Already, in little more than a few months, the forest had begun to reclaim Seana’s hovel. Colin had forbidden his new bride to return to this place, where so much had happened to dispirit her.
He watched the wench from the corner of his eye as he worked the door free of the vines that had begun to tangle within the doorframe. Once the door was forced open, he gently pushed her within the cairn, but not before she managed to cast him a malevolent glare.
Broc really couldn’t blame her, but he would explain everything once they were safely within.
He followed her inside and closed the door behind them, casting the room into shadows, but, no matter,he knew his way around well enough not to trip over anything. In any case, the place was nearly empty now. It was dank and rotten-smelling and Broc grimaced at the grim reminder that Seana’s old man had lived the last of his life huddled in a cold, damp corner of the single-room dwelling.
He didn’t understand how Seana had lived here so long. He understood even less why her da hadn’t gotten off his lazy, drunken arse and built them a small but respectable hut somewhere in these woods instead of shacking up in the ruins of an old cairn.
But none of that was really any of his affair.
The old man was dead now, Seana was comfortable and deliriously happy with her new husband, and the cairn would make a good hiding place until Broc could best determine what to do with his feisty bit of baggage.
He pulled her further into the room. “You cannot keep me here!” she protested, jerking away from him as though his touch disgusted her.
He grasped her firmly, pulling her back. “Trust me when I tell you ’tis for your own good, lass.”
Not until he discovered who the bowman was did he intend to release her. He didn’t wish to have her death on his conscience now that he had chosen to intervene. Sassenach or not, she was a woman in need of his protection, and what sort of man would he be if he refused to give it?
His mother had needed him once long ago, and he’d failed her. He’d not throw away any opportunity to redeem himself by championing those who could not protect themselves.
He led the girl to one of two chairs in the room and sat her down at the table, then knelt in front of her to explain the situation as calmly as he was able.
Before he could open his mouth, she flew at him.He caught her hands before she could do any damage and jerked her down once more.
“Listen to me!” he demanded.
“This place smells like death!”
“Aye, it does,” Broc agreed. “Now,listen,” he commanded once more, trying to calm her.
“Someone will find us!” She sounded hopeful. And angry. “And when they do, you will regret ever having laid a hand upon me, Scot!”
“Nay.” He shook his head. “No one will find you here.” Even those who had known Seana lived here had not been able to find the place with precise directions. The dwelling was well hidden between cliffside and woodland.
As soon as he was able to do so he would get her some light. The place didn’t look quite so frightening with torches lit against the night.
“Aye, my menwillfind us!”
Not unless they chose to be found, Broc was certain.
“And if they cannot find me, my father will send more men to aid in the search! Theywillfind me!”
It sounded to Broc as though she were trying to convince herself, but he wanted to tell her that there would be no need, if only she would shut up and listen. “They will search in vain,” he said instead, annoyed with her persistence.
“And my father’s cousin will be furious! He too will scour this land, and when he finds me, he’ll cut off your hands for daring to touch me!”
At least he was getting somewhere now.
“And your cousin is?” he asked.
Maybe her cousin would aid them. If he could leave her here in Seana’s hovel, safe from the bowman, he could go and seek out her cousin on her behalf.
“What good will it do for me to tell you who he is?Will you set me free once you know? Or hold me for ransom?”
She struggled to free her hands from his grip, but to no avail. He held her fast.
Broc’s brows drew together. “Ransom?” The thought hadn’t even occurred to him.
