Highland Barbarian Part 61

"Impossible."

Brenna, who had wisely remained silent during most of this argument, jumped on Megan's suggestion.

"Aye. We must go together."

"It is a long and difficult journey," Meredith said as patiently as she could.

"If something were to happen to me, it would give me comfort to know that my sisters are, here to carry on."

"But it will give us no comfort to wonder what has happened to you, or even whether or not you succeed. We must ride together."

Meredith pulled up her hood and took up the reins. If necessary, she would remind them who was in charge here.

"I am the MacAlpin," she said with quiet authority. "And I declare that I shall ride alone to Edinburgh to gain an audience with the queen. As my sisters, you shall remain here at MacAlpin Castle and carry on in my absence."

"Carry on." Megan sniffed.

"We will wilt on the vine while you have all the excitement of Court."

"There is danger and intrigue at Court," Meredith said sternly.

"And I will not have my younger sisters exposed to it. You will do as I command."

Brenna and Megan stared at her in sullen silence. Never before had they seen Meredith use such overbearing tactics. It was beneath her.

Suddenly she opened her arms and both sisters flew to her. Against their cheeks she murmured,

"Forgive me. I love you both too much to see you harmed. Besides, if I am to arrive in Edinburgh before Gareth MacKenzie and his men I must ride quickly and I must ride alone."

"If any harm comes to you," Brenna worried aloud,

"I will never forgive myself for staying behind."

"If you are killed," Megan said menacingly,

"I will hate you forever."

At her outburst, Brenna and Meredith stared at her in stunned silence.

Then they fell into each other's arms in a fit of laughter.

For a moment Megan could only stare at them. Then, joining in the laughter, she hugged her older sisters when they regained their composure.

"G.o.dspeed," Brenna whispered.

"Hurry home," Megan said.

Meredith pulled herself into the saddle and spurred her horse into a gallop to hide the tears that spilled from her eyes, staining her cheeks. At the crest of a hill she turned and waved. Below her, the two young women, tears blurring their vision, waved until she disappeared from view. And even then, though they could no longer see her, they stood s.h.i.+vering in the predawn chill, unable to tear themselves away.

"Summon a groomsman," Megan said suddenly.

"What?" Brenna stared at her younger sister in surprise. "Why?"

"Because we must hurry if we are to stay close to Meredith on the trail to Edinburgh."

For long minutes Brenna regarded the young girl whose amber eyes glittered with a strange light. Then she did something completely out of character. With a delighted little laugh she lifted her skirts and began running toward the stables. Over her shoulder she called,

"We will need travelling clothes. Oh, and our finest gowns for our first meeting with the queen."

Brice had never pushed himself so relentlessly. Though he was near exhaustion from the battle at Holden Mackay's fortress, he gave himself no time to rest.

He and Angus moved among the men, dressing their wounds. Six of their company had suffered wounds severe enough to force them to return to their homes. Brice a.s.signed the other five of his men to return with them, knowing that the wounded could still encounter small groups of Mackay's men in the forest.

That left Brice and Angus to follow the trail left by Meredith.

"We will travel faster alone," he remarked when Angus grumbled about their lack of additional men.

"We know where the lady is headed. Now we need only catch her before she can fall into any more danger."

"If there is danger," Angus muttered, saddling both their horses while Brice tended to his own shoulder wound, "you can be certain the lady will find it."

Brice looked up with a frown.

"Aye. The lady Meredith does seem to have a gift for getting herself into trouble."

Seeing that his old friend was having trouble with the dressing, Angus dropped the reins and finished tying the strip of cloth about Brice's shoulder.

"Thank you, my friend. Now let us catch the lady. Before she manages to surprise us again."

"MacAlpin Castle?"

Brice and Angus sat astride their horses at the river's edge.

To the east the sky was aflame with the first rosy slashes of dawn light.

"Aye." There was a softness in Brice's tone as he thought of Meredith, asleep in one of the upper chambers. "There is no time to waste. We will surprise her by entering before the household is awake."

Leading the way, he urged his mount into the icy waters, with Angus following. Once on the other bank they dug in their heels and raced across the last miles that separated them from MacAlpin Castle.

At the courtyard they took note of the saddled horses and the packhorses laden with provisions.

"We have arrived not a moment too soon." Before Brice could slide from the saddle the heavy door was opened and two young women, dressed for traveling, emerged.

At the sight of him both of them fell back in alarm.

"I am Brice Campbell," he said, studying them through narrowed eyes.

"And from your sister's description of you, I feel as though I already know you." He turned to the sweet, shy beauty whose raven hair had been coiled about her head in a regal style. Her blue-violet eyes were ringed with black lashes.