Arrogant wretch!Why it should it bother me if he thinks me too skinny?
She frowned in consternation at the part of her that seemed very bothered by it indeed.
CHAPTER FIVE
“What time d’ye think it is?” she asked when she had finished eating, shaking crumbs from her skirts to the floor.
Malcolm swallowed the last mouthful of bread before replying, “’Tis impossible tae tell exactly with the storm, but it is late. It is nae showin’ any signs of blowin’ out anytime soon, looks like we’re goin’ tae be stuck here fer a while. Might as well get comfortable fer a few hours.”
Catriona’s brows shot up. “What d’ye mean, comfortable?”
“We should try tae get a few hours of sleep,” he went on, brushing the crumbs of the meal from his lap before suddenly rising and retrieving the blanket from atop the saddlebag.
“Er, what are ye daein’?” she inquired, hugging herself against the chill while he gave the blanket a brisk flick and laid it full-length upon the dirt floor.
“Well,” he replied, an edge of sarcasm to his voice as he carefully straightened the edges, “unless ye’d prefer searchin’ fer an inn in this storm, I strongly advise ye make good use of the time tae get some sleep.”
Refusal on the tip of her tongue, Catriona eyed him silently.
“Fer yer comfort, me lady.” He made a flourishing bow, inviting her with a wave of his arm to lay down.
Catriona looked at the blanket. She was freezing cold from head to toe and secretly longed to lay down and wrap herself in its folds, to rest her tired mind and body. But her reluctance to accept anything she did not absolutely have to from Malcolm had her hesitating.
He gave a low chuckle and shook his head as he looked at her, dark eyes glinting with amusement. “Ach, there’s that stubbornness again,” he said with a gentle smile. “Look, if it bothers ye so much, I swear tae keep it secret that ye accepted me help, all right?”
Catriona only just managed to suppress the laugh that inexplicably bubbled up in her throat as the warmth in his voice melted her resistance. She was secretly touched by his consideration.
“I suppose that’ll havetae dae. Thank ye,” she replied, not knowing why she then asked, “But where are ye gonna sleep?”
In reply, Malcolm jerked his thumb at the side of the room. “Over there,” he said, determined to keep his distance from her despite the growing pull she exerted upon him. It was making him very uneasy.
“Well, at least let me give ye yer cloak back,” she said, taking it off and offering it to him. “I appreciate the loan.”
“Nay, ye keep it, ye need it more than me,” he insisted with a quick shake of his head, taking a step backwards.
“But ye’ll freeze without it,” she protested, stepping towards him and pressing the bundled cloak into his arms. “’Tis nae fair that I should have me cloak, yersandthe blanket.”
“Nay. Keep it, Catriona. I’ll be fine. I dinnae feel the cold as a lass daes, and I wouldnae deny a lady a wee bit of comfort,” he said truthfully.
“Well, thank ye then, Malcolm, that’s kind of ye,” she replied with a small smile, taking back the cloak and putting it on again, to his satisfaction. True, he wanted her healthy when Duncan turned up to collect her. But he also had to admit, even after all this time, he still felt the same urge to protect her as when they were younger.
Then, unable to resist teasing her, he gave her a wink and added, “I must say, Catriona, I’m deeply touched that ye should care so much for me comfort.”
She looked at him sharply, and he silently thanked heaven she could not read his mind and know that beneath his playful facade, he was actually being truthful. Pride would not let him show just how much her concern for his wellbeing warmed him.
But he need not have worried. Catriona soon put him in his place. She snorted derisively, lowering herself gracefully to the blanket and looking up at him, her eyes the color of moss in the dim light.
“Dinnae flatter yersel’, ye great amadan. I just dinnae want yer death on me conscience, ’tis all,” she told him pertly, arranging her skirts and pulling the cloak more tightly around her. “And I need ye tae help me get back tae me braither, of course.”
“Aye, of course.” He turned away and went to his side of the room, hiding his smile. He took off his sword and both dirks and placed them at his side. He settled himself against the wall, arms around his knees. He tried to let the relentless rhythm of the rain soothe his concerns about Sinclair’s men following them through the storm.
The rain alone will have destroyed any tracks we made. There’s nay way anyone could track us here.
As if pulled by strings, his eyes moved to Catriona’s back and rested there. She looked so small huddled into the blanket, onlya few strands of that magnificent auburn hair peeking out of the top. He was sure she was awake as well.
What’s she thinkin’?Did she feel it too, that same spark of attraction I felt when she took me hand?
He thought of her slender pliant waist beneath his hands when he had lifted her from her horse, of the small, warm weight of her body landing in his arms when she had jumped from the wall. He replayed the frozen moment when they had looked into each other’s eyes, and something, some secret current, had travelled between them.
