“I came in by boat. Where is this place?”
“The village of Crunston Cliff. My family lives here. We have come for my sister’s wedding and the Christmas festivities.”
He’d never celebrated anything in his life before. Not his birth date or any other date.
“D-do you live here?”
“No, but my family d-does.”
Her stutter had him reaching for the scarf. “You are c-cold now. Take the scarf, Kate.”
“No, you have more need of it. Do I detect a French accent?”
“I have j-just arrived from there.”
“Where is your boat?”
“G-gone.” He had no wish to discuss this further. They’d left him for dead and would be made to pay if he lived long enough to see that happen.
“Do you have family here?”
“I do n-not.” What family Rory had, had turned their backs on him long ago.
“I cannot see if the bullet has left your shoulder, but I have no wish to move you again. It will need to be extracted if it is still in there.” She leaned over him to speak, close enough that he caught her scent. Flowers and sunshine, Rory thought. She smelled of dreams he’d long ago given up on. He wanted to hold her closer, let her body warm him.
“Then I-I will find a surgeon to do so.”
“My cousin has a clinic in the town of Crunston Cliff and will be able to do that for you.”
“I c-can look after myself.”
“And yet you will let my cousin look at you, as she is the nearest healer.”
Her eyes were steady and determined. He saw fear too as she looked up at the ridge above them once more.
Kate hadn’t asked who had left him there to die on the beach, but she had to be wondering, had to hope she was safe or if he’d deserved to be left there to die.
“If the bullet is still lodged, you will likely die if it is not removed with some expediency.”
Rory grunted as she pressed harder on his shoulder. He felt her shivers.
“You need warmth.” He reached out with his other hand and pulled her closer until she rested on his chest. He was cold, and yet together they would find warmth.
“Your injury!”
“Is numb from the cold,” he lied. “Be still and let us warm each other.”
“I-I don’t think that’s possible, as we are both chilled through.”
“W-we shall at least try then.”
He felt something like peace slip over him as he lay there on that cold ground. Wind buffeted them, and sea sprayed dabbled his cheeks, but he could stay there holding her forever.
“You should leave here, Kate.”
“I will not leave you.”
The hell of it was, he didn’t want her to, which shocked him. Rory didn’t need people.
