Page 6 of A Highland Bride Disciplined
Scarlett turned toward her, more gently now. “What’s yer name, lass?”
“Nieve,” she said after a beat. “Nieve O’Brien.”
Kian nodded to Tam, who started hauling the bodies off the road. “Where were ye headin’, Nieve?”
She glanced between them, hugging herself. “South. I daenae have coin, but I thought if I could make it as far as Dunmore, I might find passage.”
Scarlett hesitated. “Do ye need shelter? We could take ye as far as?—”
But Nieve shook her head fast. “Nay. I cannae… I need to disappear.”
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed at the way her hand drifted protectively to her middle.
Just a slight movement.
Barely noticeable.
But it twisted something in Scarlett’s chest.
Kian had already moved toward the carriage. Without a word, he opened a pouch and pulled free a small bundle. He pressed it into Nieve’s hand.
“Get somewhere safe,” he said.
The woman’s eyes filled. “I daenae ken how to thank ye.”
“Live,” Kian replied.
Scarlett watched her go until the curve of the hills swallowed her up. When she turned back, Kian was already mounting his horse again, like it was nothing.
Like none of it mattered.
She climbed back into the carriage in silence.
They rode again.
Only when the quiet stretched too long, she said, “Ye dinnae have to give her coin.”
“Oh, nay?” he eyed her knowingly.
“Nay…”
“She wouldnae have made it otherwise.”
Scarlett eyed him. “Ye say little, but ye’re full o’ surprises, Laird Crawford.”
He didn’t look at her, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
“Daenae get used to it.”
She laughed, despite herself.
And then, just when the warmth might’ve crept in, he ruined it.
“I’ll see ye safe at the keep. But ye’ll need to learn how to obey, Scarlett.”
Her heart clenched. “And if I daenaeobey?”
He finally turned his gaze on her again. Brown and bottomless.
