Highland Vow Read Online Free PDF

stables through the crowded bailey had her stomach knotting with tension so badly it hurt. She stood in the shadows near the door of the stables as Cormac got his horse. She was astounded at the way he spoke so calmly to the men there, as if he did not have a care in the world. He had obviously developed a few interesting skills in the years since she had seen him last.
    Cormac set her on his saddle and mounted behind her, still idly jesting with the men. Elspeth fought the urge to hit him and tell him to get moving. When they finally rode out of the bailey, she slumped against him, weak with relief. They were not safe yet, might not be safe for quite a while, but at least they were no longer directly under the gaze of Sir Colin.
    “Where do we go now?” she asked. Deciding it felt very good to be so close to him, she made herself more comfortable against his broad chest.
    “Since Sir Colin will expect ye to try to get back to Donncoill, I believe we will just continue on in the direction I was planning to go after the wedding.”
    “Sir Colin could think ye are also trying to get me back to my clan.”
    “Aye, or to my kinsmen, who live both south and west of here. So that gives the mon two or three ways to search for us. He can have no idea of my true destination. I was to stay for my cousin’s wedding, then leave, but I told no one where I would go once the celebrations ended, not even wee Mary.”
    “’Tis a good idea, and yet, how then shall I return to my kinsmen? That is where my continued safety lies, isnae it? Aye, and the means to stop Sir Colin, to make him pay for kidnapping me, killing two Murray men, and hurting Payton.”
    He noticed that she still refused to consider the possibility her cousin was dead. The Murray clan was obviously still closely bonded. It would probably be best if she faced the cold truth that her cousin was either dead or soon would be, since the cold and a loss of blood would probably finish what Sir Colin had begun, but he found that he did not have the heart to steal her hope away.
    “The king’s court is verra near where I must go. We can find someone there who can get word to your clan. If we must, we can set ye under the king’s own guard. Your clan hasnae done anything to hurt your standing with the king, has it?”
    “Nay. That will do. In truth, ’tis near as fine as going straight to my fither.”
    “It should take us near to a fortnight since we should travel slowly to save our mount’s strength. If luck fails us, and Sir Colin sniffs out our trail, it could take longer. Can ye endure such a long, rough journey?” He frowned slightly as he studied the soft delicacy of the woman in his arms.
    “Oh, aye, I am stronger than I look.”
    Elspeth sighed when he made no reply, his doubt so strong she could almost feel it. She knew she was small and delicate in appearance, but she was indeed strong. SirCormac Armstrong was going to have to learn that one should not always make judgments based solely on a person’s appearance.
    Glancing down at his strong, long-fingered hands upon the reins, she found herself wondering yet again if he was betrothed or in love with someone. She needed some information, needed to know if he was free. By the time they stopped for the night, Elspeth vowed she would have it. Then she would have to decide what to do. If he was wedded or betrothed, the next few weeks would be a torment as she tried to hide and even kill all feeling for the man. But if he was free, she had a fortnight to try to make him fall in love with her. That too could prove torturous, ripping her heart and pride to shreds. Fate had been kind enough to give her some time with the man she had adored for so long, but it was obvious that fate had also decided to make her pay dearly for that gift. All she could do was pray that she had what was needed to win the prize.

Chapter Two
    “Four husbands?”
    As she spoke, Elspeth peered at Cormac around the horse she was wiping down