April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 02 by Escape To The Highlands Page B

her breath. “So, married ye say? Must have been verra recent. Yer bonny bride looks quite nervous.”
    “Aye, we were just married two nights ago and have thus traveled far. She has injured her ankle and can nay travel much longer wit out a good night’s rest.”
    “Oh, I remember my wedding night wit me Gawain. Scared like a deer I was, of course so was he when me father came upon us. Well dinna ye worry, lassie. Those were good memories. Just as yer husband here will make ye good memories I’m sure. Ye can have the room down at the end. I will have one of me lads bring ye a meal and have a tub sent up and I have some herbs that can help ye fer the pain if ye need it.”
    “Thank ye, my lady,” Ewan said and grabbed Jacqueline’s hand and together they walked out the door.
    “Why did you tell her I was your wife?”
    “It would have been suspicious to have a lass traveling alone wit out a husband.”
    Ewan opened the door to the guest room. The room was small but was better than sleeping outside. He watched as Jacqueline surveyed the accommodations.
    “There is only one bed,” Jacqueline observed.
    “Aye.”
    “But where will you be sleeping?”
    “In here.”
    Jacqueline shook her head at the absurdity of the idea. Her teachings taught her that unless you were a whore, only a husband and a wife would ever dare share a room. “You cannot possibly mean to sleep in here with me?”
    “Lass, the lady of the inn thinks we to be married. I can also nay protect ye if I am no’ close by to watch o’er ye. Besides the past two nights I have slept next to ye outside and ye dinna complain then. Dinna worry. Ye can have the bed. I will sleep here on the floor. I can assure ye that I have nay any intentions. When the meal arrives, go ahead and get yerself something to eat and take yer bath. I am going down to the pub to see what I can find out about the English. And this time, my lady, stay here.”
    Ewan waited for Jacqueline to nod in agreement before he exited the room. The pub was busy and lively with the English passing through town. Men sat around talking, spilling their drinks and flirting with the local harlots. Ewan took a seat at a corner table, hoping to remain undisturbed. As one of the barmaids came towards him with a mug of whiskey in her hand, one of the English soldiers grabbed onto her waist causing her to fall onto his lap. Licking the side of her cheek, the young lass turned her head away from him.
    “What’s wrong? Surely you cannot deny me,” the Englishman said.
    Ewan put his hand over the handle of his dagger and was about to get up just before an older man came to sit down at his table.
    “Oh, I wouldna do that if I were ye, lad,” the man said in a low voice as he placed a jug of whiskey down in front of Ewan.
    Ewan released his grip off the dagger and placed it onto the jug and took a swig.
    “Name’s Gawain McGinnis. Me wife tells me that ye and yer new bride are passing through. If ye want my advice, I suggest ye move on yer way quickly in the morn’.”
    “I am no’ lookin’ for trouble. As ye said, we are just passing through. How come the English are occupying this town? Quite far north from the border wit out an entire army wit ‘em, in case there is a revolt.”
    The man looked around the room making sure that no one could hear him. “They are seeking their Lord’s bride. They say that some Scots have kidnapped her and are hiding her in the Highlands. Says he desperately misses her and wants her back. Even offered a reward; a hefty amount of silver for her safe return.  Now e’eryone is lookin’ for the lass, to fill their pockets.”
    Ewan listened very attentively to the man trying to not show any sign that the lass they were looking for was only a few doors down from where they stood. He now knew the real danger she was in. Not only would the English be searching for her, so would the Scots. Even the most trustworthy man can stab a knife in your back for a few