room, so as not to be overheard by the women. “What happened to her?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Brodie admitted. “I found their camp just before dawn, but I canna tell what they did to her before I arrived.”
“And the men?”
“Dead. There were three men. Two were sleeping, but Lydia and one man were in the woods. I shot one. Your pistol is in my room. And I used a blade on the other two.” He wondered if Rafe would judge him for killing the men.
“I’m glad you killed them,” Rafe said. “If I’d been there, I certainly would have.” He glanced toward the bed. “We’ll likely know more when the doctor arrives. She’s been asking for you, by the way,” Rafe added.
Brodie stole another glance toward Lydia. “She has?”
“Yes, I don’t think she wanted you out of her sight.” Rafe’s easy smile was softer than usual. The rakehell normally didn’t show his gentle side, but it was quite visible now.
“I thought she wouldna want to see me again after I killed those men in front of her.”
“I don’t think she’s worried about that, old boy. She’s worried about you. She said you were hurt.”
“Only a scratch. I barely even bled. But she caught a knife to her arm, and she didn’t scream or cry. The lass is both bonnie and brave.”
Lydia had finished the bowl of soup and was now speaking quietly to Fanny. She still looked pale, but her expressions were animated.
“Why don’t you go over to her, Kincade? I’ll watch for the doctor’s arrival downstairs.” Rafe patted Brodie’s shoulder as he left.
Brodie drew in a deep breath and walked over to the bed. Fanny turned at his approach. “You may sit if you wish to stay, or you may tend to anything you need to,” he told her.
“Thank you, sir.” Fanny looked to Lydia. “Do you need anything, miss?”
“Not for now. Thank you, Fanny.”
The maid excused herself and left them alone.
Brodie sat down beside her on the bed. “Rafe has sent for a doctor.”
Lydia reached across the blankets, her fingers brushing against his. He turned his palm over, inviting her to touch him. It felt good to have her caress him, even in the smallest ways.
“Lydia, I hope . . .” He choked down his fear and continued. “I hope you can forgive me for killing those men. I shouldna have done that.”
She continued to move her fingertips over his palm in soothing patterns as her lovely blue eyes fixed on him.
“You were trying to rescue me. They would have killed you, Brodie. I don’t need to forgive you. I only hope you can forgive me for putting you in such a position. You came for me. You didn’t have to.”
The brave, bonnie lass.
“The men who took you brought their fates upon themselves, lass. You have no blame for that.” His gaze drifted down to her arm. “Does it hurt much?”
She blinked, as if he had broken some spell. “Does what hurt?”
“Your arm.”
“Oh.” She shook her head. “Not too much. Mr. Lennox gave me a stout glass of brandy.” The sight of her smile fairly stole his breath. “And I do mean stout.” She opened her other hand to indicate the size of the glass, and he couldn’t resist chuckling.
“Rafe’s answer to everything is a good drink.”
“I think he’s quite right in this case.” Lydia lay back and winced.
“What’s the matter?”
“I think I have some twigs in my hair from sleeping on the ground last night.” She brushed at it with her good arm a little. “Brodie, could you . . . ? That is to say, would you mind very much if I asked you to comb my hair out? I meant to have Fanny do it, but I forgot.”
Brodie had never been asked by a woman to brush her hair before, and if any other woman had made the request, he would have thrown back his head and laughed. But for Lydia? At that moment, he would’ve done anything she asked.
“Aye. Where’s your brush?” He looked around the room until he found her luggage.
“In the smaller valise.” She pointed to the case next to the large trunk.
He dug through the contents until he found the hairbrush and a mother-of-pearl-handle comb. He held them both up to her, utterly baffled as to where to start.
“The comb first, and go gently, please. I suspect it’s in quite a mess.” Lydia sat up and turned her back to him. She searched for pins, removing them before he started. Brodie