Moira raised her eyebrows. “Well, I guess ’tis a good thing I am no’ asking ye, then, isnae it?” She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “’Tis been a long, trying day. We dinnae ken what the morrow brings. Because of that, the bed is needed for us both.” She crossed her arms as if daring him to challenge her.
A spitfire.
Errol appreciated that. He could understand why his sister and Moira got on so well. Anna also kenned what she wanted and went after it head first without thinking of the consequences. A sure-fire way to get into trouble, but since she usually remained at MacLeod Keep it wasn’t an issue.
Moira seemed to possess the same headstrong attitude.
“I will sleep on top of the throws.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Will ye no’ be cold?”
“Nay. I’ve my plaid to keep me warm. I’ll have easier access to my sword that way as well.” Her eyes rounded as she looked around the bothy, her eyes pausing on the window. “Do ye think we will be attacked again?”
He shook his head. “There is no one about. But ’tis best to stay vigilant always.”
Nodding, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
“Get ready for bed. All will be well,” Errol promised.
He moved to another part of the bothy to give her privacy and when they finally settled into bed, with Moira under the throws, and Errol on top of them, he could do naught but stare at the shadows of the fire that still burned bright, dancing across the ceiling. The only light since he’d snuffed the torches afore lying down.
His arm was sore and felt stiff. He tried to stretch it out without causing too much movement on the bed, so he didn’t disturb Moira. He also took care not to open the stitches that Moira had meticulously sewn.
“Errol?” Moira whispered after quite some time had passed. “Are ye awake?”
Her voice was low enough that if he were asleep he wouldn’t have heard her. He could pretend that he hadn’t. But why do that? He wasn’t sleeping either. Besides, she had his curiosity piqued. Why did she call for him?
“Aye?” He answered.
“Why do you think our families hate each other?”
He sighed, the sound so loud in the space of the small bothy it seemed to vibrate off the walls. “’Tis no’ an easy answer. And one ye shouldnae fash about.”
“Why no’? Why do men always say that women mustnae concern themselves with such things?” She rolled to her side and met his gaze, her expression serious. “We are always verra much affected by the actions taken by men. ’Tis only natural that we ask about it. That wewant to ken.”
Errol pushed himself up to a sitting position and Moira did the same as she watched and waited patiently for him to answer.
“I think sometimes men who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders think they can protect the women they love by no’ discussing the ugliness of war.”
She chewed on her lower lip as she thought about what he’d said.
“But dinnae those same men ken that a strong woman by their side could help ease their burden?”
He cocked his head to the side as he looked at Moira. Truly looked at her. Not as his younger sister’s best friend, but as a woman who had more than likely, on numerous occasions, been told to leave when serious matters came up in conversation.
Her argument had merit.
“I believe ye are correct. There is validity to the point in which ye have made.”
She smiled sweetly. Not a cocky smile as if she kenned she were right. But one where she seemed happy that he’d taken her words into consideration. Surely, with all her siblings, and she being the eldest daughter, her words were taken seriously to some extent. Not when it came to war and fighting, but for certs in other aspects of whatever it was that women did to occupy their days.
“Ye answered one of my questions. But no’ the most important one. What has happened betwixt our families to cause such long and unforgiving rifts?”
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall, blowing out a slow breath as the vision of his brother’s broken and dead body lying on the ground flooded his mind.
“I ken no’ what caused the hatred all those years ago. I only ken what I have experienced myself.”
Her brows drew together. “I dinnae understand.” She shifted closer to him.
