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wife, I will go check on the lad out in the barn while ye attend to the lassie,” the man said as he kissed Rowena on the cheek and walked out the front door.
    “That be my husband, Innes. Well now that ye are finally awake, why dinna ye tell me why ye are so far from home?” Rowena asked, as she continued flattening and rolling the ball of dough in her hands.
    “How do ye ken I am far from my home?” Lara shakily asked, worried that Rowena had recognized her or perhaps knew that she had escaped from the English dungeon.
    “Because ye are here and no’ there,” she replied, looking at Lara from underneath her long lashes.
    Lara could see the suspicion in Rowena’s eyes but pretended not to notice. As Lara stood up from the floor, she loosened the blanket around her, allowing it to drop to the floor. Rowena gasped.
    “Good heavens child, what is that ye got on? Ye look like ye rolled around in the dirt wit’ the pigs.”
    Lara rubbed her hands up and down her arms, not sure how to respond. She knew her appearance must look dreadful to the woman. The straps of her dress barely clung to her shoulders and the skirt was tattered. Her hair, which normally hung down in soft feathery layers was now disheveled, in knots, and coated in dirt.
    Lara did not wish to lie to Rowena, but neither could she bring herself to tell the truth.
    “I have been traveling for many days now and I lost my belongings along the way.”
    “Dinna ye worry lass, I may have a gown ye can wear,” she said as she stood and walked over to Lara. “Follow me.”
    Lara gratefully followed her into the next room. The small chamber had a bed barely big enough for two and a small wooden chest. The walls were bare other than cobwebs and a year’s worth of dust. In the corner, a roaring fire crackled in the fireplace. Murmuring to herself, Rowena dug through a pile of clothing and pulled out a brown wool dress and a white chemise.
    “Ah, this will do. It is no’ a fancy dress but anything is better than what ye got on,” Rowena said as she laid it onto the bed. “I will go and fetch a few buckets of water I have heating so ye can wash.”
    Lara rejoiced over the thought of washing her face and hair. She could barely contain her excitement, but managed to keep a guarded and calm demeanor. Shortly after, Rowena came back into the room with two buckets of steaming water and emptied them into a shallow tub.
    “Unless ye have further need of me, I will leave ye to wash.”
    “Nay, I need nothing else. Thank you, Rowena.”
    Lara began removing her once beautiful green gown and let it fall to the floor. It would now serve well as a rag. Anxiously, Lara dipped her feet into the hot water, one by one, and sank down into the tub. Lara looked down at the bruises that stained her body; reminders of what she had endured. She scrubbed herself thoroughly, hoping and wishing she could scrub them away, but the dark purple and blue marks remained. Unwanted tears escaped her eyes. She swore to herself that once she reached home no man would ever lay a hand on her again. As for her husband, her mind went through various scenarios as to how she would get her revenge, each one ending with him taking his last breath.
    As soon as she had finished washing her hair, Lara donned the dress Rowena had left on the bed. It hung awkwardly off her shoulders; several sizes too large. Finding a ball of twine on the floor, Lara began to unravel it and wrapped it around her thin waist. Biting off one end at the perfect length, she tied the dress in place. She sat down next to the fire and used the towel to dry her hair. She was quick about it, anxious to leave.
    Stepping back into the room, Rowena smiled.
    “Oh, ye look verra fine lass, now that yer washed. The dress is a wee bit big but I am no’ longer a young lass.”
    “It will do just fine. Thank ye,” Lara replied, feeling renewed and refreshed.
    “I best get a start on the day. When ye are done, come join me in the