Page 95 of Defy the Highlander

Finally, she lay down upon him and his big arms went around her, holding her close. His gentle touch, his hand tenderly caressing her hair, told her that he was feeling the same way she was.

Warm… content…

Loved.

When morning came, she was still in the exact same position, curled up on Brody’s chest.

It had been the best night of her life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The journey north to Ledmore had taken much longer than Lilia had imagined.

It was winter, which meant the weather was vicious at times even though Brody had assured her that it was a mild winter in the Highlands from his experience. Given the fact that she had spent her entire life either at her aunt’s home in SelBrody or at Hawkhill, a journey of this magnitude was overwhelming.

The path was not easy, nor was it swift. At times, the weather turned sour and they were forced to seek refuge. Once, when they reached the village of Killiecrankie, a snowstorm blew in and they spent five solid days bunking with a farmer and his wife. That hadn’t been too terrible, in truth, as the couple was more than happy for the company and Lilia spent those days helping the farmer’s wife and playing with their small children.

It had magical moments.

Brody had watched his new wife playing with the children, thinking that she would make a wonderful mother and falling in love with her more every day. But the storm eventually cleared and they continued onward, traveling through a winter-white wonderland as they moved deeper into the Highlands.

In spite of the winter beauty, the truth was that it was very cold and Brody had purchased furs from a trapper in the town of Dunkeld that Lilia had sewed together to make two very fine cloaks. That was the same time where he’d also purchased a mare for Lilia to ride since the burden on Aethon of two people was heavy.

Therefore, wrapped in their fur cloaks and riding separate horses, Brody and Lilia made better time through the Highlands, sometimes covering fifteen miles a day if the weather wasn’t too horrible. Aethon had settled down admirably and was an excellent traveling horse and Lilia’s mare was sturdy and comfortable.

All things considered, the journey, though long, wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Brody made sure to stop every night and find his wife a bed, even if that bed was a warm stable with clean straw. He did his very best to ensure Lilia was comfortable and she was appreciative of his efforts. It seemed that the man she’d first met, who seemed incapable of taking care of himself, was very good at taking care of others.

The man she’d first met in that dank, dirty alley no longer existed.

The Highland Protector had returned.

When their journey finally came to the seaside village of Ullapool, Brody informed Lilia that his home of Ledmore was a mere two days away and she was thrilled to realize they were nearing the end of their journey. But Brody didn’t seem too excited. In fact, he seemed subdued.

They had used some of the last of their coinage to rent a room in Ullapool at a tavern called The Queen’s Ax. It sat on the edge of town, next to the main road, and the window of their chamber overlooked that road and the massive loch beyond. They’d arrived at sunset and Brody had a hot bath brought to Lilia, who sat in the dented copper tub until the water cooled off and she was forced to get out.

As she dried off in front of the fire, Brody climbed into the cool water and bathed with the soap she’d brought from Hawkhill, the savon d’alep that reminded him so much of her. He kept trying to splash her with the cold water, causing her to squeal. She finally moved out of firing range, braiding her damp hair in the warmth of the fire.

“Stop throwing water at me or ye’ll be very sorry,” she said. “I willna be so nice tae ye and let ye use my soap.”

He grinned as he washed the soap from his hair. “I was thinking of shaving my beard for ye, but I’ll rethink that if ye’re going tae be cruel.”

She snorted. “Cruel, am I? Consider it a favor I’m doing ye because ye smell like one of those sheep we passed on the road. Ye look like one, too, with that fuzzy face.”

He laughed quietly as he began to froth up his beard with the slimy soap. “A man has a right tae smell as he pleases,” he said. “Ye’ve not complained before.”

“I am now.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Fickle wench,” he said. Then, he pointed at his satchel. “Can ye find my razor? Be cautious; it’s sharp.”

Carefully, Lilia felt around in his satchel until she came across the razor he kept wrapped up in canvas. It was the same razor that Tynan had brought him at Hawkhill those months ago. Pulling it forth, she handed it to him, butt-end first. Brody sat in the water, looking into it, until it stopped moving enough that he could use it as a mirror.

“So ye decide tae shave that off now,” Lilia said. “Why? It keeps yer face warm.”

He took off a whole strip on the left side of his face. “Because my da will have a difficult enough time recognizing me without this forest growing on my face,” he said. “Besides… I thought ye’d rather have a clean-shaven husband.”

She was back over at the fire, brushing out the ends of her braid. “I will admit that yer whiskers are bristly like horsehair,” she said. “Sometimes, when ye kiss me, my face is raw from it.”

“I know,” he said, rinsing off the razor and waiting until the water calmed again. “I can see how red yer skin is all over yer body after we’ve fornicated.”