Chapter Nine
Errol had togive Moira credit. She held her father in high respect. Which, as his daughter, she should, but Moira didn’t ken her father like he did. She didn’t see the same side of him that he saw. The warrior side.
The enemy side.
He’d met Laird Arthur Hart on more than one occasion. The man was as fierce as Errol’s own father. He actually believed the men were similar in personalities and that was why they could never come to any reasonable agreement. Neither wanted to give in to the other’s demands.
And Errol couldn’t blame them.
There was a lot at stake considering the land and holdings betwixt the two clans. Neither side was going to roll over and let the other seize what they believed was rightfully theirs.
The smell of roasted hare wafted over to him. He wasn’t sure what Moira had done to the meat, but the scent was divine and his stomach growled in response. Or mayhap he was just starving since he hadn’t supped since this morn.
The sun had gone down and they were enveloped in darkness. He found torches and lit them to brighten the bothy, bathing it in warm golden light.
“’Tis ready, I believe.” She blushed. “Please be kind. I have ne’ercooked aught afore.”
“It seems ye are having a lot of firsts this trip,” he quipped. “E’en if ye havenae, I wouldnae be aught but kind. And thankful.” He helped her with the spit and slid the roasted hare onto the prep table.
“Thank ye.”
He raised a brow in question.
Moira pointed to the hare. “For this. For the water. I dinnae think I have given ye my thanks yet. And most of all for this adventure. I ken ye didnae want to accompany me,” she scoffed and pointed to his arm. “And look where that got us. Look where it got ye. With a sliced arm that we can only hope doesnae fester while we are so far from help.”
He lifted his arm and looked at the bandage covering his wound. “I had a verra good healer. I am for certs ’twillnae fester.” He spoke the truth. He didn’t understand why it mattered. Why he cared that he put Moira at ease. Why he felt the need to compliment her.
But he did.
Moira dipped her head but not afore he saw the blush that splashed her cheeks pink.
They ate in silence except for when he praised her for the delicious hare she’d prepared. Once again, she’d blushed, but didn’t hide her face this time.
After the meal, Errol made another trip to the well and fetched fresh water to get them through the night. Outside the night was still, not even a breeze to sway the branches. An owl hooting in the distance the only noise. He believed the four men that had ambushed them were the only ones that had tracked them. He’d seen no signs of anyone else. Even so, he’d sleep with his sword at his side and his dagger under his pillow this night.
He entered the bothy and set the bucket of water on the prep table as Moira bolted the door behind him.
“We should get some rest. The hour is growing late.”
Moira nodded. “Ye especially. Ye need to sleep to help ye heal.”She said in an almost motherly tone as her eyes fell on the bed.
Theonlybed.
A situation they had found themselves in afore. But Seema was with them then. Now, it was just the two of them.
Alone.
In a bothy deep in the highlands.
“I will sleep on the floor,” he said, hoping to ease her wariness.
“Ye will do no such thing. Ye willnae get a restful sleep on the floor.” She eyed the bed again, biting her lip. “’Tis large enough for us both.” She approached the bed and looked it over, nodding. “Aye. If I lay on this side near the edge we willnae touch.”
He closed his eyes and blew out a breath. Not a good idea. Errol didn’t think that he would get a minute of sleep kenning that Moira lay so close that he would be able to feel the warmth emanating off her body. So close that he only needed to reach out his hand to be able to touch her. He wouldn’t, of course.
But he would spend the whole night fighting off the temptation.
Nay. He couldn’t. “I dinnae believe that is a good idea.”
