a weathered face and blond hair going to silver approached and gave a slight bow. “I’m Captain Nels. I’ve readied the small stateroom across from my cabin below decks for you. I apologize that it isn’t the most luxurious accommodation. We usually use it for storage.”

“’Twill be fine,” Bridget replied. “Thank ye for accepting me on such short notice.”

He nodded. “I’m a friend of Robert’s father.” Captain Nels looked around the deck as more sailors were coming up from below. “We will be weighing anchor soon and there are a few things that need preparing. I’ll have someone escort you to your quarters.”

He said the words pleasantly enough, but Bridget heard the dismissal in his voice. Her presence was not wanted on deck. She knew a lot of sailors still harbored notions of women being bad luck on ships and she wondered how many of Captain Nels’s men felt that way. Still, she had no objection to staying below deck until they were well under way. Bridget didn’t want anyone from shore catching a glimpse of her or her red hair.

The cabin the sailor escorted her to hardly had room for the fiddled, wooden plank bolted to the wall that served as a bunk and

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