Nay! She refused to believe it.
In the distance, a brown animal moved up a different hillside. Dunn. How did he get so far so fast? And what if one of the MacCromars saw him?
Crouched behind a bush, she watched but saw no men moving. Just Dunn, his nose to the ground.Please, God, let him find Neacal alive and unharmed.
If he didn't, she would have to go into the clearing and see if one of the fallen men was Neacal.
***
Neacal reached the rocky outcropping where he'd left Anna and Dunn but they were gone. A feeling like ice water trickled through him. Enough dawn light now flooded the area for him to see clearly. She was not sitting on the stone where he'd left her.
"Anna?" he called in a normal tone of voice, then a bit louder, wondering if she was further up behind the bracken.
Naught but silence surrounded him. Where were they?
He ran up the hill and climbed a tall rock. From here, he could see all around the small hidden area. Neither Anna nor Dunn was anywhere in sight. He leapt down and hurried to the crest of the ridge. He ran his gaze over the green hills mixed with rocky ledges. Glancing at the ground, he saw that the plants were trampled to the right. Since he hadn't gone that way, Anna and Dunn must have. He tracked them behind the gorse bushes and along the hillside.
He was glad to have defeated Blackburn's garrison and sent the remaining ones scurrying. Right after shooting at Neacal, the commander had vanished, leaving the dead lying strewn about the clearing around the burned out cottage. Likely, Blackburn himself would show up next time, bringing more men. They would take the bodies for burial, and reclaim their horses. Then, they would attempt to track down Neacal. He had to get Anna back to the safety of the castle before that happened.
Anyone who came upon the dead here would see what had happened—that they'd burned the cottage and someone had retaliated against them. They'd come here asking for a battle and they'd gotten one.
Pausing, Neacal heard naught but a horse nickering. Two lingered at the bottom of the clearing, picking grass, along with his horse. Fortunately, Swain had remained safely in the byre during the fighting, then Neacal had let him out and saddled him in preparation for their departure.
Glancing around, he saw Dunn on the opposite hillside, nose to the ground, sniffing along the path Neacal had taken earlier. Damnation! The dog was supposed to have stayed with Anna and guarded her.
Neacal hastened further along and found Anna crouched ahead, watching the dog in the distance.
"Thank the saints," he whispered. Relief flowing through him, he crossed himself.
She gasped and jerked around. Seeing it was him, she pressed a hand to her chest. When he moved toward her, she arose and launched herself into his arms.
"Thank God you were not shot," she said.
"The lead ball grazed my shoulder but 'tis only a scratch."
"Let me see." She examined his torn shirt and peered through the hole. The streak of torn flesh had already stopped bleeding. "You may need stitches."
"Nonsense. Come, we must hie back to Bearach." He gave a loud whistle through his fingers.
"What if the men hear you?" Anna warned in a whisper.
"The remaining ones ran like wee hares. Gone back for reinforcements, I'm certain. Which is why I must get you behind the castle walls forthwith."
Dunn loped toward him. Excited, the dog leapt up and placed his front paws on Neacal, then licked his face.
Neacal ruffled his fur. "Aye, lad. I'm well. Come now." He placed Anna's hand around his elbow and helped her down the hillside toward his horse.
Anna was so thankful Neacal had been unharmed by the lead ball. She held onto his arm, appreciating his strength, kindness and generosity.
When she again saw the treacherous trail down the mountain, she decided to walk while Neacal led the horse. He insisted she stay close in front of him so he could better protect her if any enemies should be lurking about. Dunn trotted out ahead, stopping often to look back and wait for them.
They walked for the better part of two hours. The sun rose higher, blocked now and then by the slow, white clouds floating across the sky. Though the air was cool, the wind was calm.
Anna didn't consider herself a weakling at all, but Neacal and Dunn didn't look the least bit tired. Her feet were starting to ache from the rocks that jabbed up into the soles of her leather slippers. Although she was used to walking miles on level ground, she was not accustomed to descending mountains and her knees were about to give out. She stumbled and if not for Neacal catching her, she would've fallen to the ground. Thankfully, they were moving away from the more perilous areas of steep, plunging slopes. Still, it was far from flat.
Stopping, Neacal swung her up into his arms, surprising her. "Why didn't you tell me you were tired?" he asked.
With the physical contact, awareness sizzled over her. "I am well. Do not fash."
