Page 12 of The Highlander's Captured Bride
Ethan pulled away and gently led her back to the horses. “I ken we should get back. If our faithers are out, and ye decide on what to do, just call on me, I’ll help.”
Helping her back onto the saddle, he made sure she was settled and then went to his. It was dark, so they took the trail slowly back to the castle grounds and circled the courtyard where the feasting was taking place. They entered the stables and Ethan used the light from the bonfire to unsaddle the horses, brush them down, and get them settled inside the stalls.
Riding back to the castle, he debated with himself. He knew that they were out for a while and he wanted to have more time with her, but he imagined she had to be tired and wanting food. “Ye must be hungry. D’ye want me to send ye something from the kitchens to yer room?”
“Or…” Violet’s tone was hopeful, “I’m nay tired, what if we go to the kitchens and eat together?”
His chest warmed with relief. “We can dae that.”
He rested his hand on her shoulder as they made their way to the castle, and then through the empty corridors to the kitchens. A few servants were there, and Ethan ordered one to get them what was left of the feast. Seated, he mused over her word about finding the woman who had lured his brother out from the protection of his fellow soldiers.
Two bowls of soup were placed before them with platters of roasted goat meat and rolls of brown bread. He thanked the servant-girl then started with the soup. “There are a few places this tavern-woman could have run to. Between here and Clan Hofte, there are a few farms and dotted settlements that she could have come from.”
“We’ll begin the search tomorrow.” Violet sipped the warm brew. “What I need from ye is to get a vivid description of the woman, whom they saw, and then meet me at the stables.”
“And ye?” he asked. “How are ye going to be sure that yer faither will dismiss ye?”
“Even if he doesnae, I only have to say that ye offered to take me on another ride to show me around. I guarantee ye he’ll give me his blessing.” Violet grinned. “If we find the woman, we’ll be that much closer to find the killer. Me faither hasnae told me if they have found who had supplied the sleeping draught, but they can take care of that. Our business is to find her.”
Finished with the soup, he moved on to the roasted mutton, and then asked, “And how will ye pull this off?”
Violet’s grin was sly, and he felt his stomach stir at the sight, “Ye’ll just have to wait and see.”
The intrigue from her cryptic statement had a thread of excitement running through him. The jolt of emotion—something other than the crippling grief he had been feeling for days now— was so welcome to his spirit. It felt as if a well had sprung up in a barren land and was watering dry cracked ground.
“I…” he smiled while sopping up gravy with his bread. “I ken things arenae going to be normal with ye here, innit?”
“Would ye complain?” she teased.
Smiling widely in happiness—an emotion that he hadn’t felt in days, Ethan said, “We’ll see… on the morrow.”
* * *
After a quick run to the soldiers’ quarters, Ethan had earned exactly what Violet had asked him to get, a vivid description of the woman who had lured Finley out. Someone remembered seeing a faded scar and blue eyes. He knew Violet would be happy to know these things when they set out.
It was just after dawn and the weak sun was still trying to pierce through the mist lingering over the treetops and hovering over the grass. Clad in plain trews and a linen shirt, he hurried to the stables to meet Violet and begin their mission. The door to the stables was half-cocked, so thinking Violet already be inside, he tugged it open and went in.
He heard a noise from a stall and assumed a stable boy was there, so he called out, “Who’s here?”
A slender form clad in slim-fitting breeches, a baggy brown shirt, and a short wig hiding dark hair stumbled into his view. Ethan gave her the once over and his jaw dropped. Violet in a dress was lovely, but clad in a lad’s clothes?— he felt stunned. She moved with confidence in boy’s clothes, and her grin was unrepentant. She spread her arms and sported a huge grin while she spun on her heel. “Surprised?”
“Utterly flabbergasted,” he uttered while shaking his head, “But in a good way.” He went to a row of shelves and took down a saddle. “Where did ye get all this?”
“I carried it with me,” she explained. “Once or thrice, I’ve taken it upon meself to help faither by using this disguise. I had carried it on the off chance that I’d need it.”
Does her free spirit have nay bounds?
“I got good news, Violet. One of the soldiers remembered the woman had a scar on her forehead and really strange pale blue eyes. I ken we can use those in our search,” he remarked while resting the saddle on the ground.
“That’s wonderful,” she called over the stalls while he took down another.
With both saddles on the floor, he went to get the horses, “So what did yer faither say when ye told him I offered to take ye on a ride?”
“Only to keep watch and carry Shadow,” she giggled. “He said he’s sure ye will protect me in the odd case that we do find trouble, but just to be sure, go for the jugular.”
“The jugular, eh?” He saddled the first mount, his.
“Or the eye or the shin…” she replied while coming into view. “The point is to make sure I live or hamper me attacker enough so I can run away.”
