Page 91 of Desire of a Highlander

Without another word he turned Angus and urged him onward. It was nearly noon when a ridge they’d been following suddenly fell away before them, giving a broad view of the sweep of land below.

And in that sweep of land, Elodie saw the people from the Steading.

They’d left the road just as Ronan had instructed and were instead following a rough path through the hills, barely more than an animal track. They’d stopped moving and dozens of people rested beside the track. Some were eating. Others were lying down, exhausted. Several of the wagon horses grazed nearby.

Elodie let out a sigh of relief. “We’ve found them.”

From the tense set of Ronan’s shoulders, he was obviously not relieved at all. “We shouldnae have found them,” he muttered. “Not this soon. They should be much further along than this.”

He nudged Angus in the ribs and sent him trotting down the hillside towards the camp, an excited Bran and Skye overtaking them and racing ahead.

Alerted by the dogs, everyone turned. People began standing, smiling in relief, calling out greetings. Ronan barely acknowledged them. His eyes swept the group, his expression grim.

As they reached the camp, Faye came hurrying over, wiping her hands on a rag. “Ronan! Elodie! Thank the lord ye are both safe!”

Ronan didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Why have ye stopped?”

Faye frowned at his curt tone. “Because folk needed rest.”

“Ye’ve only been traveling a few hours.”

“We’ve been traveling all damned night!” She gestured towards David’s cart. “The wounded needed tending. The youngsters and elderly needed sleep.”

“They can rest tonight, when we’re safe.”

“They need it now.”

“They canna have it now!” Ronan snapped. “The Murdochs are right on our tail! Do ye think they will care one whit whether the oldsters and the young ones are tired? We have to get moving now!” His voice cracked like a whip.

Faye blinked. “The Murdochs are following?”

Ronan nodded back the way they’d come. “They’re only hours behind.”

A murmur spread through the gathered people. Fear. Elodie felt it ripple around them like a spreading poison.

Faye didn’t argue anymore. “I’ll get the injured ready to travel.”

Ronan looked around. “Eamon!”

The young man came jogging over. “Aye?”

“Get everyone on their feet.”

“We’ve only just—”

“Now.”

Eamon turned and began shouting instructions and everyone burst into activity, getting ready to move again.

Ronan turned to Elodie. “I need ye to do something for me. I need ye to lead the column with Faye. She has the map although I doubt we’ll need it from here. Follow this track straight until ye reach the river.”

“Why? Where are you going?” She couldn’t keep the worry from her voice.

“I need to fall back, ride with the rearguard. If any of Murdochs’ people catch up with us I need to make sure they dinna reach the column.”

The lack of inflection in his voice made it sound as though he was discussing the weather rather than risking his life.

“Eamon and the others can handle that,” Elodie said, hearing the desperation in her own voice. “Your people need you up front leading them.”