Page 30 of The Sinner
“They should be Campbells,” Alex said. “You two stay in the boat while I talk with them.”
Glynis took one of the oars and held it against the bottom of the loch to steady the boat while Alex climbed out. As he and the fisherman spoke in murmured voices, Glynis felt the eyes of the men on her and Lady Catherine.
“Catherine, these fishermen are your clansmen,” Alex said when he returned to them. “We can rest here at their camp before starting the journey to Inveraray Castle.”
Glynis wondered how many days and miles they would have to walk to reach the Campbell fortress, and her spirits sank lower.
The fishermen seemed in awe of their chieftain’s sister and took pains to make them comfortable. After providing them with food and blankets and stoking the fire, they left the three of them to rest and took their boats out to fish.
Glynis was so tired after being awake all night on the water that she fell asleep almost before her head touched the ground. When she woke, it was near dusk, and the fishermen were back. Alex was sitting next to her, whittling a stick with his dirk. She sat up and looked around her. Lady Catherine stood several yards away surrounded by several men who had just arrived.
“Who are they?” she asked Alex.
“The fishermen felt their chieftain’s sister needed Campbell warriors to escort her home,” Alex said, with his eyes on the men. “They fetched these.”
The Campbell warriors scowled at Alex when Catherine left them to sit next to him.
“These men will see ye safely to Inveraray Castle,” Alex said. “But save your story about what Shaggy did for your brothers’ ears alone.”
Catherine slid her hand through Alex’s arm. “I want you to take me there.”
“Glynis and I must be on our way to Edinburgh in the morning,” Alex said.
Relief flooded through Glynis. He would take her to her mother’s family after all.
“Why are ye traveling with her?” Catherine glanced sideways at Glynis as if she were mud stuck on her shoes.
“I’m taking Glynis to her mother’s relations, nothing more,” he said. “We don’t want her father to hear of it, so don’t tell the men who we are.”
“Surely your trip can wait,” Catherine said, sounding her usual haughty self.
“I must meet someone in Edinburgh before the end of the month.” Alex gave Catherine a smile that would melt a witch’s heart. “Come, Catherine, ye know damned well no one on Campbell lands would dare harm a hair on your pretty head.”
Ach, the man could charm the wings off a fairy. Glynis was disgusted with them both.
“I’ll forgive ye if ye promise to visit on your return,” Catherine said, taking his arm again.
“I’ll do that,” Alex said.
“My brothers will want to reward ye for saving me.” Catherine tilted her head and looked at Alex from under her dark lashes. “And I’ll want to reward ye as well.”
* * *
“We’ll leave as soon as the camp is quiet,” Alex said close to Glynis’s ear.
“I thought we were leaving in the morning.”
“I’d rather not be dragged off in the night to have my throat cut,” Alex said. “These men don’t follow Catherine’s orders, and they are mistrustful of strangers passing through their lands.”
Well, that was true of all Highlanders.
“In the meantime, I’ll encourage them to be cautious.”
Alex stood and, taking his time, met the eyes of every man around the fire. Then he whipped his claymore out so fast it was a blur. Glynis felt the tension of the men as they exchanged glances and silently debated which of them would take on this bold stranger. She prayed Alex knew what he was doing.
Alex swung his claymore through the fire several times, back and forth. At first he did it with both hands, and then he shifted the heavy blade from hand to hand as he sliced it through the fire in smooth, deadly arcs.
After this display, he stood in front of Glynis and said, “No one touches her.”
