Page 116 of Claimed Highland Brides

The man who spoke to her had vivid blue eyes in a ruddy face, as he glared at her in suspicion.

“Soup’s ready,” a decidedly higher voice said from the other side of the fire. Jamesina thought it might even be a woman. The man snorted, went round, and accepted a bowl before bringing it to Jamesina.

“If’n ye vomit tha’ ye’re no getting any more food.”

Jamesina nodded quietly, taking the bowl eagerly.

Slowly. I must eat slowly.

She tilted it, letting the fragrant soup slide into her mouth before swallowing. She closed her eyes, savoring the burst of flavor in her mouth. She took tiny sips, all the while keeping track of any sign of nausea. There were none.

She was able to finish the soup without further incident and happily handed back the bowl. To her surprise, the gruff man who had spoken to her earlier handed her a piece of roasted rabbit and a slice of slightly hard bread. She could hardly breathe for gratitude, taking delicate bites of the food even though she wanted to gulp it all down in one fell swoop.

Her discipline was rewarded with no further incidents of disgorgement.

“Sleep,” the higher-pitched voice ordered and she hastened to obey, laying down in the grass and watching the stars. She had no covering save her arisaid but that was enough in the warmth of the fire.

The fire!

She lifted her head, trying to gauge if it was visible enough to be seen at a distance. Surely in the dark of the night, somebody would be able to tell. She scrambled for a few sticks and pieces of grass, throwing them into the fire to build the flame.

“Stop tha’!” someone growled nearby. “Afore ye burn us all.”

She burrowed back down into her arisaid and prayed.

* * *

Goraidh came to a stop and pointed. “Fire,” he said softly. Delwyn craned his head, looking in the direction that the guide was pointing. It still took him a while to notice the slight glow coming from the east and not even that far away.

“You think it’s them?” he asked as voicelessly as he dared.

Goraidh nodded. “Aye.”

He lifted his hands, palms up to ask, “What next?”

Goraidh slid off his horse, hobbling it so Delwyn did the same. “We cannae risk the horses making a sound as we approach, or their horses sensing ours and raising the alarm,” he whispered.

Delwyn nodded his agreement. “Good thinking.”

Goraidh disappeared into the brush and Delwyn hastened to follow. Jamesina was within reach! He could feel his heartbeat rise with every step they got closer. He would not fail.

* * *

Simon had been getting ready to leave Drumacree, having stopped for a few hours to get supplies when he overheard a conversation about an Englishman and his female companion who was staying at the inn. He frowned, wondering if perhaps…he shook his head, continuing to pack his belongings, but the thought would not leave him.

With a sigh, he turned to his men, “Alrigh’ men, before we go, there is something we mun’ just check at the inn. It wilnae take long.”

He had been their captain for a long time and his men nodded their agreement without questioning. They had been told there was some urgency to this mission but if the captain said they needed to stop, they did not doubt him.

They came to a stop in front of the inn a few minutes later and Simon swung off his horse and went in search of the innkeeper.

“Alasdair? I mun’ speak wi ye.” He strode into the kitchens where the publican was haranguing the cook. He turned around, his eyes widening.

“Och aye? Wha’ aboot?”

“One o’ yer guests. A Sassenach?”

“Ach, ye’re too late. He already went off wi’someone. Dinnae ken who, dinnae ken where. He left his sister here, though.”