“Pay him heed,” he warned, then stepped around her. She had to leap out of the way to avoid being bumped by his horse.
A moment later, she caught up to him, picking up her pace by his side. “What did ye mean fer me to feel then?”
“What?” He barely looked at her.
“Ye said ye didna mean fer me to feel caged.”
“Aye,” he agreed, apparently remembering what he’d said. “I meant to make ye feel comfortable, with a full belly.”
It did. But he and his kin were her enemies. She didn’t want his food and she especially would not accept any sort of comfort from the Camerons. But, och, she wanted to sleep in that bed just once.
“Are ye comin’ with me then, lass?” he asked, finally turning to glance her way, much to the detriment of her good sense.
“Fer now, Mr. Cameron,” she replied, fighting to breathe naturally.
She would go with him because he and his kin had to pay for what they had done. It was why she was here, wasn’t it? To avenge her family. Her prayers had been answered. She wouldn’t let the opportunity pass.
“Is yer arm in its condition from a stab wound?” she asked, curious, but more so to change the topic.
His steps paused for an instant before he continued on. “Aye, given to me by yer father because I was a fool.”
“A fool fer watching me from—what? The trees?”
He turned to have a look at her and made her forget to breathe. “Aye, from the trees.”
“Why did ye not simply show yerself and greet me? Did ye have dangerous intentions?”
He shook his head then scoffed, pretending to do what she’d suggested. “Pardon, lass, I am yer father’s enemy but I couldna help but—” He stopped, sealing shut his lips, then turned away and set his gaze on the grassless path ahead.
Should she tell him she had helped him? That she lived with the shame of it for six years?
She didn’t ask him what he was going to say. There was no reason to know. It would change nothing. What had happened, happened. Now was the time for revenge.
She said nothing else as she followed him back to the house.
Chapter Five
Elspeth had noidea why the owner of the house had a basin—large enough to house her—brought to her room by Jamie and Steafan, though Steafan could have carried it without any help. Following them was Logan Cameron himself and Ewen toting two buckets of water each. After three more trips, the basin was more than half-full, and she stood facing her host.
“What is this all about?” she demanded. “Why have ye done this?” She paused to angle her head and give herself a sniff. “Do I offend?”
For an instant, she thought she spied the merest trace of a smile trying to remain hidden on his face.
“Miss Woodburn, do ye always question good things?”
“I am no longer familiar with good things, Mr. Cameron. And tell me why I should freely accept good things from my enemy?”
“Bathing is a human need,” he answered, appearing affected by her admission, but doing his best to conceal it behind a derisive smile. “Dinna consider it—or me—anything more than what ye see.”
“Verra well,” she retorted. “I shall do as ye say.”
He huffed a short laugh and turned for the door. “Let us hope ye are always this agreeable.”
“Careful,” she said softly as he walked away. “I will dash yer hopes to pieces by the wayside.”
Ewen bumped his shoulder into hers as he moved to follow his cousin. “He had nothin’ to do with it, gel.”
“Nothing?” she demanded quietly so as not to bring his cousin back. “’Twas because of him that ye and yer kin went to Dunley Keep. Because of him, I lost everything. My father and mother.” She swallowed back her tears. She wouldn’t cry in front of any Cameron.
