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Authors: Victoria Roberts
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jumped and raised her hands in a defensive gesture, he took a deep breath and smiled an apology. “Listen to me. Do ye know where Glengarry is, lass?” he asked, lowering his voice.
“In the Highlands. North,” she murmured.
“Rosalia, ’tis verra north in the Highlands. The Highland weather this time of year is completely unpredictable. Ye donna have the supplies needed to make such a journey. Even when my men and I travel that far, we must take every precaution. Ye only have a couple of blankets, Rosalia. There is too much risk to journey there now.” She was about to interrupt him when he raised his hand. “Glenorchy is two days north from here. Ye ride with me and stay in my home. When ’tis safe to travel, I will take ye to your seanmhair . Ye have my word.”
She merely stared, tongue-tied. “And why would ye do that? I cannae impose upon ye. I heard ye speak with my own ears ’tisnae your fight and ye didnae ask to be my champion. ”
“Donna think upon it as I would be your champion.” His eyes studied her for a moment as if he knew some great secret. “Think upon it as I am now going to be your savior .”
She snapped her mouth shut, stunned by his bluntness. She also did not fail to catch the sarcasm in his voice. “My savior? Ye arrogant —”
“Aye. I am saving ye from yourself.”
Rosalia paused and when she mentally replayed his words, she actually laughed. James was the only man who ever saved her from herself—repeatedly. “Why would ye do this for me? Ye said ye donna want trouble. I speak the truth when I tell ye I donna know what follows me.”
Reaching out, Ciaran caught her hand in his. “Lass, ye appear to have had a time of it and I want to give ye a chance at the life ye seek. Ye seem to think this will happen if ye travel to Glengarry. When I take ye to your seanmhair , ye will have your chance. I donna speak untruths when I say ye willnae make it to Glengarry alone.”
There was a heavy silence.
As casually as Rosalia could manage, she asked, “And what of your men? I cannae travel at the speed—”
“Donna worry. I have already spoken with my men. Aiden and Donaidh ride ahead to Glenorchy, and Calum and Seumas will ride with us.” His voice was firm and final.
An unwelcome blush crept into her cheeks. “I cannae help but to feel a burden—”
“Cease your tongue, Rosalia. Noonie awaits and we are ready to ride. Do ye join me?” Ciaran folded his arms over his chest and waited for her response.
She nodded her head in consent. “Aye, ye have my thanks.”
He rolled his eyes. “Cease your thanking and grab your sack.”
***
They continued to ride north, and Rosalia could not help but wonder if she should feel some guilt for the relief she felt. She would have an escort and be able to travel safely to her seanmhair . A new life awaited her at Glengarry, and she could not wait to embrace it. She pushed back her reflection of Ciaran from last eve, but she could still feel the warmth of his embrace and her lips tingled in remembrance of his touch. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes at the memory. It was not in her best interest to dwell upon such things. When she opened her eyes, Ciaran smiled as if he read her mind—well, she hoped he did not.
Rosalia had Noonie pick up the pace, feeling guilty she had held these men back for so long. They probably had families anxiously awaiting their return, especially if Aiden and Donaidh rode ahead to Glenorchy and told them the remainder of the men followed—slowly.
Calum trotted up beside her and inclined his blond head. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Do ye and Seumas have family waiting for ye at Glenorchy?”
“Nay,” he answered quickly. “Aiden and Donaidh are the only fools, er… men to take that step,” he murmured, turning his head away from her.
She could not control the giggle that escaped her. “Ye know, Calum, some women feel the same as ye.”
His eyes grew openly amused.
“In the Highlands. North,” she murmured.
“Rosalia, ’tis verra north in the Highlands. The Highland weather this time of year is completely unpredictable. Ye donna have the supplies needed to make such a journey. Even when my men and I travel that far, we must take every precaution. Ye only have a couple of blankets, Rosalia. There is too much risk to journey there now.” She was about to interrupt him when he raised his hand. “Glenorchy is two days north from here. Ye ride with me and stay in my home. When ’tis safe to travel, I will take ye to your seanmhair . Ye have my word.”
She merely stared, tongue-tied. “And why would ye do that? I cannae impose upon ye. I heard ye speak with my own ears ’tisnae your fight and ye didnae ask to be my champion. ”
“Donna think upon it as I would be your champion.” His eyes studied her for a moment as if he knew some great secret. “Think upon it as I am now going to be your savior .”
She snapped her mouth shut, stunned by his bluntness. She also did not fail to catch the sarcasm in his voice. “My savior? Ye arrogant —”
“Aye. I am saving ye from yourself.”
Rosalia paused and when she mentally replayed his words, she actually laughed. James was the only man who ever saved her from herself—repeatedly. “Why would ye do this for me? Ye said ye donna want trouble. I speak the truth when I tell ye I donna know what follows me.”
Reaching out, Ciaran caught her hand in his. “Lass, ye appear to have had a time of it and I want to give ye a chance at the life ye seek. Ye seem to think this will happen if ye travel to Glengarry. When I take ye to your seanmhair , ye will have your chance. I donna speak untruths when I say ye willnae make it to Glengarry alone.”
There was a heavy silence.
As casually as Rosalia could manage, she asked, “And what of your men? I cannae travel at the speed—”
“Donna worry. I have already spoken with my men. Aiden and Donaidh ride ahead to Glenorchy, and Calum and Seumas will ride with us.” His voice was firm and final.
An unwelcome blush crept into her cheeks. “I cannae help but to feel a burden—”
“Cease your tongue, Rosalia. Noonie awaits and we are ready to ride. Do ye join me?” Ciaran folded his arms over his chest and waited for her response.
She nodded her head in consent. “Aye, ye have my thanks.”
He rolled his eyes. “Cease your thanking and grab your sack.”
***
They continued to ride north, and Rosalia could not help but wonder if she should feel some guilt for the relief she felt. She would have an escort and be able to travel safely to her seanmhair . A new life awaited her at Glengarry, and she could not wait to embrace it. She pushed back her reflection of Ciaran from last eve, but she could still feel the warmth of his embrace and her lips tingled in remembrance of his touch. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes at the memory. It was not in her best interest to dwell upon such things. When she opened her eyes, Ciaran smiled as if he read her mind—well, she hoped he did not.
Rosalia had Noonie pick up the pace, feeling guilty she had held these men back for so long. They probably had families anxiously awaiting their return, especially if Aiden and Donaidh rode ahead to Glenorchy and told them the remainder of the men followed—slowly.
Calum trotted up beside her and inclined his blond head. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Do ye and Seumas have family waiting for ye at Glenorchy?”
“Nay,” he answered quickly. “Aiden and Donaidh are the only fools, er… men to take that step,” he murmured, turning his head away from her.
She could not control the giggle that escaped her. “Ye know, Calum, some women feel the same as ye.”
His eyes grew openly amused.
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