Read Amanda Forester for Free Online Page B

grasses and heather for the horses before it started to rain, and so I stuffed the ticking with it. I think it shall do.”
    Tavish flung the stuffed mattress on the large carved bed and gave her another wide smile, waiting for her response.
    Elyne said nothing but stared at the mattress. The mattress . The place people slept. In bed. Together.
    “It’s no’ a proper mattress filling I grant ye, but…” Tavish’s smile began to fade.
    “Aye, it’s well… how… ?” Elyne’s inarticulate commentary on the bedroom situation seemed to draw alarm.
    “Careful now!” exclaimed Tavish and pushed past her to the fireplace. He grabbed his knife from his belt and stabbed the rabbit and held it up to blow out the flames.
    The disaster of their supper shocked Elyne back into action. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry.”
    “My fault. Distracted ye.”
    “Och, ’tis ruined for sure.”
    “Nay, I like my meat well-done.”
    Unless he liked his meat crispy, Tavish Grant was attempting kindness. Again. Fortunately, some parts of their supper remained edible, and Tavish cut up the meal into pieces with his knife. The knife was a nice one, with a steel blade and a handle decorated with silver and gold.
    “Ye have a nice knife there,” commented Elyne, wishing to change the subject.
    “A gift from my parents many years ago.”
    They sat down to their meal on a bench Tavish had brought from the great hall. It was not quite balanced, or perhaps the floor was crooked, so any time either one of them shifted, the bench tipped one way and then the other, like a child’s toy.
    “I can see why this bench was left behind,” grumbled Elyne. Thump .
    “Ne’er had a meal more amusing,” laughed Tavish. “When I have a home o’ my own, I shall cut all my benches’ legs one shorter than the other, so all my guests can enjoy it.”
    Thump .
    “Are ye always in such good spirits?” accused Elyne.
    “Ye’re displeased wi’ the meal?”
    “The meal? How can ye talk o’ food or sleeping at such a time?” Elyne stood and began to pace back and forth in the room, smaller now with the addition of such a large piece of furniture. A large bed to be exact.
    “We are trapped here, waiting for the English to come take us prisoners, while the rest o’ my family is under siege.” Elyne brushed stray strands of hair away from her face and quickly wiped her eyes. “They will either be starved out or it will come to a battle. Who knows how many o’ my family I shall lose. Perhaps ye dinna care, but as soon as I saw those soldiers, I knew it could only end in death.” Elyne’s voice shook, and she hugged herself to try to gain control over her emotions.
    Tavish stood and walked slowly toward her, as if not wanting to scare a spooked horse. It was a wise move. “There now, ye dinna ken if any o’ those things will happen. Perhaps the Laird Campbell will be able to deal peaceably wi’ the English captain.”
    Elyne squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears and shook her head. He drew closer to her. She could feel the heat from his body even though he did not touch her.
    “Ye must have a little faith.” His voice was low and soft.
    “Faith doesna keep my brothers alive. People die. My brothers may be put to the sword. And I can do naught about it.” Elyne kept her eyes shut and choked back a sob. A warm hand touched her shoulder, comforting and soft.
    “Faith is no’ pretending that hard things winna happen. Faith is believing that whatever trials come our way, we shall no’ be left alone.”
    Elyne opened her eyes and gazed up at Tavish. His expressive eyes were hazel green, not brown as she had thought. His jaw was strong, but his lips were the color of wine and looked soft.
    He was close, too close. And bless her if she didn’t wish to be closer. “I gave my sister similar advice, to have faith.”
    “’Tis easier advice to give than to take.”
    Elyne nodded. “I still wish I could do something to keep them safe.” Somehow,