Page 4 of Redemption

He made a dismissive gesture. “I am glad I was nearby.”

An awkward silence drew out between them. Helena wanted to ask who he was that he lived alone in the middle of nowhere. But to ask questions was to invite questions. She had no wish to explain why she traveled through the woods during a storm. She couldn’t admit that she was a Sister of the Sinister Order and that her destination was Castle Dunvegan where she intended to steal one of the most important MacLeod treasures in existence. The one question she had to know the answer to, however, was where they were.

“Are ye hungry?” he asked.

Without waiting for an answer, he crossed to a table in the corner were sat a large black pot. Helena watched as he placed it on a hook over the flames in the hearth. Her stomach growled. She glimpsed his smile as he removed the pot’s lid and stirred the contents. Mouthwatering aromas of onions, potatoes and turnips filled the small room. Her stomach grumbled in anticipation. It had been a day since she’d eaten. No wonder she was dizzy.

He pulled a modest wood box from a cabinet and gave it to her. Inside, she found several needles and white and gray threads. Helena looked up and smiled. “Thank you, Kaden.”

He nodded and quickly turned away, but she glimpsed the pleasure in his eyes.

“After supper, I will give you some privacy to sew the dress,” he said as he returned to the stew.

By the time Kaden dished out two hearty bowls of stew and handed one to Helena, her stomach had begun to gnaw at her. Holding the bowl on her lap, she ate as Kaden sat at the table next to the hearth.

As they ate in silence, Helena studied her surroundings. His home was small, but clean. Two books sat on a shelf on the right-hand wall. He could read. Surprising. Many warriors read little more than their own names. Maybe he couldn’t read, but kept the books as some sort of memento. A dagger lay near the books, along with two pewter goblets.

Covertly, she turned her attention to him. He sat at the table, straight and proud, but Helena sensed loneliness. The croft was far from any village, and he didn’t appear to be accustomed to having guests. He didn’t even have the companionship of a dog. When Kaden spoke, he showed little emotion. Except his smile. That smile gave away a wealth of information. Kindness—though, that she’d deduced by the fact that he’d risked his life to save hers. He’d seemed glad she decided to stay. Was that due to loneliness or concern?

Helena abruptly remembered her satchel, and blurted, “I had a satchel. Where is it?”

He frowned. “I didnae see a satchel.”

Tears threatened. The only weapon she had was in that satchel. She dropped her gaze to her food and willed the tears back. “Are we still on Clan Donald’s land?” She held her breath, hoping to learn that she had crossed into MacLeod territory.

“Donald?” He shook his head. “Nae, lass, ye are far from the Donalds here. We are on the king’s land.”

She blinked. “What do ye mean?”

“This ridge is no’ owned by any clan. As the Donalds and MacLeods are feuding, the king proposed a neutral border between them.”

“If ye are from neither clan, where does your loyalty lie during times of war?”

“I am no longer a warrior.” Kaden ate another mouthful of stew.

She nodded and continued to eat. “But ye once were.”

He frowned, and she nodded toward the weapons hear the hearth.

“The weapons belonged to my family.” He pushed back his chair and rose. “We need more wood.” He crossed to the door and donned his fur. “I will be back soon.” Before she could reply, he left.

Helena stared at the closed door. What had she said to upset him? As she turned her head away from the door, her eyes caught sight of the large stack of wood already piled near the hearth.