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“I’M GLAD YE suggested this, Greer … I’ve always wanted to learn how to ride but was embarrassed to ask Kerr to teach me.”

Greer, who’d been lost in her thoughts, glanced sideways, at where Rose rode alongside her on Crabapple. Her brow then furrowed. “Why would ye be embarrassed about such a thing?”

Rose sighed. Her gaze then shifted up ahead to where Bonnie and Davina rode upon their garrons.

The two women were deep in conversation, leading the way along the coastal path.

Gulls screeched overhead, and waves foamed against the shingle shore as the four women—with a knot of warriors, led by Captain Errol, on horseback bringing up the rear—journeyed north.

“Ye would travel far to meet a man as considerate as Kerr Mackay,” Rose replied softly. “Yet there are some things he takes for granted.” Her mouth curved then. “He likely learned to ride a pony before he could walk.”

Greer nodded. Indeed, it was so amongst the high-born. Both her brothers had learned early.

“He’s busy too,” Rose went on. “And I’m not a lass who likes to make a fuss.” Her smile turned rueful. “They breed us tough out here on the Kintyre peninsula.”

Their gazes held for a moment. Curiosity wreathed up within Greer then, and she momentarily forgot about the hurt she’d been nursing all morning—ever since Brodie’s insult.

Spoiled as ye are.

He likely saw her as the opposite of Rose: a lass who knew what hard work was. Instead, he viewed Greer as pampered, cossetted—and indulged.

Nonetheless, she put her bruised feelings aside now. There was much to learn about Rose Mackay, and Greer was always at her happiest when focusing on others. “Bonnie told me a little of what happened in the spring,” she admitted after a pause. “Ye have been through much.”

Rose grimaced. “Aye … but it’s over with now.”

“All the same … it must be hard to trust folk again.”

Rose’s green eyes shadowed. “Aye,” she admitted softly. “After seeing the worst in people … it’s easy to believe others are sharpening their knives behind yer back … or hiding resentment behind a smile.”

“Ye worry yer new family don’t accept ye?”

“It’s not that,” Rose sighed. “I just lack confidence around them … I’m not sure I really fit in.”

Greer snorted. “Of course, ye do … don’t listen to yer mother-by-marriage either. Sheena’s only trying to rile ye.”

Rose’s full lips tugged into a smile. “Don’t worry about me and Sheena,” she assured her.

“I know how to handle the battle-axe.” She shrugged then.

“Like I said, I was brought up to be resilient. After my Ma died, it was up to me to keep my family going … especially when my father and brothers took to cattle thieving rather than earning an honest living.”

Greer nodded, fascinated. Back in Druminnor, she’d never have had any contact with the likes of Rose.

Her perspective was limited indeed. Rose had said she worried the Mackays would find her ignorant—yet Greer couldn’t help but think she , a pampered clan-chief’s daughter, was the one in need of having her horizons expanded.

“I heard yer family discovered a hidden glen,” Greer said after a brief pause. “Is it far from here?”

Rose shook her head. “Half a day’s ride … no more. The glen is nestled amongst the Drum Crags. Da called it ‘The Lost Valley’ … it’s where he used to hide the livestock he and the lads stole.”

“And it's where the Black Douglas outlaws were hiding too?”

Rose snorted a laugh. “I see Bonnie has been busy updating ye on recent events.”

Greer’s cheeks warmed. She hoped Rose didn’t think they’d been gossiping at her expense.

However, Rose didn’t appear offended. Her gaze was level, frank.

“Aye, the outlaws eluded the Mackays for a long while … and terrorized travelers and locals alike. But after Kerr and his men were attacked,” —Rose’s green eyes guttered then, caught up by painful memories— “Iver requested help from the king. Even with their help though, they wouldn’t have found them. ”

“Not without yer assistance,” Greer added with a grin. Indeed, Bonnie had filled her in on quite a few details.

Rose smiled, a trifle shyly this time. “I might have had something to do with it.” She gestured to the hills that rolled out to the west. “And now that they’re gone … it’s safe for us to travel the roads beyond Dun Ugadale once more.”

Dismounting from her palfrey, Greer pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and admired the view across the water. The wind had whipped the Kilbrannan Sound up, although the sky was clear enough, affording her a view of the Isle of Arran in the distance.

They’d traveled quite a distance north on the edge of the wild coastline, framed by hills carpeted in wildflowers. The heather was close to coming into bloom too, and when it did, the hills would be bright purple.

It was a lovely scene, and Greer was glad they’d taken this ride. However, as she listened to her companions chattering behind her, while they unpacked food and blankets to sit upon, a shadow fell across Greer once more.

It was unlike her to feel down—but despite that she’d spent most of the morning conversing with Rose, the incident at dawn still weighed upon her. And the moment she was alone with her own thoughts, her breathing grew shallow, an ache rising under her breastbone.

The truth was, just the sight of Brodie Mackay filled her with dizzying excitement. In the two days since her arrival, he’d taken up far too much space in her head.

But this morning, she’d learned how he really saw her. It was sobering indeed.

Tears stung her eyes then, and she blinked them back.

“Is something amiss, Greer?”

Bonnie was suddenly standing in front of her, her sea-blue eyes narrowed in concern.

“Nothing,” Greer replied brightly. “The wind’s made my eyes water, that’s all.”

“Well, let’s find a sheltered spot then,” Bonnie replied. Turning, she gestured to Davina. “Shall we sit down in the lee of the hill rather than on the shore?”

“Good idea.” Davina flashed her a smile. She carried a blanket rolled up under one arm, a leather bag of food in the other. Likewise, Rose was similarly burdened. “I don’t want the gulls stealing our food anyway. They get bold by the water’s edge.”

Leaving their mounts with Captain Errol and his men, the women moved over to where a swathe of bracken carpeted the hill and spread out blankets beneath it. They then settled onto the ground and started on a simple yet delicious meal of fresh oaten bread, hard cheese, boiled eggs, and cold sausage.

Seated there, with the sun warming her face, eating her fill, Greer started to feel a little better.

In truth, her fascination with Dun Ugadale’s blacksmith had been quickly turning into something of an infatuation—and since Greer had never reacted to anyone as she had to him, she’d risked making a fool of herself over him.

That wouldn’t happen now.

From today onward, she’d keep a safe distance from Brodie.

It was too bad she’d asked him to make her a dirk though—for she did want one.

He’ll forget about it soon enough , she told herself, even as disappointment arrowed through her.

“There ye go, looking all pensive again,” Bonnie’s voice drew Greer out of her reverie. She glanced up to find her friend observing her. “There is something wrong, isn’t there?”

Greer stiffened. Unfortunately, Bonnie’s words had caught Rose and Davina’s attention too. All three of them were now watching her with furrowed brows.

Heaving a sigh, she favored them with a reassuring smile.

“Don’t mind me,” she murmured. It was best she didn’t confide in the other women, for as much as she trusted Bonnie, she wasn’t comfortable admitting that she’d just made a fool of herself over Bonnie’s brother-by-marriage.

She didn’t want her friend, or Rose and Davina, to think she was a goose.

“I was just reflecting on how quickly this summer is going to pass,” she lied.

“I wish I could slow time … that I could stay here with ye all forever.”

Bonnie made a scoffing sound. “Lord, what are ye doing worrying about such things?”

“Aye,” Rose said with a shake of her head. “Ye only just arrived.”

Davina didn’t say anything, although the glint in her grey eyes indicated that she, more than the other two, understood such a sentiment. Greer and Davina were both high-born, after all, and had grown up with heavy parental expectations placed upon them.

Longing made Greer’s breathing grow shallow. Suddenly, her words didn’t feel like a lie, after all. Despite her hurt over Brodie, she still loved Dun Ugadale as much as ever.

She didn’t want to go home.