Page 70 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Let’s just go back,” Gwen suggested through chattering teeth. “This is all well and good, but I don’t want to stand around just to play some game. I also don’t want to get sick.”

Ellie nodded in affirmation, her own jaw clenched so as to minimize the chattering. “The forest isn’t that big.”

Aidan’s eyes grew huge. “Oh, but it is! It’s ten leagues tothe nearest village to the east, and at least that many times to the south.”

Ellie frowned. She wasn’t the best with directions, but she knew Reilly’s cottage was only a mile from the sea…to the east. And while she and Gwen had traveled some distance, there was no way they could’ve walked thirty miles.

“No matter, here they come now.”

They watched as a man and woman rode out of the castle on horseback, garments flowing, a bevy of riders in tow.

“That’d be the Laird MacWilliam, my sire,” Aidan said proudly. His face fell a little. “And my sister, Claire.”

“Who are the rest of them?” Gwen asked, peering through the rain at the oncoming party.

Aidan slanted her a look. “Their guard?” he responded, delivered in a, “Well, duh!” tone.

The man and young woman dismounted a few feet away, and Aidan stepped out of the trees. He said something in Gaelic to the man, then, to the woman in English, “They speak Mama’s tongue.”

The young woman’s head swung to them, and she quickly took in their appearance while the man bowed low. He spoke first. “Welcome, travelers. My name is Laird MacWilliam. Care you come to our home and warm yourselves by our fire?”

“Um…”

Claire smiled graciously at them both. “Perhaps you’ve lost your way? If so, we urge you to stay for a time and rest yourselves. My mother will be returning soon from the Donovan lands, and she does so love speaking with travelers such as yourselves. My brother sent word ahead, so we have dry clothing for you.” She slid off her horse and rummaged in the saddlebag.

Laird MacWilliam stepped forward, his gray eyes assessing. “My guards are most discreet and have beentrained to not listen when I demand it of them. Now is one of those times. From whence do you hail?”

Ellie swallowed, her tongue twisted into a tangle. The man was intimidating, standing well over six feet tall with shoulders that spanned, well…Ellie wasn’t sure what they spanned. He was one of the biggest men she’d ever met, and though his eyes held a kindness, she could feel his power. He was a man used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.

Just the kind of man Ellie avoided like the plague.

Luckily for her, Gwen answered first. “I think you’re asking where we’re from. We’re from the States, but Ellie’s been living in England for so long that she’s picked up the accent. We’re expecting our friend to show up at any moment, so I doubt we’ll need those dresses, but I really appreciate the offer. Oh! I’m Gwen and this is Ellie.”

Laird MacWilliam smiled graciously, his gray eyes alight as he kissed each of the women’s hands. “Ah, yes. The States. That explains much. ’Tis an honor, my ladies. Perhaps you’ll take your leave by our fire whilst we await the arrival of your friend?”

Gwen flushed. “Well, how would he know where to look for us?”

“Reilly knows everything,” Aidan boasted. “If he knows how to dig his blade into a man’s belly at just the right angle so as to cause him the most amount of pain, I’m certain he can figure out where you’re resting your feet.”

Gwen’s face had gone white at the description.

“Son,” Laird MacWilliam said, “there’s no need for battle-speak in front of ladies.”

Claire was much less circumspect in her rebuke. As she walked by Aidan, the dresses over one arm, she smacked him smartly on the back of the head. “Cur,” she whispered. “They’reladies.”

“When do you expect Reilly to come?” Claire asked in a louder voice, motioning for the women to follow her.

Ellie frowned. “We don’t know for sure. He was headed this way in his costume.”

“Aye, costume. Well, it’s not getting any warmer, and I believe night is almost upon us. The rain has let up, so please, change into these dry clothes so as to keep your health. I’ll help you.”

Claire urged them into the clothing, and when they returned to the men, she shoved their wet things into the saddlebag. “Let us be off. Reilly will come or he won’t—but either way, I’m not going to catch my death waiting for him.”

“Amen, sister,” Gwen replied with feeling. She hopped up onto the horse with Claire. “Let’s go check out the castle!”

Ellie had nothing to say to that, so instead she looked up at the beasts in front of her. “Um…I’ll walk.”

Laird MacWilliam patted her hand. “Please do me the honor of riding with me, Lady Ellie. I see you’ve not much experience with horseflesh, but lucky for you, I’ve enough to spare.”

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