Chapter 16
“Is this wise?” Heather settled back against Owen’s broad chest. Though she had sworn never to ride a horse again, it seemed fate had had other plans.
Owen guided the horse with one hand, while his other arm wrapped tight around her waist. He had not relinquished his hold once, since leaving Dunn Castle. That alone let Heather know that the situation was dire, though she did not want to press Owen while he was in a state of anguish.
“I hope so, Lass,” he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Though, I would ask ye an important question.”
She peered back at him. “You may ask anything.”
“How much do ye trust Brandon?”
The question troubled her. “Why do you ask that?”
“I daenae ken the man, so I’d hear what ye ken of him, as someone who’s kent him for most of yer life,” he explained, sounding agitated. He was not the only one, for Heather had never seen such a grim expression upon Sawyer’s face, either.
She covered his arm with both of hers, as if to give herself some additional protection from whatever had both men so worried.
“There are not many men in this world whom I trust implicitly, but he is one of them. He is like a brother to me.” She paused.
“Might you tell me what is happening? You did not say much when you came to me earlier.”
In truth, he had barely said anything at all.
He had come into her chamber, stirring her from a wonderful dream where they had continued what they had begun the previous night.
Once awoken, he had instructed her to dress and prepare to ride without delay.
A shame, for part of her had hoped he had awoken her in order to fulfill the dream she had been having.
“Aye, he’s like a brother to ye, but is he like a son to yer faither?” Within the corded lines of his neck, Heather saw the pulse of life that he had taught her to look for. It was flickering far more violently than she had ever seen it.
Her brow furrowed. “Goodness, no. My father barely tolerates Brandon. If that unpleasantness had not occurred at my father’s castle, I imagine it would not have been long before my father cast Brandon out.
It was only my brother who protected him, for my father could not refuse William anything. Mostly.”
“So, he wouldn’ae do yer faither’s biddin’, if asked?” There was an urgency to Owen’s voice that set Heather’s heart to a swifter beat.
She paused in thought, not wanting to answer if there was the slightest chance that she could be wrong.
If it was obvious that Owen actually was William’s killer, then perhaps Brandon would be persuaded to do such a thing.
But, as it was Brandon who had first suspected Owen’s innocence, that seemed unlikely.
“I do not believe so, no,” she replied, as sure as she could be. “What is happening, Owen? I have put my trust in you by obeying your command to ride away from the castle, but what use is that if you do not trust me in return?”
She had assumed they were only going for a short ride through the forest, or to a nearby village, but they had already been riding for hours through treacherous terrain.
Rainclouds gathered in the distance, and though the mountainside offered a tremendous view of the beautiful landscape, she knew it was dangerous to be up so high with a downpour on the way.
“I received letters from yer faither and Brandon, at the very same time,” Owen said, with a heavy sigh. “Yer faither has made a threat. Brandon claims he has news of yer brother’s killer. We’re goin’ to meet with him now.”
Taking the letters out of the inner pocket of his jerkin, for it appeared he had only worn his traditional attire for her, he passed them to her.
“We are meeting with my father?” Panic raised the pitch of Heather’s voice.
“Nay, Lass,” Owen assured, holding her tight. “We’re goin’ to meet with Brandon. I want ye to tell me if ye find anythin’ strange about his letter. Ye can ignore yer faither’s letter. I’ve taken measures to waylay him, so I’m nae concerned with his warnin’.”
Rocked by the motion of the horse, Heather hurriedly read the two letters.
Her father’s words did nothing but terrify her, so she quickly folded the letter back up.
Brandon’s, on the other hand, inspired a sense of hope within her.
A hope she had not truly dared to consider, for who could find one killer among an entire army of faceless soldiers?
Is that why I sought to forget it all when I came to Dunn Castle?
Did I allow myself to be distracted because I knew there was no hope of William’s killer being found?
In a way, she was grateful she had not seen this letter earlier in her new life in Scotland.
If she had, it would have brought all of those awful memories and feelings rushing back.
Grief stricken to that degree, she doubted she would have been able to open herself to Owen.
“It is his writing, if that is what you mean?” Heather said, glancing back at Owen.
Further back, Sawyer’s mouth fell open. “Why did we nae think of that?”
“In truth, I wasnae sure if ye’d ken his writin’ well enough to confirm it as his,” Owen replied, addressing Heather. “I can see I was mistaken.”
Rather oddly, his admission brought a small smile to Heather’s lips. Nothing comforted her more than a man who knew how to admit when he had made a mistake. It certainly bolstered her hope that they would have a happy future together, providing Brandon did have news of the real culprit.
“There is nothing peculiar about it,” Heather reassured, a moment later, “other than the destination, but I assume you know where that is, or we would not be venturing somewhere?”
Owen nodded.
“He is an honest man, Owen. I understand your suspicions, but he would not betray you.” Heather sighed.
“All he wants is justice for William. That is why you are free, instead of swinging from the gallows. Please, do not forget that, for he was the one who persuaded me of your innocence in the first place.”
A confusion of emotions moved across Owen’s face, as if he had not considered that before: bemusement, resignation, doubt, regret, but ending with a sure glimmer of hope.
“Is it far?” She longed to distract him from his troubles. If Brandon had given them but an additional night before they had to ride away from Dunn Castle, maybe she would have found another way to distract him. As it was, her words would have to do.
Owen tilted his head from side to side. “Aye and nay. It’s only over the mountains, but the path is difficult.”
“And it’s goin’ to get worse,” Sawyer chimed in, nodding toward the rainclouds that Heather had spotted earlier. “I hope ye wore warm enough garments, Lady Heather. Ye’re goin’ to freeze the very hairs off the back of yer neck, either way.”
Heather turned her head, bringing her lips close to Owen’s ear. “Not if you keep me warm, my darling.”
“I will, love,” he whispered back, stealing a kiss.
She might have indulged a while longer, if Sawyer had not erupted into rapturous applause. “Och, Brandon better have what he says he has, so the two of ye can get on with marryin’ each other and makin’ wee bairns to cause chaos in the castle!”
Embarrassment rushed up Heather’s throat and into her face. “You should not talk about… making children. It is most improper,” she chided, fanning her cheeks furiously. “I know you delight in speaking of such things, but I would prefer it if you did not while I am present.”
“Apologies, M’Lady.” Sawyer flashed a mischievous grin. “I got carried away with the only grand thing to come out of this doom and gloom.”
Despite herself, a smile returned to Heather’s lips. “Does this mean you are no longer disapproving of me?”
“Och, right now, ye’re me favorite lass in the world!” Sawyer enthused, before bringing a finger to his lips. “Just daenae tell me Rosie, in case she gets jealous. Daenae mistake me, ye’re me favorite because ye’ve done the impossible, nae because I’ve got any fancy for ye.”
Heather blinked. “The impossible?”
“Ye thawed that big lad’s heart,” Sawyer cried, clapping his hands together. “We thought he’d never find a lass to make his Lady. Little did we ken he’d have to go to England to find her, but I’m nae against it. None of the Clan will be, now they ken what ye mean to their Laird.”
“The Clan knows?” Heather stared at Sawyer in abject horror. How could they possibly know? Had they… heard something of the previous night’s divine exploits?
Sawyer shrugged. “They will do by the time we return. I ken ye told me nae to say a word, M’Laird, but I assumed ye just wanted me to be the gossipmonger.”
“Ye’re too smart for yer own good, Sawyer,” Owen reprimanded playfully, dipping his head to taste another kiss from Heather’s lips. “I hope ye daenae mind?”
In his arms, with the delicious burn of his kiss still upon her mouth, how could she possibly mind?
“I do not,” she confirmed. “I am just glad they did not find out for… other reasons.” She raised a pointed eyebrow, bringing a throaty laugh to Owen’s throat.
“What did ye say?” Sawyer leaned forward in the saddle, clearly eager to remain in their confidence.
Owen waved a hand in his direction. “That’s nae for ye to ken, Lad. Ye just worry about how ye’re goin’ to get Rosie to marry ye, now that ye daenae have to concern yerself about me nuptials anymore.”
“Fine. Have yer secrets.” Sawyer folded his arms across his chest, pretending to pout.
In the ensuing silence, Heather rested back against Owen, praying that nothing would be able to tear them apart.
He might not have realized it, but he had just had his proposal of marriage accepted.
With any luck, he would ask her properly one day soon, so she could accept it with a kiss and more, in the privacy of her chamber.
“What do you think Brandon meant when he said, “However, if this information is correct, it will also reveal something far more troubling, which will require your aid.” Will we have to ride somewhere else?” She could not help but ask, for it was the only part that weighed heavily upon her mind.
Owen rested his chin on the top of her head. “We will nae ken until we get there,” he murmured. “In truth, we might never ken.”
“What do you mean?”
She felt him inhale deeply. “I daenae want to worry ye, Lass.”
“Tell me,” she urged, for the not knowing concerned her far more.
“Well… if Brandon kens who the killer is,” Owen said grimly, “he might never reach this inn we’re ridin’ to.”
He did not continue, but Heather heard the unspoken words in the thick quiet that followed: “And if Brandon disnae make it to that inn, there’ll be nay one and nothin’ to prove me innocent.”