A Soldier's Salvation (Highland Heartbeats Book 7)(27)

So she could hope.

She stood again, waist-deep, and rubbed the soap all over herself before dunking up to her neck again, then springing up and laughing to herself at the way the water ran down her body. The moon was nearly full and turned her pale skin even paler, almost silver, and the water which dripped from her breasts sparkled like jewels.

A man cleared his throat from the bank behind her. “Shouldn’t you be a bit more careful, bathing in the moonlight?”

She gasped.

Reflex caused her to drop to her knees, the water rising to her shoulders and granting her a bit of modesty before she turned to face him.

“It’s only me,” Rodric chuckled, his voice tellingly humorless as he sat on the riverbank, arms slung over his bent knees.

At most, he’d only seen her bare shoulders and perhaps her waist. Otherwise, her hair hung in a curtain which covered most of her back. Thank heaven. She would’ve died of shame had it been otherwise.

“I knew it was you,” she snapped. “I know your voice.”

“Do you? After all this time?”

She prayed the moonlight wasn’t bright enough to reveal the flush which spread across her cheeks. “You have a distinctive voice.”

“It is rather memorable, I suppose. And you’ve a rather memorable tendency to use your fists to speak for you.”

She gritted her teeth and willed herself to keep her temper. He wanted her to lose it. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Only when I see a face which begs to be hit. Yours is the only one which has ever done so.”

“I assure you, lass, it’s an honor to be your first and only.”

If she hadn’t been completely naked and dripping wet, she would’ve rushed from the water and given him a large piece of her mind. Instead, she stayed where she was and pretended to ignore the heavy double meaning behind his words.

Yes, Aunt Sorcha was right. He was a grown man, one whose teasing had grown along with him. She supposed it was a result of his time in the army, among rough men.

“I didn’t expect you to come back, tonight or ever,” she observed.

“Nor did I, truth be told.” His smile disappeared, a frown taking its place. “I came back to warn ye.”

“Warn me? Of what?”

“Of the fact that my brother has no wish to let you go.”

She began to shiver, the water which had once been so cool and comfortable becoming unbearably cold in the blink of an eye. “What does he plan to do?”

“What do you think? He plans to hunt you down like a fox or a doe.”

“Why are you so hateful?”

Her question clearly surprised him, though she didn’t see how it possibly could. He seemed to be going out of his way to hurt her, when she’d done nothing wrong. In fact, she’d had no say in any of the details.

“You think me hateful?” he asked.

“You’ve been answering a question with a question when you wish to take extra time to find an answer for as long as I’ve known you, Rodric Anderson.”

“Then it shouldn’t surprise ye, lass.”

“Answer me, damn you,” she demanded, stomping a foot to no avail. He couldn’t see.

He sighed, his eyes drifting away from hers until his gaze rested at his feet. “Forgive me, lass. It’s cruel I’ve been. I admit it. And you’re right for pointing it out.”

“I know I’m right.”

“You don’t need to agree with me. I already said you were right.” He shook his head, snickering. “How do we seem to rouse each other’s tempers so easily?”

She bit back the sharp retort which danced on the tip of her tongue. If you weren’t so hard-headed and nasty, my temper wouldn’t flare so easily. “I don’t know. I’ve never known.”

The truth was plain to see, even if neither of them had the courage to speak it: there was far too much between them which remained unspoken.

Caitlin cleared her throat. “I suppose I should get out of this river and dry myself, then get started.”

“Started?”

“For my cousin’s. I need to go, if Alan still wishes to find me.” She cast an anxious look in the direction of the house. “I knew this was dangerous. I can’t expose Aunt Sorcha to danger on my account.”

“You needn’t worry about him tonight.” Rodric snorted, his voice heavy with disgust. Or was it disappointment? “He’s well in his cups at the moment and looked to be settling in for more when I made my leave. He’s in no condition to be hunting for anything or anyone, and likely won’t be until midday tomorrow. Get your rest tonight. You’re safe here.”

“You came back here to tell me I’m safe?” she asked, her head tilted to one side.

He winced, looking at her as though she had taken leave of her senses. “I came back to ensure you’re safe, lass. What else do you think?”

When he stood, he brushed the dust off his trousers and very deliberately averted his eyes. “I would feel a sight better if you’d finish with your bath and return to the house with me, just to be on the safe side.”

Only when she was certain he wasn’t looking did she emerge on the bank opposite and wrap herself in the sheet her aunt had provided. It instantly soaked through, clinging to her, but there was nothing she could do to help that.