The lad’s expression turned angry. “Ye told me he would protect us.”
She reddened and looked away.
Something Lachlann couldn’t name bloomed in his chest. “Ye tell me, Finn.”
“Do not!” Ethne was as near to yelling at the boy as Lachlann had ever heard.
He asked, “How can he not, when I am to protect ye?”
Ethne turned a warning eye on the boy and said, “Finn, I should not have sa—”
“Do not lie to the boy.” Lachlann shook his head.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
He turned back to Finn. “Tell me. What is this thing that frightens ye?”
“Ethne?” Someone called from outside the cave.
Finn cringed, his expression crumbling into fear.
“That’s Uradech,” Ethne said, regret apparent at her unchecked outburst.
“They dinna say he would come back for ye.”
Lachlann went to the entrance, ready to face the man coming through the opening. Uradech’s expectant expression darkened as soon as he saw Lachlann standing there.
The man hesitated, then moved past Lachlann to approach Ethne, remaining a few feet away from her as if she were a goose about to squawk at him.
“Aidan is asking for ye,” Uradech said, breathing heavily.
Ethne stood, laughing, a hollow sound. “Did ye run the entire way?”
His face red from exertion, Uradech nodded. “I came to escort ye to him.”
Lachlann squared his shoulders and moved between the two of them, narrowing his gaze at the man. “Ye can return to them. I will bring her if she chooses to go.”
Uradech leveled his gaze at him, assessing him. “How is the pain?”
The man seemed to speak with a new confidence, a new sense of purpose.
“A scratch. No more.”
“Good.” Uradech seemed to expand his chest. “I was concerned with ye ending up bedridden.”
Lachlann locked his jaw. He’d prefer the man not have known quite so many details about his injury and wasn’t about to set him straight. He merely said, “Not truly necessary.”
One questioning brow rose, and his gut tightened, but he added, “Ethne is verra thorough in her care of a wounded man.”
The cheeks that had barely lost their ruddiness from exertion flushed to an even deeper red. It was a moment before Uradech responded, “So, I’ve decided to bring Ethne to Aidan myself. I dinna believe we should ask any more of ye.” His expression hardened. “Ye are only a visitor here, after all. Ye’ll not be staying.”
Finn’s reaction to Uradech’s arrival seemed to confirm Lachlann’s suspicions , and although there was more happening here than he was privy to, he had cause to intervene.
“And I am happy to do what I can for people who have been so kind and generous to me.” He indicated Ethne, who once again sat beside the fire surrounded by fish that still needed salting, a babe moving a short distance away, and Finn’s wide-eyed expression. “She is not ready as of yet.”
“Please return to Aidan’s. I dinna want ye to miss anything on account of me.” Ethne sounded breathier than usual.
Uradech was about to object, but seemed to think better of it. Turning about, he stopped at the door without facing them. “I am not certain I appreciate ye being here alone with her.”
