Page 9 of A Highlander's Vow

He walked through the hall, up the stairs, and tried each door latch. The only one locked must have been Lady Sinclair’s. He pulled the key from his pouch and fitted it into the hole, twisting it until it unlatched. Then he opened the door. Slowly at first.

’Twas dark in the room, but not dark enough to hide the woman crawling out the window onto the branch from a tree outside her window.

Gregory sucked in a breath, but didn’t want to startle the lass by calling out to her. Instead, he quickly left the room, and raced down the stairs and through the keep, rounded the building and reached the tree just as Megan started to climb down.

“Doona move lass,” he said quietly enough not to have her fall. However, it didn’t work and she began to slip.

“What are ye doing here?” She held onto a branch, but in the moonlight Gregory could see her small hands begin to slide.

“God’s bones! If yer brain wasn’t so muddled with this foolish plan ye have, ye would ken why I am here.”

“I have to leave before first light. Anthony is going to take me to The Gunn.”

Gregory shook his head. “I think ’tis best if we stopped this conversation and get ye out of that tree before ye break yer fool neck.”

“I’m slipping!” The words came out right before she dropped, hitting a branch which slowed her fall. She flailed her arms, trying to catch another branch.

“Just let go, Megan. I will catch ye.” He barely got the words out before she landed in his arms. The surprise on her face must have matched the one on his.

He placed her on her feet. “What the devil were ye trying to do, lass? Ye could have killed yerself.”

She brushed off her bodice and skirt. “Twould be better than having The Gunn kill me when he finds out I’m barren.” She looked athim, her face as red as a beet. “I guess I should no’ have blurted that out.”

Gregory shrugged. Her confession was something he would think on later. Right now they had to leave as quickly as possible.

Megan turned to walk and fell to her knees.

He stopped and pulled her up. “What’s wrong, lass?”

“I think when I hit the branch up there, I hurt my ankle.”

“I’ll take a look at it when we’re away from here.” In one quick motion, Gregory scooped her up in his arms, strode to where he’d left his horse.

“Wait! I need my satchel.” She turned in his arms and pointed to the small bag she’d brought with her that had fallen from her hand when she tumbled from the tree.

Quickly, Gregory settled her on his horse, grabbed her bag, tossed it to her, swung his leg over the animal, settled Megan on his lap and rode off.

*

Megan was sorelieved at being rescued from her inane idea of climbing down the tree that any ill feelings she’d had for Gregory Mackenzie faded like a setting sun.

“Why did ye come back? I thought for sure ye’d be on yer way home right now.”

The warrior grinned at her. “Dinna ya see the wink I left ye with?”

“Aye I did, but since I doona ken ye, I had no idea what it meant. Well, I mean, I did think that maybe it mean ye were no’ really leaving, but then again I’ve had lads wink at me and—”

Gregory bent his head and took her mouth in a very interesting and voice-quieting kiss. She relaxed against him, the strength and warmth from his body giving her the best sense of calm and security she’d had since Robert’s death. She knew in her heart that GregoryMackenzie would not let her uncle drag her to The Gunn.

He raised his head, looking at her surprised face with a hint of laughter. “Keep in mind lass, every time ye’re babbling like that I will quiet ye with a kiss.”

Of course, she should be insulted, but based on her body’s reaction to that very unexpected kiss, she might be doing a lot of babbling in the future.

They didn’t ride far before she saw the men who had accompanied him on this mission sitting around a small fire, sipping on ale and talking. There were seven horses hobbled not too far from them.

She turned to Gregory. “Did ye bring an extra horse with ye?”

He grinned at her. “Nay, ’tis a Sinclair horse.”