“Have ye met him?”
“Who? The MacLaren’s son?” At his nod, she answered, “Aye, I met him at my own wedding. He came and brought his wife with him. Have you?”
“Aye. He haes come to Dunbarton often. I hunted with him and his brother several times.”
“What do you think of him?” Mayhap Robert could giveher some indication of what she would face if she returned and did as the dutiful daughter should. Not that she would....
“He seemed a fair man, no’ too quick to anger or boastful. I never saw him drink to excess. And I never saw him abuse his horse or those who served him.”
“He does not abuse his horse or servants? And that is supposed to give me hope for a good union with the man?” She tried to make senses of his words. Men saw things in such a strange way.
“’Tis important indeed. Sometimes the true measure of a man can be seen in how he treats those who cannot answer back.”
“And his wife? How did he treat her? As good as his horse? Not so good as the servants?” The sarcasm was back in her voice, much as she tried to control it.
“I did no’ see him with her.” When she started to glare at him, he held up his hand. “But I do remember him speaking highly of her before she took ill.”
She was probably going to have to content herself with his slight recollection of Angus and his wife. She did not remember the woman; she had met her but once and they were among many visitors who attended her wedding. It did not matter. If she returned to Dunnedin and her father’s control, she would marry where he said whether the man be righteous or another monster.
“I cannot go back, Robert.”
“Ye must. There is no other way.” He stood his ground in the argument and in front of her. “Anice, what were ye thinking, to do such a foolish thing? I thought ye were sensible.”
He shook his head and looked at her with an expression of disappointment. And his disapproval hurt her in some way. She had not thought. She could not. She was in such a panic that she had simply acted. Her only thought had been to escape, and then she’d remembered that he was heading northeast to Dunbarton. His words promising protection had come back to her and she knew only that if she could find him, he would help her. Mayhap she could find shelter in some convent or with another clan?
“I did not think this out. I panicked and ran.”
“Aye, ye did no’ plan well either. For if no’ me on the trail, ye might have run into who knows what. Ye would be fair game for anyone who found ye. That surely would be a fate worse than marrying the man yer father chose?”
It was over. Her only chance of escape was really not a possibility. She had dreamed it, created it within her own mind, and then pursued something that could never happen. She brought her knees up and leaned her head down on them. Thankfully the babe still slept, for she had not the strength to deal with him and his needs at this moment. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. Tears flowed freely now and soon the sobbing cries broke out. She did not even try to stop them.
“Here now, Anice. Take this and wipe yer tears,” he said as he pressed a cloth into her hand. “Yer head must be paining ye terribly and I have no’ even done anything to help ye get cleaned up.”
A wet cloth followed for her head. As the coldness of the stream’s water pressed against the bump on her forehead, it did soothe some of the pain. A few minutes later, another icy compress replaced the first. Mayhap it was the cold or the dampness, but very soon Anice realized that her body had needs to be seen to. She lifted her head to see where Robert was.
“Robert, I must...”
“Here, let me help ye to yer feet. Ye can see to yer needs near the stream.” He nodded his head off to the left. Reaching out his hands, he took hers and gently pulled her up.
The forest spun around her as she tried to get her balance. Her stomach clenched and she thought she’d be sick all over Robert, but it calmed a few seconds later. Her ankle, however, had been twisted in the fall and would not hold her weight. She gasped at the pain.
“Yer head?”
“Nay, my ankle. ’Tis twisted. I fear I cannot walk on it.”
She sat back down and he crouched once more in front of her with his hands outstretched. Anice held out the injured part and braced herself as he touched it. His fingers were warm andstrong as they pressed around the joint, seeking a break in the bones. He moved it within his grasp to see how it functioned. Soon he put her foot down. She let out the breath she did not know she held.
“I feel no broken bones and the swelling, though painful, is no’ severe. Here, let me help ye to the stream and I will bind it for ye after ye finish there.”
It took more time than she thought it would to get there, take care of her needs, clean up, and then return to the campsite. Robert had assisted her in getting there, but left her alone for privacy. She stumbled along, putting most of her weight on the uninjured ankle, to find Robert holding Craig up in the air and mumbling at him. The babe’s response was to drool on him. She felt her strength waning as she finished changing Craig. She was about to take his soiled clothing to the stream to wash it when Robert stopped her.
“Yer color haes gone pale, Anice. Why do you no’ take a short rest before we leave?”
“Leave?” She felt light-headed at the very thought of going back.
“Since we are closer to Dunbarton, I thought we should go there and send word back to Struan. There is a hunter’s croft not far into MacKillop land where we can stay the night and reach Dunbarton sometime tomorrow.” He looked at her, apparently waiting for her agreement.
“If we must.... If there is no other way....?” She prayed to the Almighty that one of them would think of some other way.
