Page 26 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Ten

Theymadelovetwicemore and then fell into an exhausted sleep.Hours later Lorena’s eyes flickered open and she looked around the empty bothy.Where the devil had Craig gone?Could she not even trust him to remain here until she awoke?

Sometime during the night, they’d dressed in their dried clothes.Craig must have been up and down tending to the fire because it was still warm in the cottage.

She stood and walked to the door just as it opened, and Craig entered.“I was just wondering where ye went.”

“Checking on the horses.I had some oats in the bag strapped to my horse.‘Twasn’t a lot for them, but better than no’hing.”

“I need the satchel from my horse.”Felling dirty and sticky with their night of passion, she needed to clean up.“Can ye get me some water?Is there a creek or stream nearby?”

“Aye, but we doona have anything to carry water.I’ll walk ye down to the creek so ye can wash up.I’ve already been there, the water is clean and fresh, but verra, verra cold.”

She raised her chin.“Cold water doesna trouble me.I am not a soft lass.”

Craig grinned and grabbed her, pulling her close to his chest.“I disagree.Ye are a verra soft lass.”

She loved this teasing side of Craig, but ‘twas important to remember to keep him from drawing her in, making her feel comfortable with him.Maybe even love him.No man could be trusted, and she would never allow herself to relax around him.One day he would turn on her and she would have a broken heart.

They left the bothy together and he grabbed the satchel from her horse.“The creek is this way.”He pointed to the back of the building.

“I can go myself.Ye needn’t follow me.”

Craig shook his head.“Do ye already forget what happened yesterday?Think ye that there are no more brigands and wanderers in these woods?”

She sniffed as she followed him to the creek.“Ye said these are MacKay lands.If yer clan was doing a good job, there would be no outlaws.”

“Is that right, lass?Our clan does an excellent job of keeping our lands safe, but we canno’ have men all over the place looking for those ready to cause trouble.We would be attacked when word got out that the MacKay warriors were out searching the woods for renegades instead of guarding the brooch.”

They had reached the creek and Lorena crouched at the water’s edge and removed her washing cloth and the small piece of soap shed brought with her.She washed as much of the dried sweat off her that she could and quickly ran the cloth between her legs, hoping Craig would not embarrass her by mentioning it.

Once all her ablutions were finished, she stood.Craig had been leaning against a tree, his arms crossed, watching her.She felt a flush rise on her face, then drew in a breath and raised her chin.“I need to find a place to relieve myself.Can you at least let me do that in peace?”

Craig shrugged and pointed to a bush across the way from where they stood.“Right there would be good.”

‘Twas not far enough for her, but it appeared he was not going to leave her alone, so she gritted her teeth and did what she needed to do.

She walked with him to where the horses were.He took the satchel out of her hand and loaded it to her horse.“What will we do about food?I’m quite hungry since the last meal we had was oatcakes yesterday morn.”

“I will hunt after we’re out of this general area.I’m still no’ convinced that whoever was after us is no’ still close by.”

The last thing she wanted to do was appear weak in front of this man, so she nodded and told her stomach to behave itself.

‘Twas a beautiful day, which oftentimes happened after a storm.The sun shone bright, almost blinding her when they turned toward it.The air was fresh and clean and after the lovely night of intimacy with her husband, she felt well for the first time in a very long time.

About two hours later, Craig looked around the area and slowed down.“We will stop here.I’m sure I can get a rabbit or two to roast.”

“If ye have a piece of rope I can fish.”

He grinned at her.“Ye can fish?”

Was the oaf laughing at her?“Aye.I can cook, fish, garden, collect eggs from reluctant chickens, and milk a goat.David did no’ allow me to lie about at Clyth Castle like a pampered lady.”

“Then I shall look for rabbits and ye shall see what ye can pull out of the water.”

She felt good about his acceptance of her abilities.It was important to her that he see her as an independent, self-reliant woman, not some sniveling indulged lass good for nothing but embroidery and bedsport.

Then he annoyed her by saying, “Stay at the creek, doona go wandering about.I will be in the woods near ye.”