Aidan by Elizabeth Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

want to leave the girl unattended.
    “Nay, I’ll hunt something fer us te eat,” he said.
    “Go ahead, join them,” said Effie. “Just give me that bow and arrows you brought from the fair and I’ll take care of huntin’ fer our dinner.”
    “Mayhap ye’d better stay after all,” said Ian, giving him a look that Aidan knew meant he didn’t trust the lassie.
    The two took off up the cliff, and Aidan just added more kindling to the fire. His squirrel rooted around in the dirt, looking for food.
    “I k en ye want te go with them,” Effie said. “Just go.”
    “Nay, I dinna want te leave ye alone.”
    “I’m a gypsy, I live off the land. And we dinna see anyone followin’ us, so I’ll be fine.”
    He just looked back down to the fire and shook his head. He was torn, and though he trusted that she wouldn’t leave, he was trying to proceed with caution, as his friends had warned him to do. Aidan always was the most trusting one of the three of them, and had on more than one occasion been burned because of it.
    “I dinna ken if it’s a guid idea.”
    “Oh. Ye dinna trust me, jest like yer friends.”
    He looked over to her and saw the disappointment on her face. He didn’t want to make her feel this way, he only wanted to please her. She was the most beautiful lassie he’d ever met, and he loved her fearlessness. He got to his feet and went over to the supplies and pulled out a bow and arrows.
    “Ye can use these,” he said. “I willna be gone long. And dinna go too far from the camp as once ye get away from the fire, ye may encounter a wildcat or a wolf.”
    “I can protect meself,” she said.
    “Aye. I saw how well ye did thet with those English guards.”
    “If I’d had a weapon, they’d be deid right now.”
    “I’m no’ so sure, lassie. Now jest do me a favor and dinna shoot any squirrels,” he said, “as I dinna want me pet killed. Reid, go on up and hide in a tree,” he said over his shoulder. The little red squirrel scampered up a tree and away from them.
     
    Effie watched in amazement as the man’s squirrel seemed to understand him, and on command disappeared into the trees.
    “Thet is a strange pet fer anyone te have,” she said, shaking her head.
    “No’ as strange as Onyx’s pet, ” Aidan mumbled, walking away.
    “What does he have? A pine marten or somethin’ ?” she called after him.
    “Nothin’ thet tame, I assure ye. Now jest call out if ye need me, as I won’t be far. And if ye think ye’er goin’ te catch somethin’ te eat, ye’d better hurry, as it’s startin’ te get dark.”
    She watched him disappear into the thicket, thinking there must be some sort of pond they were going to swim in up on the cliffs. She had no idea why t hey just didn’t swim in the lake. She’d never understand these men.
    She picked up her bow and arrows and used her senses to tell her where she might find prey. It wasn’t going to be that easy once it got dark, Aidan was right. And the sun was starting to set, so she’d have to hurry.
    She didn’t have to hunt long before sh e spotted and took down a carrion crow that was irritating her with its squawking. She also managed to shoot a red grouse as well, just before it got dark. She was sure the men would be impressed with her ability to use a weapon and hunt. She didn’t know too many women who could do what she’d just done and in such a short amount of time. They would eat well tonight. It might not be a deer, but it was still a meal.
    She was going to head back to camp, but the lake l ooked so inviting, so she stayed. She was hot and felt so dirty, not only from the road but from being locked in a cage and also pawed by the English guards.
    Effie looked around but didn’t see the men, and figured she had time for a quick dip before she headed back. She threw down the dead birds at the edge of the lake and quickly removed her clothes and slipped into the water. That’s when she heard shouts – and they were coming