“Quench that thirst of yours, then get to my hand,” he ordered.
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She didn’t even bother to cup the water in her hands. She grabbed her braid that had fallen in disarray and held it back while she bent over and drank until she could drink no more.
Afterwards she got busy on his hand, a hundred questions rushing to her tongue, but keeping silent. She would learn more by watching and listening and, though it was difficult, she did just that.
She worked as gently as she could, the area that was red causing her the most worry. It didn’t look like it had turned putrid yet, but one could not always tell. When she finished cleaning it, she applied some honey from the small pouch, Sage, Ruddock’s new healer, had given her in case it would be needed on her journey home. She had never thought she would be using it on a man who had taken her captive.
“You hold your tongue. That is a good quality in a woman,” Beck said.
“What is there for me to say? You will tell me nothing until you’re ready to.”
“You have good qualities. You will fetch a good price,” Beck said with a grin.
“You intend to sell me?” she asked, the thought filling her with fear. Please. Please, William, hurry and get help.
He chuckled. “We’ll see. Maybe. Maybe not.”
He was teasing her or he was telling the truth and didn’t want her to know yet. “Since I have little say over it, what does it matter?”
“You never know. It might matter,” he said.
They spoke no more. She tore off another piece of her shift, though this time from her sleeve. It was cleaner than her hem after having walked so many hours. She wrapped his hand.
“Good, we can be on our way,” he said.
She looked around, her brow wrinkling. Two campfires had been started and two men entered camp with four rabbits, skinned and ready to cook. How could they be leaving when the men were settling in.?
Willow found out soon enough. She and Beck were the only ones taking their leave. Her wrists were tied and she was placed in front of Beck on his horse.
“Hold on, we ride fast,” Beck warned.
The air was cold, more so with it slapping against her face as they rode across the land. Her wool cloak kept the chill at bay, though it might have been the heat from Beck’s body that did that. The ride seemed endless and her thoughts drifted to how difficult life had been for the last few years. Her father’s mind had betrayed him and he had made unwise decisions in regards to the clan. If her mum hadn’t sent for James, their father’s bastard son, she didn’t know what would have happened. Her mum had encouraged her and her sisters to trust James, that he was a good man. She’d been right. Willow just wished her mum was there to see it. She died from problems sustained from a fire in the keep, the one that had blinded Snow.
All seemed like it would do well with Sorrell’s marriage to Ruddock, the Clan Northwick being a powerful clan. It meant the Clan Macardle no longer had to worry about protection or food for the winter or trouble that had been brewing with the neighboring Clan MacLoon, or be beholding to Tarass of the Clan MacFiere, also known as the Lord of Fire, an intimidating warrior.
She and Snow also did not have to worry any longer about an arranged marriage. Ruddock had freed them to make a choice of their own. That had pleased her and Snow. Now, though, none of that mattered, not unless William managed to get help. Otherwise her life that had recently taken a change for the better, had been pitched back into the darkness.
It was near dusk by the time they rode into what appeared a small village. A longhouse sat in the middle of several hut-like structures, and smiling faces shouted out greetings to Beck.
About six men approached them as Beck brought his horse to a stop.
“You got her,” one said in surprise.
“You doubted I would, Rob?” Beck shot back.
“No, it’s the consequences we talked about that worries me.”
“As it should all of us,” another man said.
A third man joined in. “Lord Ruddock is not one you want as a foe.”
“Worry not, it will go as planned. Take her, Geary,” Beck said.
Geary reached up and grabbed her at the waist to pull her off the horse and settle her on the ground. “Where do you want her?”
“In the hole with the other one,” Beck ordered.
“You’re going to put her in there with him?” Rob asked startled.
“Isn’t that what I just ordered you to do?’ Beck said, sending Rob a nasty glare.