Page 41 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“You’ll have to catch me first,” Kyle challenged, dancing backward away from him.

Liam spurted. “You dare to run from me.”

“Come on, Ethan, we’ll easily outrun the old fool,” Kyle said, laughing and got Ethan laughing along with him.

“When I catch you two, I’ll—” Coughing cut off his words, but Liam kept running.

“He’ll be too out of breath to do much of anything once Kyle lets him catch them,” Lady Agatha said with a smile. “Thank you both for finding my son and for reminding my husband of his duties to him. He warns me often that Ethan is no longer a bairn, but I believe he is the one who is having a difficult time accepting it. Come now and eat a good meal before you take your leave. And I will have food made ready for you to take with you.”

“That’s generous of you, Lady Agatha,” Knox said.

“Nonsense, your short visit has done much to help my family, and I do hope your search works out for the best.”

They wereon the road by mid-morning with full stomachs and plenty of food, and Dru resting comfortably in her husband’s arms to her continued dismay. If she continued to feel this comfortable with him, she would miss him when they parted, and she didn’t want that. She didn’t want the pain of losing someone she cared for.

Cared.

Is that what she felt for him? Did she truly care for him? Care more than she should? She didn’t want to admit it but the faint touch of his lips against hers had sent a thrill through her this morning. Shock at how she felt had her jumping out of bed. She had never known such a pleasant sensation and she was reminded of a warning—that pleasure with a man could be amazing and could also prove dangerous.

“We go to Autumn’s home now?” Dru asked, refusing to linger in the disturbing thought.

“I need to make a stop first,” Knox said, looking as if his thoughts were elsewhere.

“Where do we stop?”

“Not we—me.”

“And me?” Dru asked, having an idea of what he might be thinking.

“I will leave you at an abbey where you will be safe with the monks.”

“Safe with the monks.” She shook her head firmly. “I trusted a monk once and it was a huge mistake. No thank you.”

“These monks are trustworthy,” Knox assured her.

Maybe he believed that, but she didn’t. “Where are you going?”

“You don’t need to know.”

She shrugged. “I already do.”

His brow narrowed suspiciously. “You are not going to trick me into telling you.”

“I don’t have to. You’re going to see Phelan and warn him to stay away from us. Huge mistake.”

“My choice.”

“And my choice as to where I stay,” Dru said.

“Aye, at the abbey with the monks and I will have them keep you locked in your room if you give me any trouble about it,” he warned.

I’d like to see you try, she thought but didn’t say it, not wanting to antagonize him any more than she already had.

“You need to obey me for your own good,” Knox cautioned.

“I’ve heard that before,” she muttered. “It never turns out well.”

CHAPTER 12

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