Song of a Highlander by Katy Baker

Author:Katy Baker [Baker, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Time travel
Published: 2019-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

IT WAS NEAR DAWN WHEN Ramsay dared call a halt. Despite his assurances to Jess, he worried that Artair might send trackers to follow them. He’d done his best to obscure their trail. He’d doubled back, laid false trails, and guided the horse into the water of shallow streams in order to throw anyone off their scent.

Now, as the gray light of morning began to filter along the horizon, he deemed it safe to rest for a while.

Jess was dozing in the saddle anyway, her head lolling against his shoulder. For the last two hours he’d been riding one-handed, keeping his free arm wrapped around Jess to stop her falling from the saddle.

He should never have let her come with him on this fool’s errand. It had been selfish. He’d tried to tell himself there was no other choice, but the truth was, he had allowed Jess to come with him because he wanted her close. He didn’t like being away from her. His own selfish feelings could have cost her life.

And what else? The thought bloomed in his mind. How will she react to what Artair told her?

He pulled up the horse in the lee of some large boulders atop the brow of a hill. From here he could see for miles and would be able to spot anyone approaching. He looked out, the wind sending his hair streaming back from his face. He saw nobody. A hawk rode the thermals but other than that their only company was the incessant wind.

“Jess,” he murmured, shaking her gently. “We’ll rest here.”

She came awake with a snort, looked around wildly, but relaxed when her eyes alighted on Ramsay. He jumped to the ground and helped her dismount. She all but fell from the saddle and Ramsay marveled again at how she’d had the courage to ride to his aid through darkened woodland when she was such a poor horsewoman. She was either brave or reckless. Ramsay wasn’t entirely sure which.

He led her over to the base of the rocks. Here they found a little shelter from the wind and Jess sank gratefully to the ground, hugging her arms around herself. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted.

Ramsay took some provisions from the saddle bags and carried them over. He dare not light a fire in case it alerted enemies to their presence so he and Jess would have to dine on hard bread, cheese and cured meat. He slumped down next to her, back pressed against the pitted face of the boulder, and ate his meager meal. Jess chewed mechanically, staring out at the landscape.

“What are ye thinking?” he asked.

She glanced at him and away again. “What Artair said back there—”

“Ye shouldnae listen to Artair,” he cut her off. “Get some rest. I’ll keep watch.”

She stared at him for a moment longer, then without a word, lay on her side and drew her knees up to her chest. She closed her eyes.

When he was sure Jess was asleep, he rose noiselessly to his feet.

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