Page 71 of The Highland Heir

Ella nodded.

“Aye, auntie. I’m ready to stand upagain.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“She did what?” Kieran croaked afterhearing Teague explain that Ella had left Girnigoe the same daythey had left to go to Kildary in the hope of marrying ArranSutherland.

Kieran had seen resolve in Ella’s eyes whenthey’d said their goodbyes. He’d known they would never spend timetogether again as they had. He’d imagined she would simply avoidthe castle. Assumed she would keep to the village, where she andher father lived. He’d wanted her to find love and marry and have ahappy life, but not the very day he’d left.

But, of course, he realized that was aselfish thing for him to want. If she’d been hurting, it made senseto do something to make the hurting stop. Even if that somethingwas to marry.

“I must leave right away,” Kieran said,knowing he could still be too late.

“You’ll not do her any good if you killyourself riding in the dark. Dawn is only a few hours away, andyou’ll be able to ride faster in the light,” his brother said.

“Aye. Get some rest and wait until morning.You’ll need your strength,” his father added. It still baffledKieran that his father was smiling at him. Concerned for hishappiness. Kieran almost expected to wake up and find this were alla dream.

But if Ella married Arran, it would surelyturn into a nightmare.

He turned back to Teague.

“You have not yet given your blessing. I mayfail in my task to get to her in time, but if I succeed, do I haveyour permission to wed her?”

Teague smiled and pulled him into a hug,slapping him on the back.

“Aye. The two of ye have had a happy lifethus far, so it goes that you would have a happy future as well.”Teague’s smile slipped. “I hope you won’t be too late.”

Kieran had agreed he needed rest after thestress of the past days, but he found it near to impossible tosleep as he lay in a bed in the Campbell keep while counting downthe minutes until the dawn.

Giving up, he went down and found thekitchens, asking one of the maids for some food he could take withhim on his journey. He went to the stable to fetch and tack hishorse. When the cook brought him a bundle of bannocks, cheese, andfruit, he thanked her and packed it away for later.

His stomach was much too twisted to eatnow.

He wasn’t expecting his father to be waitingin the bailey to see him off.

“I knew you would be off with the sun andwanted to wish you safe travels.”

“Thank ye, father. I only hope I am not toolate.”

Rolfe patted Ridire. “I hope to see you athome with your love by your side. We will plan a fine wedding.”

“I want it like I’ve never wanted anythingelse.”

With that, they exchanged a nod and Kieranrode out through the gate.

“Come on, Ridire. We must get there beforeit’s too late.”

*

“Arran is a good man,” Ella said as she pacedher aunt’s cottage.

“So you’ve said, numerous times.” Jennyfrowned at the needle grasped in her fingers.

“You don’t think he is a good man?” Ellaasked, coming to stop in front of her aunt. Ever since Arran hadproposed, she’d worried she’d done the right thing by agreeing.

Then, when he’d suggested marrying rightaway, she’d felt as if she had been pulled along in his excitementand had agreed to that too. And why wouldn’t she want to marrystraightaway?

What good would come of waiting? She wascommitted to this path. Might as well start walking it.