Page 12 of Heart of the Highlands: The Rose (Protectors of the Crown #6)
The morning sun bathed the rolling hills in a soft golden light as Abby and Aiden rode along the narrow path leading away from Mackenzie's land and back toward Inverness. The wind had picked up slightly, rustling the trees and carrying the fresh scent of the nearby loch.
Aiden could still feel the sting of his bruised ribs as the horse trotted along, but he felt comfort as Abby squeezed her arms tightly around his midsection and snuggled behind him, stealing his warmth. He’d grown quite fond of his travel companion in the past few days. Though he’d only known little of her, from what he did know, he was enthralled. Her bravery and courage were unwavering. There was something so quietly noble about her. And the moments they’ve shared, they’ve bonded quite quickly. He couldn’t deny the pull he felt toward her from the moment they met. Either way, meeting her has changed everything.
They rode across a web of rivers and streams, forests and open fields for over an hour until a slight tug on his shirt sleeve got his attention.
“Did ye mind if we rest for a bit?” she asked. “I need some privacy.”
Aiden reined in his horse, guiding the animal toward the edge of the train, where a small stream trickled over smooth stones. After hours of riding, his body started feeling the toll of his injuries and the rugged terrain. His thigh muscles ached from squeezing them tightly around the horse’s large midsection, and his rump felt numb. He could only imagine that she felt the same.
Abby dismounted without assistance, but Aiden made slow, deliberate movements as he slid down the saddle, and pain shot down his shoulder to his ribs. He led the horse down to the water as Abby began walking further ahead to find some privacy to relieve herself. He wanted to tell her not to wander too far, still worried about the men who had come after him. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her.
Aiden had found a spot on a large boulder to sit and stretch his legs while he waited. A moment later, Abby emerged from the trees. She met his gaze.
“How are ye fairin’? Are yer ribs and shoulder well enough to continue?” she asked with a wry, almost sheepish smile.
As much as he longed to linger in this moment, to savor the soft sound of her laughter and the sparkle in her eyes, the urgency of returning to Inverness remained paramount. He did, however, find that he enjoyed her companionship.
“I will be fine,” he answered. “We must make it to Inverness to alert the council what had happened, but yer safety is my priority. I will make sure ye arrive home safe and sound. Ye must have family worried about ye, or someone close to ye that…,” he did not want to say the words for fear that there was someone waiting for her for whom she had given her heart.
“My sister,” she said, correcting him. “There is no other.”
A sense of relief washed over him like heavy rain until a whisper of guilt flooded in. He hadn’t had a second thought about Bella since his capture. Even in his most desperate moments, she had not crossed his mind.
“What of ye?” she asked.
Aiden’s throat went dry, and he felt a knot form in his stomach as he grappled with how to answer. The truth was that he was set to marry in less than three days. But as the realization hit him, he felt the discomfort grow. The thought of returning to his betrothed and honoring his promise before he met Abby now seemed foreign. He did not feel a connection with Bella like he felt toward Abby; he was unsure he wanted that connection to break.
“I have…responsibilities,” he said instead, his words clipped, as they were the only ones he could allow to slip past his lips. “Family obligations.”
As they returned to the horse, his mind felt heavy with unspoken thoughts. Once she settled in, he mounted in front of her and turned slightly to offer a reassuring smile. She wrapped her arms around him for a steady hold. The horse stamped the ground, ready to move.
The journey to Inverness stretched before them, the final leg of their long ride. The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving a veil of darkness across the landscape. The path they had been traveling had become smoother, the terrain more forgiving as they approached the outskirts of the town. The horse trotted steadily, its hooves making soft sounds against the earth. Though cooler than it had been earlier, the air carried with it a faint sense of anticipation of something coming to an inevitable end.
“No’ much farther now,” he said as the light in the distant town flickered in the distance.
“There will be so much to tell when we return,” she said. “But we will tell them together. A tale is but half told when only one person tells it,” she said to him, words he had heard before.
Aiden’s hands fell away from the reins as a jolt of realization coursed through him, striking with the force of a lightning bolt. At that moment, everything came to light. It was Abby who had been the woman in the garden that fateful night. Memories flooded back—her laughter, the way the moonlight danced in her hair, the undeniable connection that sparked between them. How many times had fate orchestrated their paths to cross, weaving their lives together in a tapestry of chance encounters? The thought left him breathless as he pondered the significance of their intertwined destinies.
He had to tell her. For once they walk through the gates of Inverness, he may never have this chance again. He wasn’t sure how he’d tell her or how she would react. But he had to trust his heart and accept whatever the outcome may be. As they reached the outskirts of the town, he slowed the horse to a halt.
“Abby, there is something I must tell ye. I…”
“Aiden!” a voice echoed loudly, stopping him in mid-sentence. Aiden turned toward the caller to see his cousin Trey riding from the gates toward him, relief in his eyes. Three other men on horseback followed shortly behind.
“My God, mon! Where have ye been? We’ve had men out searching for ye the past two days. We thought ye were dead,” Trey said, with relief. “Laird Rose is alive,” he shouted cheerfully to a group of men off in the distance.
“As ye can see, I am fine, cousin,” he assured him. “But I need to speak to the Highland Council at once. We are in grave danger, but first, I must see that Lady Sinclair returns home safely.”
“Abby, thank the saints,” Leland said as he rode up alongside them and dismounted. Abby leaped down from the saddle and wrapped her arms around him. “If ye had any idea the hell yer sister has gone through.”
“I know. I am sorry but I can explain.”
“”Tis no’ her fault, my laird,” Aiden explained as he climbed down from the saddle. “The truth is, Abigail saved my life. I would no’ be here if it wasn’t for her. Let us go inside, I will explain everything,” Aiden suggested. Turning to Abby, he spoke is hushed tones. “Go inside and wait for me. I will talk to the council and then come find ye. I promise.”
“Then I shall wait.”
Every seat at the table in the great hall was filled with a member of the Highland Council and neighboring chiefs. Everyone except Laird Munro, which in Aiden’s case was a relief and quite peculiar. It would allow him to speak freely against the man without prosecution or protest. His absence made him all the more guilty in his mind.
Ian MacKay sat at the head of the table to facilitate the meeting and moderate the discussion. Before the meeting, Aiden had given him a few details of what had transpired, but Ian wanted a public record of the allegations against Munro. He had arranged the last-minute meeting, urging the councilmen to attend.
When everyone was settled in their chair, Ian raised his hand to quiet the crowd. He gave Aiden a nod to plead his case. Aiden took a breath, feeling the weight of his words before releasing them.
“Laird Munro has committed a grave felony: he has engaged in kidnapping and has made an attempt on my life.”
A shocked silence swept across the room. For a long moment, no one spoke.
“Yer certain?” one of the members asked.
“I am fairly certain it was him. Two men were hired to capture me. It just happened to be the same night Laird Munro threatened me in front of witnesses. Due to an old debt, my grandfather had with him, Laird Munro believes he had the right to two hundred acres of my land. I refused to give it to him without any proof of this claim. If it weren’t for…other circumstances, I may no’ be standing here now.”
“These are dangerous allegations, Laird McKiernan. Ye are new to this council and yer station. I have known Laird Munro for twenty years, some of us, more than that. I know Munro can be an unreasonable man, but what ye are suggesting is out of character,” elder councilmen stated.
Aiden clenched his fists, his frustration rising as he explained that he was on his way to retrieve the documents when he was attacked.
“If the loan was in default, Munro could take everything. However, I have documentation that the loan is paid in full. The deed and the land, by all rights, belong to Clan Rose.”
“If you can present this deed, it will clearly indicate that Munro has no legal standing. In the meantime, we will work to apply pressure on Munro in order to avoid any conflict between the clans. As for the recent attempt on your life, we will address that matter separately.”
Aiden nodded, then turned toward the door. He would leave immediately, but there was something he needed to do first.