“Well…nae…but—”
“Then let us do it.” She gave an exasperated sigh. “At least it gives us a fighting chance to mislead the Camerons.”
“Well…aye…but—”
“We have nothing to lose by trying it.”
The idea was flimsy at best, but Juliana was right that they didn’t have anything to lose. It wouldn’t take much time to purchase a serviceable gown—he hoped—and if the dragoons or the Camerons questioned the merchant, it might buy them some lead time, at least.
Rory sighed, too. “All right, lass. We will do it.”
She smiled at him before turning forward. “You will see that I am right.”
He muted a groan. He had a suspicion he’d be hearing that a lot in the coming days. But she was right about one thing for sure.
Stopping in Fort William would give him the opportunity to purchase another horse. In her mind, it would add to their alibi. But for him, it would be a means to finally stop tormenting himself with crazed lust.
Hopefully.
…
To her relief, there was a general merchant’s shop on the main street that led to the garrison. She pointed. “We can stop there. They should have something I can wear.”
Reining in the horse, Rory dismounted and helped her down. “Doona take long to decide, aye? We are nae safe here.”
“No one seems overly interested in us.”
Rory grunted. “We are in the midst of Cameron country. These people are related to the laird. They’ll remember seeing us.”
She pursed her mouth. “All the more reason to make our story believable, then. Are you sure we should be Grants?”
“Aye. There’s a clan of them north of here, so ’tis reasonable we are headed to Castle Grant.”
She frowned. “But you also said some MacGregors took the surname Grant while proscribed. If Neal and his father come here and ask questions, will they not be suspicious of that name, especially if their clansmen give a description that fits us?”
“We have already been over this.” Rory sighed heavily, as if she was asking too much of him. “Aye, they probably will think that. Your red hair stands out. My black does, too, since ’tis nae a common color. If Cameron comes to the conclusion that we are traveling under a false name, Grant would be the logical one. And,” he added emphatically, “that logic will make them head northwest overland, while we will stick to the east side of Loch Lochy to Invergarry Castle.”
“And you think we will be safe there?” She knew she’d asked this question before, but she was still a bit put out with Rory for questioningheridea of using this alibi. She’d had to explain it several times, so turnaround was fair play.
He gave her a look that told her he knew what she was doing. “As I have mentioned, the castle is well fortified. The Camerons would be foolish to try and breach it. They would lose and it would stir the clans to war, something the king’s dragoons doona want happening.”
“However”—she probably shouldn’t prod further, but for some inexplicable reason, she wanted to make Rory realize she had a brain in her head—“what if that clan simply invites the Camerons in?”
He took a deep breath. “The MacDonnells have allied with the Grants for nigh on two centuries since a MacDonnell lass wedded the son of the Grant laird. They’ll nae hand us over.”
“But we—you—are not really a Grant.”
Rory rubbed his temple with the hand that wasn’t holding the reins. “The Grants were one of the few clans brave enough to offer MacGregors protection during the worst of times. And we were allowed to use their name. ’Twill be honored.”
“Well, if you think—”
“Ithink,” he interrupted, “that ye had best go into that shop, purchase a dress, and tell your story instead of standing here in the street, blethering.”
“I am notblethering.”
“Ye are.” He looped Baron’s reins to a post and took her arm to lead her toward the door. “I will go in with ye to make sure the shopkeeper hears our tale, then I have a bit of business to attend to.”
“Here?” Juliana looked around. “I thought you did not want to linger.”
