nothing more than a…messenger?”
“I believe because she knew ye’d trust me.” He left off the part where he was also sure it was because she wanted to put some distance between them. That he’d made love to her all night and that he’d had to bury his shirt in among the anonymous stacks for the laundresses to hide the evidence after using most of it to clean the both of them up. “I dinna intend to stay here, Dirk. I need to be honest with ye about that. I’m going after her.”
“Good, I was going to suggest just that. One of us has to stay and explain things, else the prince will wonder why a large number of soldiers have just up and disappeared. And one of us has to go to her. She canna face Hamish on her own. The bastard will try to crush her, and she will fight with every last breath in her body to see that he doesna win.”
“Aye, I agree. She’ll be glad to know that one of us is staying here with the prince. I think ’twas a difficult decision for her.”
“She’s got heart, she does. Blasted brother of hers is a traitor to all of us.” Dirk scrubbed a hand over his face. “Take good care of her.”
“I will, I vow it. I will die before she does, I can promise ye that.”
“And wait to exchange vows until I get home, will ye?”
Toran grinned. “I’m no’ certain she’ll have me, though I’ll try my damnedest.”
Dirk rolled his eyes. “She’ll have ye. The two of ye are the most stubborn people I’ve ever known. Perfect for each other.”
“I thank ye for the support, truly. I admire ye, and I know ye care for her greatly.”
“She is like a sister to me.”
“I know she feels that ye’re a brother to her.”
Dirk clapped him on the back. “I’ll no’ welcome ye to the family just yet, dinna want to curse it. But ’tis something I look forward to.”
“The same for me, man.” Toran gripped Dirk by the arm. “I’m honored to have gained your trust.”
“Aye, but it is Jenny’s trust that matters most.”
“I will spend the rest of my life making sure I never do anything to break it.” Mo chreach, would he ever. He’d rather skewer himself on a pike than break her heart.
“Good, else ye’ll have me to contend with.”
Not wanting to waste any more time than he already had, Toran left the camp to find Archie. His cousin sat among several men, all with minor injuries.
“I’m headed back to Inverness.”
“What?” Archie wrinkled his brow.
“The lass may have an impending battle on her hands at Cnàmhan Broch.”
Archie stood. “I’ll go with ye.”
“Ye dinna have to. Stay here with Dirk, fight for our prince.”
“I canna let ye go off on your own.” Archie passed him an incredulous look.
“I’ll not be alone. I’ll catch up to the lass and her men upon the road.”
Archie looked ready to argue more, but Toran pressed a hand to his shoulder. “All will be well, Cousin. I’ll see ye when the English have been vanquished or the prince relieves ye for a bit of respite.”
His cousin pulled him into his arms, hugging him for perhaps the first time ever in their lives.
“Ye’re a good man,” Archie said. “Thank ye for saving my life.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I hope to never have to return the favor, as I want ye to live a long and healthy life. But if it ever comes to it, then I’ll repay it gladly.”
“Ye already did, when ye didna give me away to the dragoons at the garrison and again when ye didna toss me through the door to Boyd at the croft.”
Archie smirked. “I suppose ye’re right, we are even.”
“Spill some more Sassenach blood for me,” Toran said. “I fear the Scots blood I’m about to let.”
Archie nodded sorrowfully. “The poor lass.”
Toran clasped his cousin to him one more time and then took off at a brisk pace, hoping to catch Jenny before too long.
But catching up to her seemed an easier feat in the mind than in the actual making. Toran spent much of the day avoiding the dragoons who seemed to be out in droves, more vigilant after the loss at Falkirk than any other time thus far.
Ballocks, but he hoped that didn’t mean that the reason he’d not found Jenny yet was because she’d already been captured or, worse, killed.
* * *
If she never saw another red coat, or