Page 49 of Intrigued By A Highlander

Busby was quick to respond. “Habit. One has to be careful when traveling the road.”

Dru reached in the sack and pulled out bread and cheese to hand to Busby.

His eyes went wide, and he snatched them out of her hand.

“Easy, you haven’t eaten in a while,” Dru cautioned. “And there is enough here to share so you have no worry of finding food on your journey to Clan MacLeish.”

Busby chewed as he said, “Bless you, Dru bless you.”

Dru patted his thin shoulder. “All is good, Busby. Shade is a healer and will see to any healing you may need and Quint, her husband, will make sure you are kept safe.”

“I look forward to meeting them,” Busby said, continuing to shovel food into his mouth.

“Tell me what you know about Autumn,” Knox said, sitting on the ground beside Dru.

“Only that mercenaries swarm the area searching for her and that many believe she traveled safely to the lowlands and now lives with a friend of her mum’s.”

“Why do they believe that?” Knox asked.

“A traveling merchant tells a tale about picking up a proper lady who sought travel to the lowlands to a friend’s home,” Busby said. “According to his story, he took her there since he was going that way to pick up wares to sell.”

“Do you know this merchant’s name?” Knox asked.

Busby shook his head and stuffed a chunk of cheese in his mouth and chewed while he spoke. “Nay, but his tale mentions how frightened she was and that he felt bad for her. The road can be a harsh place for one who knows it, but for one who doesn’t it could be deadly. It’s something a traveling merchant would be aware of and know what roads to avoid.”

Knox stood. “How long ago was this?”

Busby tilted his head back to look up at him. “Long enough for her to have settled herself in the Lowlands.”

“Did the merchant mention where he left her?” Knox asked.

Busby shook his head. “From what I heard, he never mentioned it. But he claims to have warned her that lowlanders don’t particularly care for Highlanders. They think the lot of us are savages.”

“Only when we need to be,” Knox said and crouched down in front of Busby. “Forge your own pathway to Clan MacLeish. You’d never survive the grueling regime some of the stronger mercenary crews put the lot of abducted men through or the punishment they inflict for not learning fast enough.”

Busby shuddered. “I have heard horror tales, especially about a man called Phelan.”

“He’s the worst,” Knox said and stood, looking down at Dru. “Give him what you wish of the food. We need to be on our way and so does he. The sooner he gets to Clan MacLeish the better.”

“He knows of what he speaks,” Dru said, staring at her husband as he walked to his mare. “He was sold to Phelan when he was only eight years and was with him until he got free.”

“How did he get free?” Busby asked.

Dru turned to Busby. “I don’t know.”

“He must have done something powerful to have gotten free of such a vicious, controlling man.”

Dru nodded, agreeing and recalling how Phelan didn’t pursue Knox’s offer to fight him at the abbey saying he had better things to do. He feared Knox, and Dru wondered why.

CHAPTER 14

By the time they made camp that night, Dru was frustrated. Beyond frustrated. She was weary from the day’s travel, her body aching from riding too long, and her patience had worn thin. But what irritated her most was Knox.

He had barely spoken a word to her all day. When she’d attempted conversation earlier, he’d silenced her with a curt, “Be quiet, I’m thinking.” And when she had tried again, he had responded with nothing more than an indifferent grunt.

That had been the final straw.

“Do you ever intend to talk to me again?” Dru demanded, her arms crossed firmly over her chest as she stood near the fire, glaring at him.

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