When she stepped out from behind the curtain, Rosa smiled. “Ha! I knew it! If there is one thing I have an eye for, it is beauty. You look like a princess.”
Caitlin snorted. “Really? I feel ridiculous.”
Rosa eyed Caitlin’s fingerless gloves but didn’t comment. The older woman began throwing out more clothes, which she packed into a leather satchel along with some soap and a hairbrush.
Finally satisfied, she straightened and held out the satchel. “There. That should keep you going until you get to...wherever you are going.”
Caitlin took the satchel, slung it over one shoulder, then curled her fingers around Rosa’s.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” she said. “I’m grateful for everything.”
Rosa smiled, her dark eyes twinkling. “I never had a daughter, never had anyone to spoil or pass my things onto. You’ve given me that—if only for a short time.” She pulled Caitlin into an embrace and hugged her tightly.
There was a knock on the door and Emeric stuck his head in. “Time to go, Caitlin.”
Caitlin released Rosa with a sigh and followed Emeric outside. The horses were already hitched to the wagon, steam rising from their nostrils as they stamped their feet. Inside the wagon she could make out blankets and camping gear, along with food for their journey.
Kai stood at the front of the wagon, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the pink sky. He gave Caitlin a crooked smile.
“Ready?”
She swallowed thickly. Ready? She would never be ready. But she merely nodded and climbed up onto the wagon seat.
Kai turned to Rosa. “I’ve drilled the men as best I can, but they’ll soon get lazy and complacent if someone doesnae keep them in line.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that. If there is one thing I’m good at, it’s keeping men in line.”
Kai laughed. “Aye, dinna I know it?”
Rosa smiled and her dark eyes found Caitlin’s. “Goodbye, my dove. And good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” She flicked a significant look at Kai, which thankfully he didn’t notice.
Kai climbed onto the driver’s seat beside Caitlin while Conall, Emeric and Oskar scrambled into the back of the wagon. Kai took up the reins, clucked to the horses, and the wagon lurched into motion, trundling away down the road. Caitlin twisted in her seat and waved back at Rosa until the woman was lost in the distance.
For just a short while, she had felt safe inThe Drunken Piper. It had only been for a few hours, but at least it was something. Now they were riding into God-alone knew what.
“Where are we headed?” she asked as the cart rolled along the track.
Kai’s blue eyes flicked to hers. “North.”
“North? North where?”
“Now that would be telling.”
Caitlin glared at him. “Oh, so we’re back to that are we?”
“Back to what?”
“Cryptic answers that tell me absolutely nothing. Do you know how annoying that is?”
Kai’s eyebrows rose. “Do ye mean to tell me that ye dinna appreciate the thrill of the unknown?”
Caitlin rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
Kai’s expression turned serious. “Alfred gave us the name of the rendezvous and where it is. Finn’s Cross. That’s all I know. I canna tell ye more until we get there.”
Caitlin supposed she would have to be satisfied with that. She had assumed that after Aberfeldy her ordeal would be over, that she would be home by now. Instead, she was stuck with these people.
With Kai.
