search throughout your land, check that no others are hiding, lying in wait to strike at us when we’re unprepared. Just as I was today.”
“In your condition, I’m surprised ye survived.” Gwen sat beside Braxton and summoned a servant to bring some bread. “When you came back and Kenzie was covered in blood, at first, I thought it was hers. My heart has never threatened to come up through my mouth, but today I venture to say it did.”
“Aye, mine, too. How is she, my love?”
“She had a bath upon returning and is now asleep, but in a little while, I’ll take up her dinner and make sure she eats. Today was a great shock to her. Not one she’ll ever forget, unfortunately.”
Ben shut his eyes to block out the image of Kenzie on the ground, fighting off a man who would’ve raped her had Ben been killed or if he’d failed to get there in time. “Is there any possibility that Kenzie has come back to hide from a problem in her life? Mayhap someone has found out about her abilities to travel in time and wants it for themselves. Wants to use her to alter history or some such madness?”
Braxton leaned back in his chair. “’Tis an idea I’d not thought possible. What do ye say, Gwen? Do ye think the lass is in some sort of trouble and needs our help?” He paused. “Her arrival here was odd and not expected. Not that we don’t love having the lass stay with us, but if she is in trouble, perhaps we could help her in some way.”
A servant came in and placed another flask of mead on the table, along with some freshly cooked bread rolls.
“I’d not thought of such a possibility, and I suppose it could not hurt to ask her.” Gwen offered Ben some food, and he waved it away. “I think it’s more realistic that the men were after ye, and their words to ye were truthful. Ye have an enemy, someone who’s willing to pay enough that those rabble rousers tried to take ye today. We shall increase security here, but ye need to think of ye own safety, Ben. Someone wants ye dead and ye need to find out who that someone is.”
Ben nodded. “Aye, you’re right, and I’ll have to think on the matter some more. I suppose I could’ve slept with someone’s wife without knowing it and the husband is now set on seeing my head on a stake. I’ve been in melees and clan disputes before, but to put an actual price on my head is somewhat determined.”
“You must watch yer back and keep yer guard up until we can get to the bottom of this,” Braxton said, biting into a bread roll.
“Ye said Kenzie hasn’t had her dinner yet. Do ye mind if I take it up to her? I want to ask her if she had a specific reason for being here and also check to see if she’s well. I must admit, I probably could’ve handled killing the man who attacked her better, or at the very least, not right in front of her.” Ben rubbed his jaw. He hated to imagine what the poor lass thought of his barbaric ways, and yet, he would kill the man again, would change nothing about his reaction, but mayhap, he would do it where Kenzie wouldn’t have seen.
“Cook is fixing up a tray for her now if you want to go down and collect it. ’Tis been some hours, and I’m sure Kenzie is due to wake soon. She’s probably quite hungry.”
Ben stood. “I’ll go and check.” He left them in the great hall and went to the kitchens where he found the food being placed on a tray, ready to go. Ben took it from the servant and left. As he walked up the stairs, he wondered what to say to Kenzie. How to comfort her, make sure she was well and not fretting over what she saw. He hoped she didn’t think him nothing but a Scottish savage.
He found her sitting up in bed. Candles bathed the room in light, and she looked as calm and as happy as she had been this morning before their ride.
“I brought ye dinner. I hope ye like stew.”
She smiled, nodding. “I do. Thank you.” She wiggled a little further up in the bed and settled the blankets over her stomach. “How are you? Were you hurt at all today?”