Heat scalded the skin of Caitrin’s face. Not from the fire as she reached it, but from the blush she knew stained her cheeks. Jamie’s man, Ewan, still tending the meat, frowned at them. She had no doubt he heard every word. But embarrassment was the least emotion coloring her face. Fury at Will’s effrontery scalded her throat, and she nearly growled a warning as the wildcat had done just minutes before.
“Enough, Will.” His eyes widened. Her sharp tone surprised even her, but she didn’t want Jamie to hear from Will, in anger, what she had been unable to say to him herself. She turned her back to Will, then glared at him over her shoulder. “Can ye no’ recognize claw marks when ye see them? What man can shred a dress like that? I suppose ye’d want the cat to tear out my throat to prove its existence to ye.”
Will choked. “How can ye even suggest something like that?”
She turned to face him, trembling with anger and reaction to the cat’s attack and Will’s interruption of the conversation she wanted to have with Jamie. She ignored the outrage on his face. “How did ye no’ hear it screaming when it attacked?”
Will had the grace to look abashed, but only for a moment before his scowl returned. Jamie stood by, arms crossed over his chest and lips compressed, forbearing to defend himself against Will’s accusations. Or had her anger driven her too far when she accused Will of wanting the cat to tear out her throat to prove its existence? She had no doubt Jamie disapproved. Now, only moments later, she regretted uttering those words. Or had Will’s comment about him being her old flame silenced him? If so, she couldn’t deal with that right now. First things first.
Caitrin advanced until she stood toe-to-toe with Will and glared up at him, but kept a tight rein on her temper. “Twice now, Jamie has saved me from injury, perhaps even death. Twice ye have accused him of behaving improperly. Mind yer words, Will Fletcher, before yer wild imaginings goad him to the point he canna ignore yer insults any longer. Before I canna, and send ye home.” Will jerked at that, and Caitrin raised a hand, forestalling any objection he might be about to make. Softening her tone, she added, “To save yer life and avoid a war between Fletcher and Lathan. Do ye think that’s what my da would want?”
Will dropped his gaze to Caitrin’s shoulder, where tufts of torn wool stuck up through her tangled hair and tickled her neck. “Nay. But I must ken why ye went into the woods after him.”
“After him? What makes ye think such a thing?” As Will opened his mouth, Caitrin plunged ahead. “I dinna wish to hear it. I went into the woods alone...for the usual reason.” The lie stung, especially since Jamie knew she lied. She shook her head. The truth would only inflame Will’s anger further. Jamie must see that and keep his silence until she dealt with the immediate problem. Then she would talk to Jamie. If he would let her. “The cat attacked. Luckily, Jamie was nearby to scare the creature away before it had a chance to do more than claw my dress. Had he no’ been nearby, one of ye would have reached me soon after, I’m sure. That’s the end of it, Will Fletcher, do ye hear me?”
She watched the muscle jump in his cheek. He glared at her then turned his glare on Jamie before answering, “Aye.”
Caitrin spared Jamie a glance and saw a similar flex in the muscle of his cheek. Oh dear. He knew what she was doing. And he must have heard Will’s remark about her old flame. His narrowed eyes glinted in the firelight.
“Well enough then,” she sighed, turning back to Will, “Get something to eat and haud yer wheesht from now on. I willna tolerate any more of this.”
Ewan cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “If ye want to eat, it’s ready.” He bent and began carving slices of meat from the loin, laying them on trenchers. Caitrin took one from him and handed it to Will in time to see Jamie turn on his heel and stalk out of camp—again.
Caitrin moved away from Will, desperate to hide her disappointment from him. How could she ever talk to Jamie if he kept his distance? Especially now he was angry with her. Before Will interrupted, she’d managed to say just enough to make Jamie wary, then she’d lied to Will in Jamie’s presence. What must he think of her now?
Chapter Five
Jamie had to force himself to return to camp when his turn at the watch ended. Alone in the woods with nothing but the soft whisper of the breeze through the spring leaves and the moon playing hide-and-go-seek behind passing clouds, he had managed to regain his equilibrium, calm his breathing, and unlock his jaw. But Caitrin slept in the camp, a temptation he could not consider giving in to.
As he approached the banked glow of the campfire, he paused to study the bundled up bodies sleeping near it. The smallest one was Caitrin. Wrapped in her cloak and a length of the Fletcher plaid against the cold. What he could see of her face appeared youthful and innocent—more like the Caitrin he used to know than the woman she was today—the woman seemingly bent on trying his resolve. The woman who lied to her kinsman to protect him. Not to protect Jamie. To protect Will, from Jamie. Was he so fearsome then?
True, he’d scared off the wildcat, but really, no wildcat could ever be a match for a man. Fierce as they were, perhaps twice the size and weight of the mousers that kept the kitchen and food stores free of vermin at the Aerie, they were also skittish loners. Likely, Caitrin had been correct that it had been protecting a nearby den.
So what was she up to? Jamie eased himself to a seat on log near where Caitrin slept. She looked so peaceful. He could hardly fathom the changes she faced in her life—new home, marriage, children. His throat tightened the thought of her lying with another man. Then he pursed his lips and shook his head. He had no right to care what Caitrin did with her life. He’d made no attempt to see her, even to write to her, after she left the Aerie. It had been too painful.
But that pain was nothing compared to having her within reach, yet untouchable.
“What are ye frowning at?” Catrin’s soft whisper startled him. She sat up and raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response.
He shook his head. “Nothing, lass. Thoughts. Memories.”
“Of me?”
Jamie bit his lip to keep the “aye” from slipping out. “Nay.”
“I ken ye too well, Jamie Lathan, to believe that.”
“It doesna matter. Go back to sleep.”
“I’d rather talk to ye.” She tossed aside the woolen wraps and stood, pulling her tattered cloak around her then joined him on the fallen log, a proper arms-length away. “I find it hard to sleep when there’s trouble between me and an old friend.”
Jamie tossed some kindling into the low fire and watched sparks dance skyward. Anything to avoid looking at the woman beside him.
“Ye’re upset because of what I told Will.”
Jamie huffed out a breath. “Shouldna I be?”
“Would ye rather fight him?” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Or have him convey his suspicions to my da?”
