Arsenic and Old Armor by May McGoldrick Read Free Book Online Page A

left, despite Brother Luke’s
attempts to engage her in conversation. The cleric caught Iain’s
glance and separated himself from the mourning bride, joining him
in the front of the group.
    “ I believe it is time to
find a place to set up camp for the night.”
    Iain looked ahead at the road snaking
through the mountains. They had been traveling at a slow pace
because the ground was soft from the previous week of rain. “Not
yet.”
    “ Lady Marion is not
accustomed to spending so many hours on horseback, don’t forget,”
Brother Luke objected. “Why, the poor lass must be hungry and
thirsty, too.”
    “ You wouldn’t be a wee bit
hungry, now, would you, Uncle?”
    “ Not I,” the monk said
scoffingly. “I’m just thinking of the lass.”
    “ Very noble,” Iain said,
smiling. “There are dry meats, oatcakes, and a skin of wine in her
saddle, if she wants it.”
    “ But that is not
enough.”
    “ Did she say
so?”
    “ No. She is being shy
and—”
    “ We continue to ride,
Uncle.”
    “ Show her some kindness,
and perhaps you’ll receive some of the same,” the older man
advised.
    “ I doubt it.”
    “ Listen, nephew. This is no
way to start a marriage. You’re older, wiser. Consider her
situation over the past twelve years. A woman needs to be wooed,
lad.”
    Iain grunted. “We are not stopping. Not
yet.”
    The curses mumbled under the cleric’s breath
might have seemed contradictory to his profession, but Iain took no
offense. He knew his uncle was often directed more by his belly
than by any higher power. Iain spurred his horse on.
    Marion’s behavior at the chapel and since
then was beginning to bother him. There had never been any doubt in
Iain’s mind who would become his wife. It surprised him that she
thought any different. He couldn’t understand the childishness, the
temper, the attitude. His uncle was correct in saying that this was
no way to start a marriage, and Iain was getting too old to let
this fester for long. Marion needed to learn a lesson. She needed
to change her attitude before they reached Blackthorn Hall.
    The temperature continued to drop and the
Highland air was downright cold by the time night was fully upon
them. It was dangerous trying to push ahead after nightfall.
Darkness hid many dangers. Putting his stubbornness aside, Iain
decided it was time to stop for the night.
    Leading his men down into a wooded glen, he
quickly found a flat area covered with soft pine needles beneath a
grove of trees. A river ran past, not too far down the hill. He
could hear the burbling water through the encroaching gloom. The
Armstrong warriors took care in looking about the area before
seeing to the horses and starting to set up camp. It seemed to be a
good place, and Iain was satisfied.
    He looked around him for his new wife. In
the midst of the commotion, no one was watching her. Just as a hint
of concern began to rise in his throat, he spotted Marion,
dismounted and walking by herself in the direction of the river.
Iain handed his horse to one of his men and followed her.
    Her pace was proof enough that she was made
of hardy stock. She was definitely not as fatigued as Brother Luke
thought she was. There was a break in the trees ahead, and he
watched her cross a small meadow. Patches of heather looked like
wild beasts crouching in wait, but she hardly gave them a glance as
she passed. On the far side, Marion entered the line of trees, and
Iain lost sight of her. A moment later, he reached the fast-running
river. With the heavy rains, the surface was a raging torrent.
Water rushed around and over the rocks that bordered it. She was
nowhere in sight.
    “ Marion!” he shouted,
looking down the river. If she fell in, she could be halfway to
Loch Lomond.
    “ Don’t turn
around.”
    Her sharp words caused him to do exactly the
opposite of what he was told.
    “ Can I not get a moment’s
privacy?” she yelled at him. She was crouched under a tree, not
half a dozen steps from the