“Ye’re all right,” he said brushing her hair from her face. Cleopatra glanced up at him for a moment before lowering her eyes. “See?”
Cleopatra’s eyes widened as she scanned the area. Tall, mangled trees were scattered across the sloping plains. The yellow grass swayed in the wind as the clouds rolled over the top of the jagged mountains. A tiny stream cut through the grass and flowed from the base of the mountain.
“Here,” Jude said pushing a jug into Cleopatra’s hands. “Fetch water for me men.”
“But–” Cleopatra started only to have him turn his back on her before she could finish.
“Adam, go with her. Make sure she doesnae get into trouble,” Jude said as he snapped the branches from the ragged tree and tossed them to the ground.
“Keep yer eyes on her,” Ronan shouted. “She’s crafty. Wouldnae want her to slip out of yer hands.”
“We’re sleeping here?” Cleopatra asked looking around.
“Nay,” Adam said moving to her. “Over there.” He pointed to the boulders stacked behind her. Cleopatra’s eyes widened as she noticed the small nook between the rocks. “Now let’s fetch that water.”
Cleopatra moved carefully over the jagged rocks as she followed Adam to the river. The crashing of water against the bank of the river startled her. As soon as she was at the ledge, panic crushed her. What she thought was a smooth-running river was in fact raging and racing down the valley floor. Whitewash spit up at her. Wiping the cold water from her face, she glanced at Adam.
“How am I to do this?” Cleopatra asked, too scared to dip the jug in for fear of falling. She didn’t know how to swim and the thought of being slammed against the rocks wasn’t something she was looking forward to.
“Just dip the jug in,” Adam said shrugging. “Surely ye’ve fetched water before.”
“Yes, but in calmer waters,” Cleopatra said as she began chewing on her lower lip.
“Same thing nay matter where ye go,” Adam said as he extended his hand to her. “Here, let me show ye.”
Cleopatra handed him the jug and watched as Adam dropped to the ground and rested on his stomach. He reached the jug out and dunked it into the freezing waters. In a matter of seconds, he pulled the jug up and sat it on the bank next to him.
With a huge grin stretching over his lips, he got to his feet. “See? Nae so bad.”
“Looks easy enough,” Cleopatra said. Her mouth dropped and her eyes widened as she watched Adam dump the water from the jug back into the river.
“Now ye try,” he said handing her the empty jug.
“Why did you do that? It was full.”
“Aye, but how are ye to learn unless ye do it yerself? Now, give it a go. I’ll hold yer feet,” Adam said as Cleopatra moved the bank. She looked down at the raging waters. Slowly, she dropped the jug to the ground and knelt down. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked to Adam. He nodded as he smiled at her.
“Go on then,” he said. “The Laird is thirsty.”
Cleopatra stretched out onto her stomach and grabbed the jug from beside her. Holding onto the jug with all her might, she dunked it into the water. The jug filled in a matter of seconds and she struggled to keep her grip on it. Mustering all her strength, she pulled the jug out of the waters and sat it down beside her.
With her arm muscles burning, she dropped her head and sucked in the deep breaths.
“Well done,” Adam said clapping. “Now, let’s get this back to the Laird.”
Rising to her feet, Cleopatra reached down for the jug. Her arms shook as she carried the heavy jug back over the rocks. Dropping the jug at the foot of the cave, Cleopatra realized the cold didn’t bother her anymore. She peered into the cave. The men all looked to her with huge smiles.
“Well, are ye comin’ in?” Jude asked as he rose from the small fire and walked to her. He glanced at her and picked the jug up. “It will be dark soon and I wouldnae want to be out here unprotected.”
“If you’re trying to scare me, it will not work,” Cleopatra said. “There is nothing out here that can hurt me.”
“Ye say that now, but when ye see the beady eyes of the Kelpie, ye’ll be rushin’ in here for sure,” Jude said with a wink. Cleopatra glanced around. She had heard tales of the monstrous beast and her rational mind thought nothing of it, until that very moment. The light of the sun slowly faded as the clouds blocked out the light.
A chill ran up her spine causing her to shutter. She stepped into the cave to get out of the frosty breeze. It surprised her how much a small fire could heat the area. As she walked closer to the group, the men looked at her.
“Thank ye for fetchin’ the water,” Ronan said.
“Aye, thank ye,” the others said as the jug was passed around to each of them. Cleopatra moved to the outskirts of the circle and sat beside the cave wall. Although the fire warmed her a bit, she wished to be closer.
“There’s plenty of room by the fire,” Jude said as he tapped her on the shoulder. “Come sit with us.”
“You want me to sit with you?”
Jude shrugged and looked to the men. “Aye. It’ll be gettin’ colder and I daenae think ye’ll be wantin’ to get sick.”
Stunned by his request, Cleopatra shifted closer to them but kept her distance. She had always been the outcast in her father’s house. Never in all her years had her father asked her to sit
