Read Online Journey to the Highlands: Robbie and Caralyn (Clan Grant Series Book 4) by Keira Montclair - Free Book Online
Authors: Keira Montclair
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doesn’t mean you have to spend it now. Besides, I tell you she isn’t married.”
“Only in your foolish mind is she not married. You looked her husband in the eye. And I need a restful sleep for a change. Mayhap I can find a sweet lass in the local pub to ease my aching bones.”
“Then go find her. I’ll go to the priory on my own. I’ll be back in plenty of time for the celebration tomorrow.” Robbie spurred his horse and headed down the village path, not wanting to bother his friend anymore. He could do this on his own. He just knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night until he was certain the lass and her daughters were safe. He didn’t trust Malcolm Murray and his louts. Not one bit.
Robbie smiled to himself when he heard a horse following him on the path out of town. Tomas. “And what are you planning to do when you arrive there?” his friend bellowed at him from his place on the path. “What is your ultimate plan?”
“I am going to make sure she is safe there and the fool didn’t abduct her or something worse. ‘Twill not take long to talk to a lass for a few moments. And if you don’t wish to sleep under the stars again, I am sure the abbess will put the two of us up for one night.”
He couldn’t stop thinking about how the prioress had advised him to come back after a while to try and see Caralyn again. Slud, but every night he woke up with a stiff shaft thinking about the lass. Add to that the guilt he felt about leaving little Gracie to the potential torment of three brutes, and he wasn’t sleeping at all. Still, he wasn’t about to admit any of it to Tomas.
“Och, aye,” Tomas growled, sending his horse into a full gallop.
After a mostly silent ride, the pair arrived at the abbey around dusk. Robbie dismounted and strode up to the gate. The guard asked him his business, then left to speak to the prioress. When he returned, he ushered the two inside and they waited in the same hall where Robbie had sat with Caralyn. Robbie paced the chamber while Tomas sat in a chair, crossed his arms, and stared at his friend. “Say what you need to say, Tomas. Get it out so you can put away that wicked grin you’re always wearing.”
Tomas crossed his arms and pushed back in the chair so it balanced on two legs only. “You’re besotted. You won’t listen to reason about this lass. Can you not get it through your thick skull that you made a mistake? I can’t wait for the lass to walk in the room with a smile on her face so we can take our leave.”
After several minutes, the prioress entered, a serious expression on her face.
“Good evening, Captain Grant. Please sit.” She motioned him over to the table where Tomas was sitting. “How may I assist you?”
Robbie didn’t like the look on her face. “Your Grace, I came to check on the young woman I brought here a fortnight ago, the one with two daughters. She had been beaten and had a swollen ankle, do you remember her?”
“Aye, of course I do. She was a lovely young lady, as were her daughters.”
“Was?” Robbie’s gut clenched as he held his breath, awaiting her response.
“Aye, I am afraid the man she lived with before the attack by the Norse came and stole her away in the middle of the night.”
“Her husband?” Robbie’s worst fear had come true. Malcolm Murray had abducted her.
“Och, I don’t think they were married, but she did fear him. She had shared with me some of the problems she was having in Ayr. He was not the father of her daughters. He came in the middle of the night and knocked our guards out before going into her room and taking her with them.”
“And the lassies?”
“Aye, they were taken, too. Though the guards swear he said he was her husband. They didn’t give in, but that’s what he claimed.”
“Any idea where he may have taken them?” Even though she was a member of the church, Robbie wanted to reach over and shake the woman. What kind of protection had she offered the three
“Only in your foolish mind is she not married. You looked her husband in the eye. And I need a restful sleep for a change. Mayhap I can find a sweet lass in the local pub to ease my aching bones.”
“Then go find her. I’ll go to the priory on my own. I’ll be back in plenty of time for the celebration tomorrow.” Robbie spurred his horse and headed down the village path, not wanting to bother his friend anymore. He could do this on his own. He just knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night until he was certain the lass and her daughters were safe. He didn’t trust Malcolm Murray and his louts. Not one bit.
Robbie smiled to himself when he heard a horse following him on the path out of town. Tomas. “And what are you planning to do when you arrive there?” his friend bellowed at him from his place on the path. “What is your ultimate plan?”
“I am going to make sure she is safe there and the fool didn’t abduct her or something worse. ‘Twill not take long to talk to a lass for a few moments. And if you don’t wish to sleep under the stars again, I am sure the abbess will put the two of us up for one night.”
He couldn’t stop thinking about how the prioress had advised him to come back after a while to try and see Caralyn again. Slud, but every night he woke up with a stiff shaft thinking about the lass. Add to that the guilt he felt about leaving little Gracie to the potential torment of three brutes, and he wasn’t sleeping at all. Still, he wasn’t about to admit any of it to Tomas.
“Och, aye,” Tomas growled, sending his horse into a full gallop.
After a mostly silent ride, the pair arrived at the abbey around dusk. Robbie dismounted and strode up to the gate. The guard asked him his business, then left to speak to the prioress. When he returned, he ushered the two inside and they waited in the same hall where Robbie had sat with Caralyn. Robbie paced the chamber while Tomas sat in a chair, crossed his arms, and stared at his friend. “Say what you need to say, Tomas. Get it out so you can put away that wicked grin you’re always wearing.”
Tomas crossed his arms and pushed back in the chair so it balanced on two legs only. “You’re besotted. You won’t listen to reason about this lass. Can you not get it through your thick skull that you made a mistake? I can’t wait for the lass to walk in the room with a smile on her face so we can take our leave.”
After several minutes, the prioress entered, a serious expression on her face.
“Good evening, Captain Grant. Please sit.” She motioned him over to the table where Tomas was sitting. “How may I assist you?”
Robbie didn’t like the look on her face. “Your Grace, I came to check on the young woman I brought here a fortnight ago, the one with two daughters. She had been beaten and had a swollen ankle, do you remember her?”
“Aye, of course I do. She was a lovely young lady, as were her daughters.”
“Was?” Robbie’s gut clenched as he held his breath, awaiting her response.
“Aye, I am afraid the man she lived with before the attack by the Norse came and stole her away in the middle of the night.”
“Her husband?” Robbie’s worst fear had come true. Malcolm Murray had abducted her.
“Och, I don’t think they were married, but she did fear him. She had shared with me some of the problems she was having in Ayr. He was not the father of her daughters. He came in the middle of the night and knocked our guards out before going into her room and taking her with them.”
“And the lassies?”
“Aye, they were taken, too. Though the guards swear he said he was her husband. They didn’t give in, but that’s what he claimed.”
“Any idea where he may have taken them?” Even though she was a member of the church, Robbie wanted to reach over and shake the woman. What kind of protection had she offered the three
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