“I think ye are right. What clans will ye call on?”
“Blaire’s father, o’course. And although he’s a wretched old arse, Ramsay Kinnaird. Our father considered him a friend and ally, and I know that both of them would be willing to come to our aide.” Eoin waited cautiously for his brother’s reaction, still unsure of his place as laird.
“Aye, tis the finest chance we have. Do ye want me to make a trip to both Donal and Ramsay?”
Eoin shook his head. “Nay, I need ye to stay here and train the men in the village, strengthen our defenses, and work with Mary to help prepare the castle for so many guests. Bri and I will travel to both territories. Donal will be anxious to see his daughter, and Ramsay may not yet know that I am married.”
“But ye doona have Donal’s daughter. He will be able to tell the difference!”
“I doona think that he will. Bri was able to fool the whole castle for weeks, surely she can fool Blaire’s father for only a few days. The two lasses are identical.”
“They’re no so identical as ye seem to think, brother, but ye do whatever ye must. I’m happy to stay and work here. I’ll keep an eye on the runaway as well.”
“Aye, please do. I’m no so sure if I made the right choice, but I’m glad ye think so. Bri and I will leave in the morning.”
Eoin watched as Arran stood to leave. “Aye, brother, I do. But ye should tell Bri tonight. Lassies like to know things ahead of time.”
Eoin chuckled and stood to stretch as his brother walked out the door. “Ye are right o’ course. I’ll go and tell her now.”
Chapter 26
My skill with horses had not improved since our last little journey away from the castle, and so with no other alternative we rode together on Griffin for our journey to MacChristy Keep and Kinnaird Castle.
The proximity of our bodies was doing nothing to help my “friend zone.” In fact, he was increasingly getting more fresh with his hands. Every hour further into our journey, the reins seemed to move closer to the point in between my legs.
The nerves caused by my ever-tingling insides, the soreness of my ass from riding a horse all day long, and the fear of not being able to pull off ‘Blaire’ in front of Donal MacChristy had me on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
I nearly spooked the horse with my erratic jerk at the sound of Eoin’s voice in my ear. “What’s the matter with ye, lass?”
“Nothing is the matter. Why would you think something was the matter?” I exhaled rather loudly.
“Because, I’ve been listening to ye breathe like that for some time now. Ye sound like Griffin.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“Ye doona need to be sorry. Ye need to tell me what’s bothering ye so. I’d like to help if I can.”
“You can’t help. My ass is sore from riding, and I’m about to have a freaking panic attack at the thought of fooling a man who has known Blaire her entire life into thinking I’m her.”
He did nothing to help my mood as he laughed at me. “Lass, ye say ‘arse’ rather strangely. No that ye doona say a lot of things rather strangely. But ye doona need to worry about Donal. He canna hear well, and ye look just like Blaire. He willna be able to tell the difference.”
“I hope you’re right.” I exhaled loudly once more just for good measure.
“I am, lass, so ye doona need to worry about that. And as for yer sore ‘ass,’ I’d be more than pleased to help ye with that.” He moved the reins so that he held them in one hand and deftly slid his other up under my thigh to squeeze the inside of my leg and buttocks.
I yelped and jerked my bottom upward, this time successfully spooking Griffin. As the horse reared on his back legs, Eoin was forced to relinquish his grip on my thigh so as to get the horse under control again.
“No, thank you,” I screeched. “My bottom is just fine, all on its own.”
He laughed heartily in my ear. “Whatever ye wish, lass. But I’ve no doubt ye’d feel much better after a good rub.”
“I’ll rub it myself when we get to the castle.”
For some reason, this made him laugh harder, and I crossed my arms in a sign of annoyance as we continued our journey to MacChristy Castle.
*
It was just after dusk when Eoin spotted MacChristy Castle off in the distance. With luck they’d arrive just in time to dine with his father’s old friend.
He couldn’t wait to dismount Griffin and stretch his tired, aching muscles. He’d no doubt the lass did have a sore arse; his was sore as well, and he was much more accustomed to riding. He’d most likely have to help the poor lass out of bed in the morning, a torturous task to be charged, he was sure. He smiled at the thought as he quickly squeezed his arms around the lass to get her attention.
“Ye see that just on the other side of the hill? We are almost there. Would ye like to stop for a moment so we can relieve ourselves and make ready?”