Page 27 of Intrigued By A Highlander

Then it struck her.

He could see the same about her. She shook her head, fearing what he might see.

“Why don’t you agree, Dru?” he asked.

It took a moment to think back to what he was referring to and she recalled it quickly. “Word will spread that we are wed.”

“That’s not an immediate worry. Right now, shelter is our priority. Besides, it is inevitable that people will find out.”

“I have made it clear to many I would never wed.”

“Cleric Freen probably is letting everyone know that he didn’t leave you much choice.”

Dru was appalled at her sudden thought. “Are you saying the cleric will tell everyone that we were caught naked together?”

It didn’t bother Knox. “A cleric’s duty is to save souls, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they enjoy boasting about the souls they save. It gives them more credence with the people.” He nodded toward the distance. “There it is up ahead. We need to hurry. Rain isn’t far off.”

Dru remained silent, worried over the tale Cleric Freen might be spreading. Her suspicions were confirmed with how they were greeted upon their arrival at the croft.

“But they’re wed, Argus. It’s all proper,” the slim woman pleaded.

“Proper? You heard Cleric Freen when he stopped here. She was caught naked in his arms. I’ll not have a fallen woman stay here, and I’ll hear no more about it, Coline,” Argus ordered. “Now both of you leave.”

No one saw it coming. Knox reached out and grabbed Argus by his shirt and swung him away from the cottage to land on the ground, his booted-foot coming to rest on Argus’s chest, keeping the man locked there.

“Tarnish my wife’s name like that again and I will see you dead,” Knox threatened with a deadly calm. “Dru did nothing wrong. She is a good woman and a good wife.”

“Aye. Aye, Dru is a good woman,” Coline said, turning pleading eyes on her husband. “Do you forget how she has brought us food when we had none? Or how she keeps herself sloven so men will avoid her?”

“Like it or not, we are staying in your barn for the night. We’ll be gone by sunrise,” Knox said and reached into the fold of his plaid and extracted two coins and removing his foot, dropped them on Argus’s chest. “For your generosity, and if I ever hear that you’ve spoken badly of my wife again, I will return and slit your throat.”

Argus scrambled to his feet, making sure to swipe up the coins.

“I will bring you food,” Coline said, a tremor in her voice.

“Nay, we need nothing from you but shelter,” Knox said and turned to Dru, stretching his hand out to her.

She didn’t hesitate—she took hold of it. His fingers closed around her hand firmly and he held tight as they made their way to the barn, his mare trailing behind them.

Dru lowered herself to a pile of fresh hay as Knox tended to Star. Many would believe, like Argus, that she was a fallen woman, leaving her that more vulnerable once she was on the road alone again.

“Your true friends will know the truth. Those who condemn you were never a friend,” Knox said, dropping down beside her in the hay.

She shook her head. “It is all different now. People will not see me the same and once we part, I will be to blame for it, and face scorn.”

“I will see that you are safe before we part.”

She scoffed. “Believe that if you will, but I know better. I have seen how women are blamed while men remain blameless even when it is obvious it is the woman who was wronged.” She shook her head. “There is nothing that can be done to fix this.”

“There is always something that can be done, and I will see it done. Now worry no more on it. We eat, sleep, and leave at first light.”

Dru didn’t argue with him. She had learned that some things couldn’t be fixed and when that happened, one choice was left to you… survive however possible.

The rain drummed steadily against the barn’s roof, the scent of hay and horses thick in the air. Dru shifted on the pile of straw, enjoying a piece of bread and cheese from the sack of food that was still plentiful. She passed the sack to Knox, who sat close, his arm nearly touching hers and his legs stretched out in front of him.

She chewed slowly, letting the quiet settle for a moment before saying, “Dugan and Hannah were more helpful than I expected.”

Knox took a bite of bread and chewed considering her words before he spoke. “Aye. Travelers talk when they think no one’s listening. And Dugan listens more than he lets on, though I don’t blame him. It’s better to be guarded than let your mouth run to just anyone.”

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