“Verra well,” he said. He glanced around and saw that this area was a reasonable place to stop and rest. “Ye stay here with the horse while I go hunt.”
“I’m coming with ye,” she said.
He looked at her, and the memory of the spirited redhead who faced him with a pitched fork entered his mind. Even now, her beauty could distract him, but her stubbornness was something else. He shook his head, and one corner of his lip curled up in amusement. “It seems whatever I tell ye, ye will do the opposite.”
Elspeth lifted her chin in defiance. “After ye tried stealing our horse, I dinnae think I can trust ye nae tae abandon me in the woods.”
She did have a point, he realized. “Fine. Just dinnae scare away the game.”
“I ken better than tae do that,” she said, pursing her lips.
The summer was finished, but the forest was still abundant with small game to hunt. He fashioned a snare from some twigs and rope that he had the presence of mind to carry with him. During his wandering from town to town and as a matter of survival, he had many occasions to hunt for food. He might not be able to trap their supper right away, but he was bound to find something to eat.
Angus started to move away from the trap when he heard something that sounded like a man’s laugh.
Elspeth stilled. “Did ye hear that?” she whispered. “Do ye think ‘tis the robbers?”
“Probably,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll go look. Ye can —” He stopped and saw that she was already following close behind him. It was unlikely she would listen to his instructions and stay out of danger. “Just be quiet,” he said.
Chapter 7
Angus’s heart pounded. Perhaps in the next few minutes, he could finally question the thief and get the answers he long sought. But before he did that, he needed to assess the situation.
As he moved cautiously toward the sound, Elspeth grabbed the back of his shirt. Her grip was firm, and he sensed her fear. Just as he glanced at her, a sudden gust of wind brushed her curly tresses aside, exposing her graceful neck. Her smooth cheeks were pale, and her freckles stood out on her bonnie face. Although she tried to hide her emotions, he saw that she battled between fright and courage. He started to say something to reassure her, but the moment passed.
She caught his gaze. Lifting her chin defiantly, she said, “Dinnae even think ye can leave me behind.”
“I would never think of it,” he said.
Her hazel eyes narrowed as if she suspected that he lied.
But Angus had better things to do than defend himself against a nonexistent crime. He scanned their surroundings, noting every detail. The light was starting to fade, and he made sure that the foliage concealed their presence. As they got closer, they heard music and laughter.
“It sounds as if they are having a party,” Elspeth whispered, forming a similar conclusion. “But what could they be celebrating?”
“We’ll find out in a moment,” he said.
Angus looked behind him and found a suitable tree to secure the horse. He motioned for her to keep silent as he crouched to the ground and inched closer to the revelers. From his position, he could see their campfire. A youth sat near the firepit, watching over the hare that roasted on the wooden spit. The smell of cooked meat got stronger, reminding him that he had yet to eat. But this wasn’t the time to be thinking about food. The challenge now was in deciding whether they should reveal themselves or stay hidden.
Fortunately, he had time to examine the people, and then decide his next move. The thick underbrush hid them, and the soft ground muffled their movements. And once darkness closed in, they would be virtually undetectable.
As Angus settled himself in the hiding spot between two large bushes, he continued to survey the gathering. Including the lad who tended the roast, he counted thirteen people. But as he tried to assess the group, he was startled to discover women and more bairns among them. And when he studied each man present, he found no one that resembled the robber he had fought earlier.
Disappointment settled in his chest. These people were vagabonds. In his travels, he had often come across similar folk. They were either cast out of their clans for some reason or had emigrated from foreign countries. In either case, they belonged nowhere and were poor. Other people generally viewed them with suspicion and chased them away from their towns and villages.
But this particular tribe had established their own community. They built their settlement deep enough in the woods that they would be undetected. A couple of makeshift shelters constructed of twigs and branches stood at the edge of the clearing. And a few domestic animals were enclosed in pens just outside the structures. The men ranged from grandfathers to untried youths, and from what Angus could tell, they posed no threat. If it was necessary, he knew he could take them on. But if he wanted to approach the group, he needed them to see him as a friend, not as a foe.
Elspeth squatted next to Angus when his sudden movement startled her. She pulled at his arm just before he stood up.
“Where are ye going?” she hissed in his ear.
“These are nae the thieves that we’re after,” he said, his voice low. “They are just simple folk. However, I think they might be able tae tell us where the raiders have gone.”
She glanced back at the revelers and couldn’t understand how he could determine whether these rough people were harmless. But she had little time to question his intent. Angus was already striding toward the small clearing.
Elspeth scrambled from the ground and hurried after him. He walked into the forest glade as if he had every right to be there.
The man who was singing a jaunty tune noticed Angus’s substantial presence in the camp, and he abruptly stopped his song. The happiness on the musician’s face dropped, and his party-mates knew that something was amiss. They followed his gaze and saw Angus approaching them. In a flash, they stopped what they were doing and swiftly brandished weapons of sticks, stones, daggers, and swords.
“Who are ye?” one man growled. He shoved the women and children behind him. But even though they moved back, curiosity reflected on their faces.
Angus paused in mid stride. “Aiya, dinnae be hasty.” He lifted his palms in front of him and sent them an easy smile. While he appeared relaxed, Elspeth sensed the tension emanating from his powerful body. “I dinnae come here tae fight.”
“Then why are ye here?” another man said, stepping forward. He held a blade in his hand, and his stance was threatening. “We dinnae ken ye.”
“I’m looking for thieves,” Angus said.
Elspeth moved to stand beside the Highlander. “That’s right. They stole animals from my da’s farm, and we’re trying tae get them back.”
“Guid luck if ye can find the thieves,” another man said, chuckling. He set his stick on the ground and leaned on it. “There are many in these parts, and they are everywhere.”
“Well, this gang of criminals consists of no more than five men. They would have passed through here recently.”
A couple of the men exchanged looks. “If I ken who ye are talking about,” one of them said, “then I caution ye nae tae follow them. They’re dangerous.”
“But we cannae allow them tae get away with stealing from my family,” Elspeth said.
“Dinnae say anything more,” Angus warned, his voice low. “We dinnae ken much about these people.” He then turned and pointed to where the horses gathered. The beasts appeared as downtrodden as the group members, but these small mounts were better for travel. “I can trade a healthy packhorse for one of your galloways.”
“Why are ye trading my horse?” she asked furiously. “Many of those horses are auld. What if they are lame as well?”
“Calm yourself,” he said, his voice low. “The carthorse is fatigued, and we need tae get a fresh mount if we are tae continue our journey.”
Elspeth wanted to argue with him, but she saw that he was right. She also noted that the revelers stared at them, and it didn’t reflect well on them
that they quarreled.
“We’ll need tae inspect the packhorse first,” an older man holding a sword said. Out of everyone present, he appeared as if he was their leader.
“Perhaps we should leave the negotiations until after the celebrations,” a woman suggested. She moved to the front of the assembly. “We’re celebrating a birth.”
For the first time, Elspeth noticed the young woman with her newborn. She and her husband sat on a stone a few feet from them, their heads bent over their sleeping bairn.
“Aye, let’s discuss business later,” another man said, stepping forward. He also had a sword, but he lowered it to the ground. “As Ana mentioned, we should be celebrating, nae negotiating horse trades.”
He nodded to the singer and signaled for his friends to return to the festivities. He then approached Elspeth, the expression on his face open and warm. “I’m Brodie. Why dinnae ye join us? Nae many bonnie lassies like ye visit here. We dinnae have much, but we can at least show ye a guid time.”
The others returned to the gathering and resumed their revelry as if the sudden appearance of strangers had never occurred. The singing and dancing commenced, and the whisky and ale flowed freely once again.
Although Elspeth tried to stop herself, she couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the merrymakers. She had always looked after Fiona and rarely had time to enjoy any festivities.
“Elspeth disnae want tae be shown a guid time,” Angus said, speaking for her.
“How do ye ken what I want?” she asked, frowning at him.
Elspeth glanced at the stranger’s outstretched hand. His offer was tempting. At the moment, she didn’t have to care for her sister or her father. If anything, she could pretend that things were carefree and simple again.
“Come on,” Brodie urged. “It’ll be great fun.”
She had believed that participating in any type of merriment was finished after her mother died. But Brodie was undoubtedly handsome, charming, and very persuasive. She peeked at Angus and saw he had resumed his conversation with the leader. There was no way to determine how long they would be visiting this camp.
“All right, I’ll join in for just a wee bit,” she said, making her decision.
When she put out her hand, her host pulled her toward the dancers. She was quickly swept into the reel that was in full swing. Aside from the singing, there were no formal instruments, yet this didn’t matter at all.
She didn’t know why she did it, but she found herself glancing over at Angus on more than one occasion. Each time, she noticed him still absorbed in conversation with the older man. Angus hardly seemed aware of the attractive woman that had joined them. The lass sat next to the Highlander, silently appraising him. For a moment, Elspeth felt a strange twist in her gut. Compared to this gorgeous creature, she felt grimy and plain. In the end, she couldn’t blame the lass’s interest. Angus was braw, masculine, and fine. Any woman could see this.
As if he sensed her looking at him, he turned toward her. At his stare, she felt a streak of energy race down her spine, leaving her warm.
Beside her, Brodie let out a sudden whoop, forcing Elspeth to refocus her attention on him. His vigor and exuberance made her forget the disturbing sensation that Angus invoked in her. In response, she lifted her hand in the air. And following her dance partner’s lead, she allowed the jubilant song to penetrate her being. Now that she let down her guard, her feet moved faster and faster to the musical rhythms.
It was refreshing that she could enjoy herself after traveling for so long. Soon enough, they would resume their pursuit of the robbers. But for now, her troubles seemed far away.
Several minutes later, the song ended, and the revelers erupted in enthusiastic applause. “Sing us another tune, Gilroy,” someone behind her shouted.
“Of course,” Gilroy yelled back and started a new ditty.
“Och, Brodie,” the leader yelled from the sidelines. “Ye better lay off the lass and bring her back here. We dinnae want our new friend tae get angry.”
Brodie let out a laugh as he led her back to the small group. Her own laughter stopped when she saw the dark expression on Angus’s face. The man seemed almost...jealous. But that was impossible, wasn’t it?
“My apologies, I dinnae mean tae take away your wife,” Brodie said. “I hope ye will forgive me.”
“’Tis fine. She isnae my wife,” Angus said.
“Then ye are unmarried?” Ana asked, her pretty face lighting up with interest. “I might be looking for a husband if ye are interested.”
The joy Elspeth experienced earlier evaporated in an instant, and the twinge of envy returned. It made no sense, though, and she tried mentally to get rid of the odd feeling.
“I’m nae looking tae marry at this time,” Angus said, making an effort to appear more relaxed. Then, almost as an afterthought, he gave the woman a casual smile as if to soften his rejection.
But his words had a different effect on Elspeth. Upon hearing the confession, the strange tension eased from her body. She started to release the breath she had unconsciously held, and in that exact moment, Angus looked over at her and caught her gaze. Before she knew it, she felt a sizzling energy pass between them. She surmised that he felt it too; however, he broke their eye contact and turned back to the leader.
“Do ye ken anything about this brooch?” Angus asked, removing the pin from his great kilt. The excess fabric dropped, exposing the wide expanse of his chest. “One of the thieves wore a similar clasp.”
Brodie started to answer when the older man shook his head at him. The leader glanced at the item in Angus’s hand and said firmly, “We dinnae ken anything about the brooch.”
For a split second, Angus narrowed his eyes as if he suspected that the men hid something. But instead of calling them out their deception, he shrugged.
“That’s fine. I didnae expect ye tae ken much about the pin,” he said. “I should get the horse. Then after we complete the trade, we’ll take our leave.”
“Do ye have tae leave sae soon?” Brodie asked, his voice sounding disappointed. “It seems that ye have just arrived.”
“Aye, perhaps we can stay longer?” Elspeth suggested.
“Nay,” Angus said. He turned to the others. “I tied the packhorse tae a tree nearby. The lass will come with me tae retrieve it.”
The Highlander’s decision surprised her. When they entered the camp, he was eager to speak to the group members. It appeared that he was now finished with them and was ready to leave. Although the vagabonds seemed friendly and pleasant, it was probably best that she listened to Angus.
“I thought ye planned tae question the group,” she said, following him into the forest.
“I did,” he said. “Though they didnae tell me much, I learned enough tae consider visiting the next town.”
Their new friends gave them a torch, allowing them to retrace their steps. As they weaved through the thicket, the acrid smell of burning animal fat and smoke accompanied them. A few minutes later, they reached the spot where Angus had secured the packhorse. He quickly untied the beast and led it back to the camp.
The transaction finished quickly, and Elspeth sensed that their hosts got a better deal out of the exchange than they did. But she wasn’t in the position to deny the trade. As Angus explained, there was no telling how long or how far they needed to go in order to track down the raiders. And then there was still the matter of reaching the Earl of Freemond...
In truth, Elspeth would have liked to stay with their hosts until the next morning. But Angus was adamant that they needed to immediately depart. And with the exchange done, they set out with the smaller horse.
As the darkness enveloped them, she grabbed his sleeve and walked closely beside him. Somehow Angus knew where he was going, and she didn’t want to be separated from him. While he didn’t voice it aloud, she instinctively knew that he would protect her if anything threatened her.
But the silence surrounding them was almost deafening.
The activity and noise from the party no longer distracted her, and her imagination took root. Her mother told her many things in the past, and Elspeth wondered what other frightening things lurked in the thicket. It was just her and Angus, and she was only too conscious of their vulnerability. The Highlander, however, didn’t appear fazed by the dark.
Suddenly, Elspeth heard a rustling in bushes behind her, and she jumped. “Did ye hear that?” she asked. Some nocturnal animal or maybe something more sinister had made that noise.
“’Tis nothing,” he said.
She stepped closer to him, glad for his strong presence. Her hand tightened its grip on his sleeve. But she noticed that even through the fabric, the muscles in his forearm tensed, betraying his alertness.
Angus waved the torch, shining the light to the area where the sound occurred. And before he could take a step forward to investigate further, two lads and a galloway horse emerged from the overgrown shrubs.
“What are ye lads doing here?” Elspeth asked, unable to contain her surprise. She recognized them from the camp.
“Aye,” Angus said. “Why are ye following us?”
The lads looked at the large Highlander, suddenly appearing nervous. “We have information ye want,” the older one said.
“Well, tell me then,” Angus said.
“We can tell ye, but ye will have tae take us with ye.”
Chapter 8
For a long moment, Angus stared at the lads as he considered their proposal. When he spoke to the vagabond leader, he thought he had pieced together enough information to locate the raiders. Did these youths have anything more to reveal? It was unlikely.
“Nay,” he said, making his decision. “I think ye lads should go home.”
“But we ken where the thieves are,” one lad protested.
Elspeth turned to Angus, an eager expression on her pretty face. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him aside. “What if the lads ken something that will help us track the robbers?” she asked.
The Highlander's Quest Page 5