Page 11 of Wicked Kilted Highlander

"Can ye turn away so I can get changed?" she asked.

"Oh, aye, of course, if ye’ll do the same for me," he told her with a hint of smile. They turned their backs on each other, and she began stripping off her soaking things. It was impossible to get completely dry, but she wrang out her hair as best she could and pulled on the warm, dry clothing Shona had packed for her. Once more, the wee maid had come up trumps.

There was a fresh shift, some cotton stays, and a woolen gown with a cloak to go over it as well as some thick, woolen stockings. She took off her boots, which were running with water, and replaced them with the stockings. She also found a comb, blessing Shona again for her forethought, and began combing out her drenched rattails.

"I think we need that fire if we’re to have any chance of drying our boots," she said when she was done, peeking at Darragh. She saw that he too was in stockinged feet and now wore a clean, dry shirt and a pair of trews, with a leather jerkin over the top and a long dark cloak. He was rubbing his long fair hair ineffectually with his wet shirt.

"Aye. If the tinder’s dry, that is. See if ye can find some wood," he told her, throwing the shirt aside with a sigh. So, with only the merest light coming in from outside to light them, they began to hunt for wood. Incredibly, they managed to find some dried leaves for kindling and a large, dry tree branch, which Darragh quickly broke up for the fire. Luckily, the tinder was till dry, and he soon managed to spark the leaves and get the wood burning. They sat side by side, watching the fragile thing come to life.

Grateful, Lara warmed her hands over the meager flames, but the temperature was dropping fast, and she began to shiver uncontrollably. She knew Darragh was worried for her when he pulled off his cloak and leaned over to wrap it around her.

“Nae, keep it, ye must be just as cold as I am," she told him, trying to refuse it.

“I’m an old soldier. I’m used tae the cold. Dinnae ye worry about me," he insisted, draping the cloak around her.

“All right, thank ye. I have to say I’m freezing," she said, grateful for his kind gesture.

"There," he said gruffly, his sharp eyes softening as he looked at her. "That should help keep the cold out a wee bit."

"Ye’re very thoughtful, thank ye," Lara whispered, gratefully pulling the cloak more tightly around her. She was too proud to admit it, but Darragh's concern touched her. In fact, all he had done for her so far had touched her. "Are ye nae cold, too?" she asked him, feeling suddenly shy.

"I'm a Highland warrior, Lara, dinnae worry about me," Darragh replied matter-of-factly, though his lips twitched.

"I see." She chuckled. "Are ye trying tae impress me?"

"Impress?" Darragh laughed, a rich, booming sound she liked. "Me? Nay. I'm simply stating a fact."

"Oh, aye?" Lara cocked an eyebrow, feeling mischievous. She had no idea why, but she suddenly wanted to tease him, to make him laugh again. "And what else is a warrior like ye able tae withstand, hmm?"

Darragh paused for a moment, considering her words. A slow grin spread across his rugged features. "Well, let me see. A warrior can withstand a lot of things," he replied, his voice husky with emotion. "We can withstand pain, hunger, thirst…"

"Go on," Lara murmured, her body tingling with anticipation in a way she had never experienced before.

"A warrior can also withstand… a woman's charms." Darragh's laughed, and Lara's cheeks went red.

"Are ye all right, lass?" Darragh smiled at her, his dark eyes merry.

"Aye, aye, fine," she replied, embarrassed, rubbing her arms beneath the cloak. "Just cold."

"Unfortunately, there's nae much we can do about that until the storm passes," Darragh said with a grimace, his gaze flicking towards the cave entrance, beyond which the rain continued to pour in torrents.

As they watched the chaos outside, debris periodically blew into the cave entrance, narrowly missing them. Branches and leaves hurtled past, propelled by the fierce winds, while the ground shook from the force of the thunder.

"Stay close," Darragh advised, his hand gripping her arm protectively. "We need tae be ready tae move if something comes too close."

"Agreed," Lara said, swallowing her fear as she leaned closer to him. She trusted Darragh to keep them safe, but she couldn't shake the sense of unease that gnawed at her. It was the nagging feeling that even as they huddled together in the darkness, the storm was simply a harbinger of greater trials yet to come.

Her gaze fell upon the saddlebag of supplies he’d unpacked. Though the situation was far from ideal, she couldn't help but appreciate his organizational abilities. There looked to be enough food to keep them going for several days and a flask of something too.

"Here," he said as if reading her mind, reaching for the bundle and unwrapping a loaf and a slab of yellow cheese. "We should eat something." He got out his knife and sawed off a chunk of each.

She nodded wordlessly, accepting a piece of bread and cheese. They ate in silence for a time, the rhythm of their chewing punctuated only by the distant rumble of thunder and the drumming of rain against the cave's entrance.

"Tell me more about what happened after yer capture Lara, I want tae ken everything that occurred," Darragh prompted, his voice low, as if he was hesitant to disturb the quiet sanctuary they had found within the cave. His gaze bored into Lara's eyes, searching for answers she knew he needed to hear.

Lara hesitated. But then she took a deep breath, steadying herself before she spoke. "I was abducted and taken tae the hidden cell where ye found me," she began, her voice barely audible above the din of the storm. "The guards… they were ruthless and rough." It pained her to have to remember.

Darragh clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as anger flickered within their inky depths. "I wish I had come to the MacNeil castle earlier, ye shouldnae have had tae suffer so much."