Part 25 (2/2)

Her smile was pure sarcasm. She leaned forward and took an enormous bite from the oatcake. He refrained from any further jests, pleased she was eating. He relinquished the oatcake. After she finished, and refused his offer to make her another, he put the small sack of oats away.

”Aren't you going to eat?”

He shrugged. ”Later. I'm not so hungry.” He handed her the water skin.

She drank, never taking her eyes from him. ”Why are you doing this?”

He feigned confusion, standing and walking to the entrance of the cave. ”If you feel better today, we'll set out for Gealach in the morn.”

She was silent and when he glanced back she stared at him.

”I guess I owe you now, too.”

He raised a brow in question.

”It seems like everyone owes you their life.”

An ember popped. Alex thought about what it would be like to have her beholden to him. But she was like Patrick, loath to be in anyone's debt and eager to give recompense so she could be through with them.

Alex shook his head. ”Nay, la.s.s, you owe me naught.”

”How did you save Laine?”

Alex turned to face her. ”I cannot tell you that.”

”He's Lord Carlisle's son. The one from the monastery.”

”You've been talking to Diana.” Alex didn't know why the thought filled him with dread.

”A bit, yes.” Her smile was enigmatic, little more than a deepening of dimples. Then she frowned. ”How did they hurt him?”

Alex shook his head. He couldn't speak of it-Laine had made him swear-but even if he could, it was not talk for women's ears.

”What about Eliot?” she asked.

He resumed his seat beside her and leaned his elbow on his knee. ”Eliot is my cousin. He's a year older than I. We were the youngest bairns in the family and always begging to hunt with my father and uncles and brothers. When finally they said aye, Eliot and I were determined to slay a great beast, a dragon or some such.”

”Dragons?” She tried to sit up, but couldn't.

She was so very weak. An odd fist closed around Alex's heart as he watched her struggles. He took the saddle and blanket and arranged them so she could lean back. She did gratefully, a sheen of sweat on her forehead and lip from the exertion.

”Dragons?” she repeated. She didn't look terribly interested in his tale, but he sensed she needed to occupy her mind.

”Aye. We were verra young. We had no business out there with men, but my father and uncle thought it was never too soon to teach a lad to hunt.”

”Did you save him from a dragon?”

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