Page 30 of Forge of the Highlander’s Destiny
T he next morning, they rode as soon as they could, taking food with them.
Arya wanted to rest a little while longer for the sake of her sister, but Cohen was eager to get out and away, back home to the safety of Castle Sinclair.
The snow had only left a small layer on the ground, but he wanted to make sure that they were back at Sinclair Castle before any worse snowstorm appeared.
Not only that, but at least within his own walls he could protect his wife and her sister, and he didn’t like the feeling of open air that surrounded him as he rode.
Laird Muir was a skilled man at getting into people’s heads. Even when the man wasn’t there, Cohen could feel the fear that Laird Muir wanted him to feel. And the mysterious arrow which made his way into his arm did little to dissuade him from that fear.
After a few hours, his castle came into view.
It was a good thing too. They were wrapped in furs and plaids, but everyone had red noses and chilled hands.
“Thank God,” he breathed, reaching out for Arya’s cold hand.
She took it and squeezed it wordlessly. Cohen called to the guards as he approached, waving in recognition, and then asking them to lift the gates.
“Here we are, me love,” he said to Arya. “Everything will be well now, Olivia,” he added, looking to Arya’s sister to comfort her. The girl was young. A handful of years younger than Arya, but he could tell that she didn’t have Arya’s fire or courage. At least not yet.
Guards took the horses away as they jumped down and walked into the castle, and Cohen stretched, feeling achy as he moved. “Wine and a meal, please,” he said to a waiting servant, and the young man nodded and hurried away.
Sara approached the three of them once they were through the gates, and he could hear their groan as they were shut again. Instantly, they were warmer. “Laird, Lady! Och, are ye well?”
Cohen wondered how they must have looked to scare Sara to such a degree. He turned when he saw her eyes wander to Malcolm behind him.
Cohen said, “Aye, we are well, but can ye prepare a room for Lady Sinclair’s sister, Olivia? We will need baths, too of course.” While Olivia and Arya walked to the hall, he whispered. “Send one large one to me room. Me wife will stay with me.”
“Of course,” Sara said with a blush and curtsied.
“It will be done just as ye say.” Smiling, she hurried off, and Cohen followed the ladies into the great hall, and Malcolm took the men below stairs after exchanging a look with Cohen.
They would have to discuss the strange lack of guards at Laird Muir’s castle another time. Right now, they all needed to rest.
Olivia looked around the large room as she walked in, watching with wide-open eyes at their surroundings. “How wonderful,” she said, a smile peeking out on her lips. “So very home like.”
Cohen assured her, “And ye are safe here, Olivia. I promise ye. I will do me utmost to protect ye. We are now family.” He gripped Arya’s waist, glad he had gotten them both home safe and sound.
“Sit, please,” he said. “We can eat and drink until the baths are ready, and then we can retire and rest as much as we like.”
“Thank ye, Laird Sinclair,” Olivia said in a small voice, taking a seat.
“Call me Cohen,” he replied, sitting at the head of the table, grasping Arya’s hand when she sat down. He looked between the two sisters, surprised at just how alike they looked, yet different. Olivia was oozing fear, while Arya still had a quiet confidence about her.
“Cohen.” Olivia repeated his name just as the servants brought wine and hot soup and fresh bread.
Olivia ate heartily as if she hadn’t eaten in a long while, and when he looked at Arya, his heart felt happy at how relieved and contented she looked. “What happens now?” Olivia asked, looking up at him with wide, fearful eyes.
“Ye let us worry about that, Olivia. I daenae ken just yet. Since yer faither seems to be away on business, we may nae hear anythin’ until he returns and finds ye missin’. So, until then, we will prepare our defenses.”
“It is good of ye to dae this. Ye didnae have to,” Olivia replied, looking pale.
“We certainly did,” Arya answered defiantly. “Please, Olivia, daenae worry yerself about it. Ye must focus on restin’ and keepin’ yerself safe. Ye are safe now, away from Faither. Ye daenae have to worry about marryin’ that old laird any longer either.”
Olivia sighed, and she fell silent, continuing to eat. After the meal, Cohen stood. “I think we should all retire to bed. It is early, but we will be ready and strengthened tomorrow for what we will need to face in the future. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Arya stood and helped Olivia to her feet. “I will show Olivia to her chamber.”
“I can dae that,” Sara said from the doorway. “The baths are ready for ye all.” She held her arms out, and Olivia walked toward Sara, looking back at Arya and Cohen.
“Thank ye both. Ye have saved me, and I daenae ken how I will ever thank ye.”
“Nay need, dear sister,” Arya said, leaning against Cohen again. “Enjoy yer bath and yer rest. Ye are safe.”
Olivia smiled and then took Sara’s arm to leave the hall. “Shall we go, me love?” Cohen asked. “I am eager for a bath. How about ye?”
Arya smiled as he led her out of the hall and up the stairs, pausing in front of his chamber to open the door. Arya laughed. “I thought that Sara would put a bath in me own room.”
Cohen shook his head. “Dear Sara does love a bit of romance. I requested that she put the larger bath in me room so that we may both enjoy it together.”
Arya rolled her eye, but Cohen could see a smile on her face as she let him pull her inside of his chamber.
Even though she was tired, she loved the feel of Cohen’s fingers on her as he helped her out of her clothes.
Cohen was right, and Sara had put the large bath into Cohen’s chamber, wide enough to fit them both.
Two wedges of soap were left at the side of the bath.
And a low fire was burning in the hearth.
It was warm and perfect, and she was glad they had rushed away from the inn that morning.
She hadn’t realized until they returned home just how much the cold was beginning to seep into her bones.
He pulled her out of her skirts and bodice and stays, and he leaned down to lift her out of her shift until she was naked. He pulled her back against him, and his hands trailed across her front, reaching up to grasp her breasts and roll them under his palms.
She leaned her head back against his shoulder, her body coming alive at the feel of his hands on her. “I am so tired that I thought I would fall asleep when we ate, and yet when ye touch me, I come alive again.”
“Good,” he breathed against her neck, pulling her earlobe with his teeth, still moving his hands and kneading her breasts, brushing a thumb across her nipples. “That will come in handy over the years, dear wife. I’ll remember that when ye are next angry with me.”
She laughed. “I suppose I’ll accept that. But now, let’s get into the bath.”