Love Beyond Compare (Book 5 of Morna’s Legacy Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

your fault really, since you’re the one who taught me how to ride. If I wasn’t so good, I wouldn’t have dared to go alone, but thanks to you, I knew I could make it safely.”
    Eoghanan stared down at Cooper with the quiet, gentle authority that was impossible not to respect, taking a long moment before speaking. “If yer mother knew what ye had done, she’d have worried herself to death. Do ye wish to frighten her?”
    Cooper squirmed at my side, and I knew that guilt was starting to overtake him. “No, I don’t. Of course, I don’t. But everybody has been lying to me, and I knew it. I just wanted to see where Aunt Jane was going. Now I know, so I won’t do it again. And I won’t tell anybody else. I promise. Let’s just not tell Mom, okay? It would only upset her.”
    “Ye talk too much when ye know ye have done something wrong, do ye know it, Cooper?” I could tell how Eoghanan struggled to keep his face straight.
    “Yes. Yes, I do know that. And I’m very sorry, but it’s only that I don’t like being in trouble, but I dislike not knowing what’s going on even more, and I just couldn’t stand it another second, E-o. I really couldn’t. You gotta understand that, right? I’m a growing man, and I need to explore to find things out that are hidden.”
    I tried to keep from smiling, but the corners of my mouth pulled up involuntarily, and I could see by the twitch at the corner of Eoghanan’s mouth that he was having the same difficulty. Cooper was nearly impossible to be angry with. Still, Eoghanan did his best to be a responsible adult.  
    “Cooper, ye will walk around back and lead yer horse over here at once. And aye, we willna tell yer mother, but ye will tell yer father directly after we get back. We shall let him decide yer punishment. Do ye ken?”
    Nodding, Cooper released his death grip on my hand and headed toward the back of the inn where he’d tied his horse–a miniature, with long brown hair who was as gentle and sweet as his rider.  
    Once he was gone, I spoke to Eoghanan for the first time. “You had to know that was going to happen, right?”
    “Aye, o’course I did. I watched him go down to the stables and was never more than a short distance from him during his entire journey into the village.”
    “I suspected as much. Before you leave, come inside and let me cut a piece of bread for you both. I told Cooper he could try some.”
    Eoghanan nodded and followed me inside, watching from the doorway as I removed the hot bread and sliced it.  
    “Jane, I know ye have been working later as Isobel has grown sicker but, tonight, I need ye to be back on time. Do ye remember the MacChristys who werena home when we visited Cagair Castle last year?”
    I reached for some cloth to wrap the bread in, talking with my back facing him. “Yes, I remember that it was their castle, but I’ve not met them.”
    “Aye, I know. Well, the eldest son, Adwen, is taking over as laird and he’s travelling to each territory, making introductions, doing his best to keep peace at his father’s command. We know him already, but tonight he stops here. Baodan will wish all of us to be in attendance to greet him.”
    “Oh. Okay.” It had been many months since official guests had visited the castle, and the idea of some excitement brightened my mood considerably. “Gregor will understand. I’ll just ask him if we can close down everything a bit early. I’ll be there.”
    “Good. I’ll bid ye good day then. I can hear Cooper out front.”
    He turned and left, and I followed him to the doorway, calling to Cooper so that he would come and collect his bread.
    “Here, Coop. Come and have a taste before you leave.”
    He bounced toward me excitedly and quickly crammed a large piece of the hot bread into his mouth. The excitement diminished instantly as he struggled to keep his expression steady. “It’s…it’s…delic-i-ous.” He spoke between large, chewy bites, and I laughed at his effort.