Page 11 of A Fearless Rebel

“I must speak to Catriona,” he said.

Flora nodded and stepped back to allow him in. Catriona sat in a chair, her face turned to the window. Obviously, she’d heard him, so she was aware he entered. But outwardly, there was no sign of it.

He lowered to a chair opposite hers and looked to Flora. “Can ye give us privacy, please?”

“Of course. I will fetch something to drink, Catriona,” Flora replied and left.

Keithen studied the room for a moment. It was a space suitable for guests with an ornate bed, several tables, an upholstered pair of chairs, and a fireplace that currently did not have a fire burning in the hearth.

“Would ye like me to start a fire?”

Catriona shook her head. “I prefer it cool.”

At least she’d finally begun speaking to him, although most of the time it was no more than a word or a short sentence.

“I went to the forest the night before last. I killed another of them,” he informed her. “Just three more are left.”

Her hand fluttered to her chest. “Ye should not do it again. I do not wish ye to be injured or die because of it.” Despite her words, he noted she sat straighter. “I would never forgive myself if something bad happens to ye. Tis best ye stop.”

“I cannot.” He reached for her hand, but she moved it away. “Understand me, Cat. Ye are like a sister to me. I could never allow them to get away with attacking either ye or Esme in such a manner.”

“Do not hurt her, the daughter, Ava. She was kind. Saved me. Although at times, I am not sure I wish it was so.”

Keithen’s stomach clenched at realizing that if he married the Mackenzie’s daughter, Ava and Catriona would meet again. “Ye know I would never hurt a woman.”

She lifted her gaze to him and shook her head. “Ye must understand that it matters not what ye do, I will never be who I was again.”

“I have hope,” he replied. “I know ye will. Mayhap knowing the men who dared to touch ye are dead is the way.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Keithen wondered what she did all day. How she could bear to remain in the bedchamber day after day when, before, she’d been so involved in many activities.

“Will ye sit with me at the high board for last meal?”

For the first time in many days, her gaze lifted to his. It was brief, but enough to remember the beautiful amber brown. “No, I cannot possibly sit there.”

“I will find ye where ye sit then,” he quipped. “Even if it is here.”

She sighed. “Ye must understand that who I was, I will never be again.”

Of course, over time, he expected that she’d come around. Perhaps as she stated, she’d never be the same. But hopefully, she would not be this recluse, so empty and pitiful.

“I best go see about my duties.” Without thinking, he leaned over to press a kiss to her hair. Catriona jumped from the chair and scrambled onto the floor. On all fours, she scurried away and rolled into a ball, her face pressed to the corner where the walls met. Strange mewling sounds came from her, and she began shaking.

Flora rushed in and gave Keithen a sympathetic look. “She will be well in a few moments.” The woman went to Catriona and hovered over her, not touching. “Miss Catriona, ye must get up. I fetched honeyed mead, yer favorite.”

After a few moments, Catriona lifted her head and looked around as if expecting the surroundings had changed. Upon seeing him, her face turned bright red, and a sob escaped.

“Drink yer mead, it will help,” Keithen said. “Forgive me…” he stopped midsentence, not sure what else to say. It didn’t seem to matter since Catriona was now standing and looking out the window, effectively dismissing him.

Later that night, the moon was high as he rode north. Gallant’s huge hooves kicked up caked, muddy ground as they traveled across the land, toward the forest where he hoped to be able to slip past any sentinels and into Mackenzie lands.

Now more than ever, he had to find the last three. Once he was married, he would not be able to slip away as easily.

He slowed and left Gallant tethered then continued on foot. Once he arrived at a specific spot, he lowered to sit, leaning back against a tree.

It was almost morning when sounds in the woods woke him. He’d found it easy to hunt down the first three guards as they traveled through that area often in search of entertainment from women who lived just inside the woods. The women served the guards for payment, which came in handy as the men often traveled alone after their shift which meant they were distracted and tired.

He was not disappointed when soon after he’d found a hiding place, a man appeared. He exited the woman’s hut and headed in the direction where Keithen was hiding. The darkness made it hard to see if it was the man he sought. If there was any doubt, he’d not kill the man. The descriptions he’d garnered from the ones he’d killed meant he searched for distinctive marks, body types, and one who was missing an ear.