Chapter 17
Three tortuous days passed before they finally made it to the mountains and found a cave to rest in.
Abby didn’t have to worry about keeping her distance from Iain during that time because he was staying as far from her as he could.
She knew he had a lot on his mind—so did she—but other than keeping her warm at night, he hardly said a word.
She eyed the four-legged beast and screwed up her face. She didn’t want to get back on the horse that morning. Her entire body was just too sore. “Can’t we stay here for another day?” She didn’t like the whine in her voice, but she couldn’t help it.
Iain finished putting out the fire and made his way into the small cave they had spent the night in. As he passed Abby, he paused. “It’s only been three days, Abigail.”
“Three of the worst days of my life.”
“I am sorry ye are in pain, but we have to keep moving.”
Abby nearly snorted. He didn’t sound sorry.
Since the near kiss three days before, an invisible wall had gone up between them.
He was colder and kept to himself most of the time.
They hardly talked, and even when they did, it was only because Abby asked questions of their surroundings and he had to answer or be overtly rude.
She eyed Iain saddling the horse and screwed up her face. They had bought the saddle from an old couple at a farmhouse, and while it was slightly more comfortable than bareback, it still hurt her back, butt, and thighs.
Abby stood up, moaning and rubbing her back. Iain never even glanced in her direction. The oaf was ignoring her. “I’ll check to make sure we have everything,” she said, and stomped into the cave.
By the time she exited the cave, Iain was ready and waiting.
She let out a small huff and allowed him to help her onto the horse.
The movement was getting easier with practice.
Abby understood if she did a little jump at the same time Iain lifted, she didn’t have to scramble so much and make the horse jittery.
She quickly threw her leg over and waited for Iain to mount behind the saddle.
She supposed she should be thankful. At least she had the saddle.
The poor man had to sit on the horse’s back behind, and that couldn’t have been comfortable.
***
Another week passed, and Abby couldn’t take the tension between them any longer.
Yes, her body was getting used to the hours upon hours of riding.
So much so, she was sure she had callouses on her butt.
Either that or she had become accustomed to being numb and her body thought that was her normal.
She guessed that was so, at least until she got home and could sit in comfy chairs and sleep on a real bed.
Stopping that night, Iain once again caught a rabbit that he roasted on a wet stick over a fire. Watching him pour water on the stick so it wouldn’t burn had Abby smiling. She would have never thought to do that, and her chest warmed at his inventiveness.
After removing the rabbit, Iain handed her the full torso and munched down on the thighs and legs. She made a face, trying to make him take more, but as always, he said, “Eat. You need your strength. We still have a long way to go.”
She tried to argue. “Fine, but what about you? You’re bigger than me, and you’re the one who hunts, looks after the horse, and cooks.”
He gave her a wide smile, and little lines appeared at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Her heart skipped a beat. That was the smile she’d been hoping for since she’d met him.
“I believe ye are right,” he said. “Ye can cook from now on.”
Abby’s mouth fell open, and she stared at her piece of rabbit.
He laughed. “Ye’ve been watching me since the first time I cooked that stew. Surely ye have learned something.”
Thinking about the way he wet the roasting sticks, she screwed up her nose and said, “I suppose I have, and I suppose I can at least try, but you can’t complain, all right?”
“That is fair. Now eat.”
Abby did what she was told and tried to remember what he’d put in that stew. If she made enough, they would both have full stomachs.
After another long day’s riding, they finally stopped near a small stream. The water was so clean, Abby could see the floor of small rocks on the bottom.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“Aye, and cold,” Iain mumbled as he looked after the horse.
He found a stick, and picking up each hoof, he cleaned it and gently placed it back on the ground.
After he finished, he patted the horse on its rump and watched it walk to the water’s edge.
He seemed preoccupied as he and Abby collected some wood for a small fire.
“I won’t be long.”
He didn’t need to say where he was going. Abby knew he was hoping to find another rabbit. She made a face. If she never saw another rabbit again, it would be too soon.
Before he disappeared into the brush, he turned and pierced her with his gaze. “Stay here and don’t wander away. I won’t be far.”
“I know what to do,” she said, staring hard back at him.
He chuckled and left.
She growled. “I’m not stupid, and he should know that by now.” She stomped down to the water’s edge. “Why does he always have to tell me what to do?”
She sucked in a breath. She knew why he was always telling her not to wander, to stay close to their camping area. He just wanted her to be safe, and she couldn’t fault him for that. In fact, she had to admit that she quite liked it.
Dipping her hands in the freezing wet, she laughed as she splashed it on her face.
Refreshed and feeling alive once more, Abby spotted nettle growing a small distance away.
She quickly filled the cooking pot they carried with them with water and placed it on the fire.
Excited about finally making a stew, she made her way to the nettles and, using her skirt over her hands, picked a good-sized bunch.
In no time, she had the nettle broth simmering perfectly, and she sat back, waiting for Iain.
Iain returned, but his hands were empty. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t find any rabbits.”
He looked so forlorn, it was all Abby could do not to jump up and hug him. Instead, she looked at the simmering broth and then smiled up at him. “That’s okay. We’ll just have to have soup. Do you like nettle soup?”
He visibly relaxed. Did he think she was going to be angry at him for not bringing meat?
He plonked down beside her. “I love it.”
More days passed. Sometimes they had rabbit, sometimes they had broth, and sometimes they had nothing.
The days weren’t so bad, and the hours fled when they talked about their homes, although Abby got the impression Iain kept his stories lighthearted because he didn’t want to share more with her.
She, on the other hand, only spoke about the stuff that could happen in any time, no specifics, just generalizations.
More than once, she caught Iain’s wary look.
He must have known she was keeping things from him, but thank goodness, he never said anything.
Sleeping next to Iain was another thing, though. It was getting harder every night to lie there and pretend to fall asleep. She was waking more and more, trying to snuggle in closer to him, not for the cold, but for the alien feelings his closeness sent thrumming through her body.
She knew she had to be careful, but she also knew she was getting to like the man far too much.
He was generous when it came to food, insisting Abby take her fill.
He was protective, not letting Abby stray too far away from him.
He was kind, both to her when he thought she was tired, and to the horse when he stopped to let it drink and eat.
Each time, he cleaned its hooves and checked its legs.
It seemed the last few nights, all she could think of was kissing him again, and she’d come close to doing just that before she caught herself leaning toward him whenever they stood close together.
Smashing her lips together, she shook the thought of his lips on hers out of her mind and focused on their surroundings.
Iain kept the horse moving to the base of the mountains. She gazed up at the peaks. Snow still clung to the top of the mountains, but Iain had said it was summer, so she guessed the snow would melt in time.
It was still cold where they were, but the sun shone more often. After a few hours, Abby spied another small stream.
“Look, water.”
“Aye, we’ll rest here for a bit.”
Once the horse had its fill of water, Abby found a grassy edge where she could sit.
She took off her shoes and dangled her feet in the stream.
It was still freezing but not as bad as previously, and she kept them submerged until she became used to the temperature.
She wriggled out of the cloak and, scooping up handfuls of water, washed her face.
Her hair would have to wait until they got somewhere warmer.
Glancing behind her, she saw Iain was still tending to the horse.
He appeared engrossed with its hooves, so she took off her vest and undid the buttons on her shirt.
Without taking it off completely, she washed under her arms as best she could.
Standing up to use her skirt to dry herself, she half turned and froze.
Iain was watching her with a peculiar expression on his face. Was his eyes narrowed in admiration or confusion? No matter how long she spent with him, she couldn’t make out his moods.
“You stay there,” Abby said, spinning back to face the stream.
“Aye.”
She quickly dried herself and buttoned up her shirt. Once she’d put on the vest and cloak again, she turned around and came face to face with Iain.
“I am sorry the accommodations aren’t more suitable for a woman such as yerself.”
“They’re fine.” She ducked her head and moved to make her way around the tree.
Iain held her arm as she passed, and she stopped and looked up at him expectantly. Those weird tingly feelings started zinging through her body again.