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with her disappearance.” Grey moved ahead and led them through a thick copse of trees.
    “Aye, let us take the shortcut and stop to rest at Donal’s and discard the baggage.” Sean raised an eyebrow at him.
    Kenneth kept his gaze in front of him, showing no regard for Sean’s suggestion.
    Colm shook his head. “Nay, we cannot rest at Donal’s. Alexander is there.”
    James joined their discussion when he flanked Sean’s horse. “Is that not the reason we fetched her, so Alexander can question her?”
    “I doubt our laird will give her over to Alexander now,” Sean admitted.
    “Why the hell not?” Colm asked.
    Sean tilted his head toward Kenneth. “That’s why.”
    Kenneth caught the gesture and ignored it. He concentrated on the delicate woman on his lap knowing she was going to cause him some grief. Why she affected him, he didn’t know. He couldn’t help the way he looked at her and surely his gaze gave him away. When he was able to, he’d give her over to James for the rest of the ride and rid himself of the nuisance from the start. Though it wasn’t everyday beauty was thrust upon him and if he was honest, he did enjoy holding her. Aye, she’d cause him grief if he didn’t guard himself. He shouldn’t give a cosh what happened to her.
    As they rode along, he focused on keeping her as still as he could, considering the horse moved swiftly, it became difficult. They’d made well enough tracks not to be caught by mac Raghnaill’s men, yet they needed to cover more ground before they could take rest. Kenneth kept vigilance around him, noting the way his comrades protected the lass. They each flanked him and rode in front and behind him. None of them would allow harm to come to her.
    They rode through the rest of the day as the open land afforded them a swift journey. Just as the sky pitched, the Gurtey farmstead lie ahead of them and Kenneth relaxed his pace a little. They were safe for now and soon they would take rest.
    He wondered if the sweet lass would raise holy hell when she awoke or if she’d be as docile as a lamb. Who knew what to expect since she put up a good fight when they’d taken her. He admitted to himself how impressed he’d been. She’d given Sean some bruises, not such an easy fete. That made him smile, something he hadn’t done in a long time.
    “What has you grinning like a happy clootie, Kenneth?” Sean slowed his mount, and stopped next to him.
    “Nothing,” he replied, and looked to James. “Will you take her, so I can dismount?”
    James scrambled to do his bidding and chortled when the lass put her arms around his neck. “She’s being agreeable.”
    “For how much longer?” Sean asked.
    “We shall see.” Colm waggled his brows, laughing at Sean’s sarcasm.
    As they approached the homestead of their longtime friend and comrade, Neil Gurtey, the stout man came from an outbuilding holding a massive cleaver. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade. No one feared Neil for they knew the killing season had begun and meat was being prepared for storage. A long winter was said to be coming.
    “Laird, I wasn’t expecting you.” Neil motioned to them and bade them welcome. “My wife just made a fine meal. You have perfect timing. Come inside and take your rest. You are all welcome.” He wiped his hands on a cloth he’d pulled from inside his tunic and bade them forward.
    “Neil, it is good to see you. I’ll come inside, but my men will await me out here.” Grey approached and clapped him on the back.
    Kenneth led his horse inside the corral along with the others, and looked back at the cottage. Grey would never be disrespectful to the tenants and stay outdoors with them as much as he’d like to. Many were honored to have their laird in their home and would have a story to tell about it later. It would be rude not to accept their hospitality. But Grey knew his guardsmen would never intrude on the hardworking folks and preferred to stay outside, unless they