A wise plan. But something had been bothering her. “Why do you think they were chasing us in the first place?”
He hesitated, seemingly to take care with his words. “We had some trouble on the way to find you in Roxburgh.”
“So they were looking for you?”
“Probably.”
The knowledge eased her conscience somewhat about the lost cap. It hadn’t been all her fault. Moreover, as she expected it was going to be hard to convince Robert to let her return to Roxburgh after what had happened, the fact that the soldiers had been after Ewen and the others and not her, would help. Of course, there was no question of Ewen escorting her back. It was too dangerous for him. But it wouldn’t be for Novice Eleanor.
“Shall we be much delayed, do you think? I must be back in Roxburgh within the fortnight.”
A strange look crossed his face. He looked away almost uncomfortably. “You will have plenty of time. But we should go.”
“What about Sir Kenneth? How will he know how to find us?”
“Don’t worry about Sutherland. He’ll catch up with us if he can.”
If. She caught something in his expression that she’d been too scared and upset to notice before. A slight darkening of the eyes and tightening around the mouth.
Janet stilled, as horror slowly dawned. “You think something has happened to my sister’s husband?”
As if Mary didn’t have cause to hate her enough already.
She must have looked as stricken as she sounded because he swore, drawing his fingers through his hair. “Damn it, that’s not what I meant. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“And if he’s not?”
He took her chin and tipped her face toward his. “If he’s not, it has nothing to do with you. This is what he does, and sometimes—most of the time—it’s dangerous. Mary knows that.”
Janet nodded, but in her heart she couldn’t accept it. If anything happened to her sister’s husband, Janet would never forgive herself.
A cap. A blasted cap! He couldn’t have died over something so insignificant…could he?
Tears filled her eyes. Ewen’s thumb stroked her cheek, as if he’d wipe them away before they could fall. The gentleness caught in her heart and wouldn’t let go.
I could love him.
With the smallest amount of encouragement, she could love him. The realization of how easy that would be rose up and grabbed her by the throat, both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It would change everything.
He looked as if he might say something more, but instead he dropped his hand from her face and stepped away. “Get ready and have something to eat while I take another look around. The mist isn’t as thick this morning, and I want to be off these mountains before it lifts.”
He was almost through the entrance when she called out, “Ewen!”
He turned and looked at her over his shoulder. Her heart squeezed. With his dark hair, steely blue eyes, rough-hewn features and stubble-shadowed jaw, he looked so ruggedly handsome it hurt.
Why him? After all these years, why had this one man finally threatened into her heart?
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
She blushed. For being here with her. For keeping her safe and warm. For holding her in his arms. For bringing her the water to wash this morning. For not blaming her, and trying to make her feel better.
“For everything,” she said softly.
Confused, his brows furrowed slightly, but he nodded.
A short while later they were climbing more hills, continuing on their way east. Although rested, her legs were still sore from the day before, and she was glad that he’d eased up on the pace a little.
