Logan had never told his kin about Woodburn’s daughter or what he was doing alone when Woodburn’s men had come upon him. He’d felt ashamed that he’d been so distracted by a lass to have gotten caught. He was sorry. Sorry to think she had been killed with her kin.
He exhaled a long breath. “I had come upon her, without her knowin’ and watched her fer a wee bit. I returned the next day to see her again—”
Elspeth was almost too stunned to think straight, but she heard Ewen curse under his breath.
“’Twas where Woodburn’s men found me,” he continued without making eye contact with any of them.
“He did all to ye fer admirin’ her?” Jamie asked to clarify.
“He likely believed ye would kidnap her,” Steafan offered to Logan.
“Why did ye no’ tell us?” Ewen put to him with an angry scowl.
“I was ashamed to have been caught fer such weakness.”
Looking at her was a weakness? Elspeth glared at him.
“I’m no’ usually a fool fer such things—”
Elspeth’s glare on him grew darker.
“Since my punishment was so great,” he said, shifting his gaze to her, “I have taken a vow to never be such a fool again.”
Chapter Four
Logan took theempty bowl from her hands and asked Jamie to show her to her rooms. He didn’t want to be tempted to look at her anymore. Not even if she was standing right in front of him. He wanted Ewen to take her away, but he didn’t tell him again to do it. He knew Ewen would obey him as if Logan were already the Lochiel.
He remembered her threats to kill him. Since she was his enemy, he should stay close to her and keep his eyes on her. Should he not?
When Jamie took her to her room, Ewen continued to stare at him.
“Ye lost the use of yer arm because of her.”
“Aye,” Logan answered, also hating that fact.
“I’m sorry I brought her here.”
Logan offered his cousin a smile. “She hasna killed me yet.”
“Och, Logan.” Ewen scowled at him. “Dinna jest aboot such a thing. I wouldna have brought her to ye without restraints if I knew how passionate she was aboot endin’ yer life.”
“Does she think I had a hand in killin’ her kin?”
Ewen stared at him for a moment then shook his head. “She made mention of hatin’ Camerons, nothin’ more. Fear no’, now that I know, I’ll be quick to remove her from yer sight.”
Logan shook his head and smiled, though it was less vibrant than before. “I’m no’ afraid. Stay and rest a few days before ye take her away.”
“Logan?” Steafan said when both men finished speaking.
“Hmm?”
“What aboot now?”
Logan turned to him with a questioning look.
Steafan swallowed slightly and clarified. “If ye hadna suffered because of her, would ye still be tempted to admire her?”
Logan thought about it; about the fire blazing out of control in her eyes. Power fueled by hatred. He understood it. He felt it too. But what he felt was hatred toward a broader audience. Presbyterian Covenanters. He didn’t even know she lived until a short time ago. She hated him in particular. How did she know him? It dawned on him that she sounded as if she hated him above all else. Why? Did she know him somehow?
