Highland Destiny Read Online Free Page A

has healed, I will then be free to leave?”
    “Of course,” he replied, and wondered why those words had been so hard to say.
    “Then we had best ride on, Sir Murray, as the day rapidly wanes and your brother willnae fare weel in the chill that comes with the setting of the sun.”
    Balfour nodded, signaled his men to begin their march again, and then fell into step by the side of his brother’s litter. He noted that little Maldie had no trouble with his horse, despite the litter attached to the animal. In fact, his mount seemed very pleased to have the tiny lady on his strong back, his ears turned back to eagerly catch the words she was murmuring to him.
    “The lass has a way with the animals as weel,” Balfour said, glancing down at his brother.
    “Aye, horses and men,” Nigel muttered.
    “Why are ye so troubled by her? She has eased your pain. I can see the truth of that in your face.”
    “She has eased my pain. The lass certainly has the touch. She is also a bonny, wee woman with the finest eyes I have e’er seen. Howbeit, ye dinnae ken who she is. The lass has some secrets, Balfour. I am certain of it.”
    “And why should she tell us everything about herself? She kens who we are no better than we ken her. The lass is just cautious.”
    “I pray that is all I sense, simply a natural caution with strangers. This is a dangerous time to trust too quickly, or to let one’s wits be turned by a sweet face. A misstep now could cost Eric his young life.”
    Balfour grimaced as he stared at Maldie’s back. Nigel was right. This was a poor time to have his thoughts scattered by a bonny lass. He could not bring himself to set her aside and let her walk away, but he swore he would be cautious. His family had already suffered from the consequences of thoughtless lusting. He would not repeat his father’s mistakes.
     
    Maldie’s first sight of Donncoill came as they cleared a section of thick trees. It sat atop the slowly climbing hill they rode up, looking both secure and threatening. The lands around it looked rich, able to supply the Murrays with a wealth many Scots would envy, but even a cursory glance told her it was not being used to its full potential. Its promisewas still locked in wide expanses of untilled soil and ungrazed fields. Maldie suspected that this battle was just one of many, the constant need to fight stealing the time and men it would take to fully harvest the richness of the land. She wondered sadly if men would ever gain the wit to understand what they lost with their constant feuds and battles.
    Hastily, she shook aside that dark thought. It did no good to mourn things she could never change. She turned her full attention on the keep they rode toward. Set behind high stone walls, Donncoill had not suffered the neglect the lands had. It had clearly been strengthened and improved from the original square tower house she could still see prominently positioned amongst the additions. On the right of the old, squat tower ran one wing leading to a second narrower tower. Another wing extended to the left of the old structure leading to what was obviously going to be another tower. Her mother had often entertained her with tales of the grand castles of France and England. Maldie began to think Sir Balfour had actually seen such places or heard the same tales, for the castle taking shape behind the thick curtain walls would soon equal any her mother had spoken of with such awe.
    “The work proceeds slowly,” Balfour said as he walked up beside her and took hold of his horse’s reins.
    Praying that she did not look as unsettled as she felt, both from his sudden appearance at her side and his nearness, Maldie drawled, “Mayhap ye should put your sword back in its scabbard more often.”
    “I would be happy to let it rest there, but I fear Beaton doesnae share my hopes for peace.”
    “Ye speak of peace, yet march to battle. I am fair certain that Beaton didnae invite ye to his walls.”
    “Oh,