"Nay. I didn't trust him to give me clean water, anyway."
"The bastard," Colin grated as he helped Kristina lean up and drink water from the wineskin.
"She could lay her head on this." Fraser brought a rolled-up doublet. Obviously his own, since he now wore only a shirt and plaid.
"'Tis very kind of you." Colin helped her place her head on the makeshift pillow. "Is that better?"
"Aye, I thank all of you."
"My pleasure." Fraser went with Rusty to the perimeter of the campsite where several men stood guard.
"Why did Holme hit you and how? With his fist?" Colin needed to know every detail of what happened to her, even though 'twas torturous to hear.
"Aye, he did, because… I stabbed him."
Colin felt his eyes widen. "Indeed, lass? You stabbed him?"
"Aye."
"Saints!" he hissed. "I'm proud of you."
"I stopped him from… you know."
His rage renewed, Colin leaned closer and spoke low. "He tried to force himself on you?"
"Aye, but he didn't succeed."
Colin prayed the whoreson hadn't taken advantage after Kristina had been knocked out. Surely she would realize it by now if he had. He would ask her later, once she was more herself.
"Are you hungry?" The scent of the roasting rabbits near them was certainly making his stomach growl.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, a small frown contorting her brows. "Feel too sick to eat."
Hell, he wished the healer from Bearach, Tavia, was here now with all her potions and herbs. She would know exactly what to do to help Kristina.
"You will feel better soon," Colin murmured, willing it to be so.
The men searched the whole area, but found no more men besides the one a MacKenzie had fought with and killed. Not Holme, unfortunately. Some of the men gathered around.
"Since they're on horses, even in this rough terrain, they'll be harder to catch in the darkness," Cyrus said, crouching near the fire pit.
"Only three of them left alive, in my estimation," Warton said.
Cyrus turned to Colin. "Do you think they'll come back?"
"Hard to say. Holme's real name is MacKillican. When he discovered who I was, he wanted revenge against me."
Cyrus frowned. "Why?"
Colin told him the story of what happened ten years ago.
"In that case, he may be back," Fraser said.
"When someone wants vengeance for something that significant, they don't give up easily," Cyrus said.
Colin nodded, hating that Kristina had been dragged into Holme's revenge plans. Although he'd had designs on her prior to that.
Once they'd rested and eaten the roasted rabbits and a few bannocks some of the men had brought along, a half-moon shone. He convinced Kristina to lie on her side and eat half a bannock to keep up her strength. 'Twas clear she was forcing herself to eat it.
