“Oh, my goodness, aye. Ye men get out of here.” Sarah shooed the men out as if they were children with dirty feet on a newly scrubbed floor and then shut the door behind them.
Ian poked his head through the hole, saying, “Meet me outside when ye’re finished. And make haste.”
“Oh, shoo!” Sarah said, rushing toward him, and Rhiannon laughed, feeling the woman might bash him on the head if he didn’t leave. “Men.” Sarah rolled her eyes and then opened the wardrobe to pull out Rhiannon’s gown. She smacked and shook it, trying to shake off some of the dried dirt flecks.
“Thank you for your help,” Rhiannon said.
“Oh, ’tis nothing. I do wish we’d had time to clean this for ye, though. That poor gown has seen better days.”
“Nothing a little scrub can’t remove.” Rhiannon smiled and discarded the blanket. “I’m certain once I reach my cousin, I’ll have it washed and mended good as new.”
“Good. I take it ye were no’ able to pack anything.”
“It was go or stay and nothing in between.”
“Ah, I understand. Want me to give ye a few things just in case?”
“I couldn’t.”
“Ye can, I’m offering. Willna take me long. At least another pair of hose and a chemise.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“My pleasure.” Sarah helped her into her gown and then left to gather supplies while Rhiannon finished getting herself ready.
She got down on her hands and knees, poking her head under the bed in search of Goosie. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Goosie let out a mournful meow as if she’d been traumatized by the whole ordeal.
“Oh, you poor thing. Come now, and let us get you out of this place.” Rhiannon wiggled her fingers, hoping to entice her cat.
Goosie approached her cautiously and, sensing there was no further danger, rushed into Rhiannon’s waiting arms.
They descended the stairs to find Sarah with a small satchel waiting at the base. Though Sarah tried to block the mess of the initial fight from view, the woman wasn’t large enough to do so, and Rhiannon could see a few more downed bodies and overturned furniture.
“Here ye are, my dear,” Sarah said, loud enough to snap Rhiannon’s gaze back to her. “No need to worry about returning a thing. They are yours to keep.”
Rhiannon hugged the petite woman, wishing she could have stayed longer, at least to have helped clean up the mess.
“Consider it payment for helping my poor cooks in keeping their fingers out of the way of their knives.” Sarah grinned at her.
“I would have done that for free.” And she genuinely would have. Rhiannon loved to help others.
“Aye, I know it. But who doesna like a second pair of hose on a long journey?”
“I suspect no one.” Rhiannon giggled, clutching the prized pack of extra hose.
“Well, ye’d best make haste.” Sarah shooed her along. “There’s liable to be more trouble ahead for ye, and I dinna want to be the cause for your delay.”
“Thank you for everything.” Rhiannon rushed out the back door, past the sleepy scullions trying to wake up in time to make bread for the morning meal.
Ian was already in the stables waiting for her, having finished preparing for their departure. She noticed him first with George, and then the second saddled horse.
The disappointment at seeing the second horse was a bit of a shock for Rhiannon. She’d gotten used to cuddling up to him while they rode, but also, this was a blessing. Desire was heating up between them, and they were better off separately riding so they weren’t touching each other all day. Maybe that would help to cool whatever feelings she had growing inside her.
She just needed to get north. Needed to see her cousin. Start a new life. And they didn’t need any distractions along the way. Fighting off her brother, her betrothed, outlaws, and traitors was quite enough, thank you very much.
Rhiannon attached the satchel of borrowed undergarments to the saddle, ignoring Ian’s offer to help her. He knew very well that she could get up into that saddle on her own. Besides, from here on out, she needed to avoid touching him altogether.
