“Ian said to follow the deer trail.”
“What deer trail?”
Niall pointed down. “That one.”
Annie peered over her saddle. She could faintly make out what looked like trampled dirt a few inches wide. “I doona think a deer would fit on that.”
Niall laughed. “A deer could stick to that trail at a dead run.”
“I hope we doona meet one,” Annie replied.
“Doona fash, city lass.”
“Are ye making fun of me?”
Niall flashed her a grin. “I would never do that.”
“Hmph.” Annie decided she didn’t want to argue the point, but simply enjoy the ride. The path was too narrow to ridealongside anyhow, so she was content to let her mare amble behind Niall’s horse.
The forest, once they’d ceased talking, held its own conversation, she realized. The wind had a melody, rustling the leaves on the trees, whistling through the open spaces, while murmuring more quietly through the branches of pine. An eagle soared overhead, releasing a high-pitched shriek as it dove for prey. Blue jays and magpies chattered away. Annie heard something scurry through the bracken and hoped it wasn’t going to be dinner for the eagle.
They broke through the forestry into a little, circular glade with a small, white-washed thatched cottage precisely in its center. A child was bent over near the door, tending some herbs. She straightened as the horses approached and when she turned, Annie gasped.
No child, only a young woman who was short. But that wasn’t what made Annie stare. The girl’s long, brown hair had a golden streak through it exactly like the one on the girl Anniethoughtshe’d seen while the old crone attended Niall. She grabbed her saddle. What on earth was happening?
The girl smiled at Niall, her tilted eyes the same color green as the pines. “Ye are here to see my grandmother, I suspect?”
Niall dismounted. “Aye, if she is the one who saved my life at the MacLeod holding a week ago.”
“Wait here. I will get her.” She stepped into the house and shut the door.
He turned to Annie. “Let me help ye down.”
“Nae. I…” She couldn’t very well say she wasn’t sure her legs would support her while she was trying to make sense of everything. She felt slightly dizzy. “I will wait where I am.”
A minute later, the door opened again and the healer came out. Annie breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least this old woman looked like the crone who’d come to the castle.
She gave Niall a toothless smile. “I see ye survived.”
“Aye. I wanted to come and thank ye personally,” Niall said, “and ask if somehow I can repay ye for saving my life. Do ye need anything for your cottage? Food? Clothing? Wood cut? Just say the word—”
“’Tis nae necessary,” the crone replied. “My granddaughter sees to all those needs.”
“Does your granddaughter ever accompany ye when ye heal?” Annie hoped her voice didn’t sound shaky.
The woman gave her a sharp look, her dark eyes growing even darker. “Why do ye ask?”
“I…” Suddenly, Annie felt really foolish. How could she say, “Because I thought I saw her exchange places with you,” and not sound completely insane herself? “I…just wondered. She was gathering some herbs when we arrived.”
“Aye, that she does, but ’tis I who make the rounds to heal.”
Niall gave Annie a curious look, then turned back to the crone. “Well, if ye think of anything I can do for ye, please send word. I will be at the MacLeod home for another week or two.”
“I will remember that,” the old woman said.
“Well, thank ye again,” Niall said as he mounted his horse. “I am forever beholden to ye.”
As they headed their horses toward the deer trail, Annie couldn’t resist turning around once more, but the crone had gone inside and there was no sign of the granddaughter.
