And then she smiled. “That must be an amazing feeling. Is it?”
The lass asked the boldest questions. “I dinnae ken how it feels quite yet.” ’Twas the truth. He hadnae had time to ponder the fullness of the freedom he’d been given. “I’ve just today been released from—"
Och! He’d been so caught up, he’d almost revealed the truth and that, surely, would give her a terrible fright. He realized fear of him was something he dinnae wish to see in the pretty lass’ eyes, and making sure that dinnae happen, suddenly mattered. Mightily.
And, that too, was confusing and would require some pondering.
“…from soldiering,” he finally finished. “I was a soldier for…a verra long time.”
“Then, of course you’d wish to go home,” she whispered, compassion softening her voice. “You mentioned visiting your ancestor’s land, but what about your family? Your mother and father? Your wife? Kids? They must be anxious to see you. Do they live near here, too?”
He swallowed a few times before trusting his voice. “No’ anymore. My parents are…gone. And I’ve neither wife, nor bairn.”
“Oh.” The lass whispered, before clearing her throat. “Well, it appears we’re both searching for home, then, doesn’t it? Which way are you traveling?”
He pointed over her shoulder, to the bank she’d fallen from.
“Me, too,” she said. “Back to where I left my car, at least. We can travel that far together, if you’d like. Since my phone is dead, I imagine I’ll have to backtrack down that long road, after all.” She glanced down at her foot. “That should be interesting.”
“ ’Twould please me greatly, tae see ye safely back tae yer car, at least. But I dinnae ken how ye’ll makeanydistance, with yer injury.”
“Well, I can’t stay here!” Lauren lifted her foot, grimaced and lowered it back down.
Reginald glanced up at the darkening sky. Only the last remnants of twilight remained. “Besidesyer injury, ’tis getting too dark. Even if ye could walk, do ye ken ye could find yer way back, in the dark?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Maybe, if we had a flashlight. The only one I had was on my phone. Do you have one?”
“Nae, lass,” he replied, grateful he’d learned the American term for a torch, on the moor. “I’m sorry. I ken ’tis best we stay here, tonight, give yer foot a chance tae rest and look for yer car, in the morning.”
“What? No! There must be another option.” She gestured to the rocky streambed. “We can’t stayhere.”
“Why no’?”
“Are you kidding?” Disbelief raised her voice an octave. “That’s crazy. Look around. There’s nothing here. We have no food, the ground is nothing but rocks and neither of us have as much as a jacket, let alone any kind of bedding.” Swatting a lock of hair from her face, she scowled. “And, it’s already getting chilly. No. We’re definitely not equipped to spend a night out here.”
“I’ve everything we need,” he assured her. “But if ye’ve a better plan, considerin’ ye can barely put any weight on yer foot, I’m willin’ tae listen.”
Biting her lip again, she glanced at her surroundings as if expecting something to have changed. “But…we could at least stay warm in the car.Ifwe could get to the car. Do you think if I…? Maybe you could—”
“If ye’ve a plan, and ye’re determined tae try, I’ll help ye. But short o’ carryin’ ye up that bank on my back, I dinnae ken how we’re goin’ tae make it, in the condition ye’re in. And, ’twill be no moon this night, tae light our way. ’Twould be far better tae stay here, where there’s water and shelter, and a night’s rest will give yer foot a chance tae heal.” He jerked his head toward the stream. “With that icy water, I could make a nice cold compress for yer ankle, tae fend off any swelling. Then we’ll start fresh at daylight, when hopefully, ye’ll be able tae put some weight on yer foot.”
The whole time Reginald talked she’d stared at him like he was daft.
“Shelter?” She asked incredulously, spreading her arms wide to encompass their surroundings. “What do you see, that I don’t?”
He wanted to ask why she couldnae see all that was here, but he dinnae wish to argue, or distress her further. Mayhap, Americans dinnae ever sleep outside of their homes? But whatever the reason, he wished to ease her fears, no’ increase them.
“I’ve a bit o’ food wi’ me and ’twill be warm enough wi’ a fire. And I’m happy tae share my plaid wi’ ye. This curve in the bank where ye fell, will give shelter enough if a wind comes up. We’ve fresh water at our fingertips and a night sky for watchin’.” He smiled reassuringly. “All we need.”
Lauren’s wide-eyed gaze had trailed to everything he mentioned, then fell back to his kilt. “Your…plaid? That top part comes off?”
“Off my shoulder, aye.”
“No. I mean,off.As in separate. Apart.”
’Twas his turn to look puzzled. “O’course no’.” Then he realized what concerned her. “I fear takin’ it off might disturb ye far more than would the two of us wrapped up inside the length of it. But dinnae fash, lass, and dinnae let appearances fool ye.” He touched the soft folds draped over his left shoulder. “ ’Tis a width of five feet and a length o’ twelve, when the whole of it is laid out.” He looked down. “As ye can see, I’m usin’ a wee bit ’o that, but there’s still plenty left tae share wi’ ye wi’out any need for alarm. Ye’ll no’ find a warmer cloak, anywhere,” he beamed, proudly.
At her skeptical look, he sighed and tried to reassure her. “I promise ye, Lauren, on the soul of my mither, I’ll no’ harm ye, in any way. Nary a single untoward gesture.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Ye’ve my solemn vow on it. Ye can wrap up snugly in the tail of my tartan and no’ have tae come closer than the breadth of yer shoulders.”
