Page 7 of Her Scot of Bygones
How to answer that? I suppose by proving I wasn’t lying about dreaming of her.
“You had a wee bit o’ a limp when you were a bairn,” I said softly, my concern for her coming back to me as flashes of a dream scattered through my mind. “It made it hard for you to run properly, yet you ran regardless because you enjoyed it so much.” I couldn’t help but smile at the joy I felt from that. “You didnae let anything take away your happiness.”
“How could you possibly,” she whispered, glancing at where her feet were tucked beneath my fur, before her gaze whipped back to me and she narrowed her eyes. “Your dragon must have sensed the discrepancy in my legs and your spinning tales to suit your narrative.”
“And what about the rest of it?” I wondered, not caring in the least that she suffered from a condition that made one legslightly longer than the other, creating a gait if she didn’t wear the proper footwear. She hadn’t let it get the best of her, and that’s what mattered. “Am I wrong?”
“It’s hard to know what you are,” she murmured, swallowing hard and shaking her head, yet I couldn’t help but notice she finally picked up the water.
“I also know you would do anything to protect those you love,” I said, feeling her incredible need to return to those she cared about, not to protect herself but them. “So I can promise you this, Hazel. Once I know you are safe, I will protect those you care about every bit as much as I will protect you. Again, you have my word.”
I wasn’t sure whether she finally believed me or her thirst just got the better of her, but she drank, and her pleasure at the cool water trickling down her throat was unmistakable as she went from sipping to swallowing it down entirely.
“There,” she said softly, setting the cup aside and giving me a level look, though I could tell she still had concerns about the water. “Now, please honor your word and take me back to Aspen and MacLeod Castle, where you know I’ll be safe.”
“Of course,” I assured her, intending to do that very thing, however long it took. “If you like, we can leave straight away.”
“Please.”
I felt her hesitation when she swung her legs over the side of the bed, because her shoes had been left behind.
“Yet ‘tis easy enough to remedy,” I said gently, manifesting sturdy walking boots that would suit her as well as the pair of shoes that had been resting on the floor next to where she slept in the colonial. One had a thicker heel than the other.
“Thanks,” she murmured, her cheeks pinkening as she slid them on.
I sensed she was about to explain her condition, but thought better of it because she didn’t want to appear weak or apologizefor something she had no control over. Rather, her jaw tightened in determination, revealing the strong, dependable woman that lay beneath the surface. The steadfast, level-headed woman who was so accustomed to being strong for others, I couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever allowed herself to be anything but.
Although tempted to reach out and offer a supportive arm when she stood and tested her boots, I refrained because I knew it might offend her. She had long learned to stand on her own two feet, and that was clear in the notch of her chin as she steadied herself and nodded. “Lead the way.”
So I did.
Just not in the quickest direction.
Rather, even though I had asked her to trust me, I wasn’t being entirely truthful. I could take her to MacLeod Castle in no time if I led her down the tunnel to my left, but I chose a different one that would detour us for a bit. Long enough, I hoped, for her to come to her senses and realize she was safer with me. To give our dragons time to connect as they should, effectively keeping her out of the Sutherland’s lecherous hands.
Not just that, but it was an easier route to walk despite seeing she was sure on her feet, and her slightly stunted gait was hardly noticeable. Although she remained quiet and on guard as we traveled, I caught her wariness warring with curiosity, not only about her surroundings but about me. I felt my dragon being cautious about what thoughts she caught flittering through my mind because he wanted her to communicate with us.Knowus. Draw her out rather than let her silently come to her own conclusions.
With that in mind, and based on other lasses I had pursued, I figured the best way to begin was to ask about her passions, which I could only assume was cooking, given she’d yet to remove her apron. Yet even as I noted that, I sensed it was more of a safety net between us despite her keeping my blade wellin hand. To her mind, the more clothing she wore, the more protected she was from my gaze.
“So what do you like to cook, Hazel?” I wondered, glad there was enough space in this part of the tunnel so we could walk beside one another. This way, I could see her expression by the torch I carried to light the way, because I was certain she didn’t know how to use her dragon sight yet.
She glanced at me with uncertainty, as if wondering how much she should share with someone she considered a stranger.
“I enjoy cooking anything that suits the moment,” she said vaguely. “Whatever makes people happy.”
“And what makes you happy?” I asked. “What foods do you enjoy cooking the most, and which do you enjoy eating?
I would assume meat, given she was half dragon and a carnivore, but then, her beast had been repressed, so perhaps not.
“I like everything,” she replied almost dutifully. “Whatever’s available.” She shrugged. “And I enjoy cooking whatever makes people happy.”
Granted, I didn’t recall much of my dreams yet, but I didn’t remember her coming across nearly this reserved and careful. Or had she at first? Because there was something that seemed familiar. Something I hadn’t felt in some time, but I knew it was there. A fleeting sensation of worrying about her, but I couldn’t recall why.
“Doyou truly like everything?” I wondered, speaking before I could stop myself, yet I was glad I did because I doubted there wasn’t something she loved more, a tart, honey, whatever it may be, and it bothered me that she wouldn’t be forthright about something so simple. Even worse, I sensed she might not be honest with anyone when asked that question, but I couldn’t quite figure out why. “’Twould be rare, indeed, to like everything.”
The corners of her mouth tugged down before she smoothed her expression. “Yet I do.” Clearly deflecting, she turned the question on me. “And you?”
“Primarily meat and sometimes fish,” I replied easily enough. “Iamhalf dragon, though, so ‘tis logical.”
