Page 45 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
But it did not happen that way at all.
Maxwell was absent for dinner, leaving Skylar feeling more than foolish as she sat beside Bram. Hedid not come to her when she retired either. She was tempted to get out of bed and march straight to his chambers. Instead, she nursed her sorrow and pain. Was their passionate lovemaking in the library just a way for him to unwind? Had he simply seen an opportunity and seized it?
Skylar felt no better than a lady of the night, used for his pleasure, only to be discarded when he no longer needed her. It pained her, and yet, what was she to do? She had to remain strong. She would not let the hurt he caused her to consume her.
Her mind wandered after a while, and she thought about her sisters. What would they think if they knew Skylar was now married? Where were they all now? What were they doing at that very moment? Lana came to her mind then, for with the speed that everything had happened, Skylar had nearly forgotten about her letter. But now alone in her bed, she could not help but wonder if she was all right. She had taken a huge chance sending Skylar that letter. What if someone had found out about it? Worse still, what if someone, namely Laird Johnson, had now discovered where Lana was?
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
“How is our little soldier this morning?” Skylar said as she entered Kendrick’s room the following day.
Ogilvie gave her a broad smile, clearly pleased to see her. “Will I go home now?”
“That depends,” Skylar said, lightly teasing him. “We’ll have tae ask the man in charge.” She looked over at Kendrick who smiled at them both.
“I do believe the little boy is as well as he is going tae be. That means ye can go home tae yer mammy, Ogilvie.”
Once more, his face lit up, and Skylar was happy in his delight. “I’m sure she’ll be as pleased tae see ye as ye are tae get tae her,” she said, and turning to Kendrick, she continued. “Will he need tae take any medicines with him? I can pack some in a small bag.”
“I dinnae think that will be necessary, my lady,” the healer replied. “He is as well as he is ever going tae be. I have nae doubt he’ll grow up intae a strong young man. Only for yer finding him, he likely would nae have seen another day.”
“Oh, Kendrick, will ye stop going on about me finding him? Fate had a plan; I was just a small part that played in it.”
“And what o’ yer plan, my lady?” Kendrick asked. His gaze told her he knew more than he was saying, but then, Skylar had already deduced that the old man was more than astute. That being said, one likely did not have to be too astute when yesterday she had dragged Maxwell from the room by his wrist.
“I dinnae ken, Kendrick,” she sighed heavily. “Perhaps fate is trying tae teach me something I need tae ken. I only wish I kent what it was.”
“Sometimes, it is nae fate at all, my lady. Sometimes, it is simply poor behavior burdened ontae another who doesnae deserve such treatment,” he replied with a firm look.
While Skylar would have liked very much that they continue this discussion, her glance moved over to Ogilvie. He was watching her closely and clearly waiting patiently for her to tell him they were to go soon. Perhaps, when she had returned him to his mother, she and Kendrick could talk some more. But for now, it was hardly fair to keep him from his home a moment longer than necessary.
After finding Caelan in the castle corridors, Skylar arranged for a few guards to accompany her in taking the child home.
“Are ye sure this is a good plan, my lady?” The advisor looked a little concerned. “It hasnae been long since we were attacked. Johnson’s men may well still be out there.”
“I’m certain everything will be fine, Caelan. Dinnae worry about me. Besides, I’ll have the guards with me. By Ogilvie’s instructions, his home is only over the glen. We’ll be back before evening.”
“I’m still nae happy about ye going out alone. Perhaps I ought tae tell Maxwell, and he can go with ye.”
“Maxwell kens I’m going,” Skylar said hurriedly. It was an utter lie, but she did not care. She needed some escape from this castle and from Maxwell and his ignorant behavior. She certainly did not need herhusbandinterfering where he was not wanted. Perhaps a part of her also desired to treat him as he had treated her, keeping him in the dark and relaying nothing of what she was doing.
Caelan did not look convinced, but Skylar quickly changed the subject. “Tell the guards tae meet me in the courtyard. And I will need a horse.”
After a second’s hesitation, the man nodded. “Aye, my lady.”
With the young boy in front of her on the horse, Skylar and the four guards made their way out of the castle. Before their departure, she had explained what the boy had described, and one of the guards, Jacob, had affirmed he knew where Ogilvie meant.
“I ken that river, my lady,” Jacob said with a nod. “I can lead ye there.”
“Very good.”
It felt good to be out in the open, and though perhaps a part of her ought to be worried about Johnson and his men, she had determined that they had attacked only a few days ago. It would be more likely they were nowhere in the vicinity but instead were back in their own camp, wherever that might be, planning what they were going to do next.
Ogilvie appeared to enjoy the outdoors as much as her and pointed to things on their journey—trees, birds, butterflies, flowers, anything they passed that caught his interest. He knew the names of some of the things, which impressed Skylar somewhat, especially for a boy of his age. She had not thought anything negative about his home life, for clearly, his mother had been in search of help when he had been lost, but the fact that he was intelligent enough to tell her the names of the flowers and a few birds indicated that he came from a home that cared about the education of their children. It was a good sign.
It was about an hour later when Jacob, who had been leading the group, slowed down to match the pace of Skylar’s horse and, for a small moment, rode beside her.
“The house is just over the brow o’ that hill, my lady,” Jacob said, pointing to a spot ahead of them. “We will be there very shortly.”
