A Rake at the Highland Court: A Fake Engagement Highlander Romance (The Highland Ladies Book 4) by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

It took them the better part of an hour to reach the village, the plumes of smoke visible from miles away. The scene that met them made Cairstine want to retch. The acrid smell of smoke and burned flesh hung heavily in the air as villagers worked to fill buckets and pass them along lines to extinguish the fire. But it seemed as soon as they controlled one fire another two popped up in its place, some buildings reigniting. Eoin glanced at Cairstine, a reminder in his eyes as she nodded. He joined a line of men who stood between the well and a burning croft, passing buckets until the men at the front of the line tossed the water onto the fire.

Cairstine looked around at the devastation, trying to decide where to go first. She noticed a group of children huddled together close to the well. “Eoin!” She called over the noise and pointed towards the children when he heard her.

He nodded, and she pulled blankets from her basket, rushing to wrap them around those shivering. She ran back to the basket and pulled out a waterskin she hurried to share with them. She glanced around the disastrous scene, spotting more people who needed water and blankets. She distributed all that she had, helping her mother and sister as they dressed wounds and offered comfort to those who were inconsolable. Throughout her efforts, she kept an eye on Eoin, ensuring she could see him, knowing he could see her. She’d refilled waterskins and handed them out to the men as they worked, taking each man’s place in the line, so he could drink without causing a break in the chain.

Eoin’s forehead dripped with sweat, the salty water trickling into his eyes and making them burn. He ran his sleeve over his face countless times, but he knew it merely smeared the sweat and grime. He’d been grateful each time Cairstine offered him a chance for a drink, proud of how she stepped in to keep the buckets moving whenever a man had a moment’s reprieve. He was sure she would be in pain the next day, her body unused to the physical strain it was under. While he was overheated, the activity wasn’t unusual to him. He might be sore in the morning, but he knew it would be nothing compared to what Cairstine faced. Eoin tried to convince her to take a break, but the withering glare she cast him made him bite his tongue. He rolled his neck, waiting for the next bucket to pass through his hands. He’d taken his eyes off Cairstine when the man beside him almost dropped the full bucket, and when he looked up, he couldn’t find Cairstine. He scanned the area in front of him before twisting around. Eoin was certain his heart stopped when he spotted her. He bolted from the line.

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