Page 21 of A Highlander's Vow

In thinking about the crossing, he had considered wrapping a cloth around Megan’s eyes, since the first time crossing the path could be frightening. He wasn’t sure if she’d be insulted or happy to do it.

They both took a turn in the bushes and then Gregory tossed Megan up on his horse.

“Ye ken, ye throw me on the animal like I’m sack of flour.”

She scowled as she straightened her dress.

He gave her that smile again that she oftentimes dreamed about. “Believe me, Megan I think of ye in many ways, but ne’er as a sack of flour.”

There was no conversation between them until Gregory pulled on the horse’s reins and stopped. “We are getting close to the mountain pass.”

Megan nodded.

“’Tis yer decision but I can cover yer eyes if ye think it would make it easier for ye.”

“Nay. I will be fine.” She wasn’t sure she would be fine, but felt a little silly having him wrap a cloth around her head like she was a bairn.

He made sure she was settled comfortably and securely placed on the horse and then started forward. They were less than a quarter mile when Megan turned in his arms, scaring him to death since he thought she was falling. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his chest. He could hear her whimpering, but said nothing, merely pulling her closer.

Gregory was used to traveling over the area, but he was always very careful since it wasn’t a smart idea to take the ride for granted.

The horse stopped for a minute and Megan hugged him closer.

“’Tis all right, lass. Not much longer.”

She whimpered again.

“Ye’re doing great, Megan. Just hold on.”

Once they reached the end of the pass, Gregory said, “We’re back on solid ground.”

She released him and took a deep breath. “I would no’ want to do that verra often.”

“There is no reason to. We will stop for a little while and give us and the horse a chance to rest.”

When he lifted her off, he noticed she was shaking. Once she was firmly on the ground, he pulled her close again. “Ye were verra brave, lass.”

To his astonishment, she burst into tears. He walked her over to a tree stump where they both sat. He pulled her onto his lap. “’Tis o’er. I will ne’er let any harm come to ye.”

She looked up at him, the tears still clumped on her eyelashes. “Because ’tis yer duty.”

He didn’t like that she kept referring to his “duty”. Aye, there was no doubt that was why he arrived at the Sinclair’s. But the more time he spent with her, the less he concerned himself with his duty to her.

Megan was a smart, pretty, and strong lass. Whatever her relationship had been with her husband, from things she’d said, he had reason to believe it hadn’t been ideal. While he and Robert had been friends and training partners, they never discussed their personal lives. It had surprised him at the time they made their vow that he would even think of doing such a thing.

He leaned forward and kissed her on the top of her head. “’Twas my duty to fetch ye as Robert and I promised to each other, but it could be more if we both give it a chance.”

He was surprised by his own words. Could it be more if they both gave it a chance? He’d never wanted to marry and therefore be responsible for anyone other than himself, to have an obligation to make someone else happy. Especially a woman, one whom he found very confusing at times.

And children. He shook his head. His da had been a bad example. Would it be a “like father, like son” situation for him and Megan?

She looked up at him. “Tell me something about Robert. He wasn’t one to spend much time with me. I doona even ken if he was happy in our marriage. Our fathers made the arrangements and once we married, it almost seemed to me that Robert had no intention of changing anything about his life.”

She swung her legs back and forth like a bairn. “I feel like a horse or another animal, passed from one person to the next without any care for what I want.”

“I’m sorry ye feel that way, but ’tis the way of the world. Women must be protected and cared for, and ’tis a man’s—” he hesitated, and she said,

“Duty.”