CHAPTER 10
Chloe made her way outside the keep with the cloak tightly wrapped around her. She garnered a few strange looks as she walked across the yard looking for Malcolm at the stables. With no clue where he’d be, she paused to scan the area, trying to ignore the curious glances.
Then she spotted him. He stood with one hand on the reins of a horse speaking to the older Sinclair, Angus.
Duncan spotted her then and gave her a jaunty wave and a broad smile. He was younger than Malcolm, clean-shaven, with bright, intelligent eyes. He trotted over to greet her and was not at all bothered by her attire.
“Did ye sleep well?” he asked.
She nodded, though, truthfully, she was exhausted. Traveling through time had taken a lot out of her and she wasn’t certain she would ever recover. Duncan seemed pleased with her answer though and offered her his arm.
“I’ll escort ye to the stables.”
He seemed so eager to please, it was hard to turn him down. She placed her hand on his arm and off they went through the courtyard.
“It appears I’m not suitably dressed,” Chloe said as they walked and she continued to notice the surreptitious glances.
“Och, dinnae fash yerself about that, lass. They dinnae understand where ye came from.” He gave her a sheepish glance with a coy smile. “But I do and it doesna bother me one whit.”
She wasn’t certain why hearing him say that made her feel better, but it did. “I think I may have insulted your mother by not changing into her offered clothing. Please tell her thanks for trying.”
He chuckled, a little sound deep in his throat. “My mam can be somewhat pushy. But I will be sure to tell her.”
They arrived at the stables where Malcolm turned to give them his full attention. His gaze first went over her, then to Duncan. Chloe thought for the briefest of moments she saw a hint of jealousy flash through his eyes before he managed to conceal it. He held out a hand to her.
“Thanks for escorting her,” he said to Duncan.
She started to reach for Malcolm’s hand, but before she was able, Duncan grasped it and kissed the back of it. It was probably the most chivalrous thing that had ever happened to her, and she flushed hot.
“’Tis been a pleasure, my lady. I hope to see ye again sometime.”
Malcolm seemed less than amused by that and reached for her, taking her free hand in his and pulling her toward him.
“We’ll be on our way.” He turned to Angus. “I thank ye for the hospitality.”
He gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Farewell and Godspeed, lad.” Then he bowed to her. “My lady.”
Angus and Duncan left them and headed back to the keep. Chloe didn’t deny how awkward she felt standing in the presence of a man she hardly knew and yet was willing to ride away with.
“How long will it take us to get to Dundale?” she asked.
“A few hours. Can ye ride?”
She glanced at the large horse with a bit of apprehension. The one and only time she had been on a horse was when she woke up cradled against his chest. She didn’t recall much about that ride other than how much her throat had hurt and her head ached.
“Ah, so, ye never have, eh?” he asked, as though he read her thoughts.
“No, never. Well, except for when I rode with you yesterday.”
His face was devoid of any sort of expression. At least, one she was able to read. She was sure he must think she was inept for not being able to ride a horse.
“My brother’s wife had never ridden a horse, either,” he said. “She does fairly well now.”
And she needed this information why? She lifted a brow at him. “Does she?”
“Aye. Ye’ll meet her when we arrive,” he said, a twinkle of knowing in his eye. A small grin appeared on his bearded face. “If ye prefer to ride with me, I dinnae mind.”
She realized the horse he held onto was meant for her. “Oh. I’m sure I can manage.”
She wasn’t sure she was prepared to ride with him again. It was much too close to him, after all.
Sensing her hesitation, he held a hand to her and gave a “come on” nod toward the horse.
She reached for the reins, taking them from him.
She could do this. She’d seen enough movies about riding a horse.
Taking a deep breath, she stuck her foot into the stirrup, which felt uncomfortable at best. Her knee was to her chest as she tried to lift herself up.
While she had never done it before, she had a working understanding of how to do it.
She managed to swing her right leg over the horse’s back and settle into the saddle.
He seemed satisfied with that and walked around to his own, which waited next to hers.
His horse was far bigger than her little brown one. A large black steed, she was certain it was a war horse with its long thick mane and tail. By the time he was in the saddle, he sat at least a head taller than her.
It was a bit intimidating.
But she was not to be dissuaded.
He assumed she knew what she was doing and started off, heading for the portcullis. The distance grew between them while she tried to figure out how to get her horse to move. Finally, she gave it a little kick with her legs and the horse started to move forward.
Then stopped.
She jerked the reins and whispered, “Come on. Please?”
But the horse remained in place. Ahead of her, Malcolm came to a stop and turned to look at her. There was a wide grin on his face as he walked the horse back to her.
“Trouble?”
“No,” she said quickly. When he chuckled, she blew out a breath. “Yes.”
“Ye can ride with me, then.”
But she didn’t want to. Being that close to him did things to her. Made her feel things she didn’t want to feel.
Malcolm made a motion to one of the stable hands. When the boy rushed over, he said, “Help the lass down and stable the horse. She’ll be riding with me.”
“Aye, my lord,” he said with a nod.
The boy was at her side then, looking up at her and taking the reins out of her hands.
She swung her leg over and slid down to the ground in a most ungraceful way.
She stumbled, but the stable hand was there to keep her on her feet.
She gave him a grateful smile while Malcolm chuckled again from his mount.
She flashed him a glare. A smile hid behind his thick beard.
He waved her toward him. With reluctance, she made her way to his side. The stable hand was there once again, helping her onto the horse. She managed to settle behind Malcolm, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Without another word, they headed off at a slow walk through the bailey toward the portcullis.
Chloe didn’t want to notice how solid and warm he was next to her.
The cold wind pressed through her, her jeans doing nothing to keep her warm.
She managed to tug up the hood on her cloak and cover her head but it didn’t help much.
She ducked her head and pressed it against his back, inhaling the leather scent of him. A sigh escaped her.
As they rode, she tried to keep her face out of the wind.
But every now and then she’d peek out to see the magnificent scenery.
In her present, there were winding roads and cars frequenting them.
But here, in this time, the landscape was untouched by modern man. There were no concrete roads or cars.
Towering mountains shrouded in mist were outlined against the cloudy, moody sky. While in her time, there were small villages nestled against the rugged landscape, here there was nothing more than a vast, untamed wilderness.
“Not long now, lass,” he said over his shoulder.
It was a relief to hear, but she did wonder what his definition of not long was. An hour? Two? It seemed as though they had been traveling for an eternity. The sun, hidden behind the clouds, dipped closer to the horizon. She was sure it had been higher in the sky when they left the Sinclairs.
He seemed unconcerned with the way she huddled against his back. As though it didn’t affect him in any way. Maybe it didn’t.
“Och, there it is now, lass.” There was a smile in his voice and perhaps a little relief.
She lifted her head and saw the castle rising in the distance. It looked as she imagined it would—a formidable medieval fortress. The exterior featured battlements, turrets, and gray stone walls surrounding it to keep invaders out. In the center of it all, the keep. Beyond it, a glistening loch.
The familiarity of it swept through her. This was the castle in the picture in Mystic Treasures.
He nudged the horse into a gallop. She tightened her grip around his waist as their speed increased.
The wind was still cold in her face but curiosity won out as they trotted past the portcullis and into the inner bailey.
There, he slowed to a stop and immediately dismounted.
He turned, holding his arms up to her. She slid off the back of the horse, falling into him.
He caught her, his smile evident behind his beard, and held her a moment to steady her wobbly legs.
“Thanks,” she muttered.
Without a word, he took her by the hand.
She was grateful for his steady presence and didn’t try to pull away.
A stable boy arrived to take the horse by the reins and lead it off to the stables.
Malcolm gave him explicit orders to make sure the horse was fed and brushed since it had been a long journey.
He led her from the yard toward the keep where he pushed open a heavy door. The hinges groaned as they entered the great hall.
It was a large room with a soaring ceiling and a long table in the center. Chairs were on either side, at one end, a hearth with a blazing fire to warm the place. Two men and a woman were seated at the table. When she and Malcolm entered, they all rose.
A gasp escaped the woman. Chloe’s gaze fixed on her and for a moment, she didn’t recognize her. Then she realized who she was. It couldn’t be? She stared across the room, still clutching Malcolm’s hand, into the face of her missing sister.
“Evie?” Her voice was a roughened whisper.
Evie hurried around the table, her fiery hair pulled back in a braid and her eyes shining with a joyous light. Before she reached her, though, it was all too much for her. Her knees gave out, crumpling underneath her, as she crumbled to the ground, releasing Malcolm’s hand.
“Chloe!”
Her sister bounded out from behind the table and ran to her, her face lit with happiness and her eyes shimmering with tears.
Relief mixed with confusion flickered through her as Evie fell to her knees and wrapped her into the fiercest hug she had ever felt.
“You’re here!” she said against her hair. “You made it.”
She said it as though she’d been waiting for her arrival.
Chloe wrapped her arms around her sister, holding her tight, never wanting to let go. Relief sputtered through her. Relief Evie was alive and well and hugging her hard. Relief they were together once again. When she finally pulled back, she held her at arm’s length.
“What are you doing here?” Chloe asked.
But it was Malcolm who answered with a chuckle. “Och, lass. This is my brother’s wife.”