She plucked the shirt down from the rafter and quickly pulled it on, and stepping back, she slipped the white vest on, pinning it closed. She drew the skirt’s drawstring round her waist as tight as she could. She didn’t want it falling around her ankles anytimesoon.
He’d been watching her the whole time with an expression she had no way of reading. “Who are you?”
He raised his brows. “I am Iain MacLaren, laird of the Dorpol MacLarens.”
Great, Abby thought.Why couldn’t you be a nobody?
She turned and collected the blanket of food, unfolded it, and broke off a piece of bread. She offered it to him. “Sit there and eat.”
He took it but didn’t put it into his mouth. “I want to know who ye are now.”
“I’m, um . . . Abigail Davis.”
“Abigail Davis. I dinnae know thatname. Why were ye out on the moor?”
Abby didn’t usually like being called by her full name, but the way he said Abigail, she figured she could get used to it.
“Abigaiel?”
“Ah, I came from America and was supposed to meet my grandmother, but I became lost.”
“America is a far from here. How did ye get lost?”
Think, Abby. Howdidyou get lost?She took a bit ofbread and chewed as she tried to come up with a believable story.
“I had a seat in a coach, but when we stopped at an inn, I must have fallen asleep and the driver left without me. I walked the road the way we had been traveling, but when I heard shouting in the distance, I followed the sound, hoping to get help. I didn’t know there was a battle ragingand I got scared. So, I kept my head down and hoped I wouldn’t be caught while I waited it out.”
He sat down on the bed and took a bite of the bread, and then another, and soon stuffed the lot in his mouth. After washing it down with water, he held out his hand. “More, and some of that cheese.”
“Please?”
He eyed Abby, and for a moment, she thought he was going to order her to give him the food, but he smirked. “Please.”
Once he’d finished eating, he said, “Why did ye save me?”
“The English chased their enemy off the moor, but I stayed hidden in case they came back and during that time, I saw you move. Once I knew you were alive, I couldn’t just leave you. That would have made me no better than a murderer.” She shrugged. “I had no choice but to drag you off the field.”
Iain frowned. “Others would have left me there.”
“I’m not others.”
“Naw, ye are not others.” He said the words slowly, gazing intently at her.
The way he said thathad Abby worried. Did he reallythink she was some sort ofwitch? Once he regained his strength, what would he do?
She needed to change the subject. “You seem healthy enough now. Why were you unconscious for so long? Do you have another injury somewhere?”
“Naw.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Being struck on the skull with something extremelyheavy probablyhad a lot to do with it.”
“Oh.” Abby stood up and felt his head. “You have quite a lump there but whatever hit you, it didn’t break the skin.” She stepped away. “You were lucky.”
“Aye.” His eyes grazed over her. “I was very fortunate.”
Standing up, he stomped his feet as if making sure his legs worked properly and flashed a smile. “And now it’s time for me to take my leave.”
Chapter 8
Did he say he was leaving?Abby blinked again, waiting for his words to penetrate her whirling brain. When they did, they sounded so final. He would just up and go? Just like that?
