Page 3 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER THREE

E dward smiled to himself as he continued to ride beside the carriage. She was a stubborn one, that was for sure. But he had every intention of breaking her down. Evelyn would relent sooner or later. He would make certain of it.

They were going to be man and wife. The idea of spending his life with a lass who could barely look at him, never mind hold a conversation, did not appeal to him at all. They had both been thrown into this circumstance against their will, but one of them had to make an effort. If it took him a year, he would break down the wall she had so carefully built between them. Even if he had to do it brick by brick.

“What does me future wife enjoy doing in her spare time?” Edward ventured.

Silence met his question, but he didn’t give up.

“Let me guess? Evelyn Campbell enjoys walking in the rain, dancing on tables, and throwing axes at annoying suitors.”

He was certain he heard a small titter escape from the carriage, and feeling emboldened by that response, he continued.

“The lady o’ the Campbell Clan also secretly likes tae read banned books?—”

“I dinnae!” she barked.

Craig was now riding at Edward’s left. At hearing Evelyn’s reply, the man struggled not to burst into laughter. Edward, fearing his companion being entertained by her remark might shut her down completely, beamed a smile at Craig, while at the same time, lifting a finger to his lips in an attempt to convey he remain quiet.

“Yer protest sounds loaded with guilt, Evelyn,” Edward goaded. “Dinnae worry. There is nae judgement here. In fact, perhaps when we reach the castle, ye can read them tae me.”

The curtain flung back, and her glaring eyes bored into his. “Let me be,” she spat, before yanking the curtain back in place.

Craig hitched his eyebrows and looked amused.

“Maybe that was a stretch too far, me friend,” he said quietly.

Edward slowed his horse so the distance grew between himself and the carriage. Craig met his pace.

When he was certain they could not be heard, Edward said, “The point is tae get a reaction. One o’ us has tae mak’ the effort.”

“I agree.” Craig nodded. “But perhaps ye’re cutting it a little close tae the bone.”

Edward shrugged. “I fear that is what it’s going tae tak’. But dinnae worry. I ken what I’m daeing.”

“Dae ye?” Craig half smirked.

Edward inclined his head and grinned. “Most o’ the time.”

Craig laughed, shaking his head in mock despair.

The day continued, the party stopping on a few occasions to rest the horses, and to eat at small villages along the way. The sun lowered as the hours passed, and eventually, coming across a larger village, Edward instructed everyone that they would spend the night.

Stepping into The Swan , the only tavern in the village, Edward inquired about rooms.

“I have four available, sir,” the inn-keeper replied.

Edward smiled. “Then we will tak’ them all.”

The soldiers were instructed to camp outside the village, while Edward handed out keys to Craig, Evelyn’s driver, and finally, Evelyn.

“Fer ye and yer maid,” he said, pressing the wooden fob into her hand.

She eyed the key before looking back at him. He could nearly read her thoughts.

“Dinnae worry, Evelyn. I have a room o’ me own.” He then smirked. “Fer now.”

Her eyes flew wide, but Edward did not react. Instead, he turned to the inn-keeper and arranged food for the entire party.

The following morning, they commenced their journey. Once more, Edward rode beside the carriage, determined to try and break some ground with his soon-to-be wife.

“What is yer favorite food, Evelyn?” he asked.

“Am I going tae have tae suffer another day o’ yer constant questions?” she sighed.

The curtains were, once more, open, and Edward took the opportunity to smile in at her. “I’m only trying tae pass the time,” he replied.

“Perhaps ye can dae so by daeing something other than pestering me,” she countered.

Caitlin, her maid, gave Edward a sympathetic look. Whether she understood what he was trying to do, he did not know. Clearly, however, she felt pained at her mistress’s lack of interaction.

Edward nodded. “Very well.”

Visible relief washed over Evelyn’s face at his reply, and yet, he did not leave her side.

“But first,” he began, listening to her heave a sigh of frustration. “I have a question.”

“Really? That would be a first,” she smiled sarcastically.

He smirked at her. “I dae love yer wit, Evelyn.”

“And yet, I dinnae find ye funny, Edward .” She said his name like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

“So, me question is,” he continued, acting as though she had not just insulted him, “what would ye like as a wedding gift?”

Without a second’s hesitation, she replied, “A new castle tae live in. By mesel’!”

Evelyn then swiftly yanked the curtains closed and once again, put a barrier between them.

Edward was not at all surprised by her actions. He was pushing her on purpose. It was going to take time to get through to her. Nor was he under the illusion that he was going to break any ground on their journey. At the moment, he was taking the opportunity of her being a captive audience. Once in the castle, she would have plenty of places to run and to hide, to avoid him. Not so much now, for they were both bound together on this journey.

Even so, he decided to back off for a while, for fear she might stop talking to him altogether. Instead, he slowed his pace and maneuvered himself next to Craig.

As the two men rode together, Craig beamed a huge grin. “So, I see ye’re making great progress.”

Edward could not help but chuckle lightly. “Ye noticed.”

“Och, aye. I’m blown away by how close ye two are getting,” he continued, his droll sarcasm lacing his tone.

“Good,” Edward said, playing along. “I’m glad someone’s paying attention. This isnae easy work, ye ken.”

Craig laughed then and shook his head. “I dinnae ken ye very well, Edward, but I think I have deduced that ye are quite mad.”

“Better mad than boring,” Edward quipped back.

“Aye, well. There is that. I’ll be entertained on this journey, if naething else. I’m more surprised something hasnae come flying out o’ that carriage and hit ye in the head.”

Edward frowned. “Evelyn doesnae strike me as the violent type.”

“Maybe nae, but if ye carry on the way ye’re are going, she’ll likely strike ye with something.”

The two men burst into laughter, chuckling loudly as the large group continued across the glens. As they rode on, Edward felt a sense of relief that at least he had one person who was pleased he was there. He and Craig had come together under precarious circumstances. As loyal as he was to his clan, he was also the most open of the councilmen. Perhaps that had to do with his age, given he was also the youngest. His youth made him more pliable, enabling him to handle change better than the others. Their friendship had been borne on the unlikeliest of grounds, and yet, Edward had no doubt it would flourish.

Something he could not say for the rest of the clan.

There was hardly going to be a warm welcome when he arrived at Campbell Castle. Particularly given the fact that it was his brother who had struck their laird dead.

In fact, before he had departed, his father had taken him to the side and imparted some words of wisdom.

“Watch yer back, son,” the laird had warned. “Ye willnae be welcome. Nor will they be pleased that a MacGregor will be taking the place o’ their laird.”

“Dinnae worry, Faither. I’ll be wary,” Edward had replied.

“Ye need tae be more than wary,” his father had pressed. “Ye need tae have eyes in the back o’ yer head. As strong as the alliance has been between the two clans, I nae longer trust the Campbells. Nae now. Nae after that attack.”

“Alistair Campbell is dead, Faither,” Edward replied.

Pressing his hand onto Edward’s shoulder, the older man had looked directly into his eyes. “And ye think he made the decision tae attack us on his own?”

Of course he hadn’t.

Like his father, Alistair would have consulted his own councilmen. All of whom would now become his councilmen. He was walking into a pit of snakes. Only time would tell which of them were poisonous.

His father had continued. “Remain vigilant, son. While I have nay doubt ye will win them over in time, ye need tae survive long enough tae dae so.”

Those words now danced around his mind. He had been forced into this. At the time, he had been aware that he would not be a welcome addition to Clan Campbell. Admittedly, however, he had not considered the fact that his actual life might be on the line.

“What will yer first action as laird be?” Craig said, breaking into his thoughts.

Edward glanced over at the councilman. “I havenae really thought about it. Perhaps I could look tae ye fer guidance with that. What would ye suggest?”

Craig looked a little taken aback. Clearly, no one had put him in such a position before, and he floundered in his reply.

Edward shook his head. “Dinnae worry, Craig. We will figure this out together. That being said, I will rely on ye at the beginning. I have been at me faither’s side on many occasions, but it was James he prepared tae be laird.”

“Ye’re an astute man, Edward,” Craig countered. “I dinnae envisage any issues with yer rule. Aye, it might tak’ ye a little time, but from what I’ve experienced o’ ye so far, I think ye’ll dae just fine.”

Edward nodded and smiled appreciatively. Looking ahead of him as they continued, he only hoped Craig was right.