Touched by his soft expression and the exciting memories of their few hours together, she could not help but smile back, despite her anxiety. “Aye, it was wonderful, Ewan. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”
“Aye, it’s engraved in me heart, fer certain,” he assured her, then suddenly shook his head and frowned. “I suddenly feel awful tired. D’ye feel tired too?”
“Aye, I dae,” she lied, nodding.
“It must have been all that exercise in the fresh air this afternoon,” he said, giving her a lascivious grin before he rubbed his eyes and yawned. “I think I’ll have a wee lie down afore we prepare fer the attack on the castle. Come on, come and lay down with me.” He rose from the table and staggered against it. “Whoa!”
“Too much of that strong ale,” she told him, guiding him over to the cot.
“Aye, maybe so, but it daesnae usually affect me like this,” he replied, his expression puzzled as he stretched out on the cot and pulled her down at his side, his arms around her.
“Dinnae forget ye are taking medicine and still healing as well,” she reminded him, then added, “Ewan, when ye ride out tae attack the castle, ye are gonnae let me come with ye, are ye nae?” she asked, hiding how important it was that he agreed. She absolutely had to be there.
“Aye, ye can come, as long as ye do exactly as I say and stay close tae me at all times,” he told her sleepily. “I dinnae want ye tae get intae any danger.”
“Good, thank ye,” she told him, relieved he had agreed so readily. She lay next to him, stroking his cheek, watching as he succumbed to the powerful drug and soon entered a half-dazed state. He hugged her tightly.
“Ye ken, Annie,” he murmured into her ear, “this afternoon was the best of me life. I dinnae think I ever really understood what it means tae make love tae a woman before, but with ye… well, ’tis somethin’ altogether different. I think I’m fallin’ in love with ye.”
Isla’s heart melted at his confession, and she hated herself for what she was doing to him. When his lips sought hers once more, she put everything she felt for him into the slow, tender kiss they shared. But before anything more could happen, the sleeping potion took full possession of him, and he drifted off to sleep.
As he lay there, looking so peaceful and vulnerable, she brushed a stray lock of dark hair from his forehead and whispered softly, “And I’m fallin’ I love with ye too, Ewan.”
Hoping that by now everybody in the camp would be in a similar state, she waited patiently for a while before she began extricating herself from his arms, eager to be about her urgent business. But, to her distress, every time she moved, he tightened his grip on her, preventing her from leaving his side. Over and over she tried, growing increasingly frantic, seeing her last chance to speak to Gregory before the attack slipping away after she had worked so hard for it.
In the end, she was almost crying with frustration, but it made no difference. He seemed to have some kind of sixth sense and simply blocked any move she made to leave the cot. She was forced to lay like that all night until, exhausted by anxiety and fear, she fell asleep herself. And when she awoke with a start the next morning, Ewan was gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Alarmed, she sat bolt upright, instantly alert to the sounds of preparation going on outside, shouted orders, loud voices, the rattle of weaponry, men and horses moving about in numbers.
Is he goin’ without me? He cannae dae that! He promised tae take me with him!
She got up, pulled on her cap, shirt, and trousers and ran outside.
She spotted Ewan immediately. He was standing over a small table with Colin and his sergeants gathered around him. A broad, powerful figure, he stood a head taller than the tallest of them and was talking and stabbing a finger at a map on the table, clearly engrossed in going over the plans for the attack. He looked every inch the fearsome, seasoned warrior, clad in full battle gear.
He wore his leather trews and long boots, and a long mail shirt that reached almost to his knees showed below the hem of his studded leather jerkin. Thick leather pads protected his shoulders and laced leather vambraces his wrists and hands. His gloves were stuck in his belt, his helmet rested by his feet along with his shield. His weapon’s belt held his sword and two, foot-long dirks. With his dark, determined features and look of intent, he was a sight to instill fear in the bravest of fighters.
Nevertheless, she feared for his safety, and she was not about to let him go without her. She was terrified that if it came down to it and Gregory got the better of him in the fray, she had to be there to plead for his life, and vice versa. So, she did not hesitate to run over to him and confront him. She pushed herself between him and Colin and said loudly, “What are ye doin’? Were ye plannin’ on goin’ without me when ye promised tae take me with ye? Why have ye nae called me tae get ready?!”
With Colin and the other men looking on with surprise, and some amusement, Ewan proceeded to tell her gently but firmly, “I changed me mind. ’Tis too dangerous, Harris, and ye’re too young and inexperienced. So, I’ve decided ye’ll nae be comin’ with us after all.”
Frustrated and angry, Isla grabbed his arm. “But ye promised! I havetae come with ye!” she cried.
Ewan looked at Colin and his men and said calmly, “Ye’ll havetae excuse me fer a minute. Carry on.” Then she grasped Isla firmly by her arm and steered her into the tent.
“Ye havetae take me with ye, Ewan, ye gave me yer word last night,” she repeated, toe to toe with him, desperate to change his mind.
“Annie, what’s all this about? Look, I told ye, I’ve made me decision. ’Tis best if ye stay here out of harm’s way,” he told her in a low voice.
“Nay! I’m nae lettin’ ye leave me here. I havetae come with ye,” she exclaimed, unwilling to give in.
“Can ye nae understand why I changed me mind? I cannae bear the idea of ye gettin’ hurt, especially nae now,” he argued. “Ye must stay here, Annie, where ye’ll be safe and can get away if things go bad.”
“But d’ye nae see that’s why I havetae come with ye?! I cannae bear the thought of somethin’ bad happenin’ tae ye either. I need tae be there tae protect ye!”
He looked taken aback and almost smiled. “What? How the hell are ye gonnae protect me? What d’ye think ye’re gonnae dae if I get injured or someone tries tae kill me? Are ye gonnae fight them off with yer dirk?” he asked, clearly exasperated by her insistence.
