“I do not know,” Juliana answered, thankful it was the truth. He and Calum and the laird had gone somewhere that morning and hadn’t returned.
“Well, that will give me time to freshen up, then.” Morag stood. “I willna take long. I want to be waiting when he gets back.”
Unfortunately, she wasn’t going to have to wait at all. Juliana heard the large front door open and then the tramp of boots that halted just outside the parlor.
Rory poked his head in, but before he could say anything, Morag shrieked and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “How nice that ye’ve come to see me, Rory MacGregor!”
…
Rory unwrapped the tentacle-like arms from around his neck and managed a smile as he stepped back. He had hoped Morag had gotten over whatever infatuation she’d had last year, but apparently not. And why would she think he’d come to Invergarry to seeherwhen Juliana was with him? He glanced from her to Aileen and Greer, who both looked at him speculatively. Juliana seemed to be studying a painting on the wall rather intensely. He grimaced inwardly. Morag hadn’t been told anything about how they’d come to be here. Her next words proved his assumption.
“Ye are just the Christmas present I’ve wished for!”
A strange strangling sound came from Juliana, although she was still concentrating on the painting. Greer started to giggle, only to have it turn into an “oomph” when Aileen elbowed her.
He shook his head. “As intriguing as that sounds, I doona think we will be staying that long. Once the road clears—”
“Nonsense! Yule is but five days away!” Morag ran her hand along his sleeve. “Ye can help me find the mistletoe.”
Another strange sound from Juliana, but this time she turned to face them. “I would really like to get back to Strae Castle in time for the holiday.”
Morag glanced at her. “Of course. My father can arrange for an escort. Ye might be able to leave tomorrow morning.”
“I…” Juliana paused, then pasted a smile on her face. “That would—”
“—not be possible,” Rory finished for her.Juliana isn’t going anywhere without me.“My brother would be furious if I didna bring his sister-by-marriage home myself.” Then he added for effect, “…and ye ken what Ian’s temper can be like.”
Morag furrowed her brow. “How would he ken ye found her? Juliana said ye just happened by when she was accosted on the road.”
Juliana wasn’t looking at him again, but she must have told Morag a part of the story she’d used in Fort William and not mentioned the Camerons or the abduction. Perhaps just as well for now. Still. He had to come up with something. “Actually, Ian sent me to find her.”
Juliana turned startled eyes to him, and he gave her a barely discernible shake of his head, hoping she’d not contradict him, which, unfortunately, she loved to do.
Morag’s furrow turned into a frown. “Why would he send ye?”
“Ye wound me, lass.” Rory gave her a lazy smile. “Ye do ken I am the best tracker the MacGregors have?”
Juliana rolled her eyes—luckily Morag had her back to her—but at least she didn’tsayanything. Then, just as he was about to relax a bit with the direction things were going, Morag turned to Juliana.
“Did ye get lost? And where were ye going anyway? Invergarry is nae close to Strae Castle.”
“Well, ye see, it—”
“I did not get lost.” Juliana cut him off. “I…um…joined a small group of people traveling north after the wedding and my sister didn’t approve, so Ian sent Rory to find me and take me back.”
Rory arched a brow. It was a rather clever twist of the truth, he’d give Juliana that.
Morag looked at him skeptically. “How long did it take ye to find her?”
He wasn’t sure if she was insulting his ability to track or if she was fishing for something else. Before he could come up with an explanation, Juliana spoke again.
“Mr. MacGregor caught up to us outside Fort William, but our…assailants…had singled me out, and to get away from them, Rory thought it best we ride west.”
He appraised Juliana again. She had quite a talent for embellishment. They’d beenmilesoutside Fort William, and she’d been “singled out” while she was still at Strae Castle, but the story wasn’t complete fabrication. Hehadthought it best they rode west.
“Rather than risk being waylaid again by going back the way I’d come,” he said, “I thought if we came north, we could find refuge here.”
That seemed to pacify Morag, although Juliana narrowed her eyes slightly. He wasn’t sure why, but at least he was telling the truth.
