Excerpt copyright @ 2019 Kara Griffin
Kerrigan was fascinated. “Why must you flee? Oh, I
understand, you cannot be found. If someone recognized you, you would be
pursued. Is that right?”
“Aye, that is correct.”
“I’m curious of what you run from.” She placed her hand
against his neck, and caressed the heat of his skin, and the slickness of the
cover-up.
Graeme pulled her against him. He tilted her face back. “If
I told you, lass, I’d have to kill you.”
She smiled even though his words should have frightened her.
“As curious as I am, I believe I can forget this conversation ever happened.”
He grinned and kept his eyes fixed on hers. She leaned
upward and set a gentle kiss on his lips, but didn’t want a gentle kiss and
hoped he would take her hint. She wanted all of him, without restrictions,
without consequences. With him close, she wouldn’t lose the opportunity to kiss
him as she wanted. She pulled him closer and held his face to better position
herself. Using her mouth, she swarmed him with a hot-blooded kiss, one which surely
let him know of her desire.
When he pulled back, he frowned. “I’m the one in danger here
because I cannot resist the desire to kiss you for the rest of the night. My
honor disallows me to do so. But I hope that kiss was unforgettable.”
“Everything about you is unforgettable.”
Graeme rose and helped her to stand. “We should get rest.
Morn will be here soon and the others will rise.”
Kerrigan hid her disappointment and followed him inside.
She noticed his comrades washed and set their bedrolls and settled to sleep.
Graeme set about washing. He said nothing more. With a dampened cloth, she
wiped her face and hands, and sighed at the thought she washed away their kiss.
This night, she wouldn’t get any sleep, not with all her worries, and because
of the kiss they shared.
She often slept like the dead. No one rousted her early, at
least before the sun rose. It was a habit she’d had since she was wee. She
opened an eye and spied the chamber and heard the noise of the occupants. Annag
banged a pot she set upon the fire. Finley sharpened the spear he used for
fishing. The French woman nursed the bairn and hummed softly. Gruff tones of
Graeme and his men sounded from across the large chamber.
It was then she noticed the fire pit in the center of the
room. Stones encircled it and smoke drifted to the high peak of the cave’s
roof. There was a small amount of light where a hole allowed the smoke to
filter through. From her vantage point the cave felt as vast as the great halls
of Edinburgh and Stirling.
She didn’t want to awaken and closed her eyes. Kerrigan was
content to listen to the surrounding sounds. The noise drifted and quieted.
Someone touched her shoulder.
“Lass, are you awake?”
She recognized Graeme’s voice. “Hmm. I’m trying to wake.”
“It’s time to open your eyes.” Graeme chuckled and shook her
shoulder. “Are you that tired? The day is half gone.”
“Nay,” she said grumpily and sat up. “I’m awake. What is
it?”
“I must go.”
Kerrigan rubbed her eyes and noticed all vacated the main
chamber. The prior days exhausted her. She’d gotten little sleep the night
before, amongst her worries and what with the bairn’s cries, and listening for
the men’s return. Early in the morn she rousted with the men’s training. They
weren’t quiet and the clang of their swords and their shouts intrigued her
enough to get her out of bed. It was worse than lying in the same chamber as a
snoring man. And the remembrance of their kiss kept her from falling back to
sleep.
“Be off with you then,” she grumbled. She bunched the covers
she slept on and rose. When she reached the table, she turned and bumped into
Graeme who stood directly behind her. “I thought you were leaving?”
“Aye, I am, but I wanted to tell you I have someone
searching for news of Andrew Moray. We should learn something soon.”
“I am pleased. Thank you, Graeme. Where are you off to?” She
rubbed the sleep from her eyes and tried to clear her mind from the drowsy fog.
“I travel today and won’t be back for a few days, mayhap
three. Will you be well?” He moved closer.
Kerrigan didn’t understand her reaction to him. She’d never
been attracted to a man before and found none of them appealing. But Graeme charmed
her. His face exuded strength with his lightly whiskered jaw, his neck thicker
than most men, and his shoulders wide, and set with pride. His hands and
forearms thick and strong. He could crush her with his bare hands. But Graeme
carried himself with honor and reverence.
She daren’t gaze lower to his midsection, certain she’d
blush as crimson as the flowers that grew by the village gate. He made her
anxious. Yet she wanted to smile because he was near. It made no sense to her,
the strange and aloof response.
“Kerrigan?”
“Oh aye, I shall be fine. I will go to the village later to
locate the mother of the bairn.”
He took her arm and held her. “You shouldn’t go to the
village. It might be dangerous. I bid you to stay here. When I return, I’ll
take you.”
“The English haven’t come, and whilst I have time, I should
look. The mother might flee with all the others. Nay, I must go. I promise not
to linger.”
“You will do as you are wont, so I won’t stop you. If you
need help or need us, send word to Friar Hemm. He can reach me.”
“I shall be well. Worry not.”
He dawdled and didn’t have a care to leave. Kerrigan
pretended to gather foodstuff to eat. She took a quick bite of a sliced apple.
He continued to hold her arm, but she didn’t pull away. Content to be near him,
she waited for him to say something.
“What news about the war? Has anyone heard from Laird
Bruce?”
Graeme released her and stepped back. “Aye, he’s returned
from exile and was crowned. Robert the Bruce is now king of Scotland. He’s
taking arms against his enemies.”
“I’m uncertain if that’s good news, is it?” She finished the
apple slice and took another.
“It may be good. He aims to war against the MacDoughalls
this summer because they allied with the Comyn clan.”
Kerrigan jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. She
grew excited at the news and didn’t realize how forward she’d been. Her cheeks
heated when she felt her breasts firmly against his chest, and slowly she
released him. “I apologize, it’s just this news… I have hoped, prayed, the
MacDoughalls would pay.”
“What of the MacDoughall’s? What do you know of them? I
thought you were of Morays?”
She didn’t deem the information secret and it wouldn’t have
bearing on her safety. “I was taken in by Laird Moray and made his ward after
our home was attacked by the MacDoughalls. I’m of the Campbell clan. They
killed my clansmen, likely my mother, and chased us from our lands in the
battle of the Red Ford.”
Graeme firmed his lips. “Our king is determined they pay for
siding with the Comyns. The Bruce will stop at nothing to defeat them.”
“If they are conquered, will I be able to return home?”
Kerrigan only hoped it was so. How she longed to return to the place where
she’d had happiness. So long she awaited joyous news.
“I’m sorry, lass, but it’s unlikely. The Campbells scattered
to the north. The king aims to meet them and ask for their support. Once we
find the wee lord, you’ll go with him to our king.”
“Why would I go with the wee lord?” Kerrigan bit her lower
lip and considered what that meant. She wasn’t sure she wanted to meet the
king. If she did so, she’d leave Graeme, her friends, and put herself in more
danger. Not only that, but she’d have to accept the betrothal the Bruce would
surely mention. She wouldn’t voice her concern about it to Graeme until she
gave it more thought. Taking another apple slice, she popped it into her mouth.
“The Bruce will see to Moray’s safety and yours.”
“Perhaps. Still, I’m pleased to the MacDoughalls will pay. I
hope the king thwarts them. They deserve nothing less.”
“Brodin won’t be pleased you’re from the Campbells. His
clan, the Grants, are sworn enemies of your clan. At least the Campbells and
the Grants allied with the Bruce. Robert will protect you.”
“I wasn’t aware of the hostility between our clans. I don’t
want Brodin to be angry with me. Will you tell him so?”
“I shall. Worry not. Do you know what I’ve been thinking?”
Her heart raced and her breath quickened at the sultry tone
of his voice. She hastily swallowed the apple before answering, “Nay.”
“About our kiss, lass. Aye, it was over too quick for my
liking.” He lowered his mouth and touched his lips to hers.
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