Highland Enchantment by Lois Greiman

Author:Lois Greiman [Greiman, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780380803668
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1999-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

They traveled all the next day. Rachel kept to herself. Where Liam had spent the night, she didn't know. Neither did she care, she told herself. But her gaze kept straying to Catriona, who drove her own wagon. As for Liam, he walked most of the day, keeping silent and distant.

Sometime after noon they stopped in a clearing by a small lochan. John and Fane managed to catch several perch which Hertha happily cooked into a pot of cullen skink.

Lachlan played with Bear in the water as the sharp smell of onions and fish filled the air.

Finding she had nothing to occupy her hands, and nothing useful to fill her mind, Rachel wandered into the woods in search of herbs. In a stand of elm trees, she found mother of thyme creeping along a rocky outcropping. Once brewed into tea, the leaves would make a tonic good for settling stomachs. So she picked a good deal of the leathery leaves, stashed them in her rag pouch with her soap and other necessities, and wandered on.

Hawthorns grew in profusion along a craggy slope. Even from her vantage point, Rachel could see sparse clusters of crimson berries sprinkled throughout the white-flowered foliage. Crushed and dried, the berries would make a fine infusion, she thought, and climbed up the slope to reach them.

But once there, she realized that even the lowest cluster was above her head. Glancing about, she searched for another means of reaching it.

"Allow me," someone said.

Turning abruptly, Rachel nearly bumped into Rory's chest. He smiled his Gypsy smile into her face.

"I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Nay." She exhaled softly, calming her breathing. Maybe this man was perfectly harmless, but if the truth be known she had always been cautious of men. Unlike Cousin Shona, who reveled in their attention, Rachel had never felt completely comfortable with them, even in her homeland where she was well-protected. "You didn't frighten me," she lied.

"Tis good," he said, and reached up, brushing against her shoulder to pull a cluster of berries from its mooring. "Twas not my intent." He handed it to her. "What are they for?"

"They aid in strengthening the heart," she said, and nervously stashed them in her pouch.

"Truly? Then we'd best fetch more."

He brushed past her and reached for another cluster, but it was too high. Turning back, he motioned to her. "Come. I'll lift you."

"Nay." How far was it back to camp? "I'm certain I have enough."

"But what if my heart fails from the shock of your beauty?" He grinned at her. "Come. Tis not like you to be afraid of a mere man."

Actually, it was just like her. But she supposed she was being silly. Stepping forward, she reached nervously up. He settled his hands on her waist and lifted her easily from the ground.

Rachel snatched the berries quickly from the limb, but instead of putting her down Rory turned to the right and lifted her a bit higher.

"You might as well gather those," he said, indicating a few berries that grew close to the truck.

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