Quinn took the stairs two at a time to the top. “Since you’re the one who sent Lucan to get Galen, you’re the one that gets to tell Cara he’s gone.”
“She’s the one that wanted Galen to come. She’ll understand.”
“Uh-huh. And that just proves you know nothing of women,” Quinn said as he walked into the castle.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Cara splashed water on her face to remove the sweat and grime. Once she dried off, she looked around the kitchen to gather food for the evening meal. The way the brothers had been staring at each other she knew Fallon and Quinn were trying to talk Lucan into finding Galen. It was the reason she had gone inside. They could be out there until the sun set, which gave her the time she needed to weed more of the garden.
The light was fading fast, but she didn’t need a lot to pull weeds. The tips of her fingers began to prickle as she walked into the garden. As soon as her hands plunged into the dirt, a quiet calm descended on her soul. She wished she would have helped the nuns tend their garden. Maybe she would have found peace years ago.
As it was, the nuns only let her go out and pick the vegetables or herbs. Nothing more.
She yanked a stubborn weed from the ground and tossed it aside as she thought of how easy she found Lucan’s training. Well, “easy” wasn’t the right word. She liked the time she spent with Lucan and being able to see a part of their world. But it was like her body knew what she needed to do to avoid an attack before her mind did.
Half the time she didn’t know how she was going to avoid Lucan; she just ended up doing it. She had thought he was moving slowly at first, but the more they trained the more she realized she was the one moving faster.
She gasped when her gaze landed on a parsley plant. It was like finding treasure. The small, green leaves were barely visible through the weeds. Cara carefully plucked the weeds away from the herb and marveled at how well the little plant was doing.
Her fingers traced the edges of the leaves, silently urging it to grow, to taste the sun and soil and water.
“Cara.”
She looked over her shoulder to find Fallon and Quinn behind her. “I’ll be there in just a moment.”
“I . . . um . . . I came to tell you something,” Fallon mumbled.
“Just tell me.” With Fallon she never knew if he was drunk or hesitant about speaking about something he thought sensitive. Besides, she had her lovely new find at her fingertips. She smiled and blew dirt off the little leaves, eager to see it develop, imagining the flavor it would add to their simple food.
“Lucan left to get Galen,” Quinn stated.
The smile faded from Cara’s lips. “Left? You mean he went alone?”
“Aye,” Fallon answered.
Cara looked at the brothers over her shoulder. “When I said Galen needed to be brought here, I expected all of us to get him. It isn’t safe for Lucan to be out alone, nor is it safe for you three to be separated.”
Fallon raised his hands. “We’ll keep you safe, Cara.”
“I’m not concerned for me. I’m worried about Lucan. Have either of you thought what would happen if Deirdre captured him?”
Quinn had the good grace to lower his gaze and kick the dirt with the toe of his boot. “We thought it would be better to have Galen return tonight than for all of us to leave.”
Anger churned through Cara. She turned back around and closed her eyes as she took several deep breaths to calm herself. When she opened her eyes and saw the edges of the parsley’s leaves brown and withering she cried out and jerked away from the plant. In a heartbeat, Fallon and Quinn were at her side.
“What is it?” Fallon asked.
She pointed to the herb. “It was healthy just a moment ago, the leaves bright green and thriving.”
Quinn wiped his hand down his face. “Holy hell.”
* * *
Lucan kept at a steady, even run over the land in a straight line to the forest. He wanted to be back as quick as he could, so he hoped for Galen’s sake he would be easy to find.
Lucan was about halfway to the forest when he saw someone walking his way. He slowed, his senses wary. The man stopped as he caught sight of Lucan. A moment later, he lifted his hand in greeting.
Lucan spotted the worn Shaw tartan and sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited as Galen ran toward him.
When Galen approached, a small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “I knew you’d come.”
Lucan turned back to the castle. “You didn’t. You got lucky is what you did.”
“I could argue the point with you, Lucan, but I willna bother. We all have our powers.”
“Where were you going?” Lucan asked.
“I knew you and Cara had headed in this direction. I was coming to find you. Shall we go? I sense you’re in a hurry.”
Lucan hesitated. “I didn’t want to come.”
“You don’t trust me.”
“Nay.”
Galen stared at him, their gazes locked. “You are right to be wary. I am just one man against three brothers. You could easily kill me.”
“I know that. I’m more concerned about Cara.”
“She’s to be protected above all else,” Galen said. “Deirdre cannot get her hands on Cara.”
“I agree. Still, Shaw, I’m leery of bringing you back with me.”
Galen nodded. “I could tell you what Deirdre did to me and why I escaped her, but you would only think it a lie. The fact you cannot ignore is that to keep Cara safe you need all the Warriors you can get.”
Lucan didn’t want to admit Galen was right. He should be the one protecting Cara, but Deirdre wouldn’t send a few Warriors. She wanted Cara, and if he knew anything about Deirdre it was that she didn’t give up on her hunt easily.
“All right,” he said after a moment. “But be warned, Shaw, we will be watching you.”
“You have my word, MacLeod, that I am against Deirdre in all matters. I will stand in opposition to her always, protecting everyone who has gained her attention.”
It was all Lucan could ask for. He didn’t want to like Galen, but the honesty and determination in the Warrior’s blue eyes was hard to mistake. Lucan was taking a huge risk bringing Galen back with him, but to save Cara he would take that chance.
“Come.” Lucan turned and lengthened his strides until he was running again. Galen easily kept up, but Lucan expected no less with a god inside Shaw.
“How many others are there?” Lucan asked.
Galen shrugged. “We’re spread out in the Highlands. Many do as I do and find other Warriors to try and turn them on our side.”
“Just to fight Deirdre? Why not hide?”
“You know there is no hiding from Deirdre. Besides, there is much you do not know. You and your brothers thought you were doing the right thing in hiding, but you’ve only hurt yourselves, I think.”
Lucan clenched his fists, hating that they were at a disadvantage because they had stayed hidden. “Just what don’t I know?”
“I’d rather only do the telling once, if you don’t mind. Once we gather with your brothers, as well as Cara, I’ll tell you everything.”
Lucan halted and glared at Galen. “What has Cara got to do with this?”
A few strides later Galen stopped and faced him. “A lot. She doesn’t want to acknowledge it, and you want to keep her out of sight.”
