It occurred to her that he’d taken two days to even approach her. Why had he come to speak to her? Was he hoping to renew his courtship? She didn’t want that at all.
“I thought you might need help.”
Two hours after they’d been working? She doubted if that was his intention.
“We’ve finished for the day,” Trahern remarked. “Morren has no need of yourhelp.“ MacEgan’s height overpowered Adham by a full head, and he openly glared at the man as he set down the bundle of grain.
“I’d rather hear her own wishes,” Adham said, his eyes meeting hers.
Morren knew that, with a word from her, Adham would return to the others. He wasn’t the confrontational sort. But she wasn’t certain how to send him away without sounding rude.
When Adham stepped closer, Morren shied away. Her hand brushed against Trahern’s without really meaning to. His strong fingers closed over hers in a silent promise to guard her. Adham saw her response and frowned.
“I’ll be fine with Trahern,” she said. “You needn’t worry about me.”
“But—“
“Go back with the others,” Trahern ordered. He kept his grip firm upon her palm, and reached for the scythe with his other hand, grasping it like a weapon.
“I’m sorry, Morren,” Adham blurted out. “I couldn’t find you afterwards, and . . .” He lowered his gaze with regret. “I thought you died that night.”
His brown eyes never left hers, as though asking for forgiveness. She saw him as the awkward, quiet man he’d always been. A man who would sooner hide from an attack than grab the nearest weapon. It disappointed her, realizing that she’d considered him as a suitor once.
“You shouldn’t have left her alone to protect herself and Jilleen,” Trahern admonished. “Aye, she’s alive, but no thanks to men like you.”
Morren didn’t like either of them fighting over her. She felt like a scrap of meat, caught between two dogs. But Trahern was right. Neither Adham, nor any of the other men had done anything to look after her and Jilleen. They’d been left to fend for themselves.
Adham sent her a wary look, as though he didn’t want her alone with Trahern. She didn’t yield but sent him a steady gaze.
In the end, he lowered his head in farewell. “Perhaps later, we can talk.”
“Perhaps.” But she gave no commitment. Right now she couldn’t unravel the tangled thoughts inside. Trahern was still holding her hand, and even after Adham left, he didn’t let go.
She wasn’t sure she wanted him to.
Trahern handed her the scythe again and picked up the bundle. “Did you want to speak to him?”
“Not really.” She started walking back to the cashel, not meeting his gaze. “I know I shouldn’t be angry with him, but I am. If he’d truly cared about me—“
“Nothing would have stopped him from reaching your side.”
She lifted her eyes to Trahern’s. The fierce intensity made her flush. For a moment, it was as if he were speaking of himself. And though they were virtual strangers to one another, she sensed that Trahern was a man of strong passion. A man who would love a woman with every breath in his body.
She caught the hint of pain beneath his words, of the memory of Ciara. No doubt if he’d been there that night, he would have protected his betrothed with his life.
Morren ached for his loss, and wished she had the words to say it. In the end, she touched her fingertips to his cheek before leaving him.
Whentheyreachedtheinterior of the cashel, Morren could smell a rich stew bubbling on one of the outdoor fires. Her stomach was roaring with hunger, and it was all she could do not to run toward the food.
Two of the huts were now completed, with a third begun. At this pace, the cashel would be rebuilt within another week or two. Morren replaced the scythes they’d borrowed and nearly bumped into Gunnar.
He eyed the pair of them, but Morren didn’t quite understand the look he flashed toward Trahern. “You’ve been busy.”
“We managed to save some of the grain,” she explained.
“Good.” Gunnar pointed toward one of the newer huts. “We’re using that shelter for tools and food. The women will sleep there, and the men in the hut we just finished.”
Trahern went to place the bundle inside the hut Gunnar had designated. Even though he left her for only a brief moment, she noticed that he kept glancing back at her.
