Viktor went to ride with Ewan while she, Catarina and Ryan rode in the back.
As soon as they were settled inside, Ewan clicked at the team of horses and got them into motion.
“How did you find Ryan?” Nora asked Catarina as they rode in the back.
“He came out of the woods wounded and was babbling for someone to help him get to you.”
Nora could imagine what a spectacle Ryan must have been. The man hated to make a scene more than anything and yet he had made one for her. It was probably the kindest thing Ryan had ever done for anyone. She might not like him, but that went a long way in assuaging some of the nastier things he had done to her over the years.
“Thank you, Ryan.”
He inclined his head. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t more adept at protecting you to begin with. Believe me.”
“But at least you tried.”
Ryan was silent while Nora talked to Catarina about what they should do to avoid the MacKaids and every other topic.
Ryan lay back in the wagon, moaning every time they took a breath about how much pain he was in and how neither of them understood the grueling misery that was his stomach.
Nora didn’t comment. Instead, her thoughts were on the man who was driving the wagon. The one whose side was unstitched and whose wrists were still raw.
The man who said nothing at all about his pain.
Inside or out.
They rode for hours without stopping to break their fast. It was almost midday before Ewan finally reined the horses.
He helped Nora down, then left Catarina for Viktor.
Nora tried to speak to him, but Ewan refused.
Without a word or backward glance, he returned to the horses to care for them.
Angry at his behavior, Nora went to him. “Why are you being so cold to me?”
“I’m not being cold toward you.”
“Nay? Then why do I get a shiver every time you meet my gaze? Or should I say when you meet my gaze, which all of a sudden isn’t often.”
He glanced past her shoulder to where Ryan watched them with an arched, curious brow. “Ryan is wounded. You need to see to him.”
Understanding floored her. “You’re jealous?”
“I’m not jealous, Nora. Believe me.”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m angry.”
Ewan clenched his teeth unable to believe he’d allowed that to escape.
“What have you to be angry over?”
Fate. Destiny.
Everything that kept him from being able to claim her for his own.
Everything that made Ryan more appealing to her than he was.
