"Yer mother dinna want us to go far away," said Stefan.

"But she did say ye could teach me how to swim. The water in the loch be warmer, there are no currents and we will not stay long." She turned her horse toward the river and did not look back to see if he was following. Kannak knew he would never let her go off alone even if he was convinced she would be safe. When she reached the river bank, she turned west. It would be an easier ride on the path, but then he would see Blair's cottage and know they were off Macoran land.

"I dinna know, Kannak. We dinna tell Jirvel where we were going. What if something happens?"

"Nothing will happen, bletherskite. The lads tend the spring planting and there are none to bother us. Even the hunters have gone farther inland to find food for the village. We will be safe."

Stefan was not so sure. He had a foreboding and could not shake it. Nevertheless, when Kannak had a mind to do something, he was powerless to prevent her - short of physically stopping her, which he had never done even once in the past.

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He was becoming less awkward, but he was not in complete control of his strength and feared hurting Kannak more than he feared other dangers. At least the Macorans were not at war with anyone. The trees were thickest near the river and he followed her for quite a distance before they at last came to the loch. The beauty of the pristine water with the mountains behind it thrilled him. This place looked more like the home he left in Scandinavia than any other he had seen in Scotland.

Kannak pointed to the far end of the loch where two steep hills nearly touched the water's edge. "The water be the most shallow at that end."

"Ye have come here afore?"

"With my…Eogan. He brought me and my mother here once when he was feeling kindly. Mother brought bread and meat, spread a plaid and we ate under those trees over there." Kannak turned her horse that direction and led Stefan to the end of the loch. Then she halted and waited for him to help her down.

Stefan tied the reins of his horse to a tree and then went to her. A thousand times in the past he had helped her mount and dismount, but during the last few weeks, he savored touching her more each time. Nearly all of Kannak's freckles had disappeared into the creamy complexion of a young woman. Together with her auburn hair and the deep dimples in her cheeks when she smiled, her complexion served to bring out the brightness of her green eyes and her beauty had certainly not gone unnoticed by him. Each day he more acutely felt her nearness and longed to hold her. If only she would let him.




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