Journey to the Highlands: Robbie and Caralyn (Clan Grant Series Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

your mama hurt her leg, and she has some bruises, but she’ll be fine in a few days. She is verra worried about you. You and Gracie are good?”
    “We aren’t hurt, just hungry. We ran out of oatcakes. Gracie is verra hungry.”
    Robbie held his hand out to the young girl. “Come with me. I have a couple of oatcakes in the satchel on my horse.”
    “Please give them to Gracie. She needs to eat more than I do.” Ashlyn leaned down to her sister and whispered in her ear. “Come, Gracie. This man has an oatcake for you.”
    Gracie peered up at her sister and nodded. Robbie waited, expecting to see a smile cross the wean’s face at the mention of food, but her expression never changed. Tomas followed them over to the horses.
    Guessing at his thoughts, Ashlyn said, “She never smiles, Captain Grant, nor does she talk.”
    “She doesn’t need to talk or smile, as long as she eats.” He led the two waifs over to his horse and dug in his bag until he produced two oatcakes. “Do you have anything you wish to bring with you, lass?”
    “Aye, my sack is behind the tree. Gracie, stay with Captain Grant for a moment while I get our things.” She let go of Gracie’s hand and ran back into the trees.
    Robbie held the oatcake out for Gracie. She grabbed it from his hand and sat on the ground. She devoured the food, but never took her wide eyes off him. When Ashlyn returned, he offered her an oatcake, too, but she handed it over to Gracie, who finished it in seconds. He handed Ashlyn his skein of water.
    “Ashlyn, you need to keep your strength up. You must eat as well. Tomas, do you have another oatcake with you?”
    “Gracie needs it more. I am fine.” She leaned over her sister and brushed the crumbs from her mouth and skirts before helping Gracie drink from the skein. “Thank you for saving our mama.” She handed the water back to Robbie.
    Tomas handed an oatcake to Ashlyn. “Here, lass, this is for you.”
    Ashlyn paused for a moment before she took it, stuffing it into the folds of her skirt. “My thanks. I will eat it later. Can we go see her now?”
    “Aye, you may ride with Tomas and Gracie can ride with me. Tomas will tie your things to his saddle.” He handed the sack to his friend.
    “But Gracie won’t go with you. It’s as I said, she doesn’t like men.”
    “Even her da?”
    “She doesn’t know her da, and my da died several years ago.”
    Gracie eyed both men warily. She stood up and walked over to her sister, clasping Ashlyn’s hand. “She will probably have to ride with me.”
    Robbie wasn’t about to argue. “Fine. I’ll hand the girls up to you after you mount, Tomas.” Once Tomas was in his saddle, Robbie settled Ashlyn in front of him. When Robbie reached for Gracie, she held her arms up to him, but when he lifted her toward Tomas, she shook her head vehemently.
    Ashlyn whispered, “I told you there would be trouble with her. Gracie has only known mean men.”
    Robbie peered into the wee one’s eyes. He didn’t relish the idea of finding out about the mean men in her life or why she never smiled. After a short pause, Gracie’s hand popped up and pointed directly at Robbie’s horse. Ashlyn sucked in a breath in apparent surprise.
    Robbie didn’t wait to see if the girl would change her mind. He didn’t have time. He mounted with the lass under his arm, then settled her in front of him. Rather than complaining or crying, she clung to his forearm.
    “Captain Grant, you must be special.” Ashlyn smiled from Tomas’s horse.
    Robbie started his horse at a slow trot, but Gracie never flinched, just continued to hang on tight to his arm. She was a sweet wee thing, but sad she never smiled. When he increased to a gallop, Tomas following behind him, he checked on the lass again, but she seemed fine. Less than half a mile later, Gracie leaned back and fell asleep in his lap, her thumb propped in her mouth.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Caralyn paced back and forth not far from the path, making