“Come on,” she whispered. “Come on, Isla, breathe. Breathe.”
Another cycle. Then another. Her vision started going black at the edges and a wave of dizziness threatened to send her pitching onto her side. But she refused to stop.
Then suddenly Isla jerked. She coughed a choking, spluttering cough.
Ruby sat back on her heels as Isla rolled to her side and vomited river water onto the mud. Duncan let out a strangled cry and pulled his daughter into his arms, kissing her forehead, sobbing with fear and relief.
Ruby sagged, breathing hard. Dizziness washed through her and she feared she might faint.
But a steadying hand pressed against her back and a voice murmured by her ear. “Easy, lass. I’ve got ye.”
She slumped against Evan, leaning against his solid, reassuring strength. He said not a word but his arm came around her and held her against him. When the dizziness receded a little, she looked up at him and found him gazing back. There was no teasing or arrogance in his expression this time. Instead, she saw something in his gaze that made her skin tingle.
“We’re not going any further today,” Duncan announced. “Make camp but be sure not to get too close to the water in case of flood.”
No one argued. Guards rushed to set up camp while others retrieved the horse and salvaged the wagon.
Ruby climbed unsteadily to her feet—and nearly fell. Evan caught her immediately, hands warm and strong.
“Careful,” he said softly.
Then, to her shock, he drew her into a tight, fierce hug. Ruby froze for half a second. Then she melted into him. Her arms slipped around his waist and she rested her chin on his shoulder, eyes sliding closed as she savored the feel of him.
She didn’t know what had prompted this show of affection. But she did know one thing. She liked it.
THE MOORS ALWAYS FELTdifferent at night.
The wind through the heather seemed to be whispering secrets for those with the ears to listen and the darkness felt like a velvet blanket that was soft against Evan’s skin. He felt at home here, beneath a sky pricked with stars and a moon that painted the world in silver. He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with the sharp, clean air.
His borrowed horse moved beneath him as he guided her at a slow walk back to camp, not wanting to risk any greater speed in the dark. He’d been out scouting for most of the evening and hadn’t found any sign of pursuit. No hoofprints where they shouldn’t be, no distant firelight or trampled grass or broken stems that would indicate a band had passed through.
There was just the night, the wind, and his path.
He liked the solitude. Always had. As a boy, he’d escaped to the woods and hills any chance he got. While his brothers were cooped up learning arithmetic or Latin or whatever useless thing the tutor decided was important that week, Evan had slipped away to the gamekeeper’s cottage to help track game or repair a broken fence. Out there, he could run wild, climb trees, and breathe without being corrected.
Although, he had to admit, the thought of a warm fire and something hot to eat was greatly appealing after the events of the day. But that wasn’t the real reason he had to keep stopping himself from urging the horse to greater speed. That was because he was riding back toher.
Ruby.
He scowled. It was stupid. Reckless. Dangerous, even. Yet he found himself looking forward to seeing her more than he was looking forward to a warm fire and hot food.
She confused him no end. Sharp-tongued one moment, terrified the next, then bold enough to demand a weapon from him during a bandit attack. And today... saints preserve him, the woman had brought Isla back from death with her bare hands and sheer will. He’d never seen anything like it.
He guided the horse down a slope toward the small hollow where the caravan had made camp. From above, the land looked empty—nothing but sweeping darkness. Anyone passing through wouldn’t see the camp unless they were right on top of it. Evan nodded to himself, approving the choice. It seemed Isla’s father knew what he was doing.
As he reached the hollow, the glow of the fire touched him first—an orange flicker dancing against the dark canvas of the night. Guards and wagons were indistinct shadows around the perimeter. He scanned the scene, searching for Ruby. She sat near the fire with Isla, who was wrapped in blankets but looked significantly better than she had earlier. They were talking softly, both cast in flickering firelight.
Ruby laughed at something Isla said and Evan’s chest constricted at the sound. He nudged the horse through the ring of guards, and into the light.
Ruby looked up at the sound of hooves. Her expression shifted from relaxed conversation to sharp concern and she scrambled to her feet.
“Did you see anything?” she asked as he dismounted.
He shook his head. “No pursuit. No tracks. Night’s clear.”
She exhaled, shoulders easing in relief. “Thank God for that.”
The fire crackled. Someone laughed on the other side of camp. Isla’s father barked an order about keeping the wagons covered in case of rain.
