Highland Hunger

Highland Hunger by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online

Book: Highland Hunger by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online
Authors: Hannah Howell
bath. It was one reason he always sought this shelter when traveling this particular path to and from Cambrun.
    “Aye,” he said. “There isnae much left of the wee stone chapel that used to cover it, though.”
    “I noticed.” She realized she had seen no house, no keep or peel tower. “Whose is it?”
    “A wee part of the Chisholm clan used it. The family who built this and tended the lands here died long ago. Plague took them all, and the few shepherds or villagers who survived went elsewhere. I suspicion many fled once the first person fell ill with the plague. Naught left here but these old bones and ruins.” He walked up to her and lightly tugged on her braid when she frowned. “And, nay, ye willnae catch the plague by staying here.”
    Una grimaced at her own foolish fears, more so at the fact that Raibeart had guessed them. “I ken it. ’Tis mostly that even the word plague is enough to make one tremble.”
    “Weel, I ken of something that will please ye enough to take the fear away.” He took her by the hand and started to lead her toward the rubble-strewn rear of the crypt. “Trust me. Ye will like this.”
    She was not quite sure what there could be to like in a house of the dead, but she did not resist his tug on her hand. It made her uncomfortable to be inside the crypt, but she did prefer it to where they had slept for the last two days. Those places had been enough to leave her with a fear of being buried alive.
    The sound of water drew her attention just as Raibeart led her around a corner and into a smaller chamber. She gaped at what she saw. There was a deep hollow in the rock floor and water trickled down the stone wall to fill it. It was obvious there was some way for the water to escape the stone basin or the crypt would have been flooded long ago despite how slowly the water ran into the pool. A light cloud of mist hung over the pool. She tugged her hand free of Raibeart’s grasp, knelt beside the pool, and dipped her fingers into the water.
    “ ’Tis warm,” she whispered in astonishment. “How can it be warm?”
    “There are springs that can run warm, e’en hot, here and there.” Raibeart moved to the corner of the room where there were several bundles stacked on a rough wooden shelf. “We keep some supplies here.” He opened a bundle and held out a length of linen. “My clan stops here whenever they can and, I think, ’tis mostly because of the pool.”
    “I can bathe in it?” Even as she asked, she stuck her arm down into the water, uncaring of how she soaked the sleeves of her gown, touching the stone at the bottom just as she reached her armpit. “It has an odd smell,” she murmured, taking a deep breath. “Nay bad, just a little odd.”
    “We have decided that, whatever it is, ’tis verra soothing. Takes away the aches of a long ride.”
    Una took the drying cloth from his hands, eager to bathe away the dust of their journey, but suddenly realizing she had a problem. “I dinnae have anything clean to put on after I bathe.”
    “Between a drying cloth and one of these shirts someone left, ye could cover yourself decently enough. Then ye can wash out what ye wear now.”
    Raibeart found himself pushed out of the room before he could say another word. He laughed softly and went to make a fire. It would be best if he kept busy or he would think too much on how close Una was, naked and in the warm water of the pool. He stopped and closed his eyes, shuddering at the thought of how close he was to all he craved to hold. It was going to be a very long day.
     
    Una tossed aside her clothes and slid into the water, a sigh of pleasure escaping her. She sank in up to her chin, rested her head against the edge of the pool, and closed her eyes. Raibeart was right. The water might have an odd smell, but it soaked away every ache in her body.
    The moment Raibeart came to mind, she thought of him sharing this pool with her, his fine, strong body as naked as her own. Una opened

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