Page 31 of A Fierce Archer

Catriona lowered to her cot and unbraided her hair. Using the comb Ewan had given her, she pulled it through her stands and then once again braided the long strands. With care, she placed the comb into her satchel and lay back onto the cot.

Lady Fraser looked over to Catriona. “I am so proud of ye. Ye did well.” The woman blew out the candle in the lantern and the interior went dark.

The bonfire outside gave sufficient light that she could see just enough. “Thank ye for allowing me to travel with ye,” Catriona replied.

Someone outside called to another and Catriona started. The men seemed to have a problem keeping quiet.

“They speak loudly to keep beasts and the like away,” Lady Fraser said. “When they are walking, they will throw rocks or sticks for the same reason.”

Catriona recalled what Ewan had done during their walk. “Men can be quite smart.”

“Some of them, yes.”

Catriona giggled.

***

The next day was a repeat of the first, except somewhat more tiring. Catriona shifted in her seat, wishing for the next stop to happen so she could stand upright.

“It seems we should be stopping soon,” she complained, peering out the window.

“Ye can ask Ewan or Broden. They will stop for ye,” Lady Fraser said, looking up from her embroidery. “What has ye so restless?”

Catriona didn’t want to admit that the foreboding sense from the day before was growing stronger. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “Nothing. I am just very nervous. It is almost as if I sense danger.”

“Stop!” Lady Fraser called out and, moments later, the entire party came to a full stop.

“What is it?” It was Broden who came to the door.

Lady Fraser motioned him closer. “Please ask Gilda to come at once.”

The woman came to the door and glanced first at Lady Fraser and then to Catriona. Lady Fraser motioned for Broden to help her inside.

“What is wrong?” Gilda climbed in and then cupped Lady Fraser’s face in her palms. “Do ye feel unwell, Lady Fraser?”

“No.” Lady Fraser pushed the woman’s hands away. “Miss Catriona has a sense of foreboding. Since ye know more about this sort of thing, I thought to ask ye. Do ye feel the same?”

“I am not a seer,” Lady Fraser. “What I tell ye is what I feel.”

When Lady Fraser didn’t reply, the woman looked to Catriona and held out a hand. When Catriona took it, Gilda let out a long sigh.

“I think what ye fear is not out there.” She motioned to the carriage door with her head. “Ye hold it inside and it is not good. There is nothing to fear on this trip. All will be well.”

For some unexplainable reason, Catriona’s mind settled at the woman’s words.

They left the carriage, taking advantage of the unplanned stop to walk about. After relieving themselves, Catriona and Lady Fraser returned to the carriage.

Ewan walked up to them. “Is all well?”

Turning to Catriona, Lady Fraser replied, “Catriona is a bit nervous. I thought it best that she get some fresh air.”

Holding out his arm, Ewan looked to her. “Care to walk about a bit?”

It felt odd to slip her hand into the crook of his arm. They walked slowly and she had to admit that stretching her legs and taking in the fresh air helped as much as Gilda’s words.

Swaying slightly side to side, Ewan’s steps were not as steady as the day before.

“Are ye feeling unwell?” she asked. “Ye should be resting and not walking about with me. I will be fine. Just all of this, knowing how close we are to the Mackenzie lands...it is unsettling.”