Page 26 of Sins of a Scot
“Both o’ us?” Iseabail exclaimed.
He smiled down at her. “Well, if ye think I’m sleeping in a freezing cold room and leaving ye in here tae hog the fire, ye’ve got another thing coming.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The cottage was hardly ideal. It was cold, water leaked in through holes in the roof, and wind rattled through the wooden blinds. It was certainly a protection against the dreadful weather, but it was a far cry from any accommodation Iseabail had stayed in up to that point.
Between them, she and Owen had secured the rotten blinds as best they could. The wind still howled through the gaps, but it was a little better. There was nothing they could do about the leaky roof, and thus, they made effort to avoid the places where puddles gathered as the water poured in.
With all its faults, the cottage was still far better than having to camp outside, though the idea of having to sleep in the same room as Owen did not please Iseabail at all. But nor could she demand that he sleep in another room where there was no fire. By his earlier comment, her demand would likely be ignored at any rate. Perhaps, on their journey, this circumstance was something she was going to have to get accustomed to.
Yet, he was right. Both of them were soaked through, and even now, as they sat down to eat, Iseabail’s clothes were not fully dry. She could only imagine that Owen suffered the same. Given the little firewood he had been able to find, the fire was far smaller than both of them were used to, but, again, it was better than no fire at all.
In the saddle bags, she was able to find meat and bread, and though they had no plates, Owen had found an old discarded tray that had clearly not seen use in years. With a quick wash in the rain, however, it was fully functional again, giving Iseabail somewhere to lay their food.
As they ate, Iseabail found herself lost in thoughts of how this quest was going to play out. It had been fortune shining upon her when she had come across Owen and the crystal he wore. She now had an ally, of sorts, and certainly a way to protect her when they did finally find the crystal.
If I find the crystal.
I have tae find it.
Tearing apart a chicken leg with his teeth, Owen looked over at her and said, “Isnae it a bit careless o’ ye tae be travelling around alone? There are dreadful people wandering about, ye ken. And there ye are, with nay guards tae protect ye.”
“Ye didnae seem tae care that I was alone when ye met me in the tavern,” Iseabail countered.
“Aye, but I didnae ken who ye were then.”
“Och, I see. So, if I were just a lowly common woman, me safety wouldnae matter.”
“That’s nae what I mean, and ye ken it. Nay lass should be out and about alone, but with what ye’re doing, travelling intae strange places and asking questions, ye should be more wary.”
Iseabail shook her head. “I’ve never needed any protection. Nor have I felt in danger. Me gift enables me tae stop any ill-will occurring, either toward me or toward another. In fact, in all the years I have lived kenning me gift, I have never had any doubt that I could protect mesel’.” She paused a beat. “Until now.”
Owen looked at her carefully, watching her glancing down at his necklace.
“Because o’ this,” he said, touching the crystal at his throat.
“Aye,” she said, nodding. “Ye’re the first man I have met that me powers willnae work on. The first man I cannae defend mesel’ against.”
“But surely, ye kent about this crystal ‘afore,” he said.
“Nae. I didnae. It was only when Laird Sutherland sent me on this mission that I found out about such a thing.” She pierced him with and intense gaze. “Dae ye really think I would put mesel’ at such risk?”
“But ye put yersel’ at risk when ye found out about it,” Owen argued. “Ye have nay guards with ye, and still, ye are wandering about alone.”
“That’s different. I’ve been forced tae take that path so as nae tae bring any attention tae mesel’. I’ve been searching fer this crystal fer weeks. How many people are going tae open up tae me about where I might find it when I have huge guards standing at me side?”
Owen shrugged. “Fair point.”
“Guards will only make me more noticeable. I have tae act stealthily in what I am doing. Naeone can ken. Me faither’s and braither’s lives depend on it.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak again, and then he said, “And are ye nae afraid now, here with me?”
Again, Iseabail shook her head. “Nae. I have already deduced the kind o’ man ye are, Owen. And while ye dae like the lasses, yer nae one tae force anyone against their will. That being said,” she added, “while I sleep on this side o’ the room this night, ye will sleep over there.” She gestured to the other side.
“As long as I’m in the same room as the fire, I couldnae care less where I sleep,” he replied flippantly.
Iseabail was nearly certain his words were defensive, as though he were almost offended that she didn’t want to lie anywherenear him. It was evident he was used to attention from the lasses. She had heard Daire mention it as well. Perhaps he was a little offended that Iseabail didn’t see him in the same way those other women did.
