“Jaysus God Almighty!” Colin exclaimed under his breath, rubbing his face in disbelief. “D’ye nae understand the risk ye’ve been takin’, keepin’ her here in the camp?”
“Of course, I dae! I’m nae a complete fool,” Ewan hissed. “But what choice did I have?”
“Ye could have told me fer one! She tried tae kill ye. Who’s tae say she’s nae gonnae try it again?” He was so obviously shocked, Ewan felt guiltier than ever and doubted his own wisdom, not for the first time. But he was not about to put Annie in harm’s way.
“She hasnae so far. I threatened tae execute her or give her tae the men if she tried anythin’ again,” he hastened to explain as best he could despite his inebriation, conscious that Annie was back at the tent alone, and possibly with a concussion. “I’ve nae let her out of me sight, and I’ve kept her tied tae me at night, Colin. Ye’ve seen how she’s settled intae the camp. Naebody suspects. The men like her… I mean, Harris.”
“Well, have ye at least found out who sent her tae kill ye?”
“Nay, nae yet. She’ll nae tell me anythin’ more than that she’s a lass from a nearby village and her name is Annie Dean,” Ewan admitted.
“But we should be takin’ measures tae find out! She’s far too dangerous tae have runnin’ around the camp unchecked like this, Ewan, ye must see that,” Colin protested in a low voice.
“I’m handlin’ things, Colin, so dinnae fash yersel’. Trust me, will ye?”
“Seems like ye give me nay choice. I just cannae believe ye would keep somethin’ like this from me.”
“I had tae, I’m sorry. I kent what ye would dae if ye found out. Ye’d have killed her.”
“Aye, because she’s likely an enemy spy!”
“Ach, she’s nay spy.” Ewan wished he was as confident of that as he sounded.
“She’s likely been reportin’ back every move we make,” Colin whispered accusingly.
Ewan shook his head vehemently. “I told ye, she’s nae been out of me sight since she got here. She’s had nay chance tae go anywhere alone. And she daesnae seem interested in tryin’.”
Colin stared at him. “Ye’re foolin’ yersel’, Ewan. She arrives in the dead of night and tries tae murder ye in yer bed, and ye dinnae think she’s a spy? Have ye gone mad?”
Ewan was losing patience. He was drunk, and he was worried about Annie and wanted to get back to her. “I’m nae sayin’ I trust her, and I’m nae even certain that Annie is her name. But she’s willin’ tae fight fer us, and she’s done everythin’ I’ve told her tae dae. Are those the actions of a spy?
“Besides, I’ve sworn tae protect her, and that’s what I’m gonnae keep on doin’ until this siege is over and matters between me and Allan and Galbraith are settled. That’s all I’ve got tae say about it fer now.”
“This is madness,” Colin moaned, shaking his head. “Ye’ll regret this, Ewan, I’m certain of it.”
“That’s me own affair. I’m keepin’ a close eye on her, and I take responsibility fer anythin’ that happens. Look, I’ve got tae go now, Colin. Ye swear ye’ll keep this tae yersel’?”
“Ach, get out of me tent, ye madman,” his captain told him, with an air of weary despair.
“Good man,” Ewan replied, reassured, making for the exit.
“But if ye wind up dead, dinnae come runnin’ tae me,” the captain hissed after him as he left. The warning was so ridiculous, Ewan could not help laughing to himself. The coldair hit him as he stepped outside, and he suddenly felt the drink catch up with him. He felt well and truly hammered. The world began to spin as he made his way unsteadily back to the tent, his head full of Annie.
Isla’s head had cleared thanks to the willow bark tea Ella had given her, and her injury was little more than a dull ache on her brow for the moment. In fact, it was her heart that was aching rather than her head.
Weary from the night’s activities, she had undressed to her shirt and stockings and gotten into bed, keeping her cap on just for the moment in case anyone other than Ewan came in. She propped herself up against the pillow and, bathed in the warm glow of several candles, gave herself over to worrying about what would happen if Ewan and his men discovered the tunnels leading into the castle. If they succeeded, then once they got inside, those trapped in the castle would be like lambs to the slaughter, most of all Gregory!
Desperate to protect her brother, when Ewan left the tent to see Colin, she had toyed with the idea of sneaking out of the camp and into the castle before he returned, to warn Gregory of the imminent threat. But after a lot of thought, she had decided it would be too risky. She had no idea if Ewan would be gone five minutes or an hour or two. If he returned and she was gone, he would know she had been lying to him all along, that she was a spy, and she would never be able to return. For some reason she could not fathom, she was reluctant for that to happen.
Besides that, she knew she could easily get caught sneaking out of the camp and raise suspicions of her being an enemy spy. If that happened and she was revealed to be a woman, she did not think Ewan would be able to protect her from the consequences, even if he wished to.
She decided it would be better to try to get a message to Gregory somehow, to try to persuade him to avoid bloodshed by suing for peace with Ewan. She was pondering this when she was interrupted by Ewan stumbling into the tent.
“Annie, I’m back. I’m shorry I was sho long. I got tae talkin’. Are ye feelin’ all right?” he said, slurring his words, swaying unsteadily as he grinned at her.
“Ach, ye’re drunk,” she replied, surprised to see him in such a state.
“I’m nae drunk, I jusht had a few drinks,” he said, trying to pull off his boots off and almost falling over himself in the process. Isla had never seen him like that before—he was always so in control—and she could not help laughing. Her worries receded as she watched him struggling comically with his boots for a few moments before getting up and going to help him. She had no idea what she was in for.
