It’s because of me. Janet hated knowing that she was slowing them down. It wasn’t often that she was forced to confront her weaknesses so openly, but she did not hide from them.
She might not have the physical strength or endurance that these men did, but she was every bit as determined and had no intention of giving up. “Please,” she looked back and forth between the four shadows, wishing she could see their faces. “I can do this.”
From the concern in Ewen’s voice before, she thought he might have been worried about her, but there wasn’t a hint of concern now when he snapped, “No, you can’t. You aren’t a strong enough rider.”
She flinched. Trust Ewen not to cushion the blow. The worst part, of course, was that he was right.
Sir Kenneth attempted to ease the sting of Ewen’s words. “What Lamont means to say—”
She cut him off. “It’s all right. He’s right. I’m not strong enough. But I don’t see how that will change if we split up.”
“They won’t be following you,” Ewen said with his typical lack of explanation. The get-the-job done soldier had taken over. He turned to Magnus. “Take the horses and head north toward Broad Law. With any luck Boyd and Seton will still be there with Douglas, and you can give our English pursuers a nice surprise. I’ll head west with the lass and take cover in the forest. As soon as it is safe, I’ll find some horses and catch up with you at Ayr.”
At least he meant to go with her. She didn’t know what she would have done if he’d tried to send her with someone else.
“I’m going with you,” Sir Kenneth said. Ewen seemed poised to argue, when her brother-in-law added, “If this doesn’t work, you’ll need my sword.” He paused. “She’s my sister.”
The show of family loyalty touched her, but she still didn’t understand. “But how can you be sure they won’t follow our tracks instead?”
She could almost hear Ewen smiling. “We won’t have any.”
She learned what he meant a few minutes later when she found herself tromping through the icy water of a small burn. They’d led the horses to the water, making it look like the group had stopped to rest, and then with Ewen in the lead and Sir Kenneth behind her, the three of them had taken off on foot through the water, leaving no tracks in the freshly fallen snow (which thankfully had abated), while Magnus and Eoin had ridden off with all five horses.
She was so cold, she almost missed the horses. Almost. Her feet might be freezing, but her aching muscles and sore backside welcomed the change of movement, especially as they seemed to be heading downhill.
Ewen was right; the English would never be able to follow their path now. But when she said so aloud, he corrected her. “Tracks can be followed in shallow water. Can you feel the stones shifting under your feet? A good tracker would see the signs. It isn’t easy but if you know what to look for, it’s possible. Of course, our pursuers won’t know to look for it.” He turned around. “Watch your step—there is a large rock ahead.”
Janet took note of the shadow sticking out from the few inches of water and stepped around it, drawing her plaid in tight and making sure the bottom stayed clear of the water. She’d rolled up the edges of her leather breeches, trying to contain the discomfort to wet feet and hose.
She wouldn’t ask how long. She wouldn’t. Even if it killed her. No matter how cold and miserable, she wasn’t going to complain. She might not be able to ride a horse as well as they could, but she could certainly walk for long distances. As a courier, she’d walked for miles. Although never this fast, and never through cold water in December. She suspected that if it weren’t for her they would be running, even loaded up with weapons and carrying all the bags, including hers. She was determined to impress Ewen, even if it killed her.
“How do you know so much about tracking?” she asked.
“It’s what I do.”
Why did she feel that was an understatement? She suspected he was good at it—very good at it. “You really are one of Robert’s phantoms, aren’t you? Moving around like a ghost.”
She said it as a jest, but both men fell oddly quiet. Her brother-in-law recovered first, chuckling from behind. “What do you think, Lamont? You want to be a phantom? Maybe we should ask the king if he needs any newrecruitswhen we return?”
“I hear they’ll take just about anyone nowadays,” Ewen replied in way that made Janet feel that she was missing something.
“I must admit I was surprised to hear that Christina’s brother is reputed to be one of the illustrious phantoms,” she said. “I remember Lachlan MacRuairi as a mean, black-tempered brigand. He must have changed.”
Neither man responded. Ewen stopped to help her over a branch that had fallen in the stream. Though he held her hand for only a moment, it was enough to make her heart quicken.
He dropped it the moment she was clear.
“Do either of you know him?” she asked, her voice a little breathless.
She was growing rather used to dead pauses. Ewen finally answered. “A bit.”
“Has he changed?”
Another pause. “Nay. You’d do best to stay away from him.”
Janet took another step in the frigid water, trying to ignore the soppy feeling in her boots, and frowned. “I won’t be there long enough to see much of anyone beyond my sister. I must be back in Roxburgh as soon as possible. I need to be back in time for St. Drostan’s.”
Sir Kenneth started to say something, but Ewen cut him off sharply. “Assuming you can convince the king to let you return.”
