A long train of wagons rolled along a track that cut through the landscape like a scar, carts of various sizes pulled by sturdy draft horses. Guards rode alongside, carrying both swords and flintlock pistols.
A merchant caravan.
Evan exhaled slowly. Edinburgh bound, if he was lucky. Worth the risk. He pushed himself up, dusting his hands as he stepped onto the road, and spread his arms wide. “Good morning!”
The effect was immediate. Half a dozen guards wheeled their mounts, drawing weapons.
“Who’s there?” one barked.
Evan raised both hands, palms open, though his stance remained loose, coiled, ready if things went sour. “A traveler,” he called back, pitching his voice calm. “Just need to know where yer wagons are bound.”
A man rode forward—the merchant leader at a guess as he was dressed finer than the rest, though with the same guarded look in his eyes. “Edinburgh,” he said sharply. “Why? What’s it to ye?”
Evan opened his mouth to answer, already thinking through the best way to spin it, when movement flickered at his side.
“Thank God!” Ruby’s voice rang out, clear as a bell. She clambered up the bank, skirts snagging, and before Evan could grab her, walked towards the armed men. “We’re trying to get to Edinburgh too. Can you take us with you?”
Evan’s jaw clenched. Did the fool womaneverthink before opening her mouth? True, the merchant caravan would be perfect cover for their journey, allowing them to blend in and disappear from prying eyes, but that didn’t mean she should go blurting their business to anyone that would listen! He inched his hand closer to his dagger, ready if things should go bad.
The guards exchanged looks, the merchant leader narrowing his eyes. His gaze flicked from Evan to Ruby and back again, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Passengers slow us down,” he said at last. “We’ve no room for strays unless they’ve coin.”
Evan’s stomach sank. Of course. He’d suspected this would come, but he’d hoped—just for a breath—that Ruby’s wide-eyed plea might soften the man. Of course not. Merchants didn’t deal in kindness.
“We can pay,” Ruby said quickly. “I’m sure we can find something.” She began rummaging in her clothing.
He cursed inwardly. Aye, he had payment—but not for this. Ah, damn it. With a resigned sigh, he reached into his cloak, fingers closing around the cool weight of the locket. The bloody thing glimmered when he drew it out, the sun catching on the gold. The merchant’s eyes sharpened.
“This’ll cover our passage,” Evan said, holding it out flat in his palm. His tone was steady, but inside he burned. That locket was supposed to buy him breathing space once they reached Edinburgh—somewhere to stay, maybe bribes to grease the right palms, enough coin to keep him hidden until he could figure out his next move.
The merchant leaned forward in his saddle, considering. “Aye,” he said, extending his hand. “A fair price.”
Ruby’s brow furrowed. She glanced at Evan, her lips parting as if to protest, but she said nothing. Evan dropped the locket into the merchant’s waiting hand, feeling the last thread of his plans unravel.
“Done,” the man said briskly, tucking it away. “I’m Duncan Fraser and this is my caravan. Keep out of the way, and dinna bring trouble on us.” He nodded to his guards, and the line began to move forward once more. “We’ll be in the capital in a few days.”
Ruby shot Evan a look—something between relief and reproach—but he ignored it, jaw tense, glancing around at the huge train of people he was now lumbered with.
Oh aye, Ruby Douglas was trouble all right.
RUBY WALKED IN SILENCEbeside Evan, her skirts brushing against the long grass at the edge of the road. The caravan creaked and rattled ahead, everyone moving with the ease of people who had done this a hundred times before. She tried to focus on them—their steady pace, the reassuring clop of horses’ hooves and the armed men that kept them safe—but her thoughts kept circling back to the glint of gold she’d seen in the merchant’s hand.
Her locket.
Well, not hers anymore, technically. It had been Daniel’s gift to her—a promise of a future that had shattered so completely she still felt the shards pricking at her heart whenever she thought of it. She had told herself she was glad to part with it, that she wanted nothing of Daniel’s lies near her skin. And yet, when Evan had handed it over, something had twisted inside her.
She glanced at him. His jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed ahead with that restless wariness that seemed to cling to him. He didn’t say a word, and his silence made her uneasy.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she murmured.
He seemed to understand what she was talking about. “We had no choice.”
“You could have let me speak. I would have offered something else.”
“Such as? Ye’ve no coin. And dinna tell me ye would have given up more jewels, because I’ve already seen ye have none left.”
She flushed. He wasn’t wrong—between the ring, the bracelet, and now the locket, she’d been bleeding her possessions at an alarming rate. Still, hearing it thrown back at her like that didn’t make her feel any better.
“I just thought—”
