Page 19 of Hold Fast

“You’re naming my warhorse after a dove?” Ewan spat in disbelief.

But the destrier pranced happily in place and snorted his approval.

“He chose it for himself, Ewan. You heard him.”

Ewan cast his gaze to the heavens before stuffing the flint back into his bag and rising to his feet.

“Too wet for a fire?” Una stated more than she asked.

He approached Calman—for it seemed that the horse had indeed chosen—and rubbed his neck.

“Aye,” he said. “We’ll have to rely on our gentle dove for warmth. I’ll just rub him down first so he’s dry.”

Ewan took a cloth from his saddlebag and carefully rubbed the sweat from the horse’s body, going by feel since he could not go by sight, taking his time. Once the task was done, Ewan felt his way to Calman’s head, taking the reins and gently pulling, encouraging the horse to lie down.

“Down you go, laddie,” he said. “If we lean our backs against him, we willnae freeze to death. Are you hungry?”

“Aye,” came the quiet response. “Starving.”

They sat, backs against the horse’s warm side. From his bag, he pulled out two apples, some oatcakes, and two leather flasks.

“Hold out your hands, Una.”

Ewan reached to place the oatcake in what he thought was her hand, but instead brushed against what could only be her breast. She tensed and hastily reached for his hands, fumbling for the oatcake and snatching it from his grip.

“Shite,” Ewan cursed. “I didnae mean to— I couldnae—”

But there was no reply. Only the sounds of chewing and the faint smacking of her lips as she ate with the hurried gusto of a child.

“More?” he asked, holding out another oat cake.

“Aye,” Una replied hastily, her mouth half full, before adding, “Please.”

With groping hands, she found his arm and felt her way to her his hand, taking the cake. The feel of her strong fingers against his body made him feel flushed.

Ewan ate his oatcake, listening to the sounds around him: Calman’s breathing, the quiet wheeze of the falling snow, Greer’s scratching as she turned in circles, and Una’s chewing. She hadn’t been kidding. Shewasstarving.

“Apple?”

Her mouth was full when she answered with a muffled “Mmphmm.”

Ewan couldn’t help but smile. The smile turned quickly to a grimace, however, as her nimble fingers grazed down his arm again before closing around the apple.

“When was the last time ye ate, Una?” he asked as he heard the snap of her teeth breaking the apple’s skin. She chewed and swallowed before answering.

“Yesterday noon.”

“Why nothing today?” he asked, shocked.

“I was in a hurry.”

He didn’t press further. It wasn’t his business anyway.

He swallowed another bite of his oat cake. “As long as you are with me, you willnae go hungry. You have my word on that.”

The responding silence was thick. No chewing. None of the endearing lip smacks. Just the sounds of a horse and snow and his own breath.

Finally, blessedly, he heard a deep inhale. “Thank you, Ewan. I hope your laird is as generous with you as you have been with me.”