After she made it safely to the footpath, it took but a moment for Kennan to join her. He retrieved his knife and grasped Divana’s hand. “This way.”

Together they hastened to the stable of an old crofter—a man he and his father had visited when Kennan was a lad—a man who ought to be trustworthy.

“I think we should keep going,” Divana said.

“We need a horse first.”

“Ye aim to steal a horse?” She yanked her hand away from his. “Nay! If we’re caught, they’ll send us to the gallows for certain.”

“Not if I pay for the beast.” Walking through the dark aisle, he popped his head into three stalls until he found an old garron pony standing in the shadows. “This fellow will do.”

Fortunately, the pony’s bridle was hanging on a nail beside the stall. Kennan untied his pouch from around his upper thigh. Once he’d taken to the sea, he’d started the habit of keeping the pouch and sgian dubh lashed to his thigh, certain not only the knife but also the coin would be of use one day.

Divana’s feet crunched over the hay as she stepped beside him. “They didn’t search ye there, did they?”

“Nay—’tis why I carry a blade and coin near my loins. A man never kens when his life will hang on a precipice, and with these, I am never penniless or unarmed.” As he shook five coins into his palm, the gold glimmered with the fleeting rays of moonlight. “These ought to satisfy the old crofter.”

“Saint Columba! Are those sovereigns?” she asked, tracing a finger over a coin. “I’ve never seen one afore.”

“Aye.” Kennan closed his fist around them, then let them fall into the horse’s grain bucket. For good measure, he removed his clan badge from his shoulder and dropped it in as well. “Five of those beauties will more than pay for this old nag and ’twill keep my da’s friend from hastening to the soldiers.”

After he bridled the pony, it took nearly no strength to set Divana across his withers.

“How long will it take us to reach Achnacarry?” she asked as he climbed up behind her.

He reached around the lass and took up the reins, the familiar stirring coming to life again. He liked having her there where he could protect her from brigands like Corbyn. Where he could hold her close to his body. Breathe in her scent. Feel the shift of her hip against his.

Kennan shook his head, sat taller, and tapped his heels. “’Tis a good day’s journey, but we’ll be following the glens. The route is more direct, but far less traveled.”

“Is it faster?”

“That depends on the weather.” He tapped the reins and headed inland and south, setting a path for Loch Morar, where they’d find no roads and, God willing, no soldiers.

Chapter Eight

Swaying with the motion of the horse, Divana curled into Kennan’s warmth. Though it was windy and cold, there was nowhere in all of Christendom she’d rather be. Surrounded by his arms made all the fear of being captured melt away. As Divana rested against his powerful chest, watching the midnight-blue silhouettes of the Highlands slowly pass by, she realized that, together, they could overcome anything.