"You dinna," Niall said, vehemently. "Or you willna leave the cave."
She smiled up at him and he was afraid that look meant she would do whatever she thought necessary to help them leave this place for good. She didn't understand battle tactics or the lengths a Highlander would go when fighting another clan.
He placed his hand on her cheek and said, "Lass, dinna get verra far from the cave or they could use you to get to us."
"Aye," she said. "I understand. 'Tis just the way you order me about that made me smile. I will stay close."
He hated that she would do this, though he knew the men would not harm her, unless they knew she had a force to protect her and thought to use her against them.
She slipped out of the cave and Niall and Gunnolf watched through the vines while Matthew quickly took Charlie in hand even though her telling the dog to stay seemed to work.
But then she looked unsure of herself. If the men watched her, they gave no indication. She suddenly placed her hand on her forehead as if she were ill, and… fainted.
Instinctively, Niall made a move toward her, but Gunnolf seized his arm and shook his head. It very nearly killed Niall not to go to her, his stomach bunching in knots. Forever, they watched the woods as she lay very still as if she were asleep near the cave entrance among the trees.
No one made a move to go to her, and Niall wondered if the men were nowhere nearby. Niall kept thinking that he and the rest of his companions should leave now before the men returned with help—though he worried that the lass truly was ill. They'd had nothing to eat since yesterday and between that and being so cold—she could very well be sick.
They waited for what seemed an eternity when he heard movement in the woods, then whispers. Niall couldn't make out what the men were saying, but he was coiled like a snake, ready to strike if the men made a move toward her.
More footfalls, the sound of boots shuffling through wet leaves, drawing closer.
Gunnolf was just as tense beside him.
And then Niall saw the two men inching through the woods, looking around the area, ensuring no one was going to attack.
"'Tis her," the one man said, his voice low, his shaggy brown hair blowing in the cool breeze.
"Aye, but where did Ghille and Mungen go?" the bearded man said.
They crouched, watching her for the longest time.
"You think 'tis a trap?"
"Mayhap, but if we leave and she is truly ill, and Cian discovers we left her here, he will kill us, dinna you think?"
"Aye, or if we leave and she disappears before we return, I wager we would meet the same end."
"Aye."
Niall thought they would approach her, but they stayed where they were. Crouched. Their hands on the hilts of their swords. Their eyes fixed on Anora.
They were so many feet from the cave, it would take Niall and Gunnolf precious seconds to reach them, giving the men time to react—draw swords and fight, or run like scared deer.
Niall and Gunnolf barely breathed as Niall weighed their options.
"But where is Ghille and Mungen? If we get ourselves killed…," the dark-bearded man said, rubbing his whiskers.
"Aye."
Bloody hell. Do something. Niall wanted to shout at them. He hoped the men who served his cousin were never this indecisive.
Anora made a moaning sound and it sounded so woeful, Niall wanted to go to her, but Gunnolf shook his head at him.
The bearded man stood, unsheathed his sword, and said, "Come on."
The other man rose to his feet, not looking as though he wished to do this, and pulled his sword from the scabbard. Then they slowly walked toward Anora, their heads looking one way and then the other, searching for any movement.
Anora must have opened her eyes when the bearded man said, "Look, she is stirring."
She hadn't moved at all that Niall could see. Then the men hurried to reach her and Niall and Gunnolf bolted from the cave to fight them.
Despite being wary that someone laid in wait to ambush Cian's men, they yelled out as if surprised. Swords slashed as Gunnolf fought the bearded man while Niall battled the less whiskered one. He hoped Anora had moved back to the safety of the cave.
But when Anora cried out, Niall's stomach dropped and he glanced back in her direction and saw a man heading for her. Damnation. She'd gotten to her feet and slashed at the brigand using Gunnolf's dagger. Where the bloody hell was Matthew?
"Anora!" Niall shouted. The villain he was fighting thrust at him, distracting him, and Niall jumped back to avoid getting a blade in his chest.
Niall swung with such ferocity, he struck the man's sword, swiping it away from the man's body. Before the man could pull out his sgian dubh, Niall thrust his blade into his chest. Cian's man sank to his knees and Niall rushed to help Anora.
The villain knocked the dagger from her hand, but before he could grab her, Niall sliced at him and the man turned to face him. Gunnolf had killed the other Highlander and rushed to pull Anora away, then also engaged the man Niall was fighting.
Between the two of them, they quickly killed him. Niall seized Anora and pulled her tight against him. "You are really not ill, are you, Anora?"
"Nay, 'twas just a ploy." She trembled in his arms, the rush of battle running through her blood just as much as it had Niall and Gunnolf's.
"Good. Let us leave at once," Niall said, leading her back into the cave, wanting to fight Matthew next for not coming to Anora's aid.
Matthew was holding onto Charlie, then released him when he saw Niall enter the cave with Anora and Gunnolf. "I was afraid Charlie would attempt to bite the men and get himself killed," he quickly explained, when he saw Niall's scowl.
Niall didn't believe it. More likely, the butcher's son had been afraid he might have been injured in the fracas. "Come. You can help me move the bodies into the cave."
Once they had pulled them into the tunnel off the main cave, Niall stalked toward Anora waiting with her dog as she cuddled the puppy. Her hair tousled around her face, she appeared so sweet and innocent when only moments earlier she had attempted to fight off a brigand using Gunnolf's blade. Niall gave Matthew another scathing glance, furious with the man for not having come to Anora's aid. Niall would not be responsible for his actions if during the remainder of the journey, Matthew did nothing to protect the lass if she was again in peril and Niall and Gunnolf were unable to defend her.
"Let us go, now," Niall said, and helped Anora onto his horse. Then he waited for Matthew to mount before he lifted Charlie to sit on his lap. If Matthew would not fight at all, he might as well be the one to take care of the dog.
Then Niall mounted his horse and held Anora closer than he needed to, reassuring himself that she truly had not taken ill.
They left the cave and headed north again, hoping this time they would avoid any trouble. She was still tense, like he was, worrying that if they were discovered, they'd be in for more fighting.
Chapter 19
Relieved they had not encountered further trouble, Niall and his companions stopped to rest much later that day near a stream to water the horses. Niall took Matthew into the woods to gather kindling. Gunnolf cared for the horses and watched over Anora, while she prepared something for them to eat from the foodstuffs she'd packed for the journey.
"You could have come to Anora's aid," Niall growled at Matthew, unable to let go of the anger he felt that Anora could have been injured or taken hostage and used as a shield, all because Matthew hadn't bothered to leave the cave to help her.
"She… she was fighting as well?" Matthew sounded aghast. "Why did you not yell to me?"
"Because I was somewhat occupied," Niall said. "I assumed you would have left the cave when you heard her scream."
Matthew dropped his gaze as if he'd been scolded like a recalcitrant lad, ground his teeth, then began to kick away wet leaves covering drier twigs. "I would have had I known. Charlie would have gone to you or Gunnolf's aid, and I knew if I let him, and
he got hurt, Anora would never have forgiven me." He lifted his gaze and scowled at Niall. "And I was taking care of the puppy, too. If she had run out of the cave, Anora would have forgotten her own safety just to rescue the dog."
To an extent, Niall knew Matthew was right. But he believed that Matthew had also been afraid to come to their aid. Niall had to remember the man was not a warrior at heart. But that didn't lessen the annoyance Niall felt—that Anora could have been seriously injured, or hauled off before either Gunnolf or he could have rescued her. She definitely was not capable of successfully fending off an armed man, despite her brave attempts.
After they built a small fire and cooked some of the beef she'd brought with them, then ate, she said to Niall under her breath, "I need some privacy for a moment."
Her face reddened when she noticed both Matthew and Gunnolf watching her. Their reaction couldn't be helped. If the lass was going to whisper words to Niall, he knew the others would wonder what was up.
He nodded. "I will guard you this time."
She gave an almost imperceptible nod. He wasn't certain if it was with reluctance, or if she knew he would after what had happened the last time and she was resigned. From now on, there wasn't any way that he'd let her out of his sight until they were safely at his family's castle.
"We will take care of the camp," Gunnolf said, and Niall knew he'd ensure that it didn't look like they'd been here if anyone should be looking for them.
After Niall walked a little ways upstream to avoid the others seeing them, Anora said, "I thank you for all your help, Niall. I know you are angry with Matthew for not coming to my defense earlier against Cian's man, but he… Matthew is not a fighter. Not like you and Gunnolf. He would have gotten himself killed. The man had no intention of harming me. He only wished to disarm me."
"Aye, and if he had grabbed you up and tore off with you?" Niall asked, his gaze steady on hers.
She snorted. "The villain would not have been able to carry me far as much as I weigh, before you and Gunnolf had managed to rescue me."
Niall shook his head. "As much as you weigh, he would have gone before we knew it." He sighed. "I will turn away to give you your privacy."
"Thank you."
He heard splashing in the water and jerked around to see she was safe. She was washing her hands. "I am done."
He led her back toward the camp where Gunnolf and Matthew waited for them to go. The puppy was running around, poking her nose in fallen leaves, chasing after one the breeze tossed in the air.
"I will take the puppy," Gunnolf said, and scooped her up in his big hands, and then tucked her in his tunic.
Anora smiled up at him, and Niall knew Gunnolf had made a friend in her.
"I am going to let Charlie run for a while," Matthew said, looking at Anora, waiting for her approval.
"Aye, he needs to stretch his legs," Anora agreed.
Then they were off. Their luck seemed to be holding out and Niall was beginning to believe they might make it safely to the McEwen's castle.
***
As the sun began to set later that day, the gold rays spreading across the sky, highlighting blue-gray clouds, Niall and his companions found a shieling near a loch. They studied their surroundings for a while, watching a man tending his cattle, clothed in his plaid, a lad and lassie chasing each other in the heather, and a woman washing clothes at the stream.
"Should I speak with them?" Matthew asked, "Given that you and others not of your clan often do not get along."
Niall hmpfed under his breath. "You think they like those of you who live in the Lowlands any better?"
"Mayhap I should speak to the woman and ask if we might stay the night in their byre?" Anora asked. "Surely, they cannot object to me asking."
"I dinna know," Niall said, feeling unsure of the situation. The family couldn't see them for the trees, but he felt something was not right. "'Tis late for them to be doing the chores such as they are, is it no'? The lass should be done with her washing earlier than this and cooking the supper. The bairns should be doing something other than chasing each other in the heather. And is it no' odd that the man would tend to his cows at this late hour?"
They all observed them for a few more minutes, then Gunnolf said, "Aye, as if someone told them to do what they are doing while watching to see if anyone arrives."
"What if they need us to rescue them?" Anora asked.
Everyone looked at her like she was mad. "Lass, if there are ten men in there, you think we can protect them? In any event, I doubt they wish them any harm. If what we think might be true is the case."
"How could any of those looking for us have caught up to us?" she said, sounding exasperated as she leaned against Niall, wrapped in his arms.
He couldn't tell her riding two to a horse was slowing them down, or that letting her dog run, or stopping more often to allow her to rest was also a problem.
"We will continue on," Niall said, hating to have to ride any further as their horses needed to rest.
"I think 'tis a mistake to go further when we could take shelter in the farmer's byre," Matthew said, his voice firm with resolve.
Was the butcher's son tired of riding also? Niall suspected he didn't travel on horseback that often either. "We canna risk it."
"But…," Matthew objected.
Niall ignored him and they pushed on, or at least Gunnolf and Niall did. Matthew stubbornly stayed put.
"He is not following us, is he?" Anora asked softly.
"Nay. Either he will, or he can return home." Niall sorely wanted to mention that Matthew's mother was probably beside herself when her son didn't arrive at his home on time. "But we willna chance that either the Frenchmen or Cian and his men are at the shieling."
A short distance later, Matthew hurried to join them. Gunnolf smiled and shook his head.
Anora relaxed and Niall knew she was glad her friend was still with them. Niall had mixed feelings on the matter.
They rode for another hour and found an abandoned stone dwelling, the place empty of anything but straw on the dirt floor and ashes on the stone hearth. Spider webs hung from the ceiling, and a hole in the thatched roof on one corner let the dimming light in.
They tethered the horses outside where they could munch on the summer grasses.
"'Tis only another hour before 'tis dark," Niall said. "Mayhap if you and Gunnolf can…"
"I stay with Anora this time," Matthew said angrily, sounding as though he was tired of Niall giving the orders.
Niall raised his brows. "All right. But I will kill you myself if you dinna protect her with your life should someone come for her."
Matthew glowered at Niall.
"Come, Gunnolf. Let us get some water at the stream and find something to burn in the hearth tonight," Niall said, and the two men left the small abode, Charlie and the puppy running to catch up to them.
Anora truly thought she could fight better than Matthew could, which wasn't saying much. She couldn't help but be annoyed with Matthew, knowing he had a temper when things didn't go his way—though everyone was tired and out of sorts.
She sighed. She could understand his irritation—to an extent. She was in sore need of rest as well. Her body ached all over from riding Niall's horse. But she was making the most of the situation. Everyone was.
She wanted to broach the subject of Tesslyn, but couldn't look Matthew in the eye, not wanting to accuse him of something if none of it was true.
She began to gather straw scattered about to create beds on the floor, wishing Matthew would lend a hand. She wondered—now that he didn't have anyone to prove anything to—if that's why he wasn't making the effort. Though she believed there was more to his actions than that—as if he was angry with her and if he hadn't been, he would have helped.
From the judgmental way he was looking at her, she was certain he'd question her about what had happened between her and Niall while they had been together, alone, overnight in the cave. She suspected he would n
ot like it when she told him she and Niall had married in the Highland way.
“Niall said he was wounded. Did you take care of his injury?" Matthew asked, his voice terse.
She was surprised when Matthew asked about that, believing what had happened in the cave much more scandalous, and that's what she feared he'd question her about. Not that she felt she and Niall had done anything wrong, and they were married. Though the rest of the world might see it differently. Especially Matthew.
"Aye," she said, not believing Matthew would have objected to such, considering the circumstances. But he looked like he was ready to have a fight with her. They'd only fought a few times—like a brother and sister who might have disagreed on some matter. When he'd told her he'd hated her cooking, she'd told him that she was fine with that and he never had to eat at her place again. What did she care if he preferred his mother's cooking to hers?
She was just as ready to tell him off if he thought to give her any grief over any of what had happened the past few days. She opened her mouth to mention Tesslyn, when he spoke again.
"He removed his tunic for you—in front of you?” Matthew asked, as his voice rose with condemnation.
Had Matthew been stewing about this all along? She almost smiled at the absurdity of it, thinking of how much more Niall had removed and what had happened afterward as they had warmed each other's chilled bodies.
“How could I sew the laceration without having him remove his tunic?” she asked, sounding irritated.
It didn't seem to matter that she was right. He crossed his arms and glowered at her. “What else did you do for him, Anora?”
She knew what he was asking—had she lain with Niall? “You were there. I fed him, washed his shirt…” She let out her breath in a huff and continued to form a bed of straw.
“And before that?”
“He slept.” She stood and folded her arms. She wanted to tell Matthew that he had no right questioning her so, but she bit her tongue, reminding herself that he had come to rescue her. And all of this had to be a shock, since he was of the opinion that she would marry him some day—not that she had led him to believe anything of the sort.