12
Evanna sighed thankfully, then took the tray from Lexie and proceeded to mount the stairs with a feeling of dread gathering in her heart. What if she had been wrong about Fraser? What if he was as dangerous a criminal as Rowan had suggested?
No,she told herself.I refuse tae believe it.
Nevertheless, her hands were shaking as she unlocked the door and saw him silhouetted against the daylight at the window. Rowan had been right. He was the biggest man she had ever seen. If he was a dangerous criminal, and she was trapped in a small room with him, she did not stand a chance against him.
Evanna put the tray of porridge, eggs, and bannocks in front of him, then hastily backed away to be closer to the door, aware that Fraser was watching her.
As his gaze met hers, he realized that something had changed. He could see that she was tense and was avoiding his eyes.
“Evanna, did ye speak tae the men downstairs?” he asked gently.
He moved toward her, and she backed away, edging toward the door. Something or someone had changed her opinion of him, and he did not have to guess too long to work out who had done it.
“Did ye meet a man called Rowan McLachlan downstairs?” he asked, his voice careful as he backed away from her to give her space. She had gone from tense to terrified, and he cursed Rowan McLachlan silently for his cruel lies. He knew that if he ever got his hands on his cousin, he would tear him apart—not only for the injury he had caused to him but for the pain he was putting Evanna through.
“I did,” she replied, raising her chin to give him the illusion of brave defiance. “He told me ye were a very dangerous man, an’ he said that there would be a reward for me if I turned ye in.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment, then laughed. “I am a very dangerous man,” he agreed, nodding. “And so is each one o’ them. Ye are dangerous in yer own way too, Evanna.
“They are each trained for warfare, as I am, but the difference is in the intention. I have no intention o’ hurtin’ anybody. I have hurt people in the course o’ my duty, but I would never harm anybody that does no harm tae me, especially no’ a lady, an’ no’ while I am in this state.” He pointed to his wound. “But ye must believe what ye will, Evanna. I cannot stop ye. A’ I can tell ye is that I am a man’ o’ honor.” He shrugged helplessly, sat down on the chair, and began to eat his food.
Evanna watched him. He could have torn her apart had he wanted to, but he had done nothing. All of a sudden, her fears fled. “I believe ye,” she said firmly. “Ye have done nothin’ tae harm me, an’ ye seem tae be a gentle man. I am sorry I doubted ye.”
To her surprise, he grinned. “If I were a wee lady faced with’ the likes o’ me,” he said drily, “I would be more than doubtful, hen. I would be scared stiff.”
“I was,” she confessed. Then she looked at him carefully. “How did ye become so tall and broad?” Ever since she had met him, his appearance had puzzled her. It was extremely unusual, here in the midst of the short, fair Scots, to find a tall, dark man.
“My great-great-granda was French, an’ his wife was descended from the Norse folk,” he replied. “She was very tall an’ had blue eyes, an’ he was tall an’ dark. I think I got a’ those things from them, but I am a Scot through an’ through!” His deep voice rang with pride.
Evanna smiled. “I am too.” Then she said briskly, “When ye are finished wi’ yer breakfast, I will change yer bandage.”
She stood up, and Fraser surreptitiously watched her as she moved around the room, dusting, tidying, and polishing. The place was always scrupulously clean. When he was finished with his meal, he set his plate aside and allowed Evanna to clean his wound.
“It is healing well,” she pronounced, pressing the injury with her fingertips. She tried not to be aware of the almost leather-hard muscles under her fingers, the glossy blackness of his hair and beard that were brushing against her as she worked. His skin smelled of a natural, yeasty musk that was all his own, not at all unpleasant but definitely animal-like. She wondered if bears and wolves smelled like him.
Of course they don’t!she reprimanded herself.He is not an animal.And yet, there was something so primitive about him, something that drew her to him like a moth to a candle. If he was an animal, then she must be one too. At this moment, close to him, so close that she could feel the warmth of his skin, she felt like one. She wanted to dive on him and take what she wanted, even if she was not exactly sure what it was.
“I think this is the last bandage I will have tae put on,” she told him in a tone of satisfaction. “The skin is definitely growing back.”
Then ye will not have tae touch me again,he thought regretfully. However, he could not voice that thought. “Good,” he remarked. “I hope I will be ridin’ again in a few days and can take revenge on Rowan. That is a’ I want.” His big hands clenched into fists, and his bright blue eyes darkened with anger.
“Then ye will need this.” Evanna walked over to a drawer and drew out a dagger. It was a beautifully crafted weapon, and even in the dim light of the small room, he could see the deadly yet beautiful gleam of the finely-honed blade. The handle was silver, carved in the shape of two coiled snakes, and Fraser could tell as he hefted it in his hands that it was not only of very good quality but valuable, although he was not sure of its exact worth. The dagger had a black lion on it, and Fraser immediately understood that this dagger belonged to the Gilchrist clan.
“Where did ye come by this, Evanna?” he asked in astonishment. “This handle belongs to the Gilchrist clan.”
“I know,” she answered. “But ye will never believe me,” she continued. “But I found it in the woods. It was half-buried in the roots o’ an old tree. I have no idea how it came tae be there or whose it is, but it must be somebody very wealthy. Nobody knows about it but ye, an’ I am trustin’ ye wi’ it. If ye tell anybody where ye got it, I will deny it. I was keepin’ it in case we fell on hard times.”
“Why are ye givin’ it tae me?” he asked, frowning. He made a tiny cut on his thumb, and immediately, a bead of blood emerged. It was wickedly sharp.
“Tae defend yerself wi’, ye numpty!” she replied, exasperated. “What did ye think?”
“I think this thing is worth a lot o’ silver,” he answered. “I cannot believe ye are givin’ it tae me when ye could sell it an’ make a goodly amount o’ money.”
She shrugged. “A’ the silver in the world is no’ worth one life,” she pointed out. “I don’t have a sword tae give ye, so take it. Ye are more likely tae need it than I am. And also, as ye said, this dagger belongs tae the Gilchrist clan. Ye should take it back where it belongs. Do ye know the person who lost it?”
“I think I know, yes,” Fraser answered.