Page 60 of Bound to a Scot
“Why dinnae we go and fetch our horses and ride back tae the castle?”
He seemed to consider it for a moment then shook his head. “Nay. We dinnae ken if these three have confederates in the village. They could be waitin’ fer us just in case somethin’ went wrong with their friends ambushin’ ye.”
“I hardly think it likely.”
“I willnae take the risk,” he said sharply. “Nae with yer life in the balance. They’ve already tried tae kill ye once. I willnae give them another chance tae finish the job.”
Maddox’s protectiveness sent a warm flutter through her heart. But the thought of somebody trying to kill her—again—chilled her to the bone. Why would somebody be trying to kill her? She wasn’t somebody of import who would warrant assassins being sent after her. Emmeline shook her head and fought back waves of emotion as she tried to understand what was happening to her.
“Come,” he says. “We need tae find somewhere we can shelter for the night and try tae figure out what the hell is happenin’.”
“I—I think I ken a place we can go,” Emmeline said.
“Where?”
“There’s an old huntin’ cabin deeper in the woods.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go.”
Maddox waded out into the pond to retrieve his dagger. Emmeline shuddered as she watched him yank it from the dead man’s body and wipe it off before sheathing it again. He returned to the bank and took her hand.
“Come,” he said. “Let’s go.”
They wound their way through the tangled undergrowth of the forest, walking for a bit before they found the cabin tucked away among the wide trunks of the trees. Emmeline let out a small breath of relief seeing it was still deserted.
“How did ye ken of this place?” Maddox asked.
“The kids in the village showed it tae me.”
“Excellent,” he said with a nod. “Wait here. Let me make sure it’s empty.”
He stalked to the cabin, drawing his sword from the sheath on his back and pushed the door open. Emmeline’s stomach clenched as he disappeared into the darkness beyond. But he reappeared a moment later and motioned her forward.
“’Tis clear,” he said as thunder crashed overhead.
“None too soon.”
Emmeline had just stepped inside when the first drops of rain started to fall. Maddox closed the door behind her then went to the small pit in the center of the floor and sets to work starting a fire. A moment later, the flames sprung up and as the column of smoke rose to the small hole set in the thatched roof above them, the small cabin began filling with light and warmth.
“Sit near the fire,” Maddox said.
She did as he instructed while he began digging through a stack of boxes that stood in the corner of the cabin. Cecilia leaned closer to the flames, reveling in their warmth. A few moments later, Maddox appeared beside her and held out a thick cloak to her.
“Get out of those wet clothes,” he said. “Wrap yerself in this cloak and we’ll hang yer clothes up tae dry.”
She looked at him, shocked. “I’m nae takin’ me clothes off.”
“Ye can either dae that or freeze tae death,” he said. “It’s about tae get a lot colder.”
As if on cue, a gust of wind rattled the thatch roof, and Emmeline did indeed feel the stinging bite of the cold upon her skin. She frowned.
“Fine,” she said. “Just… go over there. And dinnae look at me.”
Maddox chuckled but did as she’d told him and walked to the far side of the cabin—which, given how small the place was, wasn’t that far away at all. But he opened the wooden shutter and stared out into the oncoming gloom of the night. Thunder crashed overhead and rain lashed the sides of the cabin making so much noise, it sounded like the end of the world was near.
Emmeline pulled the thick cloak over her though and managed to wriggle and squirm her way out of the wet clothing that uncomfortably stuck to her skin. Only when she had gotten it off and the cloak wrapped tighter around her, did speak.
“Ye can turn around again,” she said.
