CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Walk the perimeter with me,” Colin said when Ewan dismissed them men. “I need tae talk tae ye about somethin’.”
“Aye, all right. I can inspect the defenses at the same time. What is it ye want tae talk tae me about?” he asked as they set off across the camp, thinking little of his friend’s request, assuming it was something to do with the upcoming attack.
“I want ye tae be honest with me about what’s goin on with ye and… Harris,” Colin said.
Ewan frowned, disconcerted by the question. He wondered if Colin could read his mind and had somehow divined that something significant had occurred between him and Isla at the inn. “What d’ye mean?” he replied cagily.
“Well, fer starters, I just had a very interestin’ conversation with her, and it seems she is so worried about ye gettin’ hurt in the attack that she tried tae persuade me tae get ye tae call it off.”
“Will ye be careful what ye say?” Ewan hissed, checking around to make sure no one had heard Colin’s slip of the tongue. While it warmed his heart to know Annie was afraid for him, he had not forgotten her attempts to convince him that searching for a secret entrance to the castle was naught but a fool’s errand that would end in bloodshed. “Tell me, what exactly did he say?” he asked Colin.
After Ewan’s reprimand, Colin recounted the conversation as if he were really speaking of Harris. “It was obvious he was trying tae persuade me tae advise ye tae call off the attack. That’s very suspicious,” he finished. They reached the main entrance to the camp and nodded at the guards as they walked by.
“Maybe,” Ewan replied, putting his hands behind his back, his thoughts racing. He trusted Colin as his closest friend and knew he was only doing his job properly. Much as he wished he could simply take Annie’s apparent concern for him at face value, especially after what had happened between them at the inn, he knew he could not simply dismiss Colin’s remarks.
“Apart from that, I’m also troubled by this closeness ye and Harris seem tae have formed between yersel’s. There’s somethin’ different about ye lately, Ewan.”
“Eh? What are ye talkin’ about, man?” Ewan protested, glancing at Colin with surprise while inwardly flinching as his friend’s accusation touched a raw nerve.
“Dinnae bother tae deny it, Ewan. I’ve kent ye so long, ye cannae hide it from me. Somethin’s changed in ye, somethin’ significant. Ye might think ye can keep on hidin’ it from me. But I assure ye, I’m the man who kens ye better than any other, and sooner or later, whatever’s goin’ on will come tae light.”
Ewan did not respond to that. He knew Colin was right, something profound had changed within him, but he did not even understand it himself, and if he was confused by it, he doubted very much doubted Colin could either. With all that was on his mind, he did not care to discuss it further. “I dinnae ken what ye’re talkin’ about,” he hedged, adding briskly, “Now, let’s put an end tae such idle talk and focus on the business in hand, all right?”
Colin pursed his lips, but he nodded. “Aye,” he said.
They continued with the inspection of the camp’s defenses. However, when it was finished and he parted from Colin, Ewan walked back to the tent with his friend’s assertion about the change in him ringing in his mind. It left him with a lot to think about, and it always came back to one thing—Annie and the true nature of his feelings towards her.
Determined to talk to her about it right away he stepped inside the tent, her name already on his lips. He looked around, confused to find her nowhere in sight. Supposing she hadslipped out for some reason, he went out again to look for her. But after searching for some time and still not finding her, he realized she must have sneaked out of the camp—against his specific orders.
Bloody hell! Where has she run off tae this time? Why can she never stay where I tell her to?
Filled with a mixture of anger, urgency, and apprehension, he strode to the stable to fetch his horse, determined to find her and bring her back. While he waited impatiently for the stallion to be saddled, he suddenly had an idea of where she might have gone. Once he was astride the beast, he quickly rode out of the camp and headed towards the healer’s cottage at a gallop.
When he arrived, he was relieved to see Annie’s mare grazing on the grass in the garden. He slid from the saddle, let his horse join her mare, and immediately went to hammer on the cottage door with his clenched fist. When Annie opened the door and looked out at him with a strangely fearful expression on her face, he let fly.
“Aye, ye should look afraid! What the bloody hell d’ye mean by disobeyin’ me orders like that? Have I nae told ye many times nae tae leave the camp without me permission? Can ye nae get in intae yer head that ’tis dangerous?!” he found himself shouting.
Her fearful look was quickly replaced by a flash of the old defiance “Sorry,” she replied pertly, “there’s nay need tae tear yer hair out over it. As ye can see, I’m perfectly fine. Ye were busy, and I didnae wantae disturb ye over somethin’ so trivial asfetchin’ some more tea from Ella. I planned on bein’ back before ye even noticed I was gone.”
“Well, ye were nae back, and I damned will did notice. Now, if ye’re done, we’ll be gettin’ back tae the camp right away,” he replied, his anxiety and annoyance draining away rapidly. He refused to feel foolish for his outburst though. Itwasdangerous for her to go gallivanting about by herself. He did not know what he would do if any harm came to her.
Ella appeared in the doorway behind Annie, and he could see she was stifling her laughter. Ewan summoned a smile and nodded at her. She waved at him mirthfully. “Hello, Ewan. How’s yer chest? Is the wound healin’?” she called.
“Aye, thank ye, ’tis doin’ very well,” he replied. “I’m grateful for yer help.”
“Och, ye’re welcome. Now, dinnae forget tae have Annie here change the dressin’ eh?”
“I willnae.”
“Thank ye fer the firewood,” she added. He had given the order immediately upon his return to camp. “That’ll keep me goin’ fer a while.”
“Grand. We’re even then,” he told her. Then, he looked at Annie expectantly and jerked his chin at the horses. “Are ye comin’?”
She nodded. “Aye, give me a minute tae get the tea and I’ll be with ye.” She vanished inside, and he could hear them whispering together and the rustle of paper before she appeared a few moments later. Ella followed and stood in the doorway while they mounted up and prepared to leave. Ewan saluted Ella over his shoulder, whilst Annie waved at her and called, “Good bye, Ella. Thank ye fer everythin’. Take care of yersel’. I hope I see ye again soon.”
“Likewise!” Ella called after them, returning the wave as she watched them ride off down the lane before finally shutting the door.
