Page 7 of Highland Spy

Bridget’s head jerked back in surprise. Caleb was halfway down to the loch and she wasn’t even sure how he’d heard her.

“That man hears and sees everythin’, doesna he?” she remarked in a whisper, placing the bundle on the ground and opening it to reveal the salted pork, bread, cheese, and sweetmeats inside.

Rhoswen giggled. “Caleb always seems to know what is going on.”

“What do ye mean by that?” Her eyes snapped upward to Rhoswen and then over to her father who was talking to himself, sitting on a rock.

“I just meant that he’s very aware of his surroundings, that’s all,” Rhoswen answered. “Why do you seem so jumpy? Is something wrong?”

“Nay,” said Bridget, laying out the food. “Everythin’ is fine.”

“He likes you.”

“Who?” Bridget looked up at her, popping a sweetmeat into her mouth, pretending she didn’t know what the woman meant.

“Caleb, of course.” Rhoswen brought a flask of ale over to the cloth and kneeled down and put it next to the food. “Are you telling me you didn’t notice? Everyone in the MacKeefe camp teases him because all he can think about or talk about is you.”

“What?” Her chewing slowed as she contemplated what she’d just heard. “Really?”

“Aye,” Rhoswen assured her, pulling the cork off the mouth piece of the flask as she spoke. “You must have noticed how he’s always around you and asking so many questions.”

“Aye, but I thought he was just nosey.”

Rhoswen giggled. “Aye, nosey to learn all there is to know about you.”

“Och,” she said, swallowing forcefully, realizing this was going to pose a challenge. As much as she wanted to know more about Caleb, too, she couldn’t allow herself to get close to him. It was too risky. He could uncover her secret and that could mean death for her father, and possibly imprisonment for her as well since they’d been deceiving the king.

“Here, have some ale.” Rhoswen handed her the flask. Bridget took a swig and looked back over her shoulder at her father, sitting alone on the rock. Her heart went out to him. He used to be such a proud and honored man. But lately, she saw his health – mentally as well as physically, quickly slipping away. Ever since Bridget’s mother died, he’d never been the same. Then, after his accident, falling off his horse and hitting his head a few months ago, his life seemed to change drastically. “I’d like to take my father some food and drink,” she said, taking a piece of salted pork and bread as well as the flask and heading over to him.

“Bridget,” said her father, looking up and smiling at her. “What a beautiful day.”

“Aye,” she said, handing him the food and flask. “Here is somethin’ to eat and drink. It willna be long before we’ll be back on the road again.”

“Right,” he said with a nod, taking a sip of ale from the flask and looking up at her. “We need to get to the Highlands before it’s dark. We dinna want to encounter bandits along the way.”

“Faither,” she said, hunkering down next to him and putting her hand on his shoulder. “We’re no’ goin’ to the Highlands. That’s where we’ve just been. Dinna ye remember that we’re headed to Hermitage Castle on the border? We’re goin’ there to record the events of the Leader of the Lairds Competition for the king. We’ll be spendin’ the night in Glasgow, at the Horn and Hoof Tavern along the way.”

Her father slowly lowered the flask. A shadow crossed his face and he looked distraught. “Daughter, I’m no’ sure what’s happenin’ to me lately, but my memory seems to be slippin’ away.”

“I’ll find a healer to help ye in secret once we get to the castle,” she told him. “Everythin’ will be all right.”

“Nay, it’s too risky. I think I should stay in Glasgow and ye should go on without me.”

Bridget let out a deep sigh. If only she could do that, she would. “Ye ken as well as I that ye need to be there with me. After all, as far as anyone – especially the king – is concerned, ye are the chronicler, no’ me. I am a woman and can never be a chronicler of the king and ye ken it.”

“Aye, I suppose ye’re right. Do ye really think a healer can cure me?”

“I’ve been told there are herbs to heal most ailments and conditions.”

“But what if it doesna work?”

Bridget’s heart sank. She’d been considering that same thing lately and had no idea what to say. “I’ll find a way to help ye, Faither, I promise ye I will. And if that doesna work, then we’ll disappear somewhere where no one can ever find us.”

“Och!” her father jerked backwards and the food fell to the ground. Caleb’s pesky pine marten sank its teeth into the chunk of pork and hurried away, dragging it with him.

“Get back here, ye little thief!” cried Bridget, getting up and running after the animal. She followed it down to the loch, keeping her eyes on it rather than where she was going. “I’ll teach ye a lesson for stealin’ things, I swear I will.” She was about to lunge at it when Caleb stepped out from behind a tree and she went barreling right into him. From the force, they both fell to the ground. She landed on top of him with her nose buried against his chest.

“So we meet again,” said Caleb, the low rumble of his voice vibrating against her cheek since she was pressed up against him with all her weight. She felt his arms slip around her. When she picked up her head, her face was right in front of his. His eyes drifted down to her mouth. Then, before she knew what was happening, he kissed her!