He hoped O’Hanlon would look out for her.
When they rested, they conversed. Everyone who encountered Finlay stared at him before they either did or did not recognize him. Those who recognized him always exclaimed, “Harper! Wha’ be ye doing here?”
He and Gregor, like two strangers flung over the side of a sinking ship, stayed together as if for comfort.
During one such pause, late in the day, they sat while food was distributed.
“Ye ha’ nay tired yet,” Gregor observed. “I am impressed.”
“I am used to walking great distances fro’ house to house, seeking to perform. This is no’ great feat for me.”
“As I am used to walking great distances behind a plow. But I am beginning to feel it.”
Not till nightfall, when they were instructed to make camp, did Katrin find him. Indeed, by then Finlay half imagined she was naught but an illusion, and the past four nights had most assuredly been a dream.
Then, all at once, she was there at his elbow.
“Och! I ha’ hoped at the last ye’d ha’ the sense to reconsider and stay behind.”
She was still angry with him, then. Nay, mayhap not merely angry, for he could see fear in her eyes.
Had she been looking for him? Moving back through the admittedly ragged troops thinking to see him? Hoping, as she said, that she would not?
Her gaze touched him up and down with frank surprise. Had she expected him to go marching in his green robe?
“There is still time, Finlay, for ye to turn back.”
“And for ye,” he said pleasantly. “Let us go together.”
“I march at my father’s side. In Geordie’s place.”
“And I follow.”
She growled in frustration. Gregor gave her a startled look, shot Finlay another, and moved off.
“Ye be no’ a warrior,” she said through gritted teeth.
“And ye be no’ Geordie. Yet here we are.”
“Are ye punishing me?”
“Och, alanna, nay. I would no’ do that. Just—as ye follow yer heart, so do I follow mine.”
“But yedopunish me.” Her eyes flashed. Aye, anger still had a part in the emotions that filled her. “Have I no’ enough to worry me, wi’out fretting for ye?”
“Do no’ fret for me, then.”
“Och!” She examined him again, head to toe. “Ye are wearing a sword.”
“So I am.”
“Come wi’ me. I will find ye a place to sleep.”
He was tempted. Och, he was tempted. But he said, “Nay, I will bide here where I belong, among the ranks.”
She went off in a visible huff. Gregor edged back and eyed Finlay but said nothing.
It did not take long for Chief MacMurtray to come moving through. Just at nightfall it was, and he gave encouragement to hismen, pausing often to speak with them.
