Read Highland Hearts 03 - Crimson Heart for Free Online

leave me here to rest for another day. I will continue on tomorrow.” Her voice had grown soft as she contemplated her rash plan. What if the thieves returned? How could she escape with an injured foot? It had been horribly difficult to climb the tree with two good feet.
    “I will see ye to Edinburgh.” His voice lost its humor. Yes, he did consider her an encumbrance. She’d lived her whole life as a burden and had sworn to never be one again. Her stomach tightened with resolve. Somehow she’d manage without him.
    “If I am close and you can point me in the right direction, I will do well on my own,” she countered firmly.
    “I disagree.” Searc looked pointedly at her foot with one eyebrow raised.
    She frowned. “You disagree?”
    “Aye, ye won’t do well on yer own. The closer ye travel to Edinburgh, the more disreputable bastards ye will encounter. Without my help, ye may lose the rest of yer clothes and yer virtue and very possibly yer life.”
    Elena stared at his rigid stance where he filled up the shelter’s space to the very top. He had the look of an unmovable mountain, but his insistence made her stomach unclench. Maybe it would be best to take his help. If he’d wanted to harm her, he could have easily done so last night. “Very well.” She paused. “Thank you.”
    He nodded in response and picked up his satchel. “Where does yer cousin live?”
    “I’m not certain. I only have his name. Roger Lyngfield . ” She watched him. Would he recognize the family name, know about the scandal of Queen Katherine Parr’s brother being cuckolded? Lyngfield was his wife’s bastard. Elena followed him outside.
    “Ye left in a hurry,” Searc continued without any hesitation.
    Lord, how she’d left! In the middle of night with nary an hour’s notice. Toppled from her bed by a panicky housekeeper, soldiers from London at the manor door. The housekeeper had thrown a gown on her and barely let her grab her satchel. Elena had shoved her feet in flimsy slippers, grabbed a quickly packed meal and her bow, and fled on the distant chance of finding Katherine Parr’s bastard nephew. That was all she had when she’d climbed on a gentle mare’s back in disorienting fear. But, she thought, I’m still alive .
    Elena righted her damp clothes as Searc retrieved her arrow from the pile of ash that had once been a man. She shivered and looked instead toward the warrior’s proud charger, standing patiently in the clearing. Perhaps the good Lord had sent the Highlander to help her. Cursed or not, he could certainly get her to Edinburgh.
    …
    It was well after noon when they found a road in the forest that led to a small village. A church, a general merchant, and several other buildings sat around a central square. Thatched houses ran along several side lanes radiating out from the village center. The chiseled sign at the edge of town named it Culross.
    “The Wild Boar Inn,” the lass read above the open door of a two-story building as Searc wrapped Dearg’s reins around a post. So, she could read. An odd talent.
    A small flower garden flanked the pebbled walkway. “Praise God if they have a warm bath,” she added. The lilt of her voice sounded refined despite her looking like a wood nymph draped across the back of his horse. She sounded almost royal. Did she usually wear fine gowns and dance at court balls?
    “I will procure rooms.” Searc helped her down.
    “I have coins.”
    “Ye will need them for a gown and slippers. One needs shoes to travel.”
    “I started out with them,” she murmured while fixing what was left of her skirt around her.
    He gave her his arm and escorted her into the cool interior. Even in rags, wearing his plaid wrapped around her for modesty, she was lovely. She leaned into his arm whenever her weight moved to her stung foot. Bloody hell. It’s a wonder she survived.
    The air smelled of stale cider and yeasty bread. A thin man wiped a long table and straightened when he heard