Healing the Highlander by Melissa Mayhue

Author:Melissa Mayhue
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2011-06-04T07:51:56+00:00

SIXTEEN

No turning back now. His path might as well be written in stone.

Drew braced his feet against his stirrups, stretching his leg in an attempt to find some relief. They'd been hours in the saddle this day, with more to come. He normally made the journey between MacPherson Hall and Dun Ard in one long, nonstop stretch. Traveling as slowly as they did with this large group would require at least two days.

A full day on horseback always aggravated his leg.

Spending his last two nights on the hard stone floor hadn't helped much either.

Once the decision to travel to Dun Ard had been made, something had happened between him and Leah. Some indefinable shift in their relationship. Whether it was the knowledge that riding into the courtyard of

Dun Ard, a pack of English soldiers in tow, meant a formal marriage, or something else, he couldn't be sure. He knew only that he felt different around her now.

If anything, his attraction to her had grown. As a result, each of the past two nights he'd taken his blankets and slept across the room from her. Foolish, perhaps, but the only way he could be sure he kept his hands off her.

She would be his wife.

It was the only way to guarantee that Moreland and his men would leave Dun Ard. And the English leaving was the only way Drew could insure the safety of everyone there.

He glanced over his shoulder at the wagons and horses that followed.

The first wagon was piled high with all it took to transport a household for an extended period of time: foodstuffs, clothing, whatever the women had determined needed to go. Once his sister had set her mind to making the journey, she'd been a veritable whirlwind, impressing him with her ability to organize everything so quickly.

If only the wagons could travel as fast as Sallie made things happen.

Leah rode in the second wagon along with Anabella, Sallie, and two youngest children. As he watched, Leah lifted her hand in a little half wave.

He marveled at her calm. He'd been so sure of her reaction when he'd confronted her with what would have to happen if they went to Dun Ard. As sure as he'd been of his own. And yet, neither had been even close to what he'd expected.

To his surprise, she'd agreed to the wedding without argument. As for his own feelings, amazingly enough, he wasn't the least bit hesitant. In fact, now that the decision had been made, he found himself viewing the coming event with growing anticipation.

Ahead of him, his two older nephews rode on horses next to their father, the whole lot of them surrounded by Moreland's men.

Drew swiveled his head to note the positions of the soldiers. Seven, eight, nine . . .

Ten. There'd been ten before, hadn't there? He was certain of it. And yet, a second count confirmed it was nine who accompanied them now.

"There's a small glen no far ahead. Close to the water, sheltered by trees. A good spot to set up camp for the night.

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