Page 54 of Abducted By the Highlander
No. She could no longer hide behind her sisters. She braced her shoulders and refused to wilt. If Darragh guessed how badly her legs were shaking, he would never deign to answer her.
Finally, he spoke. “He had business in town. He’ll be back when he’s done.”
What business did Hugh have in town? She couldn’t imagine. Unless it was something he was doing for Darragh, in which case she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. And then another possibility occurred to her. Maybe he was sending another message to hismysterious contact, and she had just put him in peril by drawing attention to it.
“Oh,” she said, inadequately, wishing desperately the ground would open and swallow her whole. Since that wasn’t going to happen, she gave a small nod, as though Darragh’s remark had eased her concerns, instead of increasing them. “I see.”
There was no mistaking the grim amusement that flashed across Darragh’s face. “Never fear, Lady Roisin. He’s not run off and left ye.”
She managed a tight smile before retreating. By the time she sat down next to Grear, conversation had resumed but she could still feel how everyone’s eyes had bored into her just now.
And what was with Darragh calling her Lady Roisin? He hadn’t used her title since the day Hugh had first brought her to the camp, and it made her uneasy although she couldn’t quite pinpoint why.
Even though she’d lost her appetite, she forced herself to eat her supper, and Hugh still hadn’t returned when she had finished helping the women clear away. Anxiously, she scanned the glen, but there was no sign of him.
Grear came to her side, worry etched on her face. “What will we do if Hugh Campbell doesn’t return?”
It was the kind of question Roisin would have asked her sisters, had they been there, and doubtless both Isolde and Freyja would have soothed her with calming words. But her sisters weren’t there, and she had no one but herself to ease Grear’s distress. So she pushed her own fears aside and smiled, even though it hurt her face. “Of course he’ll be back, Grear. There’s no need for concern. Ye’ll see.”
But as twilight fell across the glen, her anxiety coalesced into a hard knot in the middle of her chest. Darragh might well be telling the truth, but suppose the reason Fergus hadn’t accompanied Darragh back to the camp was so he could confront Hugh?
She didn’t want to think about what might have happened, but she couldn’t stop the graphic images from flooding through her mind.
As she and Grear made their way back to the small cave, Ecne suddenly gave three short yaps of welcome, and she followed his gaze to the shadow-strewn forest. Relief tumbled through her, making her lightheaded, as she recognized Hugh riding Deagh Fhortan. And with her relief, she realized he hadn’t been so far behind Darragh, after all. It might have felt like hours, but now she considered it, Darragh himself had only arrived back not that long before twilight.
Instead of heading towards the small cave, where she stood with a welcoming smile on her face, it seemed Hugh didn’t even see her as he made a beeline for the large cave at the far end of the limestone cliff, which Darragh had claimed for the night.
It was foolish to feel slighted, but she did. Even though she knew the reason was because Hugh didn’t want to draw unwelcome attention to them both, which would certainly have happened had he instantly ridden to her side, it didn’t make her feel any better. The best thing she could do was get settled for the night with Grear, but she still lingered, as the rest of the women got their bairns into the caves, and she watched Hugh dismount and stride over to Darragh.
Although he was too far away to see the expression on his face, his entire attitude gave the impression he was furious, and unease shivered through her. Had he received bad news in town from his contact? But it didn’t make sense he’d share that news with Darragh. She hoped Hugh would come to see her when he’d finished speaking with him, even if it did set tongues wagging. Far better that than to fret all night wondering what new problem faced them.
And then she shook her head at her folly. What was she thinking? Of course, Hugh would come to see her. He had slept outside the tent every night since she’d joined the camp, and there was no reason to suppose he wouldn’t sleep outside the cave tonight. Indeed, after the magic they had shared together earlier today, there was no question that he’d seek out her company. She was letting her imagination run away with her. Hugh hadn’t ignored her. He simply needed to seeDarragh first.
“Come, Ecne,” she said, glancing at her feet, but her dog wasn’t there. Alarm streaked through her. Wildly, she glanced around and saw him bypassing the men who sat around the fire and trotting towards Hugh.
Shaking her head, relieved he hadn’t simply disappeared, she hurried after him and although he must have heard her call his name again, he merely speeded up. She knew he was fond of Hugh, and Hugh appeared to reciprocate the sentiment, but she’d caught Darragh giving her darling lad dark glances on more than a few occasions. She didn’t want to run any risk by having Ecne interrupting the men and Darragh taking the opportunity to give him an impatient kick.
The terrible notion of him hurting her sweet lad had her picking up her skirts and running, just as Hugh and Darragh left the mouth of the cave and walked a short distance beyond, where long ago landslides had left jagged towers of rock.
Ecne paused by the rocks and cocked his head as though he were eavesdropping. She smiled at her foolishness and scooped him into her arms but as she spun about to head back to the cave, Hugh’s low voice stopped her in her tracks.
“So ye don’t deny it?”
“Why should I?” There was a hard note in Darragh’s tone that sent a shiver along her spine. “I’ve known Fergus all my life and if he felt the need to search yer belongings, that’s a good enough reason for me.”
“He had no right.”
“And ye have no right confronting me like this, Hugh Campbell. I let ye stay because of Symon and ye’ve proven yer worth, but don’t go thinking that gives ye any special privileges.”
It was awful overhearing Darragh speak so badly to Hugh and indignation on his behalf burned through her. She needed to leave, but before she could make her feet move, Hugh responded.
“I don’t, and I’m thankful ye let me stay, but I want that letter back.”
What letter? Nerves churned through her although she wasn’t sure why.
“No. I believe I’ll keep it to ensure ye don’t get any ideas. I doubt yer lady love will look so kindly upon ye if she discovers ye didn’t send her message.”
Darragh’s mocking words echoed in her ears, magnifying with every heavy beat of her heart. No. She wouldn’t believe it. He couldn’t be talking about the letter she’d written to Isolde the other day. She’d seen Hugh with her own eyes speak to someone in the inn to send the message.
