“Aye,” a deep voice answered. Having stepped out, Duncan walked toward them. “How is yer grandfaither?”
“He stood this mornin’ and ate by himself. Please dinnae leave yet. The bad men might come back.”
He said all of it in one breath, turning supplicatory gaze from Grace to Duncan. The corner of Duncan’s lips quirked.
“They willnae, I promise.”
“And the beautiful lady will be gone too,” he pursed his lower lips. Duncan glanced at her.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she?”
Another head bob from Archie, “the most.”
Grace covered her cheeks to hide her furious blush. Then Duncan winked at her and made it impossible to conceal. His former shyness was like a faded ghost. She created waves in the boy’s hair.
“Ye will be brave?” she asked him.
“I dinnae want tae be,” Archie said in a tiny voice. “I dinnae…”
“Hey… hey,” Grace squatted to his level. “Dinnae be scared. Ye’ll be fine. Those men just wanted food and they got it. They willnae come back.”
“Promise?”
Grace firmed her voice, “aye. Be brave.”
He jutted out his small chin, “If they come back, I will hurt them too.”
Duncan waved his hands in front of him, “nae. Ye have tae be careful. Every human life matters. Even in a war, ye have tae respect that. If ye are nae hurt, dinnae take a life.”
Archie blinked at him in confusion. But Grace almost saw an angelic halo around the man’s head. She rose and patted Archie’s head.
“Even if it’s the English?” she muttered, not with the intent of either of them hearing her.
“Still human,” he told her.
Grace’s heart swelled two sizes. “Come on, I’ll take ye home.”
When she got close to Duncan, he whispered, “so after last night, a mere bairn can make ye blush.” The he turned to the boy and said, “If ye ever need anything’, go to Clan Hay and ask to see me, Duncan, heir of Laird Hay.” He then tousled his hair, while the child’s jaw went slack.
Grace jostled his side, kept a straight face and took Archie’s hand. Again, Grace could not wipe the smile from her face. Less than ten steps in, a clatter of hooves descended on the camp. On top of his horse, Craig screamed unintelligible words, but the urgency printed on his face was palpable.
Grace turned to the boy and said, “Archie, ye must go home now. I cannae come with ye, I’m sorry. I’m needed here. Can ye dae that?”
Archie nodded.
CHAPTER TEN
“Come!” Duncan shouted, grabbing Jo’s hand.
“Go Archie!” Jo shouted. They ran toward Craig, stopping by his horse. Craig slid down.
“One Englishman, camping north of here. Directly behind us. He cannae be alone. We have tae use another route afore he reports our location.”
“Just one?” Duncan asked.
“Aye, he was asleep by a dead fire. I followed the path an’ saw it was the same one we followed. I dinnae fancy such coincidence.”
“Neither dae I. Get Bryce and ready the men.”
