The Bold Heart (The Highland Heather and Hearts Scottish Romance Series) by Carmen Caine Read Free Book Online Page B

Stirling.”
    Suppressing a weary sigh, he moved outside the circle of firelight and, wrapping his arms around his knees, leaned against a tree as fatigue settled in his bones.
    So, ‘twas war once again.
    He could see Moridac huddled next to the fire, still looking miserable for having killed a single man.
    Ewan sighed.
    There were not enough tears in the world to weep for each man he had killed. Aye, he’d never be able to atone for the men he’d slain.
    Not that he felt anything at all anymore. He was hardened to it.
    There were times when he believed he would welcome tears and pain, simply to see if he were capable of feeling anything anymore.  He sighed, keenly aware that thinking morose thoughts had become all too common a habit of late.
    Closing his eyes, he commanded himself to sleep, but the effort was fruitless, and he ended up sitting stiff and still in the dark, listening to the soft steady conversation of his men interspersed with the occasional crack of the embers.
    “Would ye care for something to eat?”
    Ewan’s eyes flew open to see Moridac kneeling beside him, offering him a wedge of cheese skewered on the tip of his dirk.
    Ewan eyed it with a marked lack of appetite and made no move to take it.
    Moridac waited a moment and then set the dirk on the ground near his boot. “Are ye riding to war on the morrow then?” the lad asked.
    “Aye,” Ewan replied in a clipped tone but then added, “I’ll see ye safe to Stirling, if ye wish.”
    Moridac simply nodded.
    When he didn’t move to leave, Ewan folded his arms. “And?”
    “Are ye afraid?” the lad asked, his voice quivering a little.
    “Afraid?” Ewan repeated in a tight voice. “And what is it ye think I should fear?”
    The lad’s brown eyes grew round, betraying a wealth of emotion. “Death, for one—”
    At that, Ewan gave a harsh laugh. “I died a long time ago,” he said through clenched teeth. “How can I die again? Be gone.”
    To his surprise, the lad didn’t leave. Instead, he moved closer and laid a soft hand on Ewan’s arm.
    “Aye, I canna fault ye for being embittered and angry,” he whispered. “Sleep well, Ewan.”
    Ewan froze, and then uncertain of what to think or say, he numbly watched the lad rise gracefully to his feet to rejoin the others.
    “Fetch some firewood now, would ye, lad?” Alec asked with a grunt as Moridac joined them. “And stay in the grove. I dinna want those standing watch to think you’re an Englishman.”
    “Aye, I’ll be careful,” the youth promised with a bright smile.
    From under his lashes, Ewan watched as Moridac’s slim form melted into the darkness, and after a moment, he rose to follow.
    The lad was swift of foot, and it took Ewan longer than he’d expected to find him. Finally, he came upon the youth at the edge of the grove, standing in the bright moonlight with his face half hidden by his hood.
    Without turning around, Moridac asked in a soft voice, “Can ye not sleep, Ewan?”
    “And do ye have eyes behind your head, lad?” Ewan asked with a surprised grunt.
    “Hush,” the lad held up a finger and leaned forward, straining to hear.
    Quickly, Ewan scanned the grove and then joined Moridac in listening, resting his hand lightly on the hilt of his sword.  He heard nothing at first, save the comforting woodland sounds of small rodents scurrying in the dark and the call of the owls.
    And then he heard it.
    Hooves.
    Crouching low with a silent curse upon his lips, he pulled the lad back into the shadows.
    “There,” Moridac warned, pressing against him.
    They watched from under the cloak of darkness as the horses, snorting clouds of steam, appeared next to the river before moving downstream into the moonlit night.
    When they were gone, Moridac drew even closer to Ewan and asked, “Were they looking for us?”
    It was then that Ewan noticed the lad had grabbed a handful of his shirt, holding it tightly as if to seek comfort.
    And he was close. Too close.
    Soft raven