Free The Betrayal by Ruth Langan Page B

deal of pain, but he managed a smile as Kylia approached.
    “My lady. Flora tells me that I owe you my life.”
    “Nay, sir. If it hadn’t been for Lord MacCallum’s quick thinking, neither of you would have survived the fire. All I did was try to ease a bit of your suffering.” She knelt down and showed them her catch. “With such as this we’ll dine like royalty tonight.”
    “Let me help.” Flora knelt beside her and the two young women began scaling the fish before setting them to cook over the hot coals.
    From the ruins of the cottage Flora retrieved the remains of flour and sugar stored in a smalldirt cellar. Soon the air was redolent with the fragrance of biscuits baking.
    By the time Grant laid down his tools and joined them, their mouths were watering.
    Though the fare was simple, they sat around the fire, savoring the food, and the chance to finally relax in one another’s company. Soon the children were asleep, tucked into the folds of Kylia’s cloak. Grant and Ewald shared sips from the jug of spirits, while Kylia and Flora drank strong tea and chatted softly as darkness gathered over the land.
    Later, as Kylia drifted off to sleep beside the fire, she saw Grant take up his vigil near the flock. Though she longed to join him, she was forced to give in to her weariness. She slept in the knowledge that he would keep watch through the night, and see to their safety. There was such comfort in the fact that this strong man was watching out for all of them.
     
     
    At first light Grant hitched his horse to the cart before helping Ewald and the children into the back, which was lined with Kylia’s cloak. Then he helped Flora up to the hard seat and handed her the reins.
    As the horse and cart started forward, Grant and Kylia urged the flock to follow, while they walked slowly behind, keeping an eye out for any stragglers.
    The journey took the better part of a day, and they reached the village of the clan Kerr shortly before dusk. Long before they arrived, men on horseback had spotted them. While some remained to accompany them, others raced ahead to carry word to their families that they were on their way. By the time they arrived, the entire village had assembled on the green to greet them with a feast.
    And what a feast. There were platters of mutton and fish, as well as a whole roasted stag. There were tarts and biscuits, and scones heavy with currants and berries. There were hundreds of questions, and warm embraces from the young couple’s family, as Grant and Kylia were warmly thanked for saving their lives and returning them safely to their village.
    Through it all Grant and Kylia smiled and acknowledged their words with as much grace as they could manage. But soon the heat and the food and the knowledge that they were finallysafe had their eyes heavy and their heads bobbing.
    With much ceremony they were escorted to the finest hut in the village and taken to separate sleeping chambers, where they were helped out of their filthy clothes and into warm baths before being offered beds of softest fur.
    The women of the village vied for the honor of washing their clothes and preparing them for the morrow’s journey. But while the women chatted, and the men drank their spirits and spoke in whispers about the beautiful young woman and great laird who had rescued one of their own, Grant and Kylia were oblivious to all but the sweet dreams that played through their minds as they slept.
     
     
    “How can I ever thank you, my lady?” As the entire village gathered to bid goodbye to their visitors, Flora stepped forward to catch Kylia’s hand and lift it to her lips. “Without your kindness, we would have surely perished at the hands of the barbarians.”
    “I require no thanks, Flora.” Refreshed from her night of sleep, restored by the luxury of a bath and fine food, Kylia embraced her newfriend. Her clothes, and even her hair smelled of rainwater and evergreen. Her smile was as bright as the sun. “I