Page 32 of Highland Spy

They made their way to the water’s edge where Bridget sat down on a rock. Kicking off her shoes, she walked into the water without even removing her hose. Caleb, on the other hand, removed his weapon belt and then his leine, walking into the water waist deep, still wearing his plaid.

“What are ye doin’?” she asked with a chuckle.

“Goin’ for a swim,” he said.

“Wearin’ yer plaid?”

He walked deeper into the water and she heard him grumble.

“Och, this is gettin’ too heavy and it’s in my way.”

Before she knew it, he removed his plaid and tossed it back to shore. She suddenly wondered if he was naked, since she had no idea what he wore under his plaid.

“Caleb, are ye . . . wearin’ braies?” she asked from the shore.

“Come on in and find out.” He waggled his bushy brows, making her laugh.

“I think I’ll stay right here, thank ye.”

“Logan swims naked all the time,” he told her. “He only stopped walkin’ around in front of everyone that way because now he’s married and Rhoswen doesna like it.”

“Then I’m glad ye’re no’ Logan,” she said, walking in the water at the river’s edge, holding her plaid up so it wouldn’t get wet.

“I’m comin’ out, so close yer eyes unless ye want to see my bare arse,” he teased her, swimming back to the shore.

“Ye’re really naked?” Her eyes opened wide as he started to stand.

“Here I come.”

“Nay! Wait.” She jerked around and held her hand up to her eyes, losing her balance and falling into the water. The current started to carry her away and she screamed. “I dinna ken how to swim.”

“Hold on, I’ll save ye.” Caleb dove under the water and swam furiously to her while Bridget tried her best to keep her head above the water.

“Caleb,” she cried out, panicked now. All she could think of was that her mother drowned and now she would die that way, too. Flaying her arms wildly, she ended up swallowing water and started to choke.

“I’ve got ye, lass,” said Caleb, scooping her up in his arms.

“I’m goin’ to drown,” she cried, having worked herself into a dither.

“Haud yer wheesht. Ye’re no’ goin’ to drown.”

“How do ye ken?”

“Because,” he said, standing up in the water. It only came up to his chest. “My feet are on the bottom,” he told her. “Put yer feet down and ye can walk back to shore.”

“Nay. Dinna let go of me, Caleb. Please,” she said, clinging to his neck.

“Then I’ll carry ye.” Holding her in his arms, he brought her to the shore and gently put her down. Bridget finally let go of him.

“Thank ye. Ye saved my life,” she told him, being extremely grateful.

“All we did was go for a little swim, nothin’ more.” His smile relaxed her and made her body stop shaking. Then her eyes drifted downward and she saw that he wore braies.

“Ye werena even naked!” she squealed.

“Would ye rather I was?”

“I almost drowned coverin’ my eyes and ye were just teasin’ me the whole time.” Emotions welled within her and before she knew it, tears ran down her face. She turned and picked up her soggy plaid and ran back to the horses.