Page 55 of A Fearless Rebel

“Ye can get there sooner if ye take a birlinn and cross by water,” the old woman suggested, obviously eager for the fabric Ava had promised.

“I will ensure ye are paid for it.” Ava considered the amount she had with her, along with what she kept in the bedchamber at Fraser Keep. It would more than pay for the man’s help.

She clutched at her stomach when pain struck again. “I need to sit.” Stumbling to a stool outside the man’s door, she lowered to it and wrapped her arms around her lower midriff.

“She’s lost a bairn. There’s nothing much to worry about other than the woman will be in pain for a few days.”

At the woman’s words, Ava squeezed her eyes shut and blew out a breath. She’d not been aware of being with child until the last night she was alone in the forest when the first pangs had begun. It had been over two months since her last courses. The hard riding had been what killed her unborn child.

So much had occurred because she’d been rebellious and disobeyed Keithen. Neither her brother nor mother had been harmed in the battle. Additionally, neither had cared one bit that she’d come to ensure that they were well.

Instead, Alastair had accused her of being part of the reason for the attack, even insinuating she helped plan it.

Although her mother had not been overly welcoming, she’d acted as if it were a bother that Ava was there.

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall. Why did she keep trying to gain her family’s care? They would never change.

“When can we leave?” Opening her eyes, she looked up into the man’s grayish ones.

After looking up to the sky, he then turned away from the docks. “In the morning. Ye can stay here if ye wish.” He motioned to the shack. “Up to ye.”

Ava looked to the older woman, but she shook her head. “I do not have room for ye.”

For the rest of the evening, Ava sat on the stool or paced outside Thomas’ shack. The cooling salty air made her shiver since her clothes remained wet. Then to make matters worse, the salt on her skin was itchy. Never had she been so miserable. Ava returned to the stool, crossing her arms in an effort to maintain warmth. Only when it was absolutely inevitable would she go into the man’s shack.

Moments later, Thomas appeared from wherever he’d gone. He carried a bucket, which he placed next to her.

The smell of food made her mouth water, but she didn’t dare touch the bucket. He ducked into the shack and brought out another stool and lowered to sit on it. Then digging into the bucket, he brought out a loaf of bread that he tore in two, followed by a bowl that spilled over with a sort of stew. “They only had one bowl left, so we’ll have to share,” he explained.

Ava didn’t care. She dipped a piece of bread into the stew and carefully scooped up some of the contents.

They ate in silence. The man made no attempt at conversation. Ava was just as comfortable without it.

When they finished, he offered her a drink from a wineskin, and she took it. After she took a drink, she shoved her hand into her skirts and pulled out a silver coin and held it out. “Thank ye.”

With a nod, he took the coin. The sum would have more than paid for the food. Ava hoped that it gave him more confidence in agreeing to take her back.

He stood. “I am going to return this. Ye can come along if ye wish or ye can go inside. There is fresh water for ye to wash up with.”

Rinsing away the salty water sounded good, but Ava wasn’t sure she could walk as far as she’d seen him go. “I am afraid that I cannot go very far. I am still in pain.”

He nodded and walked away.

Inside the shack, it was cleaner than the old woman’s. The few belongings the man had were placed on a shelf next to a small cot. The only other furnishings were a table and a trunk. Both were well made and clean.

She noted he kept two buckets of water and a small tub that could be used for washing clothes or bathing. It was interesting that someone who lived on the docks where danger lurked and everyone was out to make coins would live so sensibly.

When he returned and ducked through the doorway, the already too small space shrank.

“I brought more fresh water for ye and this,” he said as he held out a faded frock. “I will be outside.”

Ava wasn’t sure what to think. How could a virtual stranger be so kind? She was sure he was not what he seemed. Or perhaps he was what he seemed: a miscreant, someone who took women and sold them off to the highest bidder.

How far could she get if she slipped away and headed south? There was a loch between Ross and Fraser lands that had to be traveled over or around.

With no horse and a lack of clear direction, returning home seemed impossible.

Finally, she gave in and quickly undressed to her chemise. With quick movements, she washed her body, hating that the water turned bloody from the dried blood between her legs. She pulled the faded frock on over her head and then proceeded to tear her chemise into strips. From the strips, she fashioned a strap around her waist, she then took two strips and tied them to the front, between her legs and then to the back. She fashioned a wrapped bundle that would hopefully absorb any further bleeding to the strap between her legs. Once that was accomplished, she felt relieved to not be bleeding on her clothing.