A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) by Hildie McQueen (great novels TXT) 📕

“Catriona. Can I court ye for marriage?”

As he expected, she straightened with an expression of dismay. “I-I…”

“Do not answer me right now. Consider it. I know ye will require time and I will be patient. I have come to care for ye a great deal.”

“Ye deserve someone who will be a good wife to ye...”

“And ye plan to be a bad wife to someone?” Ewan jested.

She didn’t smile. “I am not sure what to say.”

“Ye have said yerself that I ease yer fears. When we kiss, ye do not pull away.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I want to be yer husband, Catriona.”

When she turned away, Ewan wondered if he’d made a mistake. Time was not on his side. He had to take every opportunity that he could alone with her before arriving at Ross Keep. If he didn’t tell her how he felt, then he’d forever wonder. It was best she turn his offer down and tell him that to be together was impossible then to never truly know.

Tears began to fall, sliding down her pretty face as she met his gaze. Ewan reached for her, but she put her hands up, effectively stopping him. Pain radiated from her and his heart sank. Catriona would not even consider anything between them.

She let out a shaky sigh. “I care for ye, Ewan, I truly do. A part of me wishes to accept immediately. Inside, I am not sure that I would ever be truly a good and proper wife to ye. There is so much to consider.”

Watching her walk away without stopping her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

“We will camp here,” a guard announced when Ewan walked back.

A campfire was started and, soon enough, warmth emanated to keep everyone comfortable.

Catriona joined Lady Fraser, their heads together as they talked. He wondered if the woman was on his side and would help his cause. Or perhaps Lady Fraser agreed with Catriona. She would never marry anyone.

“Ye do not heed my warning to stay away from Catriona. Instead of helping her heal, what ye are doing is making things worse.” Broden’s words contained barely concealed fury. “Return to yer people and leave mine alone.”

Ewan swung to face the man. “So ye can go after her? Do not try to hide behind a façade of nobility. What ye wish is for me to be out of the way. Leave a clear path for ye.”

“And if I did,” Broden said slowly. “I have time to wait for her to be ready. We have known each other since we were young. There is trust between us.”

It was no use to speak to the man. They both wanted the same thing. As far as Ewan knew, he and Catriona had deeper feelings than she had with Broden. Admittedly, she did seem comfortable when around the warrior, but he’d not seen any kind of emotional response from her.

“I will continue my quest and ask Catriona to be my wife. There is nothing ye or anyone can do to stop me.” Ewan walked away. His words stronger than what he actually felt in that moment.

***

The next morning, they continued toward Ross Keep. Thankfully, they would be arriving before sundown.

Ewan rode on one side of the carriage and Broden traded with someone else to ride on the other side. They ignored each other for most of the day, which suited Ewan just fine.

When Lady Fraser asked them to stop, the party did so that the women could refresh and stretch. They walked together to a trickle of a creek and washed their faces and arms. It was obvious an attempt to look presentable for their arrival at Ross Keep.

While that was happening, Lady Fraser’s companion cleaned out the carriage, sweeping the floor and fluffing the pillows.

Watching the woman made Ewan consider that although she was a village girl, Catriona was treated like part of the laird’s family. She was accustomed to a much better life than he, or Broden for that matter, could provide for her.

His life at Ross Keep was as part of the archer ranks. He would live at the guards’ house with very little privacy. The married men who worked for the laird often had houses in the village for their families, who they visited several times a week. For the most part, the wives had to deal with everyday life on their own. Cooking, cleaning and caring for any bairns.

When Catriona walked back toward the carriage, she looked to be in good spirits. She actually looked up to him and smiled. His chest expanded when he met her gaze and her cheeks turned pink. There was definitely something between them and he would do everything in his power to ensure she would come to understand how much he cared about her.

Since they were to board on Broden’s side, the warrior assisted the women back into the carriage. He leaned to Catriona’s ear and whispered something that made her giggle. Ewan narrowed his eyes at Broden, but the warrior ignored him, taking longer than necessary to help Catriona up.

Finally, they moved forward to the final leg of the trip. The closer they got to Ross Keep, the more Ewan considered what his next step would have to be.

There was always the possibility of returning to Uist. There, Catriona would live in his family’s large keep. They had a full staff that waited on the family. The thought of returning to his father’s realm didn’t sit well with him.

Although not as grand as Malcolm’s home, his family’s keep was impressive and large enough for them to live there comfortably.

“There it is, Dun Airgid,” someone said, pointing to the huge keep on a hillside. Silver Fortress. The