boat and warn us if anyone approaches from the water or the beach. Tomas will follow behind us to ensure no one sneaks up on us. You walk to my left, so I can hold my sword in my right.”
“Yes, Kyle,” Moira mumbled as he tightened his hold, and she sighed. As her hands rested in her lap, she had a moment’s temptation to cover her belly with them. She knew there was the chance that their bairn was already growing within her. She debated whether she wanted to find the pennyroyal after all. Even if Kyle tired of her, she would have something to love and remind her of their time together. But her mind flashed to Sean and the inevitable hardships he faced as a bastard. She considered the years he’d spent without a father. Even when Aidan visited, he was barely a paternal figure, teaching his son to swear and sing bawdy tunes. Could she go through life lying and saying she was a widow? More importantly, could she leave Kyle and never tell him he had a child? She knew she couldn’t, and he’d already said he wouldn’t abandon a child. He would never let her go if he knew.
“Second thoughts about finding the pennyroyal?” Kyle asked as though he read her mind. Moira nodded, unwilling to lie to him even if she’d just considered doing that very thing. “Wheest, sweet one. Maybe there will come a day when you will have a child, maybe even ours. Collect your flowers or leaves, and we can decide what comes next when we need to.”
Moira shook her head against his chest before looking up at him. “If I wait to know whether I need the tea after last night, then I won’t be able to go through with drinking it. If I’m going to, then I must do it within the next few days.” Moira glanced at Snake Eye and Tomas, who studiously ignored them, even though Moira suspected their voices carried. “Can we decide once we return to the Lady Charity? When we can talk more?”
“Of course, sweet one,” Kyle said as he kissed her crown.
“Are there any other medicinals you would have me collect? Yarrow? Willow bark? Chamomile? Angelica?”
“Maybe. I don’t know what the last two do, but the first two would help with any wounds. If you find them, then I suppose so,” Kyle said with a shrug. “As long as there are no threats, you can search for what you need.”
“Thank you, Kyle.” Moira moved to kiss his cheek when she realized what she was doing. Her eyes darted to the other men as she shrank away in horror. Kyle’s powerful hand shot out and grasped her jaw, but his touch was gentle as he turned her head toward him. He lowered his mouth to hers, pausing just before their lips met.
“In front of Tomas and Snake Eye, you need not hold back.” Kyle’s mouth fused with hers, his tongue sliding between her lips until it dueled with hers. All too soon for either of their tastes, the bow ran aground. Tomas hopped into the surf as Snake Eye pulled in the oars. Kyle lifted Moira onto the shore, keeping her from soaking her boots or the cloak she’d retrieved when he returned her sack.
Walking silently, Tomas led the way up the path. Moira watched Kyle, who walked beside her as his gaze swept back and forth. She suspected Tomas did the same. She glanced down at where Snake Eye stood beside the dinghy. His sword rested against his legs, crossed at the ankles, his arms folded across his chest. When they reached the meadow, Moira scanned the land in front of her. She squeezed Kyle’s forearm and pointed to a patch of purple flowers and nodded. She didn’t dare speak, afraid her voice would carry more than it had while they approached the beach. Kyle gestured to Tomas, who moved behind them. Moira glanced back to see Tomas walking backwards, the crossbow loaded and raised should he need it at a moment’s notice.
Moira worked quickly, a prickle of fear making the hair on her nape stand on end. She pulled as much pennyroyal as she could find, bringing a smirk to Kyle’s face. She returned it with a scowl of her own before searching for the yarrow. She found that and angelica, but there were no willow trees in sight. Neither could she find chamomile. She prayed the pennyroyal worked, and she wouldn’t