THEY RODE OUT past the immense guar

THEY RODE OUT past the immense guard towers, over the old stone bridge, and into the lush green countryside. Fiona followed on a mild palfrey as her husband guided his destrier northward, away from the village and toward the rugged shoreline of Loch Fyne. The sun was high in the sky, sending rays of warmth their way, and no swollen clouds threatened to dampen their excursion. God, who seemed forever inclined to rain on Fiona, kept a serving of sunshine reserved for His most favored Campbells.
Alyssa rode next to Fiona on a spirited, high-stepping mare. The lass kept up a constant stream of happy chatter, and Fiona was glad for the company of Myles’s sister. Her presence was a welcome buffer and saved Fiona from having to converse with Myles directly.
The horses nickered and pranced as if the balmy day brought them joy as well. Fiona, Myles, and his sister ambled over the hillocks, spotting hares and deer, and an occasional crofter’s cottage, until they reached one edge of Loch Fyne. They stopped a moment to admire its beauty and the dark water rippling against the rocky shore. Fiona turned her face up to the sky. The breeze was soft and sweet, with no hint of the brine often present on the winds near her home. It was a lovely day, and even Myles’s constant presence and his frequent looks in her direction could not spoil that.
He’d said nothing more of Cedric’s supposed confession. In fact, his manner was pure charm, as if a cross word had never passed between them. He’d been solicitous when they were still in the bailey, helping Fiona mount her horse. He had adjusted her stirrups with great care and let his hand linger on her ankle. She’d watched emotions play across his face for the space of one heartbeat and then another. She thought he had meant to run his hand up her calf right there in the yard. But his fingers had stayed put, and his smile was enigmatic when he’d glanced up at her. Now he merely rode along, that same relaxed look upon his features as he pointed out aspects of the landscape for Fiona and told her bit about their history.
After a few miles, they circled back around and headed toward the village just north of the castle.
“Myles taught me to ride,” Alyssa said as they went on. She looked pretty and petite, riding high upon her saddle, and she handled her mount expertly.
“I had little choice,” he responded. “’Twas either teach you to ride or let you forever clamor upon my back. My knees did not enjoy it. Nor did I take well to the switch.”
Alyssa giggled brightly. “I never once struck you with a switch.”
“I remember well you did. And often too. You were merciless.”
“’Twas a ribbon, you silly goose.”
“Well, then you wielded it harshly, for it stung like a switch,” he teased.
She laughed aloud. “Forgive me, brother. I had no idea you possessed so tender a rump.”
In an instant, the word brought a furious blush to Fiona’s cheeks, eliciting a memory of that very same rump on their wedding night. Tender, indeed. It had felt of pure muscle beneath her hand. She coughed to clear her throat of nothing more than air.
Myles looked at her askance but said nothing.
The conversation continued, relaying nothing of import, but it struck within Fiona an acute aching for Margaret. She missed her sister more each day, but never more so than when she was with Alyssa. The girl was sweet and calm, innocent as spring rain. Even her laughter sounded so like Margaret’s, Fiona could close her eyes and imagine her own sister was next to her.
How she longed to send her a note and let her know she was safe and well. But in that letter, she would also have to reveal what happened to Bess, and she could not yet put the incident into words. As it was, she was not even certain if the Campbells knew she had a sister. For some strange reason, she had kept all thoughts of Margaret to herself, reluctant to share them, as if keeping her a secret kept her closer to Fiona’s heart.
She was grateful a few moments later when they arrived in the village, for thoughts of home had made her misty-eyed and sad.
All along the thoroughfare, shops of every sort lined up, with vendors out in front, hawking their wares. But at the sight of their laird’s son and daughter, the townsfolk stopped in their actions and began to call out greetings. They offered broad waves and eager smiles, and soon, groups of them surged forth in welcome. As each one called out to the next, more and more villagers poured out of the buildings, followed by dozens of children. So grand a welcome Fiona had never seen. It was as if they were royalty.
Stopping at the square in the center of the village, her husband slid from his saddle and greeted each person fondly, and often by name. It seemed he knew them well, and their respect for him was evident in their deportment. They were enthusiastic but respectful, none being so bold as to touch his garment or interrupt his words.
Her own kin displayed no such warmth with one another. Doubt tapped at her senses, but just as quickly, she dashed it away. ’Twas easy to be friendly when times were good and food was plentiful. So although there may be less familiarity among her clan, their loyalty was no less fierce.
Myles continued with his greetings as he reached up to help Alyssa from her saddle. He set her lightly upon the ground, and she was quickly swallowed by a throng of friendly women.
Next, he came to Fiona’s side.
“Friends,” he called out over the din of voices, “please allow me to introduce my wife. I bid you welcome Lady Fiona Campbell, late of Sinclair and now one of our own.”
One of their own. The declaration should have burned like a brand, but instead, she felt a peculiar swell of dignity encompass her. She was their lady now. Not the daughter of the laird, nor even the sister. She was his wife and would one day be the lady of Dempsey Castle. How odd that she had not considered that sooner. And more odd still that the notion should give her pleasure.
She looked over the crowd and saw their friendly faces. She let loose a breath she’d not realized she’d been holding.
“Welcome, my lady.”
“’Tis grand to meet you, my lady.”
“What a blessed day to meet our mistress.”
The wave of bodies surged once more, surrounding her horse and reaching up to clasp Fiona’s hands in welcome until Myles laughed. “Back off, now. Let my lady off her horse.”
He raised his arms and gazed at her expectantly. She had no choice but to ease into his arms. He was the devil wearing a leather jerkin and her husband’s smile.
And down she slid.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

MEREKA naik keluar melewati menara penjaga besar, atas jembatan batu yang lama, dan ke pedesaan hijau subur. Fiona mengikuti palfrey ringan seperti suaminya dipandu destrier nya ke arah utara, dari desa dan menuju garis pantai kasar Loch Fyne. Matahari sudah tinggi di langit, mengirim sinar kehangatan cara mereka, dan awan tidak bengkak mengancam untuk meredam perjalanan mereka. Allah, yang tampak selamanya cenderung hujan pada Fiona, terus melayani sinar matahari yang disediakan untuk Campbells yang paling disukai nya.Alyssa naik di Fiona pada semangat, melangkah tinggi mare. Lass terus aliran konstan bahagia obrolan, dan Fiona senang untuk perusahaan Myles's adik. Kehadirannya adalah buffer Selamat datang dan menyelamatkan Fiona dari harus berkomunikasi dengan Myles langsung.Kuda-kuda meringkik dan pranced seolah-olah hari sejuk membawa mereka sukacita serta. Fiona, Myles dan adiknya melenggang melalui hillocks, bercak hares dan rusa, dan kadang-kadang crofter cottage, sampai mereka mencapai satu tepi Loch Fyne. Mereka berhenti sejenak untuk mengagumi keindahan dan air gelap beriak terhadap pantai berbatu. Fiona muncul wajahnya ke langit. Angin adalah lembut dan manis, tanpa petunjuk tentang air garam sering hadir pada angin di dekat rumahnya. Itu adalah hari yang indah, dan bahkan Myles's kehadiran konstan dan sering tampak di arah dia bisa tidak merusak itu.Ia mengatakan tidak lebih dari Cedric's seharusnya pengakuan. Pada kenyataannya, sikapnya pesona murni, seolah-olah kata salib tidak pernah berlalu antara mereka. Dia telah peduli ketika mereka masih dalam bailey, membantu Fiona me-mount kuda nya. Dia telah disesuaikan nya sanggurdi dengan hati-hati dan membiarkan tangannya berlama-lama di pergelangan kaki. Dia menyaksikan emosi yang bermain di wajahnya untuk ruang satu detak jantung lagi. Dia pikir dia telah dimaksudkan untuk menjalankan tangannya atas betis nya di sana di halaman. Tapi jarinya tinggal menempatkan, dan senyumnya misterius ketika dia punya melirik ke arahnya. Sekarang ia hanya naik bersama, bahwa sama santai memandang wajahnya ketika ia menunjukkan aspek lanskap Fiona dan menceritakan sedikit nya sejarah mereka.Setelah beberapa mil, mereka mengelilingi kembali dan berjalan menuju desa Utara benteng."Myles mengajarkan saya untuk naik," Alyssa mengatakan seperti mereka pergi. Dia tampak cantik dan mungil, riding tinggi atas pelana, dan dia ditangani Gunung nya ahli."Aku punya sedikit pilihan," Dia menjawab. "' Sungguh baik mengajarkan Anda untuk naik atau membiarkan Anda selamanya keributan atas punggung saya. Lutut saya tidak menikmati itu. Atau apakah saya mengambil baik untuk beralih."Alyssa terkikik cerah. "Saya tidak pernah sekali menyerang Anda dengan saklar.""Aku ingat baik yang Anda lakukan. Dan sering terlalu. Anda yang tanpa ampun.""' Sungguh pita, angsa konyol Anda.""Yah, kemudian Anda memegang itu kasar, untuk menyengat seperti saklar," dia menggoda.Dia tertawa keras-keras. "Maafkan saya, saudara. Aku tidak tahu Anda memiliki begitu lembut yang baru."Dalam sekejap, kata membawa blush marah dariotto pipi, eliciting kenangan pantat yang sama pada malam pernikahan mereka. Tender, memang. Rasanya telah murni otot di bawah tangannya. Dia batuk untuk menghapus tenggorokannya tidak lebih daripada udara.Myles memandang dgn curiga tetapi mengatakan apa-apa.Melanjutkan percakapan, menyampaikan apa-apa tentang impor, tapi menurut dalam Fiona sakit akut Margaret. Ia kehilangan adiknya lebih setiap hari, tetapi tidak pernah lebih daripada ketika ia masih dengan Alyssa. Gadis ini manis dan tenang, polos sebagai hujan musim semi. Bahkan dia tawa terdengar jadi seperti Margaret, Fiona bisa menutup mata dan membayangkan dirinya sendiri suster di sampingnya.Bagaimana dia ingin mengirim catatan dan biarkan dia tahu dia adalah aman dan baik. Tapi dalam Surat itu, dia juga harus mengungkapkan apa yang terjadi dengan Bess, dan dia tidak bisa lagi menempatkan insiden dalam kata-kata. Seperti itu, wanita itu tidak bahkan yakin apakah Campbells tahu ia memiliki saudara perempuan. Untuk beberapa alasan aneh, dia telah memelihara semua pikiran Margaret untuk dirinya sendiri, enggan untuk berbagi mereka, seolah-olah menjaga rahasia terus dia lebih dekat dariotto jantung.Dia adalah berterima kasih beberapa saat kemudian, ketika mereka tiba di desa, untuk pikiran rumah telah membuatnya misty-eyed dan sedih.Sepanjang jalan, Toko-toko dari segala jenis berbaris, dengan vendor keluar di depan, menjajakan dagangan mereka. Tapi melihat mereka laird putra dan putri, para penduduk kota berhenti dalam tindakan mereka dan mulai untuk memanggil salam. Mereka ditawarkan gelombang luas dan bersemangat tersenyum, dan segera, rombongan mereka melonjak bolak-balik di Selamat datang. Karena masing-masing disebut ke depan, lebih dan lebih banyak warga dituangkan dari bangunan, diikuti oleh puluhan anak-anak. Begitu besar Fiona Selamat datang belum pernah melihat. Itu seolah-olah mereka adalah royalti.Berhenti di square di pusat desa, suaminya meluncur dari pelananya dan disambut setiap orang sayang, dan sering dengan nama. Tampaknya dia tahu mereka baik, dan mereka menghormatinya tampak jelas di laku mereka. Mereka yang antusias tetapi hormat, tidak ada yang menjadi begitu berani untuk menyentuh jubahnya atau menyela kata-katanya.Kin sendiri ditampilkan tidak ada kehangatan tersebut dengan satu sama lain. Keraguan mengetuk indera, tetapi hanya sebagai cepat, ia berlari itu pergi. ' Sungguh mudah untuk bersikap ramah ketika kali yang baik dan makanan yang berlimpah. Jadi walaupun mungkin kurang keakraban antara klan nya, kesetiaan mereka adalah tidak kurang sengit.Myles dilanjutkan dengan salam Nya sebagai ia sampai ke bantuan Alyssa dari pelana. Dia membuatnya ringan di tanah, dan dia cepat ditelan oleh kerumunan ramah perempuan.Selanjutnya, ia datang ke sisi dariotto."Teman-teman," dia memanggil atas din suara, "Tolong Izinkan saya untuk memperkenalkan istri saya. Saya mengucapkan Selamat datang Lady Fiona Campbell, akhir dari Sinclair dan sekarang salah satu dari kita sendiri."Salah satu dari mereka sendiri. Deklarasi harus telah terbakar seperti merek, tetapi sebaliknya, dia merasa membengkak aneh martabat mencakup padanya. Dia adalah wanita mereka sekarang. Tidak putri laird, atau bahkan adik. Ia adalah istrinya dan akan satu hari wanita Dempsey Castle. Bagaimana aneh bahwa dia tidak dianggap yang lebih cepat. Dan masih lebih aneh bahwa gagasan harus memberinya kesenangan.Dia menoleh ke kerumunan dan melihat wajah mereka ramah. Dia membiarkan longgar napas dia tidak menyadari dia telah memegang."Selamat datang, my lady.""'Tis grand bertemu Anda, wanita saya.""Apa hari yang diberkati untuk memenuhi Nyonya kami."Gelombang badan melonjak sekali lagi, sekitar kuda nya dan mencapai gesper Fiona tangan di Selamat datang sampai Myles tertawa. "Kembali, sekarang. Biarkan putri dari kuda nya."Dia mengangkat tangannya dan menatap dia dalam Pasal. Dia tidak punya pilihan selain untuk memudahkan dalam pelukannya. Dia adalah setan memakai jerkin kulit dan suaminya senyum.Dan turun dia meluncur.