“Are ye certain ye should be walking yet, Anice? Ye twisted that ankle just a day ago.”
“It is sore. But I can walk if I take it slowly. And the binding you did yesterday surely made it feel better.”
She lifted her skirts slightly to show him the ankle was still wrapped. The last thing he needed right now was a peek of her shapely legs. His body was already afire and that just made him even hotter. He shifted his position, trying to figure out how he could stand without horrifying her with his physical reaction.
“I must...” she stuttered, pointing to the woods. “Can you watch Craig for just a few minutes or should I take him?”
“Dinna be foolish, Anice. Ye canna carry him and attend to yer needs. Leave him with me.” She nodded and he continued, “There is a stream some yards right through that gap in the trees. Ye may want to wash up there, but have a care. It may be swollen from the storm.”
She nodded wordlessly at him, picked up a sack that, judging from the smell, held some of the bairn’s soiled clothing, and took it with her. Once she was out of sight, he let go of his covers and stood. He wanted to blame his erection on the morning. He woke with one most mornings even if sated when he went to sleep. But, in truth, he knew it was her. Holding her on his lap yesterday, and the feel of her rocking against him, had made him hard for most of the ride. Seeing that glimpse of shoulder and breast and leg was enough to make him more uncomfortable.
Robert was dressed in a few minutes and then went over to where Craig lay, playing now with his toes and jamming his fist in his mouth. It was interesting how babes could look so carefree one second and then so needful the next. He took advantage of the quiet contentedness to organize his bags andAnice’s and come up with a list of supplies and food they would need if they remained at the croft. He was still not certain about what to do, but returning her to Dunnedin or even to Dunbarton immediately was not part of it.
When he saw her hobbling back through the trees, he went out to help her. Taking the wet clothes from her, he offered her his arm for support. She hesitated for a second and then held on to him as she made her way back to the croft. She reached for the clothing but he stopped her.
“I will see to these, Anice. Ye must rest.” She’d pulled her hair back and bundled it tightly at her neck. The severity of the look simply emphasized her injury.
“Robert, I am fine.”
“The dizziness is gone?” He scrutinized her closely.
“Aye. Other than an ache in my head when I tilt it, I am well.”
As he spread the babe’s clothing out on some branches, Anice went inside the cottage. He realized he’d never even spoken of how she’d been injured.
“’Tis sorry I am about yer head. I did no’ ken that ye were the one on the ground or I would’ve approached ye differently.”
Anice came out with Craig on her hip. “And I was asleep when you came near. I knew you were close by but the noise frightened me awake. I did not know it was you.”
“Why did ye no’ simply catch up with me on the road, Anice? Dear God, when I think of ye and the bairn spending a night alone wi’out cover or protection, I...” His words drifted off.
She patted the babe on the back and shrugged. “As I said, I panicked, Robert. I did not think at all. I did not want you to find me until I was far enough not to be returned to Dunnedin.”
He could see her eyes beginning to fill with tears and her efforts not to let it show. He hung the last gown over a branch and turned to her.
“I must go to Dunbarton today. I want ye to stay here....” She began shaking her head even before he finished. “Ye came to me for help, Anice. Let me try to find a way for ye in this.”
She grabbed his arm with her free hand. “Robert, I cannotgo back.”
“Ye may have no choice in this.”
She dropped her hand and turned away from him, rocking the babe.
“Ye must trust me for a day, Anice. I will see what messages Struan haes sent out to his allies and see his intent from those.”
“But the MacKillop is one of his friends.”
“Aye, but the MacKillop will listen to me first. I need yer word that ye will be here when I return.”
Anice turned to face him and her face wore that defeated expression once more. He hated it. He hated what he might have to do. She met his gaze and nodded.
“Let’s see to a meal and then I’ll be on my way. The sooner I get there, the sooner I can return here to ye and the babe.”
The next hour passed quickly as they each carried out tasks that would organize them for the day: they refilled their waterskins, prepared a meal, saw to their animals, and then ate in silence. Soon, he put on his sword and mounted his stallion and headed for Dunbarton. He could not look back.
She watchedas he rode away. She kept her eyes upon him until she could no longer see him moving along the forest path. Her son cooed and gurgled in that language of babes who had no cares in the world. Perched on her shoulder, he raised his head and looked around as though he knew something or someone was missing from their world.
Would he miss her when she was gone? Although she’d like to convince herself that he knew her as his mother, the reasoning part of her understood that he would seek nourishment from whoever provided it. And when he was old enough, he would call someone else mother.
