Anna losing her mother at birth weighed heavily on the men in her life. They all tried to make up for it by giving her whatever she wanted.
“This is verra exciting,” Anna said as she brought her horse close to Moira’s.
Moira smiled at her best friend, and her brows drew together. Anna’s color didn’t look quite right. Her skin had turned pale, and she appeared tired.
“Are ye well?” Moira asked, concern lacing her voice.
“Aye. Why do ye ask?”
Moira got the impression that Anna wasn’t being completely truthful. But she didn’t want to push her friend if it was naught, so she waved it off. “Just making certs.”
They rode deeper into the woods, Errol and Robbie ignoring them and their conversations. Their eyes were constantly scanning the woods for any trouble. Just because they were on MacLeod lands didn’t mean that there weren’t people with ill-intentions lying in wait.
Looking over at Anna, Moira’s concern grew. Her friend’s color had completely drained from her face, and she was barely staying astride.
“Errol,” Moira called out. “We must stop.”
“We still have a way afore we arrive at our first rest spot,” he said gruffly.
“Yer sister cannae wait that long.”
He didn’t look back. Just kept moving forward and Moira thought he wouldn’t respond.
“She will let me ken when she needs rest,” he called over his shoulder.
“I dinnae think she is capable, she really—”
Just then Anna listed off her horse, falling to the ground below.
“Anna!” Moira called, rearing her horse to a stop and dropping down to help her friend. Her skin was heated under Moira’s palms.
“Christ,” Errol snapped, jumping off his horse to help his sister. “Why did ye no’ say aught sooner?”
Moira rolled her eyes, but she could see the worry reflected in Errol’s brown orbs.
He did a quick check of Anna’s body making sure that she hadn’t broken any bones.
Anna’s eyes fluttered opened. “Why have we—” she grasped her stomach and turned to the side, expelling what she’d eaten early.
Robbie jumped back from where he was standing beside Anna to avoid the remnants of her retching. He moved to his horse and returned with a small square of linen for Anna to wipe her mouth.
“We need to turn back,” Robbie said to Errol.
“Nay!” Anna called out, her head snapping up. “I feel better now. ’Twas just something I ate that didnae settle well.”
Moira wasn’t convinced. Her skin was a bit gray in color. Fina was rubbing her back, trying to comfort her, but Anna shrugged her off as if she didn’t want the attention.
“I am well. I assure ye. Let us continue on.”
Errol and Robbie exchanged glances and Moira kenned they were contemplating on whether they should turn back or not.
“Errol MacLeod, we will continue on this journey as planned,” Anna stated, her voice sounding surprisingly strong.
Errol sighed and helped her atop her horse afore turning to Moira and doing the same. His large hands closed around her waist, sending heat through her body. She looked at him to see if he’d felt the same, but his jaw was set firm, and as soon as her bottom settled on herhorse, he was gone.
Robbie helped Fina and Seema before sitting atop his own horse once again.
“Ye do ken that yer sister is unweel and should return home?” Robbie asked.
