I dug in the bag for a protein bar and passed it to her.
“We will be stoppin’ soon, for the night, and we will hae more tae eat then.” I steered the horses intae a small clearing. Twas on a hilltop, but on the south side, hidden by rocks and a few trees and was sunny there. She ripped open the bar and stuffed it in her mouth chewing happily. The snow had melted, revealin’ a few patches of grass. I tied the horses so they could graze.
“Let me unpack.”
I pitched our tent, loading the sleeping bags intae it and turnin’ on the heater that would warm them. Then I returned and held out my arms for her tae drop intae. She slid down and was a weight I was relieved tae hold. I carried her tae the tent and managed tae crawl her inside.
She collapsed ontae the sleepin’ bag.
I said, “I love ye, mo reul-iuil, but ye are a frightful smell.”
“I know. I’m too weak. I need more food.”
I found another bar this one made with dark chocolate, one of her favorites. I opened the end and when her hand didn’t raise for it I put it to her lips. She ate and chewed and bit it again and then chewed more.
“They dinna feed ye?”
“No.” She burst intae tears and sobbed intae the bedding. I put m’hand on her shoulder and let her cry for a long time until her cries slowed. Then I passed her a bottle of water and she drank long drafts and passed it back tae me. I drank and closed the lid and returned it tae the pack.
“Tis warm enough for ye?”
“Yes, finally.”
She lay there for a moment more, her arm over her face. “Are you here to rescue me, are you taking me home?”
“Nae, mo reul-iuil, tis nae possible.”
“Oh.” She lifted her elbow and looked up at me. Her chin trembling. “And Isla and Archie...?”
“They are safe with Emma and Beaty.”
“I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
“I ken, but it might have killed us tae hae tae do it.”
She put her arms by her sides and stared up at the top of the tent. “So this is it?”
“Lady Mairead will try tae bring us home, tis up tae her.”
“Well, those odds are pretty good, I think.”
“Aye, if it can be done, she is the one tae do it.”
She nodded. She sat up with a groan and began unwrapping the tartan around her shoulders. The front of her shift was filthy and stained with milk. She tried tae unbuckled her belt, but twas too uncomfortable, so I kneeled over her, unlatched the buckle, and pulled it away. She shifted her hips and I drew her skirt down. “We need to wash that.”
“I ken.” I kicked it from the tent.
“Ugh.” She looked down on her stained shift.
She pulled it up and up and raised so I could help pull the fabric up. At her shoulders she winced raisin’ her arms so I pulled it all the way off. She whimpered from the pain. I saw her shoulder, a stripe of a bruise across it. “Och mo reul-iuil.” I drew her forward tae see. “Och, tis painful tae see what they did tae ye.”
“It hurt so bad.”
“Lay down.”
She lay on her stomach so I could see it all, the lashings, the dark purple bruises, the blood just under the skin, the welts. Twas tae break m’heart.
“Och, why were ye punished?”
Her voice was small. “Because I wouldn’t pray. Because I couldn’t speak the language. Because I touched the baby when I fed him. Because I needed to go to the bathroom.”
“Och, ye were made tae feed their bairn?”
She nodded.
I got the first aid kit from the bag. “I should hae killed them.” I rubbed salve on one of the welts. “I should hae strung ‘em up on the walls and ripped their entrails out.”
“Ugh. Although I do appreciate the sentiment, I’m glad you didn’t.” She winced when I rubbed the salve on a welt across her lower back. “Is it going to scar?”
“I daena think so, perhaps here.” I ran m’finger along the worst of them, “but ye will still be perfect.”
“Good thing you didn’t kill them. They might have been your great-grandparents. I might hae nursed one of your ancestors.”
My fingers paused on her skin. “I canna think on it, daena make me.”
She waved a hand. “I need your fingertips here.” I touched her lips and she kissed my fingers. I found