Manly.
Powerful.
And as soon as he saw her, he did what she expected. He cursed. It seemed to be the only greeting he could give her.
“Unless you come bearing more ale, I suggest you head back inside.”
“And if I come bearing an apology?”
He didn’t even pause as he swung the ax. “I’m in no mood to hear it.”
“Be that as it may, I am in the mood to give it. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry I dragged you into my problems when it is obvious yours are much worse.”
He tugged the ax free of the stump, then buried it into the wood again. “What do you know of my problems?”
“Truly, nothing. You just seem incredibly sad and angry. I should have left you passed out in your cave.”
He struck the wood again. “Aye, you should have.”
Nora watched him with fascinated interest as he picked up the logs he’d made and carried them to the large pile. Sorcha and Aenos were right. It was quite a mountain of lumber.
And he was quite a mountain of male flesh.
Ewan wiped his face with his arm, then retrieved the ax from the ground and headed for another tree.
She swallowed at the strength and sight of him working. The muscles of his back rippled and flexed, making her body strangely warm and needful.
“Tell me,” she said, “does it help? Does ale really alleviate your feelings?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“In the event I don’t make it to England and I’m forced to marry Ryan, I was just wondering if that would be a way to ease the misery of the life I’m sure he’ll give me.”
With three strikes, he felled the tree. He waited until it was down before he spoke again. “Have you ever met this man you are betrothed to?”
“Aye, many times.”
“Is he truly insufferable then?”
She shivered at the thought of Ryan. They had never gotten along and in truth, she couldn’t believe he wanted to wed her given their mutual distaste.
“You can’t imagine. He is beastly. He looks at me and sees nothing but my purse. I speak and he turns away.” She shook her head. “How I wish I were a man. If I were, I would never waste my life hiding away.”
“Judge not lest ye be judged.”
“I know, but still it makes no sense. You are in complete control of your life and yet you do nothing with it. I, on the other hand, must do as I am told. I can’t just leave whenever I choose.”
“Is that not what you’ve done?”
“Aye and at what cost? My maid and servant will like as not be punished for it and you would hand me back over to my father in an instant if I told you who he was.”
Ewan thought about that. He’d never given much thought to what it would be like to be a woman. He’d always taken his freedom for granted.
She was right, he answered to no one.
He was his own man.
He paused and looked at her. “If you were free, what would you do?”
