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be traveling together, it matters.”
    She could feel her body listing to the side, desperate to lie down for a moment. Just a moment. That was all she needed. She straightened and cleared her throat. “So ye’re willing to travel with me? A lass?” It was a stupid question and one she regretted immediately, but she’d always had a problem with her mouth running away from her.
    “Sinclair land is no’ too far. I’ll safely deliver ye to yer brother.”
    Even though she missed her brother terribly, she didn’t want to think about going home to him. There were reasons she’d left, and she was almost certain those reasons would be waiting for her when she returned. She’d attained nothing from her flight to Culloden but heartache and fear. And she didn’t want to humiliate herself by admitting defeat.
    “Where will ye go, then?” she asked to keep her mind off her own problems.
    MacLean’s gaze moved to the fire and he contemplated the flames for a bit. “Home, probably.”
    “Where is MacLean land?” She’d heard little of the MacLeans. All she knew was that they were a small clan. Evan had never spoken of them, so that must mean that Colin MacLean was not marriage material, as Evan’s main focus lately had been on finding Maggie a suitable husband. Unless MacLean was already wed. But he’d not mentioned a wife. Now she was doubly curious.
    “The opposite coast,” he said shortly.
    “The Minch?” she asked, referring to a large body of water on the eastern shore of Scotland.
    “Atlantic Ocean and part of Firth of Lorn,” he said.
    “I’ve never seen the Atlantic Ocean.”
    “It’s much like the North Sea, only a bit warmer. One body of water is much the same as the others.”
    Her eyelids drooped again, and this time she let her mind drift. She hadn’t been quite this weary before, but in the dungeon she’d had to be constantly vigilant. A full night’s sleep hadn’t been an option because she’d been in constant fear that a soldier would appear and discover she was a woman, and she had to protect that fact at all costs.
    That MacLean now knew her secret was both disconcerting and a relief.

Chapter 6
    The next morning, Colin entered the cave after taking a quick dunk in the stream and changing into the clean clothes Campbell had given him. The brisk dip did wonders for his mind and body. He wasn’t feeling perfect, but he was much better than the day before.
    They would leave today. He’d get the lady Sinclair back to her brother and be on his way, washing his hands of this burdensome sidekick.
    He didn’t yet know where he would go after he relieved himself of her. He should get back to MacLean lands and check in with his brother’s steward. He guessed now the man was Colin’s steward. He also needed to take back the reins of his smuggling business. His brothers and his father would have said that he needed to leave off his illegal activities now that he was clan leader, but Colin disagreed. Now more than ever, his countrymen needed the contraband that he brought into the country. Besides, he was good at it, and he wasn’t ready to give it up. If anything, it brought work to some of his people and much-needed money. There was also the fact that he was sticking it to Abbott by continuing the operation.
    First he would check on Sutherland to see how he was faring with his own smuggling business and see what had happened to the English lass he’d been hiding. It was the start of a plan, at least. What was nice about it was that he had choices, and he was no longer imprisoned by the damn English.
    He entered the dark cave, his mind on the possibilities, when a swift shadow slipped in behind him and a familiar
sgian dubh
was pressed to his throat from behind. He stopped. The small knife was sharp, the form behind him slight.
    “It’s me, lass.”
    The weapon dropped away and she cursed. Colin bit back a smile. She sure could cuss like a Highland warrior. “Ye best put that away before I