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Evanna froze, then scowled at him. “Ye are safe,” she replied. “Surely that is all that matters?”
“Safe?” He raised his eyebrows, then frowned deeply at her. “If Rowan’s men learn I am here then all hell will break loose, and none of us will be safe. If he broke into this house with his men, he would lay waste to it, and all of ye would be homeless and penniless. I must be out of yer way, and soon.”
“An’ how do ye think ye will do that since ye can hardly walk?” she asked defiantly, chin up, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. “Fly? I have done everythin’ I can tae keep yer presence here a secret, but if ye want tae go out an’ be murdered, please go ahead. It is yer own affair.”
“I can ride,” he answered in a growl as he took a step toward her. “All I need is a horse and a sword tae defend myself with. Give me those two things, and ye will never see me again.” He walked forward until he was within a foot of her.
At once, she gave a little gasp, swallowed nervously, and her eyes widened with fear. Perhaps Fraser had no idea just how frightening he looked when he was standing over someone, especially a woman who was half his size. Evanna cringed backward until her back was against the wall, then she screwed her eyes shut. Was he going to strike her? He had not given her the impression that he was cruel to women, but she could be mistaken.
Fraser blinked in surprise as he saw Evanna’s reaction; then, as he saw his shadow on the wall, he realized why she looked so scared, and a wave of shame washed over him. He was intimidating a woman who had done nothing except help him, who had nursed him, fed him, even given up her bed for him. What kind of a pitiful excuse for a man was he?
“Evanna…” He backed away from her. “Forgive me. I am behaving like a bully. I did no’ mean tae scare ye. Please forgive me. Ye are right. I would never be able tae ride a horse anyway. I am too weak.” He sighed, running his hands back through his hair in agitation.
He saw her relax and dip her head slowly in acknowledgment, but there was still fear in her eyes. Fraser’s stomach twisted. He could not bear to see her like this. He took a step back, and she rushed past him into the middle of the room, then she gathered up the plates and turned toward the door again.
However, this time she almost dropped the plates as a knock sounded at the door, startling her.
“Evanna!” her father’s voice called from outside. “Are ye in there?”
“Aye, Da,” she replied. “I will be there in a minute. I spilled some soup on my clothes an’ I need tae change them.”
She turned back to Fraser and whispered, “I am lockin’ ye in. If ye try tae escape, don’t ask for any more help from me. I do not want tae be part o’ yer affairs. If ye have problems, sort them out by yerself because I am no’ interested.”
“Does anybody else know I am here?” he asked curiously.
“No!” Evanna’s voice was a hissing whisper. “No, an’ I want tae keep it that way. Now be quiet, lie down’, an’ rest.”
9
“Da,” Evanna said gently, “ye should still be in bed. Go an’ rest. It is a miserable day outside. Look at the rain. Why are ye up so early?” As she looked at him, she realized that for once he was lucid and able to converse with her properly.
He shrugged. “I was no’ tired. Anyway, lass, the breakfast needs tae be made an’ a’ the tables cleaned. I am startin’ on the floor myself.” He held up a broom and grinned, looking very pleased with himself.
Evanna laughed. “Lexie has done the breakfast, Donna and Flora are takin’ care o’ the rooms. I had a wee accident, as I told ye. Flora will do the floors later, so ye have no need tae worry about it. Come an’ eat wi’ me.”
Bruce Mulholland laughed. “Ye were always a clumsy girl,” he said fondly, putting an arm about her shoulders and giving her an affectionate squeeze. “Ye get that from my da. He was always droppin’ things, spillin’ things, an’ breakin’ things!” He chuckled, and she smiled fondly at him.
“How did ye sleep, Da?” she asked. “I didn’t hear ye cryin’ out in yer sleep last night. No nightmares?”
“Ah, ye’re a good girl, worrying about yer old da,” he said, sighing happily as he kissed her cheek. “That valerian tea ye gave me worked a treat. I cannot remember anythin’ since I closed my eyes last night. No dreams, nothin’!”
“Good,” Evanna said, smiling as her tummy gave an almighty rumble. “I am glad o’ that. I am very hungry too! I think I could likely eat a dozen rabbits.”
“Only a dozen?” he said, laughing.
Evanna loved moments like this with her father when he was his usual self and they shared jokes and laughed together. It made her infinitely sad to think that those times would soon be gone forever.
They went downstairs into the tavern, where a few early birds were already tucking into breakfast. While her father sat down, Evanna went to speak to Lexie in the kitchen. She found her standing stirring a pot of porridge over the stove while numerous slices of black pudding and eggs sizzled on a griddle.
She looked up and smiled at Evanna. “Good morning, lass! It looks as if Bruce is feeling better today,” she observed. “I think he slept well.”
“He did, thanks tae yer valerian tea, Lexie,” Evanna replied, smiling. “Though I wish that was a’ it took tae bring his mind back tae the way it used tae be. It would be nice tae see the Bruce I used tae know again.”
Lexie sighed. Evanna was an intelligent girl who knew that pretending that her father’s condition would become better was simply wishful thinking, and there was nothing that Lexie, Evanna, or anyone else could do about it.
“How is yer visitor?” Lexie whispered. “Is his injury still paining him?”
“He is even more bothersome than usual,” Evanna replied. “He wanted tae take Daisy tae find the man who injured him an’ kill him. He asked for a sword as well. Where will I find a sword, Lexie? He is still a bit unsteady on his feet, although he ate his breakfast and seems a wee bit stronger. I do not trust him tae sit on a saddle, though. He is no’ yet strong enough. He was lucky when he fell off last time. He might no’ be so lucky again.”
