Aidan by Elizabeth Rose Page B

the horse. “Let’s go.”
    She let him help her atop the horse, and he wondered what happened to the grouchy girl from last night who’d sat there glaring at him and his friends and hadn’t even bothered to thank them for helping her with the hound.
    He pu lled himself atop the horse, settling in behind her, and they headed toward MacKeefe territory. With any luck they’d be there by this afternoon, and he’d be able to take a nap on his dream stone since he’d laid awake all night, watching for the hound to come back, determined to guard his angel even if she said she didn’t want him.
    And this, for some odd reason , only made Aidan want her even more.
     
    * * *
    Effie knew she’d been harsh with Aidan last night, as well as his friends. She felt the tension between them all, and that’s why she’d woke n up early and decided to fish. She wanted to make amends between them. She knew it hurt Aidan’s feelings when she told him she didn’t want him last night. And he couldn’t deny the fact he’d wanted her, because his body didn’t lie. She’d seen his immense desire to lay with her, and actually that was another reason why she’d denied him.
    He scared her. And she didn’t scare easily. She’d had a hard life , and even with all her trials and tribulations, she’d always managed to keep her head about her. But with Aidan, things were different. She couldn’t stop thinking of the kiss they’d shared and the way he’d risked his life twice now to save her.
    She supposed she was so mean to him because she didn’t feel as if she deserved his acts of kindness. He’d even convinced his friends to give their portion of the crow last night to her. She’d gladly eaten it, ev en though she hated eating crow. But she’d been so hungry after not having really eaten in the last few days, that she accepted the offer.
    And she wanted more than anything to eat the fish this morning, but wasn’t going to fight with Aidan if he said they needed to be on their way. It was probably better that they just get to camp as fast as possible and get this all over with. She’d been so upset thinking about her sister trapped in that English bastard’s cage last night, that she didn’t sleep a wink, even though she was dead tired.
    She stifled a yawn and ran a finger over the back of the squirrel now sitting on the horn of the saddle. The cute little thing had taken a liking to her for some reason.
    “Reid likes ye,” she heard Aidan say from behind her.
    “Well, I like him, too,” she said, not turning her head to talk. If she did, her face would be pressed up against Aidan’s and she’d want to kiss him again. “So, tell me aboot yer dream stone,” she said.
    “What’s there to tell?”
    “Have ye had it long?”
    “ Why do ye keep askin’ me aboot it?”
    She froze. “I’m jest tryin’ te make conversation.” She hoped he didn’t suspect what she was up to.
    “I’d rather talk aboot yer family instead,” he said.
    “I told ye . . . I have no family.” She truly wished to avoid this conversation. “Me father died in battle and me mathair died givin’ birth to me sister.”
    “So ye have a sister? What is her name?”
    Damn, she didn’t mean to tell him that. She had to be more careful. “Her name is Coira. But she . . . died,” she lied. “When the English attacked our camp.”
    “I’m so sorry. I did na realize. I ken how hard this must be fer ye. If I can do anythin’ te help ye ease the pain –”
    “I dinna want te talk aboot it.” Why the hell did he have to be so nice? No one had ever been so nice to her in her entire life. And now that she found someone, she knew it wouldn’t last. As soon as she did her dirty deed, he would hate her forever.
    They rode in silence for awhile, then she started wondering about him.
    “Do ye have siblings?” she asked.
    “I do,” he said. “Me sister’s name is Kyla.”
    “Is she married or have bairns?”
    “Nay. S he lives with the