Page 40 of Highland Sky

“I guess so. And she’s right,” agreed Nash, looking up at the wagon that was bumping one way and then the other as Kellina continued to drive the cart too fast over the rugged terrain. “I will no’ have another night like the last. I canna sleep next to her without touchin’ her again.”

Nash rode up to the side of the wagon, wondering what he could say to smooth things over between them. He finally decided that mayhap he’d better give Kellina some time, therefore, he said nothing at all.

After riding for an hour with barely any conversation at all, Nash decided he’d talk to Caitlin first, easing into a conversation with his wife.

“Happy birthday, Caitlin,” he said, riding up closer to the side of the wagon.

“Thank ye, Nash. That is kind of ye to say that. Did ye ken that I am seven and ten years of age now, and a fully fledged woman?” Caitlin’s face beamed with pride.

“Well, nay, that’s no’ all true,” he told her. “Ye’re no’ a fully fledged woman until ye . . . until ye . . .”

“Until I what?” she asked in a naïve manner. Nash had no doubt that Kellina’s sister was a virgin just like Kellina was.

“Until ye get married,” said Nash, not wanting to come out and say what he meant. If so, he was sure there would be trouble.

Kellina looked over and scowled at him like he knew she would. By now, Nash realized that whatever he said, she’d frown at him and never smile. Mayhap it was no use even trying anymore.

“Nash is talkin’ about couplin’, no’ bein’ married,” she told her sister. “Most men dinna think a woman is worth a thing unless they’ve coupled with a man first.”

“Nay, that is no’ what I said, and that is no’ true,” protested Nash. “I didna mean it like that at all.”

“Ye dinna sound verra convincin’, Nash.” Kellina was up to her cat and mouse game again, and he was tiring of it.

“Kellina, I dinna want to fight with ye. Please. We need to get along. God’s eyes, ye are my wife!”

“Am I?” Her words were crude, cold, and careless.

“Of course, ye are, Sister,” said Caitlin, coming to Nash’s rescue. “Ye two are married now. It is so excitin’. I canna wait until I get married, too.”

“She means she canna wait until she can get naked with a man.” Jamie popped his head up from under the hay in the wagon, laughing.

“Aaaaah!” Caitlin screamed, not expecting anyone to be in the back of the wagon. Kellina’s head snapped around so fast that she nearly lost her balance and fell off the seat.

“Jamie! Ye shouldna be here,” scolded Kellina.

“Why no’?” he asked. “If ye and Caitlin can go to the Gordon Clan, then why canna I?”

“Ye’d better stop the wagon,” suggested Nash. He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, getting both Spring’s and North’s attention.

“What’s the matter?” North came quickly, and so did Spring. “Did ye see someone waitin’ to ambush us?”

“Nay. It seems Kellina’s little brathair has snuck into the wagon,” Nash explained. “We need to turn around and take him back, anon.”

“Nay! I dinna want to go back,” whined the boy.

Kellina spoke to him over her shoulder. “Jamie, Uncle Ciaran will be worried about ye. Ye canna leave without tellin’ anyone. Ye have to return right now.”

“Someone kens where I am,” the boy told her. “Aidan MacKeefe saw me in the wagon when he came to collect his squirrel that followed me there. I put my finger to my lips to tell him to stay quiet.”

“Aidan kens?” asked Nash with a chuckle. “He’ll tell the chieftain then, I am sure of it.”

“Aye,” agreed North. “Aidan can never keep a secret.”

“Uncle will be furious with ye, Jamie.” Kellina gripped the reins in one hand. “I think lettin’ ye come with us to the Gordon Clan is a bad idea. We should all just go back to our clan right now.”

The sky darkened overhead and thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Nay. We need to move on,” said Spring, looking at the sky. “There is a storm approachin’. We have just enough time to make it to the castle before the rain falls. If we go back now, we willna be able to make the journey today at all.”