A Soldier's Salvation (Highland Heartbeats Book 7)(31)

“I grew up, lass,” he growled. “Just not in the way you wish.”

“Evidently.”

It was likely a blessing that they came up on a more populated area then, as it gave them an excuse to ride in silence. Caitlin kept her head down as she had a day earlier, doing what she could to ignore the rush of blood in her ears as her heart began to race out of control.

Her fingers closed tight around the reins, hands aching from the strain before very long.

“You’d do well to relax,” he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Thank you for the advice,” she whispered in return, and when she did, she cursed herself for being just as ill-mannered as he was. There was no call for her to reply as she had, but she’d spoken before thinking.

The day grew hotter all the time, and Caitlin soon reached behind her for the flask she’d filled at Sorcha’s. The water had warmed in the sun but was still fairly refreshing. When she’d had her fill, she held the flask out to Rodric.

“Thank you,” he replied with a faint grin.

As though it both surprised and amused him that she would offer. As though she were the one who had run off to fight and not come back for seven years.

Perhaps if he’d given a damn about her marrying his brother, he would’ve come back prior to the wedding and at least spoken on her behalf. He might have claimed her for his own. She would’ve gone anywhere with him, would’ve done anything. Would even have run away to marry him if he’d asked.

But he hadn’t. He’d left her to fend for herself and then dared to insult her when she’d merely done her best.

The deep unjustness of it made the sweat trickling down her back more difficult to bear than ever.

“Here we are,” Rodric murmured.

Clearly, he was unaware that she imagined throwing the flask at his head as he handed it back to her. He’d deserted her. He hadn’t even sent word that he was alive. At least half of the tears she’d shed had been on his behalf, out of fear that he’d died or been terribly injured. Knowing there was no chance of their ever being together once the wedding to his brother took place.

Knowing he didn’t care.

“What took ye so long?” Out of the inn came bounding a tall, burly man with dark hair and a beard to match. His eyes were bright, sparkling, full of life and laughter.

He stopped short when he saw Rodric wasn’t alone.

“Shh,” Rodric signaled with a finger to his lips.

“Ahh.” The dark-haired man nodded. “I should’ve guessed, then.”

Caitlin had no time to wonder what he believed he should’ve guessed, since they were soon joined by two other men. One shared a strong resemblance with the dark hair, though his face was clean-shaven and his frame a bit leaner. The other was clearly the youngest of all, his hair dark brown and his sharp, dark eyes immediately drawn to Caitlin in a way she recognized as more than just idle curiosity.

“And who’s this, then?” he asked, one eyebrow quirking up.

“Quinn, fetch the horses,” Rodric ordered in a tight voice.

Tight because Quinn called attention to her, or tight because of the nature of the attention he showed?

Rodric scowled. “We must be on the road immediately, or as soon as possible.”

“Aye, I’ve already spent too much time idling,” the largest of the three agreed, the one with the dark beard. “The name’s Brice, by the way. I can guess what yours is, so do not bother speaking. This is my brother, Fergus.”

Caitlin nodded in greeting. None of them seemed put-out by her presence, which she hadn’t realized until that moment had been something which worried her. The fewer people she inconvenienced, the better.

“You’ve settled up inside, then?” Rodric asked as his friends mounted their horses.

“Aye, we’ve only been waiting for you.” Fergus flashed a knowing smile. “It’s good to know you had a worthwhile reason for keeping us waiting.”

Caitlin bit her lip, her eyes downcast as Rodric fumed over this. She enjoyed these friends of his.

Amazing, she thought to herself as they rode together. The five of them attracted no attention, just as she’d attracted no attention while riding on her own. Certainly, people saw them. They were impossible to miss. But they were not considered, not thought about. Simply a group of men riding from one place to another. Free to do as they chose, without the concern or curiosity of others holding them back.

She had been so frightened, too, barely sleeping for more than a few moments at a time the night before. Certain they’d be stopped on the road the moment someone recognized her. Every time she’d begun to fall asleep, she’d imagined being stopped and dragged back to Alan.

Perhaps she truly was as safe as Sorcha had believed.





15





Rodric grimaced. They were going to make his life miserable.

Brice was hardly bothering to keep the knowing smile off his face as they rode. Rodric could see him from the corner of his eye. He fairly stewed, knowing what must be going through his friend’s head.

What was he supposed to do? Leave her behind? Allow her to fend for herself? Once he was able to explain, they would understand—and if they knew what was good for them, they’d leave it alone.

“How did the three of you manage to pass the time?” he asked, looking around. It was a clear attempt at changing the unspoken subject, but it worked.