He shook his head, helping the breeze stir his dark-gold hair. “Nae. My travels are solitary, with no specific destination.”
“Until now,” she pointed out. “Since I’ve both delayed and diverted your journey.”
He looked down; his amber eyes soft on hers. And there was that smile, again. “Aye, Kenna. Until now. And I assure ye, both the delay and the diversion are most welcome.”
With surprising difficulty, she looked away. That little flutter in her stomach was as out of place as her disappointment a few moments ago. Embarrassment if anything, she kenned, at being carried about like an invalid.
Or…mayhap ’twas hunger. When did she eat last? When did he? It must take a good amount of food to sustain all that compressed power he seemed to contain. Strength and energy he hadnae hesitated to use for her benefit.
How could she accept his many kindnesses and not offer at least one, in return?
“Then I suppose the least I can do is offer ye a meal, once we reach the village, in payment for yer efforts. I’m afraid ’tis all I have tae offer.” ’Twould delay his leaving and her return to the ruins a bit longer, but she clearly owed him that much.
“ ’Tis kind of ye. I accept. But only as an offer of friendship, no’ as payment.”
His eyes and voice were so gentle, she wondered what having such a friend might be like. Tightening her lips over a sudden surge of loneliness, she reminded herself she couldnae afford such luxuries. ’Twas her mither and sister that mattered.
“Is it a large village ye live in, Kenna?”
Odd that she’d hardly given the village any thought beyond how soon she could leave it. “Nae. Quite small, I believe.”
“Have ye lived there long?”
Too long. “Only a couple of weeks.” Weeks spent almost entirely at the kirk searching for the way back to her own time and family.
“Where did ye come from?”
What?
The flutter she’d felt earlier expanded to a full flop. Did he suspect something? Had she somehow exposed her secret? What could she possibly tell him?
But…wait.He'd asked her where, not when. Relief spread through her veins and eased the stabbing in her chest. “An insignificant, wee village ye've likely never heard of, some distance north of here.” She too, could be evasive.
He tipped his head, thoughtfully. “Really? I come from the north as well. Or, more north-east, I ken and several days distant.” Longing tightened the faint lines edging his eyes. “I havnae been home in a verra long time.”
Hearing the remorse in his voice made her own heart hurt and she wondered if his longing was tied to the lass who’d sacrificed so much for him.
He shook his head, as if to dislodge his thoughts. “What prompted ye tae leave yer home and reside in the village up ahead?”
“Umm....”Think, Kenna!She kenned Sean was only making conversation to shorten their journey, but she mustnae give anything away. “ ’Twas a great deal of strife there. Neighbor against neighbor, ye might say. So I, quite accidently, came here.”
“Accidently?”
That was foolish! Careful, Kenna!She couldnae tell him the truth, but she dinnae want to lie, either. “I suppose ye could say I was nudged in this direction by my mither. But, nice as it is here, I miss her and hope tae rejoin her, verra soon.”
“Something keeps ye from going back?”
The stab to her heart nearly stole her breath. “I’ve sort of…lost my way.”
Sean stopped walking and looked down at her. “Ahh, lass. ’Tis sad tae hear, and no’ tae be accepted. I’ll help ye find yer way home. We’re both wishing tae go north, aye? Family should be together. Trust me. ’Twas a lesson hard learned, for me. Dinnae make the same mistake.”
Obviously, there was a whole story behind that remark, but for now she couldnae indulge her curiosity. She must deter him from mule-headedly interjecting himself into her future attempts to get home, as he’d done, today. The attempt alone, would keep her from succeeding.
“ ’Tis not that simple," she insisted, as he began walking again. “If so, I would surely have gone by now.” She couldnae seem to wipe the mixture of grief and vexation from her voice. “I’ve things I must do before I can return.Difficultthings,” she muttered. “So, I thank ye for the offer, but ye must continue your own journey, and allow me tae continue mine.”
Why in the world was she telling him this?Why did her thoughts and feelings just spew from her mouth without thought, around this man? What about him caused her to let her guard down when she’d been so careful to keep her secret? He had a way of coaxing information from her she had no intention of sharing.
She must harden her heart and her resolve and keep him at a distance before she foolishly compromised everything.
