He strode forward and lifted her. One arm supporting her back and the other under her knees, he carried her back toward the center of the camp. He was the gentlest man she had ever met. She rested the uninjured but scarred side of her face against his chest, wishing she could tell him how precious he was to her.
"We found this and wondered if it was the lady's," a man said.
"Did you have a pouch?" Colin asked her.
Kristina felt at her waist, shocked when she realized the pouch containing her valuables was gone. "Aye, are the earrings in it?"
"Nay, 'tis empty."
"Damn him!" she blurted, then ground her teeth. "Holme took my mother's gold earrings. Do you see them anywhere on the ground?"
"Wait here and we'll look." He seated her upon the ground. "How large are they?"
"They are coin shaped with an embossed daisy and a garnet in the center."
After a few minutes, Colin returned and crouched beside her. "Nay, lass, I'm sorry. I think Holme must have stolen them."
Tears pricked her eyes. "That bastard," she hissed. "Those were the last things I had of my mother's. I wish I'd done a better job when I stabbed him."
Colin took her hand and kissed it. "I wish I could get them back for you. Mayhap we can find them later."
Realizing she was being materialistic, she shook her head. "Do not fash over it." She and Colin were blessed to be alive. That was what she must focus on.
Readying for the journey back to Bearach, the men doused the flames with water. The hissing sounds reached her ears and the smoke drifting in the breeze grew stronger, causing her to cough.
Colin picked her up. "I need to get you out of this smoke."
As they began their journey, she heard the footfalls of many men around them, scuffling through the rocks.
Now Colin would have to carry her all the way back to the castle. Guilt weighed heavily upon her shoulders. Although she did still feel dizzy, if she'd had sight she could've walked. Judging by the way Colin moved, she could tell the ground was incredibly uneven in places.
"You must find me helpless beyond bearing," she said.
"Nay, of course not," Colin said, sounding surprised.
"Well, sometimes I do."
"What do you mean?"
She lowered her voice, not wanting to share her emotions and vulnerabilities with the other men, but she felt very comfortable talking to Colin. "I get frustrated and annoyed at myself because I can do nothing out here in the wilderness."
"No person without sight could," Colin said in a reasonable tone. "'Tis rough and rocky terrain."
"When I lived with my aunt and uncle, I could use my cane and go all over their manor house alone."
"And you will again, once you get used to the castle."
"I pray you're right." She wondered if Anna would marry the MacDonald chief. And if she did, would they welcome Kristina to live with them? She hoped so, for she would love being able to spend every day with her sister. She would make herself useful by knitting or carding wool.
"I'm certain you'll get tired of carrying me before long," she said.
"Nonsense."
"We'll all help," Rusty said. She recognized his voice. "Besides, you're a wee thing. We're just thankful 'tis not Warton who's hurt. We'd never be able to lug his heavy arse back to the castle."
The men chuckled, and Kristina couldn't help the small smile that curved her lips, despite the continuing pain in her head.
"You're not the least bit funny," Warton grumbled.
