“He died some time ago,” Laura grimaced at the lie. Sitting behind a man who disliked lies so much, she wondered what he would think of her if he ever discovered the truth. “Suffice it to say, I had no wish to stay in that life. I wish to go and live with my aunt and begin anew. Live a different life entirely.”
“Hmm,” Erskine said nothing for a moment, prompting Laura to hold onto her legs in anticipation of his next words. “Well, there is somethin’ to admire in that.”
“Admire?” Laura repeated in surprise. She was so shocked, she leaned forward to his side, trying to see around him and catch his eyes. He looked down at her, connecting their gaze. “What is to admire in it?”
“Ye are havin’ the guts to change yer life, Billie. Nae just that, but ye are willin’ to take the risk of swappin’ countries to make it happen,” he gestured to their road ahead. “It is nae an easy decision to make, to take this path. It is a decision that takes bravery. Nae everyone has that, ye ken.”
She sat back in the saddle, disconnecting their gaze. His words had washed over her with warmth, thrilled that he admired something in her.
Do not think that! He thinks I am a boy. There are so many hurdles to this attraction. Stop being so pleased by his words.
“Thank ye for tellin’ me,” Erskine dropped a hand behind him and patted her knee. It was a friendly move, nothing intimate about it at all, but for some reason, it sent a spark of excitement through her.
I have set myself up for torment riding behind him in this way.
Chapter Five
Erskine was growing more and more agitated by the path his thoughts were taking. On the second night of their travels, he and Billie were the first ones to return to their table after freshening up from their journey. It irked him, not because he was frustrated with Billie. On the contrary, he was frustrated that he enjoyed Billie’s company so much.
Their conversation during their rides had become easy, flowing from one topic to the next. Sometimes they spoke of the Scottish troubles, other times music and tales they had heard pass through the streets on gossiping tongues. It was not helping Erskine how easy it was to talk with Billie, neither was it helping Dearg’s now incessant teasing.
There must be somethin’ wrong with me…
As he placed a tankard of ale down on the table for Billie to drink and took his seat beside him on the bench, he lifted his eyes and tried to keep them on anything but the boy. He gazed at the few tables that were around them, the night sky beyond the windows, and the great stone fireplace sat between the dark wood panels, but still, his eyes slid back to the boy.
He found himself staring at the curve of Billie’s neck and the small lips that were parted as he sipped from his tankard. An image filled his mind, one where he was kissing that curved neck and those small lips, but the boy was a girl with long hair.
In the name of the wee man! I am nae the man I thought I was!
He looked sharply away from Billie, back down at his own tankard.
“Are you well, Erskine?” Billie’s husky voice disturbed his thoughts.
“Aye, I am,” Erskine lied as he ran a hand through his hair in stress. He looked up, relieved to see that Tam and Dearg were heading toward their table. At least with them there, he could be distracted from his confused thoughts. “Tam? Where are Camden and Aiden?”
“Still seein’ to the horses,” Tam said as he took the chair beside him. “Aiden insisted on helpin’ Camden.”
“Aye,” Dearg chimed in with a mischievous smile. “They get on like a house on fire, those two. Almost as well as ye two do, though nae quite as well,” he gestured between Erskine and Billie.
Erskine directed a dark glare at his brother, but Dearg only smiled in return.
Yer teasin’ is nae helpin’, ye bampot.
“How long until we reach Scotland?” Billie asked, leaning forward and directing his question at Tam, clearly in order to dispel the awkwardness between the two brothers.
“A week and a half,” Tam replied quickly. “That is if we make it through the dark roads unscathed.”
“Dark roads? What does that mean?” Billie’s voice pitched high. It was not the first time Erskine had heard Billie’s husky voice waver. It prompted him to look at the boy.
“It’s the name for the roads where the highwaymen like to patrol,” Dearg leaned forward and spoke with a dramatic flair. “They shoot their enemies for a pittance, even if they like the look of yer clothes. They will leave ye in a ditch, dead with a musket shot in yer head, and nay clothes left.”
Billie flinched at the words.
“Dearg, ye’re scarin’ the lad,” Erskine warned.
“Oh, ye are protective of the boy,” Dearg was smiling once again. It made Erskine hold his tongue, reluctant to push the matter.
“Are these ‘dark roads’ truly so bad?” Billie turned his attention away from Dearg, focusing on Tam.
