Page 217 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

At the mention of beg, James turned his dark eyes onto her.

"Go on, lass," he said, intrigued. Ainslee stood in front of him.

"James, ye must do everything to help him, please, I cannae lose him again!"

Ainslee stopped talking, her voice trailing off in a sob. Emotion had got the better of her, again. Tutting, Ainslee got herself back in hand. She was shaking. This was not the way she had meant to be.

Standing up, James came over to her. He put his hand softly on her shoulder.

"Wheesht, lass," he said, softly. Ainslee felt herself unraveling. "O' course I will look out for yer man... it goes wi'out saying...Yer man has saved my life over an' over... ye dinnae need to ask, I will watch out for him!"

Gratefully, Ainslee looked at him. "Thank ye," she said, in a wobbling voice. Then, curious, she asked him.

"So, um, afore that, an' on yer adventures, wi' Malcolm...how did he end up saving ye, and how did ye come to be on this ship, wi' the auld, terrible captain, ye ken, the bodach who took Malcolm...ye sound like bandits!"

Her eyes followed him, as he looked away. James appeared to be struggling. With a cold realization, Ainslee saw she had unsettled him. James fiddled with his cup.

Then, he stood up.

"Well, I thank ye for the scran," he said, with a brief smile. "An' nae fash, lass, about yer man, I've got his back!"

And with that, James walked out of the room,exiting to the winter gusts beyond. Watching him, Ainslee could only wonder what she said wrong.

* * *

She found him in the stables, just across from the smiddy. He was there, stroking his black stallion, thoughtfully. At the sound of the barn creaking, Malcolm looked up.

"Ainslee!"

Malcolm shot his head immediately in her direction, as Ainslee came in.

Butterflies were creeping in her stomach. This morning had been a disaster. She had argued with Malcolm, and upset his friend. Not bad for half a morning's work!

Scanning everything with her head, Ainslee resolved to take stock; and put things right between them. The only problem was getting it out of her mutinous lips. Every time they opened they scuppered her.

Stepping forward, Ainslee tried her best. “Mal, I,”

She didn't get any further. Malcolm was moving toward her, with a look of death on his face.

"Ainslee, I'm sorry," said Malcolm, disarming her with his rueful look. His face seemed so open, that she could not dash his hopes.

Ainslee waited, as Malcolm carried on.

"I didnae mean to hurt ye, or to take ye for granted. I shouldnae been so unseemly, the fault is all mine... I need to try harder to resist ye, until we are properly betrothed...!"

Surprise flashed through Ainslee's eyes.

I thought we already were, she began to say. But shock rendered her mute.

"A second time," added Malcolm. Perhaps he saw the look in her eyes. Ainslee, who was standing, suddenly felt a need to sit down. Leaning against a wooden beam, she crouched.

Automatically, Malcolm brought himself to her height. Now the two of them were sitting, side by side. Ainslee felt his body heat through his slender leine, and squirmed. Being this close was uncomfortable. His breath was on her chin. Shuffling awkwardly backwards, Ainslee froze.

"O' course, that's if ye still want to?" said Malcolm, with an uncertain glance.

"Nae...Aye, um," started Ainslee, uncertain. Of course, she wanted to be with him, but things were racing around her head. She needed assurance, and lots of it.

Smiling, Malcolm edged back. If he was disheartened, he did not show it. Instead, he faced her, in contemplation.