The Forbidden Highlands by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Highland
Published: 2017-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

SKYE CURLED AGAINST KIER’S CHEST while the horse trudged through the snow. Though wrapped in a blanket, she was colder than she’d ever been in her life. Flurries continued throughout the arduous journey through the glens. Clouds settled on the white cliffs above as if they planned to stay and dump an endless shower of snow, impeding their progress until the pony could move no more.

Overcome with the day’s events, a hollow void filled her chest. She closed her eyes and thanked God for Kier. But the catastrophe at Meall Mòr had taken a horrific and devastating trauma and made it worse. Kier had turned against his clan to help her and, in return, her kin had repaid him with nothing but rebuff.

They were a pair of outcasts in a land gone mad.

Kier brushed the snow from her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

“Alive. Shocked.”

His warm breath skimmed her skin as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “I reckon we all are stunned.”

“Where are we heading?”

“Loch Dochart. I pray my da will take us in.”

“And if not?”

“Mayhap we should go to Glasgow and sail for the Americas.”

“Leave my family? My home…” She shuddered. What home?

Kier’s lips formed a thin line, his eyes taking on a hard stare. “This is no time to be planning for the future. We’ll need shelter afore nightfall.”

“Aye.” Skye swiped a hand across her face. “I feel awful about leaving my family up there in that shieling with nothing…”

“Hugh will protect them. He’s a good man.”

“He’s your enemy.”

“That doesn’t mean I disrespect him. Besides, at the moment, I cannot afford to claim any man as my enemy…a…aside from Glenlyon.”

Skye shuddered. “I’m glad of it.”

“I suppose I am as well.”

“Do you think my kin will ever forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive, lass. Your parents will love you in their hearts no matter what.”

Another shiver coursed over her skin. She didn’t feel loved. In fact, aside from the Highlander cradling her in his arms, she felt lost, exiled—like a tinker without a home.

Melancholy spread a black emptiness from her heart through her limbs. Again they rode in silence while God continued to douse them with snow. Their march grew slower and slower until Kier pulled the horse to a halt outside an abandoned shieling.

“Where are we?” Skye asked.

“Dalness—a hunting shelter used by my clan. We can weather the night here.” Kier dismounted then helped her down. He had to clear away the snow to wedge open the door. He found a candle and lit it by striking flint to his dirk.

Rubbing the outside of her arms, Skye turned full circle—there was a table and an old straw mattress on a rope frame with a fire pit at one end. “’Tis better than freezing to death in the snow.”

“There should be some wood stacked along the south side. Do you think you can manage lighting a fire whilst I hunt us something to eat?”

“Aye.” Skye nodded as her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since last eve. With the excitement, she hadn’t even thought about food, but now her hands started to shake for the hunger.

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