Read Online Amanda Forester by The Highland Bride's Choice - Free Book Online

was tangled, arms and legs, with Tavish Grant. Not only that, but she was sprawled over him like a harlot.
    “Terribly sorry.” Heat burned her cheeks and she tried to detach herself without touching him more.
    “Are ye?” His green eyes were wide and flecked with silver and blue.
    The only thing she was sorry about was having to move, but that was not what she was supposed to say. “I should’na be so close.”
    “Probably not. Though since we are still both fully clothed, I doubt any lasting harm was done in the night.” He gave her a tentative smile.
    “Still, I suppose we should get up.” Never had she been less enthusiastic about any words she had spoken.
    “Dinna want to. Rather stay here wi’ ye.” His eyes were open and honest.
    Elyne looked away. “But yer cousin, my future husband?”
    The room was silent except for the occasional drop of water from the ceiling to a pail of water below.
    “Aye,” muttered Tavish and got out of the bed, leaving her to the cold morning air.
    Elyne watched him go, wanting to call him back, knowing she should not. Eventually, she dragged herself out of the bed and attended to her morning routine. It would have been nice to change clothes, but she was going to have to make do.
    Outside, the rain had stopped and the air was fresh and crisp. Tavish fired up the forge again and Elyne went back to the overgrowth that was once a kitchen garden. She scrounged with vengeance, putting her frustration at her situation into tearing out weeds and hacking through the overgrowth. She found more kale and hazelnuts. The elderberries were picked clean, and her attempt to find early cherries was unsuccessful.
    She examined her collection and recognized the bounty of the old garden was growing thin. The garden backed up against the castle wall, and from her perch in the tree, she could see there were more cherry trees on the other side of the wall, beautifully covered with puffy white blooms.
    Walking along the back wall, she found a small wooden door, almost completely covered in vines and moss. With some effort, she pushed the gate open wide enough for her to squeeze through, the ancient hinges complaining loudly at being so abused.
    The area was so overgrown with bushes and branches, it was difficult to push through. She struggled past, trying to reach one of the cherry trees. She managed to get to the first cherry tree and climbed up, knowing the chances of finding fruit was low, yet still drawn to the lovely blooms.
    After a while of fruitless searching, she took a rest in the tree. Walls of rock and granite were so close to the back wall side of the castle, and quarters were so cramped, it would be impossible to attack from this angle. Any assault on the castle would need to come through the front.
    Gazing across the overgrowth, she noted a strange thing. The cherry trees appeared to be planted in two straight lines. She had imagined the birds had carried the cherry seeds over the wall of the castle. Birds were a clever bunch, but planting trees in parallel lines was unlikely. It must have been a lane that had now almost completely overgrown. Excited at what she had found, she climbed down to follow the path between the trees.
    “Ye ought not be out here alone.” Tavish stood before her, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. His characteristic smile vanished from his face.
    “Aye, but we needed more food and I dinna think anyone could hack his way with all this overgrowth.”
    “Still, we canna be too careful.” He sounded a good deal like her elder brother.
    “Besides, I found that there are two rows of cherry trees leading somewhere. Do ye wish to see where the trail leads?” asked Elyne.
    “Ye are trying to lure me into dropping the topic at hand.”
    Having many older brothers, Elyne was accustomed to overprotective men and found the best way to deal with them was to direct their thoughts to another topic. “The trail leads this way.” She pointed out the trees and