'Fondle her,' he ordered and returned for his own horse.'That was an unpleasant few moments,' he said.'We will try this way unless you can think of another?'
'No,' I said, smoothing my hand along Kailzie's muzzle, fondling her ears, and blowing into her nostrils until she nuzzled me.'You know the area better than I do.'
We moved on again, ever more wary.Twice more we stopped as I thought I heard riders.The first was a lone deer, the second was a riderless horse, tossing its mane as it picked its own path through the Moss.We kept on, slowly, as the moon passed across the sky and faded, and a bright weather-gleam cracked open the eastern sky.
'Dawn,' Hugh said briefly.'I had hoped to be out of Tarras before now.'
This time there was no friendly woodland in which to shelter from the dangers of daylight.Instead, Hugh led us to a slight ridge on which there was a peculiar rock formation.Two long fangs of rock faced each other, creating a cave-like effect except lacking a roof.
'This is the Wolf Craigs,' Hugh told me, 'because it is shaped like the jaws of a wolf.'
He was right; the edges of the rock were serrated like teeth, even the colour, becoming visible in the growing light, was ochre-red, like old blood.Sheep and wild beasts had used this place for shelter, creating a familiar, friendly aroma.Once again, we knee-haltered the horses, ate what little we had and settled ourselves in for the night.I did not mention the aches in my rump: not that morning.
'It is more exposed here,' Hugh said.'We will have to stand watches in case somebody comes.'
I nodded.We relapsed into silence that I, for one, found miserable.'Hugh,' I said at last, 'I should not have watched you at the waterfall.'
'No,' he said, 'you should not have.'
Well, that did not help much.I had hoped that he would say it was all right, or something equally placating.I felt worse rather than better; that man had a way of saying little and meaning much, rather than most men who talk a lot and say nothing.
'I am sorry.'I had to tear the words from inside me.I was not good at apologising.
He looked at me through these steady grey eyes and nodded.
I wondered what he was thinking.'If you knew I was watching, why did you not tell me, or cover yourself up?'
'Why should I do that?'he said at once.'It was up to you to look elsewhere, not up to me to hide away.'
'You did not mind me seeing?'I said.
'No.'His smile was slow but worth waiting for.'I did not mind at all.You had seen the worst of me in my face; the rest is just like other men.If you wanted to look then you may look, and no harm done.'
I wondered if he was offering to strip for me.I hoped not.I would have expected such an offer from the boys of the Lethan, not from Hugh.'I don't want to look just now,' I countered quickly.I was not telling the truth.I did not tell him that he was not like other men: no other man could have affected me as he had.
'I am glad to hear it.'Hugh quietened my fears.'You are not the first woman to see me like that.'
'Oh?'I felt an unaccountable twist of jealousy for these unknown women who had seen him naked.I did not know why I felt that way.'I don't wish to hear of your no-doubt many amorous conquests.'The bitter words were out before I could stop them.
'I have had no amorous conquests,' he told me with surprising frankness.'Ugly men do not.'
'You are not ugly,' I said softly, and with force.
'Others disagree.'
'Then they are wrong,' I said.
'Other men are more handsome.'Hugh seemed determined to prove his own unsuitability.
I was equally determined to disprove it.'I do not care about other men, and I cannot tell if they are handsome or not.Nor should you.'I took a deep breath.'You have no reason to be shy about your appearance.Or your body.'
He held my gaze.'I have three sisters,' he said at length.'They are the women of whom I spoke.'
I do not know why I felt a surge of relief.'You should have said!'
'You should not have looked.'Hugh was smiling again.
'I am not your sister to be teased.'I felt the heat in my voice as I stood up.This not-ugly man was playing with me.
