Page 71 of A Highland Rogue to Ruin

The other with the reins turned around, revealing his bright green eyes and braided tribal beard of handsome strawberry blond, unlike the dark constitutions of his fellows.

Reaper, was it? The charming outlaw? He was the one who’d seemed intent on watching Lady Peigi, Aileana’s sister. “I search for Tormund.”

She shoved back her sweaty tendrils sticking to her cheeks and neck. She must look frightening.

“He’s no’ here. Are ye well?” His brow tightened at her show of emotion and once more, she swiped her cheek.

“Did he leave? For good this time?”

For Tormund was so elusive, coming and going, keeping everyone guessing as to his whereabouts. Even his campsite looked hardly used, only a few accoutrements stacked here and there, as if merely dropped off instead of lived in. After all they’d shared? One bird call from his uncle, one confession on the dark deeds dealt him, and now he’d run? Today was it. She would leave tomorrow. The day was nearly done and she wanted answers so badly, wanted to trust him and understand his reasons for lying straight to her face in one breath while making love to her in the next. To trust the man who would exchange his beloved talon and Tafl for her. Believe the man who would whisper pleas begging to keep her.

Shielding her eyes to glance at the late afternoon sun, she noticed Reaper shaking his head.

“Where is he, then? I must speak to him.” There was no masking the tremor in her voice.

Tormund’s men exchanged a quiet glance, as if reluctant to tell her, then Reaper seemed to read her frustration. “What’s wrong, lass?”

She shook her head, biting her lip and thus biting back an uncharitable retort, for everything was wrong, and she hated that she felt like snapping at others. Hated that it felt as if these men kept more secrets from her.

“It is for his ears,” she bit out, “but it is important.”

His man thought for a moment, then nodded. Turned to the other guarding the grains and muttered something to which the sentry replied, “Aye, I’ll keep my eye out for him.”

Reaper turned back to her. “I’ll fetch him for ye.”

He swung up into his saddle and cantered across the campsite and out of view. Was she to follow? She began to, when the sentry stepped forth and took her bridle to stop Sunshine.

“Nay, lass. He’ll fetch him back.”

More secrets. The thought sat rancid in her belly. Was she to wait here then? There was no telling how long Reaper would be gone. Unsure what to do and unable to remain idle with so much emotion brimming within her, she hurried back to her camp instead, where Angus and James inventoried the items they’d bought to take home, reviewing their parchments.

Aileana stood from where she sat by the fire. “Sister? My God!”

James turned. His face wrinkled with alarm as Brighde gulped madly. “Bridgy, what the hell happened?”

She shook her head, searching for words, then dropped the reins and threw her face in her hand.

“He lied to me.”

Through her fingers, she saw James’s frown grow into a furious scowl and his fists ball, tempering his fury as he bit out, “Tormund?”

Then her brother’s big hands were hauling her down from her saddle. She sank to her knees, burying her unseemly tears in her hands. She felt his fingers picking at her messy hair, inspecting her for injury, no doubt wondering why she looked so travel-worn.

Silent, she heard James’s men’s feet shuffling. She knew from watching him lead that he was flashing looks to his men to ready their knives and horses to make a trip to the armory to check out their claymores… Nay…

Her head whipped up.

“What the hell did he do to ye?” Her brother’s body heat drew close as he squatted in front of her, peeling her hands away to reveal that he tremored with unchecked rage. “What are ye saying? If he hurt ye, I’ll kill him. If he even dared to—”

She looked into his furious eyes. Blue, like Marjorie’s and like the wee lad’s.

“He did nay hurt me. He protected him, all this time…”

“Who? His brother? Another enemy? Who did he protect?”

She scrambled to her feet and gripped his arm, taking in his stony face. He misunderstood why she looked so disheveled. James couldn’t start a war over this. Sakes, if she ever hoped to meet the young lad again, in the context of family introductions and building a relationship with him, it wouldn’t be through fighting! Tormund would hide the lad away again and…

It hit her so hard, she was glad she already stood on solid ground. Her brother’s reaction right now. This was why Tormund had kept his secret! Because everyone came after him with blades drawn, ready to fight, never ready to listen.