But deep down, just as she had feared it would, she was painfully aware that her growing attraction to the enemy laird, though she fought against it, was slowly making the thought of actually carrying out her resolution to assassinate him seem increasingly impossible.
Anxious not to dwell on that disturbing thought, she instead turned her attention to what shecoulddo to relieve the privations she was sure Gregory and their clansfolk were now experiencing under the siege. They had been incarcerated within the castle walls with no food supplies going in for the best part of two weeks. She prayed the arrangements she had put in place for the domestic side of things before leaving the castle were working efficiently. But she was eager to do more, and after giving the question a lot of thought, she had an idea.
That night, she lay next to Ewan, her body tense with expectation as she stared into the darkness, listening to his breathing. It felt like an eternity before it slowed and deepened, finally telling her he had fallen asleep. Still, she forced herself to wait a little longer before she dared to move, sliding her body by slow increments off the side of the cot, inch by inch, until her feet were resting on the floor.
He stirred. Isla froze in position, holding her breath. Though she already had an excuse for leaving the bed—answering an urgent call of nature—fear of the possible consequences if he caught her and did not believe her explanation chilled her blood.
She only breathed out again when he settled back into sleep. Then, she picked up her boots and outer clothes, which she had earlier carefully placed within easy reach, and stole out of the tent.
CHAPTER NINE
Outside, all seemed quiet within the camp. Not wanting to waste a moment, she rapidly donned her boots and clothes, making sure to pull her cap low to hide her hair, as she always did in her guise of Harris. Keeping low and within the shadows as far as possible, she set off across the camp on tiptoe, weaving her way between the tents as quietly as she could, fearful of the possible consequences should anyone hear her and come to investigate.
It would only take one soldier to think she was an enemy spy and treat her a bit too roughly for her disguise to be stripped away, revealing her to be a woman! Ewan’s horrible threat to give her to his men if she did not comply with his demands still scared her and could easily become reality. But despite her fear, she stiffened her resolve and forced herself onwards.
’Tis me duty tae dae all I can,however small and whatever the risks, tae help Gregory and all those trapped on the inside. Just get on with it! The sooner ’tis done, the sooner I can creep back tae me bed!
So on she went. Eventually, she arrived at her destination, the wagon where the confiscated food deliveries were stored. She checked her surroundings, satisfying herself she was alone. Then, with her heart in her mouth and her hands shaking, she undid the back doors and pulled away the tarpaulin covering the stockpile.
It had grown since the party, she noticed at once, having been replenished with freshly commandeered goods. The sight made her angry.’
‘Tis nae right! That food belongs tae Gregory and the rest of our people!
Aware she must work quickly to lessen the chances of discovery, as well as get back to the tent undetected and then into bed without waking Ewan, she determinedly rolled up her sleeves. But when she leaned forward to grab a sack of flour, every tiny creak of the wagon boards sounded as loud to her ears as the crack of musket fire.
She held her breath, fearful she had been heard, that any moment now soldiers would begin emerging from their tents and catch her in the act. She waited a minute or two, and nothing happened. Breathing a sigh of profound relief, she carefully hefted another sack of flour. Her knees sagged for a moment under the weight until she balanced her load. She had planned to steal—no, not steal but reclaim—three sacks at a time. Flour would be urgently needed inside the castle, for bread. Carrying only two would take a lot longer than she had planned.
But now I’ve come this far, I havetae keep goin’ and carry what I can in the little time I have. I’m sure anythin’ will be of help, and I can always come back fer more.
She was just about to sneak out of the camp to the castle and leave the sacks by the front gates when she was violently seized from behind around the waist, and a large hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream of fear and shock. Taken completely by surprise, Isla suddenly found herself being dragged backwards into the deep shadows behind the wagon, her back pressed up against a long, muscular, warm body.
She knew immediately who it was even before his deep, gravelly voice growled in her ear, sending shivers up her spine. “And what d’ye think ye’re up tae, eh? Stealin’ supplies, are ye? Now, why would ye be doin’ that, I wonder?”
“Let me go this instant!,” she demanded in an angry whisper, kicking and wriggling, trying to free herself from his grip. But he held her with ease, tightening his hold around her waist.
“’Tis nae good fightin’. Ye may as well save yer strength tae tell me the truth about what ye’re up tae.”
She gave up fighting, but she seemed more angry than scared of him. He blamed himself for having trusted her too much and treated her too kindly.I should have kept her tied up at nights!
“How did ye—” she began.
“Catch ye in the act of stealin’ food out of me men’s mouths?” he filled in for her angrily, his mouth close to her ear. “Did ye think I wouldnae feel ye creepin’ out of bed like that? I followed ye. Now, explain what ye think ye’re doin’ before I really lose me temper and dae what I should have done at the beginning—execute ye fer an enemy spy.” He hated terrifying her, but he figured it was the only way to get her to be honest with him. “I’ll nae ask ye again. What are ye doin here?”
“All right, I-I was, er, I admit it, I was gonnae steal some flour,” she said in a low voice, obviously as keen as he was not to attract attention.
“What fer?” he growled in her ear.
“Tae… tae sell tae the baker in me village.”
That took him aback. “What?”
“Aye, since I couldnae get the money fer killin’ ye, I need tae get some another way.”
It was so plausible, he was tempted to believe it. In truth, he wanted to believe it. After all, she had only been holding two sacks of flour. It was not as though that small amount would help feed those trapped in the castle under siege, would it? Without realizing it, he must have loosened his grip around her waist, because she suddenly twisted and pulled away from him.
“And what business is it of yers what I dae?” she blustered defiantly, turning to confront him. “I dinnae owe ye any explanations, I owe ye naethin’.”
Infuriated by her attitude, he caught hold of her arm, lest she try to run, and shook her. “That’s what ye think, is it? That ye owe me naethin’?”
