could with it being dark. They stayed there for several moments, studying each other.
Red had to be exhausted, and he was a little more banged up than Ciaran had first thought. His sleeve was torn nearly off, exposing quite a bit of his shoulder. The lad could barely stand straight. He kept shifting his weight off his left leg, and every time he put weight on it, he grimaced. His hair was wild, in a tangle about his head and matted with blood. But his eyes were fierce and met Ciaran’s with a fire in them.
Again that pesky feeling of rightness niggled at Ciaran, but he pushed it aside. He didn’t trust Red. Red was desperate and desperate men were dangerous. He might be an enemy of the MacLeans, and he was more than likely not with the groups that had been attacking their people, but he was still an outsider.
The lass spoke from behind Red. “What do you mean you were coming to free us from the MacLeans?”
“We saw smoke over the horizon and went tae investigate. That’s when we saw ye with the MacLeans.”
“The MacLeans are nae friends of ours,” Angus spat out with an abundance of disgust. He and Ram came to a halt a few feet to Ciaran’s left. Angus held Horace’s reins, and Ram had the reins of Red’s mount.
“But why would you help us? You don’t know us,” she asked.
“We were hoping ye can help us in return.”
“How so?” Red finally spoke, and his voice was a nice smooth baritone but full of suspicion. As if to illustrate that, he reached behind him and wrapped his arm around the lass’s waist, pulling her closer to protect her or perhaps to assure himself she was there. His gaze darted back and forth from Ciaran to Ram and to Angus.
“We hoped you can give us some information.”
“About?”
“We want tae ken about the building and the outsiders coming here.”
“We don’t know anything about that. Our ship wrecked here, and we just want to go home.”
So we’re going to play that game. Ciaran shrugged. He was convinced Red knew something, but he had time. It was doubtful these two were going anywhere anytime soon. “Whether ye do or whether ye dinna makes nae difference. We still would’ve helped ye.” Which was the absolute truth.
The lass turned and whispered something to Red. He shook his head, then started whispering furiously to her.
She put her hands on her hips, her pose indignant.
Red whispered something else. This went on for several moments, with them seemingly arguing back and forth. They reminded Ciaran of his younger brother and his ward. Ian and Fiona were always at each other’s throats.
Angus shot Ciaran a look.
Ram watched them both with a smirk.
Again Ciaran shrugged, then cleared his throat.
Red’s hand shot out, holding up one finger in a most indignant manner as he continued to converse with the lass.
A smile niggled at Ciaran’s lips. He had to hand it to the bonnie lad—he was a brave wee thing and bold as his lovely hair. “Ahem.”
It took several more moments, but finally Red dropped his hand and glared at him. “If you are truly friend instead of foe, I’d like you to give us both a dagger and take us back to the site where our ship crashed.” He sounded cultured and educated, as if he were asking for refreshment rather than a weapon, and his accent was similar to Patrick’s. It made Ciaran glad he’d sent Greer to the Campbell’s to tell Patrick about these outsiders.
Blinking in surprise, Ciaran started to shake his head to say no—he didn’t trust them—but Angus waved his hand, garnering Ciaran’s attention.
“That seems fair enough, Ciaran.”
Ram whirled on Angus. “Ye bum’s oot the windae, it is!”
Truth be told, Ciaran thought so too. Angus had clearly lost his mind. Then again, Ciaran wasn’t certain of his own sanity at this point. He should be home by now, not haggling with a feisty redhead who was probably more trouble than he was worth. Aunt Agatha always did say he liked to do things the hard way.
Angus waved away Ram’s protest. “Ye’d want the same thing. Besides, it isna like their light weapons,” he said meaningfully.
And he did have a point. What harm was a dagger, when they all had swords. The hell with it. Honestly, he couldn’t blame Red for wanting some protection, and they didn’t have time to stand around and argue about it. There was lightning in the distance, and it