Hearts of Highland Fire

Chapter 21

21

Remy pulled the horse to a stop, frowning as he watched the sun set in the distance. He had hoped they would reach Wallace land before night fell but it looked as if that wasn’t going to be the case.

“Why are ye stopping?” Gretna asked, her back resting against his chest.

“The sun is setting,” Remy responded, looking around. “I think we are going tae have to stop for the night.”

She groaned but he nudged the horse forward, moving down the road. He knew how she felt, longing for a comfortable bed and a bath to wash off the dust from their hard ride, but he couldn’t risk her safety, not now. “There’s a home up ahead,” he told her. “Perhaps they will let us stay in their barn for the night.”

Gretna didn’t respond, but by the time they arrived at the small farm, she was sliding off his horse before he could. A man and a woman came out of the farmhouse, the woman eyeing them warily as Remy dismounted. “We mean no harm,” Remy called out, holding up his hands. “Just seeking shelter for the night.”

“And perhaps a bit of food,” Gretna added.

The man exchanged glances with his wife before he nodded. “Aye, ye can stay in the barn. Mah name is Clen. This is mah wife Sheren.”

“Remy,” he answered, sliding an arm around Gretna’s waist. “This is mah wife, Gretna.”

He felt her stiffen beside him, but Remy knew it would be easier to explain that they were wed than not. After all, he planned on placing a ring on her finger the first moment after he got Ian’s approval.

And if the laird didn’t allow it, well, Remy didn’t know what he would do.

They were ushered into the house, the smell of stew heavy in the air. “Ye can sit there,” Sheren announced, pointing at the small table. “Do ye wish for food for yer men?”

“Nay,” Remy said with a shake of his head. He could see the evidence of struggling in the farmhouse and the meager food that graced their table, knowing his men could find an animal to eat tonight. “Just a bowl for mah wife.”

“Ye need tae eat as well,” Gretna murmured as they sat on the bench together.

He leaned down, brushing his lips over her ear.

“I donna think they have enough.”

She remained silent as Sheren sat a bowl before her and after eating only half of it, she pushed it to him.

“Eat.”

Remy wanted to argue, but didn’t, eating the few spoonfuls before they were shown to the barn. The smell of hay and horse filled the air, but the place was well maintained and warm, which was all that Remy needed. Clen pointed out a pile of blankets they could use and bid them a good night, shutting the barn doors behind them. Remy was surprised to see his horse in one of the stalls, but soon he had his attention on Gretna and her movements. He still couldn’t believe that she was his. She loved him. She wanted to be with him.

As much as he wanted to push her away, he couldn’t. She was embedded in his heart and Remy knew that he could never walk away from her.

Gretna turned, a small smile playing at her lips. “Wot?”

Remy shook his head, sliding his hand through his hair. “Nothing. Everything. Ye unman mah, lass.”

Her cheeks pinkened. “Remy.”

He crossed the distance between them, taking her hands in his. “Nay, lass, I mean it. I stand before ye humbled that ye still have chosen mah.”

She squeezed his hands, her eyes shining with the love that he still couldn’t understand. “We have a great road ahead of us. Ian may still not agree.”

Remy didn’t want to think of his closest friend, the one boulder still left on the path to the future with Gretna. Ian could deny their request. It was his right as not only laird but also Gretna’s brother to ensure that she was cared for. If Ian could see his sister now, in her torn, dirtied dress and tangled hair, he would scarcely believe that it was Gretna, to begin with.

Reaching up, he smoothed her hair back off her face. “One more night and I will have ye home.”

She drew in a breath. “Wot if we didna go back? Wot if we ran off?”

Remy chuckled. “I wouldna do that tae ye or yer brother, lass. He is anxious tae see ye.” He remembered the worry on Ian’s face, the way that he had made Remy promise to bring her home safely. Remy was going to grant that wish.

“Yer right,” Gretna sighed, falling against his chest. “Tis just I worry, Remy.”

“Donna worry, lass,” he murmured against her temple. “Nothing can tear mah away from ye.”

She looked up at him and he captured her lips with his, savoring Gretna’s taste. Her hands threaded through his hair and he groaned against her lips, his hands coming to her waist and holding her against his body. He would never grow tired of kissing her like this.

Coaxing her mouth open, he swept in with his tongue, stroking hers until she moaned in his mouth. He wanted to taste her all over, to unveil her creamy skin inch by inch until she was exposed before him, a feast that would satisfy his entire soul.

Her hands clenched in his hair and Remy forced himself to break their kiss, his breathing uneven. “Nay, lass,” he breathed. “I willna take ye in a barn.”

She groaned. “I canna wait.”

“Well, ye will have tae, for there are many questions I have.” A stern voice was heard.

They broke apart to find Ian standing in the barn doorway, surrounded by his guards carrying torches. His expression was one of anger and confusion and Remy swallowed as he backed away from Gretna.

“I- Ian,” Gretna forced out, smoothing her hands over her skirts nervously. “Wot are ye doing here?”

Remy straightened his shoulders and took his friend’s furious gaze head-on, the air around them thickening with tension. “Mah Laird.”

Ian glared at him, his jaw clamped shut. Remy could only imagine what sort of thoughts were running through his mind and he wanted to soothe his closest friend’s worries, but it wasn’t the place to do so. Right now, he was their laird.

Unfortunately, Gretna didn’t agree.

“Ian,” she started, but her brother held up his hand, silencing her immediately.

“I’m glad tae see that ye are alive and well, Sister,” he responded, his eyes never leaving Remy. “Even if ye are a bit ruffled.”

Remy choked on his own breath and Gretna grew pale with worry as Ian’s brow rose, the guards staying quiet behind him. Whenever they had the discussion, Remy knew it was going to be a difficult one for all the parties involved.

“Git yer horse,” Ian growled, turning away. “We are going home.”

Remy swallowed hard as the group left them alone once more, hearing Gretna’s shaky exhale of breath. “Well, that wasna how I wanted him tae find out.”

“Aye,” Gretna agreed, her face pale. “I donna think he will kill ye now.”

Remy didn’t think so either. Besides, it would be difficult to explain to the couple that had opened their barn to them why their laird felt the need to remove Remy’s head from his shoulders.

Quickly, he got their horse ready and led it out to the waiting crowd of guards, his own included. The torches they carried chased away the darkness as well as illuminated Ian’s expression, which had grown hard. A lone horse awaited its rider and Gretna gave Remy a long look before she approached the horse, swinging herself up into the saddle. Remy did the same, his heart thundering in his ears. He thought about taking his place behind the laird, where the captain of the guard should be, but decided against the move, knowing that he wasn’t Ian’s favored at this time. It would be better to put some distance between them anyway and not goad the laird into making any rash decisions.

Still, Remy didn’t want his closest friend to find out in this manner. There were likely so many unanswered questions for Ian and he wanted to soothe his worries that he wasn’t serious about Gretna. He wanted her as his wife and would do whatever he needed to, to make it come to light between them.

Ian had a level mind, Remy thought as they started down the rutted path, the guards lighting the way. He would listen to reason before making a judgment on their future. Still, even with his thoughts, Remy felt the stir of worry in his chest. If Ian didn’t, Remy didn’t know what he would do to make Ian see that he wasn’t the same man who had left on that journey long ago. Gretna had changed him, made him want a future and not the life that he had before he had fallen for her.

Now, it was time to show Ian.