Aidan by Elizabeth Rose Page A

challenge in the dark. How do ye think we earne d our titles o’ being madmen?”
    She turned to him then, and her eyes scanne d down his body. Her perusal caused him to become excited, and he felt his manhood growing quickly.
    “Like what ye see, lassie? Becooz if ye do, we can do somethin’ aboot it.”
    “Ye are no better than those English curs that tried te take me in the forest.”
    “What?” he asked, totally confused. “Lassie, I am askin’, no’ takin’ like they were.” He held up his hands in a mock form of surrender.
    “Well, dinna ask me again, fer I’m no’ interested.” She picked up the crow and headed through the dark forest, making her way to camp. She only hoped Aidan believed her statement of not wanting him. Because she wanted him badly, but didn’t want him to know. She was trying her hardest to not fall for him, because she knew in a matter of time she was going to have to betray not only him but her country as well. And the last thing she wanted to do was to break a heart. Especially if it was her own.

    Chapter 6
     
    The next morning, Aidan busied himself breaking down camp and preparing the horses rather than have to talk to Effie. She finally gave up trying to talk to him, and headed down to the lake a while ago. After the way she made all three of them feel so guilty, they’d all given up their portion of the crow last night in order for her to eat.
    “I’m starvin’” grumbled Ian, coming to join him by the horses.
    “Well, mayhap ye shoulda thought o’ thet before ye went and gave our dinner te the hound,” Aidan pointed out.
    “The poor thing looked so skinny and hungry,” said Ian. “And did ye see the way it limped and had blood on its fur? It was hurt. Mayhap attacked by wolves. With the shape it was in, it probably didna even make it through the night.”
    “Je st another reason why ye shouldna have fed it.” Aidan secured the travel bags to the horses. The bags were filled with supplies from the fair.
    “Mayhap we can find the hound’s deid body and eat it te break the fast,” said Onyx, rubbing a weary hand over his face and coming to join them.
    “Dinna say thet!” Ian seemed disturbed by the suggestion. “I couldna eat thet poor animal, no’ after seeing thet sad look in its eyes.”
    “Well, ye had no qualms aboot wantin’ te eat me squirrel when we first found it.” Aidan looked around, realizing he hadn’t seen his squirrel since it fell asleep on his chest by the fire last night. “Where is Reid anyway? We’re almost ready te go.”
    “Gui d mornin’,” came Effie’s cheerful voice as she made her way up from the lake and toward them, with a string of dead fish in her hand and Aidan’s squirrel on her shoulder. Aidan couldn’t believe his eyes.
    “How many deid fish have ye got there?” asked Ian eagerly, his eyes fastened to his next meal.
    “Ferget the damned fish, what the hell are ye doin’ with me squirrel on yer shoulder?” Aidan reached out and took his pet back from her and placed it on the ground.
    “ Well, Reid seems te like me,” she said. “And Ian, I got up early te fish in the loch. Would ye care fer a bite te eat afore we leave?”
    “Aye,” said Ian , quickly reaching out for the fish.
    “Nay!” Aidan stepped in front of him and took the fish from Effie. “We’ll take these back te camp and share them with the boys who stayed behind te guard the stone.” He turned and started tying them to the side of the horse.
    “I shoulda ate yer damn squirrel,” mumbled Ian, making his way to put out the fire.
    “Too bad the supplies we are bringin’ back from the fair arena food,” grumbled Onyx, going to his horse.
    “So . . . is this stone thet the boys are guardin’, the Stone o’ Destiny, by any chance?” asked Effie.
    “Dinna w orry aboot it.” Aidan was in no mood for talking, nor to give her any information she wanted after she’d rejected him last night. He held out his hands to help her get atop