She smelled it on the girl, as well.
“Let us wash in the creek. Let’s wash them away,” she suggested softly.
Evelyn’s eyes snapped toward Cameron.
“Go on,” he said. “I’ll stand guard to make sure you’re safe.”
At the creek, Mari tugged off her gown and shift. Stains and filth covered the girl’s only garment. She had no gown, and her shift was ripped and thin, barely covering her. She drew off the rag and settled in the cool water, dunking her head to wet her hair.
Mari did the same, wanting to cleanse away the bad memories. “My name is Mari MacKinlay. The man who saved us is my husband, Cameron.”
“Saved” might not have been the most accurate word. It was clear vengeance had been the only thing on his mind when he’d rushed the men. The result, however, had been their safety.
“He’ll not harm you,” she added. “He’s not like those other men.”
Evelyn said nothing but seemed to relax.
They spent more time in the water than was necessary for bathing. They were both chilled and shivering when they finally emerged. When Evelyn picked up the rag she’d been wearing, Mari couldn’t bear to see her in it another minute.
“Hear, take my shift. We shall burn yours. It’s filthy.”
Evelyn made no argument as she slid Mari’s shift over her thin body. Mari put on her gown, and they went to find Cameron.
He was also clean and dripping water. His shirt was bunched in his hand, and he offered it to Evelyn. “It’s not exactly clean, but it will cover you.”
She nodded and took it, quickly scooting out of reach to don the large shirt. Once she was covered, she picked up her old shift, took it to the fire, and tossed it in.
With a nod of approval, Cam gestured in the direction of the castle. “Come. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty
Cam, Mari, and Evelyn had just made it inside the hall when Kenna saw them and came running.
“What’s happened? Are you injured?” she asked Cam when she saw the blood staining his kilt.
Lach was right behind her. Cam met his eyes, silently communicating that he was whole.
“It’s not our blood,” Mari explained. “It’s a rather long story, and we’re exhausted. Can we tell it in the morning?”
Cam wanted nothing more than to spirit Mari off to their room so he could check her over thoroughly and hold her close. But there was the matter of their visitor.
“This is Evelyn,” he told Kenna. “She was being held against her will. She hasn’t given us the name of her clan yet. Mayhap in the morning. For now, can ye fetch her some food and drink and find her a safe place to sleep?”
“Aye,” Kenna said, and called over a serving girl to request food be brought to her solar. “I’ll put you in my solar. It’s next to my room, so I know you’ll not be disturbed there.”
“Thank ye,” the girl croaked, still trembling.
Kenna frowned and wrapped an arm around her. “You’re safe here. We’ll take care of you.”
With the girl tended to, Cam took Mari’s hand and led her to their own chamber. They said nothing as they disrobed, tossing their ruined clothes in a heap on the floor.
Mari moved for their bed, but he stayed her by taking her wrist and gently tugging her to him.
“Are you well?”
“If you’re asking if you’ll be awakened by my nightmares, I can’t say you won’t.” She offered him a strained smile, and he admired her all the more for the strength it took to keep it there.
“I’ll hold you extra tight tonight to protect you from your bad dreams.”
They settled into bed, her chilled skin against his heated flesh.
“Rest now, wife. Know that ye are safe. I’ll postpone my scouting trip.”
“I’m sorry you won’t be able to go,” Mari said quietly.
“Are you sorry?” he asked, moving away so he could look down into her face.
“Nay, not even a little bit,” she said.
He kissed her and reveled in the feel of her heart thumping against his chest and her breath on his neck.
He could have lost her tonight. The thought of it caused a twinge in his chest. Only his hand on her warm skin chased off the fear of what could have happened. The heat of her skin was proof she was alive.
…
Despite her predictions of nightmares, Mari woke fully rested. She hadn’t even moved away from Cameron, she’d slept so soundly.
Cam was awake, his eyes focused on the ceiling above them. When she kissed his chest, he turned to look at her.
“What is it?” she asked, noticing the shadows in his eyes.
“Those men never should have been on our lands. I need to take my guard to task for it this morning. It’s my duty to punish them for putting the clan at risk, but I fear I may not be able to be fair, as angry as I am.”
“Then you should ask Lachlan to do it for you. Or wait until you are calmer.”
He nodded, and she wasn’t sure which of those options he was agreeing to. She respected him all the more for seeing he was not able to maintain control of his rage and spare his men.
“I’d like to go see to our guest,” she said, eager to help the girl in some way. Mari had seen the terror in Evelyn’s eyes and knew what that felt like.
Another nod, and Cam rolled out of bed. Before he stood, she shifted behind him, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his shoulder, then his neck. “Please tell me you don’t still feel guilty about what happened.”
“I canna tell you that, for I promised I’d not lie to you.”
She twisted until she was sitting on his lap. “If you’d walked me back to the castle last night, those men wouldn’t have been found,
