“Kenna?”
Sean’s voice startled her, yanking her thoughts back through time.
“Aye,” she sighed. “I’m ready.”
He scooped her into his strong arms, settled her against his chest and strode easily away from the kirk. “Dinna fash, lass. Ye’ll soon be home.”
She closed her eyes to lock away the gathering tears. “Home. ’Tis my most fervent wish.”
Chapter Four
With Sean watching her more than the road, Kenna tried to keep her face averted.
“Are ye comfortable enough, lass? I’m no’ hurting ye, am I?”
Her grunt came out more like a snort. She almost wished he was so she’d have an excuse to be put down. “I should be asking that of ye.”
“Nae, lass. I’m verra comfortable. Ye dinnae weigh more than a whisper. Ye must stop frettin’ so.”
She swallowed a groan. If only he wasnae so kind. ’Twas difficult to remain at odds with him when he treated her so considerately. But she needed that distance for her own safety.
They’d only made their way a short distance along the old, tree-lined backroad to the village, but already Kenna’s embarrassment at being carried was nearly more than she could bear. Never had she felt so vulnerable. Souseless. Raised fatherless, she, her mither and sister had learned early to rely only on themselves, or each other. Trusting an outsider went against her nature.
She’d found a partial exception in Owen, but still, she guarded her secret very carefully, even from that kindly old man. So, no matter how considerate Sean was, she couldnae allow herself to be influenced. She would keep him at a distance and send him on his way as quickly as possible. She must think of him as naught more than a passerby who’d offered her a bit of aid.
Searching for a distraction from the gnawing fear that she’d never find her way back to her family, she watched a hare scurry from one bush to another, taking cover wherever he could find it. Just as she had since finding herself in such a foreign place and time.
She tried to draw comfort from the ancient limbs arching protectively overhead, but surprisingly and quite disturbingly, what solace she felt came from being cradled in Sean’s capable arms. She was tucked far too comfortably against his chest.
Her mortification over his witnessing her clumsiness and ineptitude this morning, was nearly intolerable. Her every move had demonstrated her incompetence and worse, she’d exposed her emotional fragility. Each step she allowed this man to carry her, underscored her vulnerability.
She glanced up at him. “If ye’re in need of a short rest—”
“I’m truly quite at ease, lass, thank ye.” His broad smile emphasized the deep dimples in his cheeks. Strange that she hadnae noticed them earlier.
“Liar,” she replied, unable to stifle her own responsive smile. “If ye’re this generous with every stranger ye encounter, it must make yer journey quite tedious. Not tae mention, lengthy.”
She felt his shrug. “Offering help where needed, is the verra least any man should do.” A breeze rustled the treetops and patchy bursts of sunlight dappled his strong face. “But tae answer yer question, nae. I’ve no’ had the opportunity, until very recently, tae be of assistance tae anyone.”
“Why is that?”
A faint groan vibrated in his throat. “ ’Tis difficult tae explain. I’ve…uh…been in a place where contact with people was extremely limited.”
Interesting, but evasive. Why?
Despite her own bank of carefully guarded secrets, his answer piqued her curiosity. Offhand, the only places she could think of where human contact was that limited was a prison or a monastery, and she wouldnae guess Sean to be a monk. In kindness, mayhap, but otherwise? No, definitelynota monk. Besides, ’twould be a shame, a man like him. So, that left prison. Or, a ship, mayhap? A long voyage at sea? Nae. He dinnae have a sailor’s air about him. Or what she supposed a sailor’s air might be.
“What changed, that ye now have the freedom tae wander about rescuing strangers who cannae remain upright on their own power?”
His smile returned, broad and bright. “ ’Twas a gift from a wee wi—uh, a generous lass who sacrificed something verra precious tae her, for my release.”
Hmm. Prison, then? Shouldnae she feel at least a wee bit alarmed?
Odd that she couldnae drum up even a hint of fear. But hehadsucceeded in arousing her curiosity. “Thislassmust mean a great deal to ye, and ye tae her.”
Sean’s eyes softened and his smile turned tender. “Aye. I cannae express how much she means tae me.”
A surprising flicker of disappointment bubbled to the surface before Kenna hurriedly shoved it away. ’Twas nonsense. Merely a reflection of her fatigue. She cleared her throat for good measure. “Ye’re traveling tae be with her, then?”
