A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) by Hildie McQueen (best story books to read .TXT) 📗

She turned to look at him, sure that her eyes were wide. “What?” The tunics, of course. She’d enjoyed using them. The thought that they belonged to him seemed to help her nerves.

“Oh...yes. It was.” Studying him, she recalled it was his first time riding for so long since the injury. “How do ye feel?”

His wide shoulders lifted and lowered. “A bit sore,” he answered, walking her to the carriage door. “I will be ready to rest when we reach the place we will camp.” His gaze met hers. “Mayhap ye can join me in walking about then. I will need to stretch out my back and legs.”

The woods that surrounded them seemed to close in. She looked to Ewan, meeting his gaze, and everything settled within her. “Very well. I may need it myself.”

He opened the door to the carriage, and she turned to Broden who watched them.

Broden took a careful step toward her. “I apologize for not thinking before speaking.”

“It is not yer fault,” Catriona said. “Thank ye.”

She waited for Lady Fraser to be assisted in and then allowed Ewan to take her elbow and assist her to do the same.

Once settled on the bench, she let out a long sigh. “It was not as bad as it could have been.”

Lady Fraser nodded. “It is fortunate that Ewan is here. He seems to know exactly what to do or say to ye.”

Catriona considered what Lady Fraser was saying. “I suppose ye are correct. He does have a way of calming me.”

“Can I guess it is because ye have feelings for him?”

It was useless to deny it to herself or anyone. “I do care for him. It is not fair.”

“What do ye mean?”

“To him or to me,” Catriona said, her breath catching. “It is doubtful that I could ever allow a man to touch me in an intimate manner.”

“Bah!” Lady Fraser exclaimed. “I will venture to guess that ye have kissed him. Am I wrong in that ye have been held by him?”

At once, her face became so heated that she covered her cheeks with both hands.

“I am right!” Lady Fraser shouted. “I knew it.”

“Ye should lower yer voice,” Catriona said at noting men on both sides of the carriage were leaning down to peer at them.

Lady Fraser waved them away with a wide grin. “If ye have already allowed the handsome man those liberties, it will not be hard to let yerself go. Live, sweet girl. The years fly by and before ye know it, ye will be old and crying for the wonderful things ye allowed to pass by.”

Considering the woman’s words, Catriona sat back and closed her eyes. With her right hand, she reached for the bundle of tunics and pulled them against her leg. She did care for Ewan a great deal and wished for nothing more than to be in his presence constantly. The reason she was traveling, despite her horrible fear, was him.

When she opened her eyes, the sun was setting. As darkness fell, dread rose. All her self-talk about not being afraid left to be replaced with doubts and a terrifying foreboding. What had she done?

Too soon, they came to a second stop. Broden came to the door and instructed them to remain in the carriage until everything was set up for them.

Lady Fraser sighed. “It is much too dark to see what I’m doing,” she complained. “Where did I put...?”

Moments later, the interior of the carriage was lighted by a candlestick Lady Fraser held. “There, that’s better. Now, we will only need something to sleep on. Once the tent is set, we can undress and get our travel dresses aired out.”

Lady Fraser’s companion, an older woman named Gilda, had opted to ride with her husband, who drove the wagon with the foodstuffs. Now she neared and grinned at them. “I am sure ye are ready to walk about and then sleep.”

Catriona looked out into the dark forest. “I am not sure I can sleep out there. I should probably stay in the carriage.” The lower the sun fell, the darker the forest became.

“Nonsense,” Lady Fraser said. “No one will be here with the carriage. The horses will be unhitched and given a place to rest. We will be a few yards away.”

Outside, a tent had been erected, a fire started, and people milled about. Not too much later, a second bonfire came to life, illuminating the area so that it was easy to see.

“I suppose it does look safe enough,” Catriona said, not moving.

Lady Fraser rapped on the door to tell whoever was outside she wished to go out. “Our tent is in the center. We will be thoroughly protected.”

Catriona was pleasantly surprised that upon exiting the carriage, the surroundings did not intimidate her. Instead, it was as Lady Fraser said. It felt safe.

Chapter Eight

“How do ye feel?” Ewan had come to fetch her, asking if she’d like to walk a bit. He’d invited both her and Lady Fraser, but the older woman refused saying she’d rather remain in the tent and walk in it.

“The tent is much too small for her to get any proper walking done,” Catriona said as they walked a short distance to a nearby creek.

“I do not believe she plans to walk in there,” Ewan replied. “Lady Fraser will probably go see about her companion and oversee preparations for the meal.”

Catriona stopped and turned to Ewan. “I should go help her.”

“Ye can, after we walk a bit,” Ewan prompted. He gave her a sad look and she finally relented.

“Very well, but only for a bit.” The shadows grew larger and she shivered. “I could never travel alone. It is so dark out here.”

“Not so much when the moon is full,” Ewan said, pointing