Beyond a Doubt

chapter Five




Scotland 1557

Bryce walked alongside the horse. The man was huge and attractive to gaze upon. In fact, Lucille had a hard time taking her eyes away from his imposing frame. Hour after hour dragged by. The sun set over the distant mountains, leaving barely enough light with which to travel. How man and horse didn’t stumble and break their legs in the darkness, Lucy would never know.

When it seemed they would travel on until morning, Bryce said, “We will stop here.”

Beast and man stopped. Lucy was grasped upon the waist, lifted from the saddle, and placed on the ground without a backward glance. She watched as Bryce gathered scraps of wood and started a fire. The flames grew and Lucy moved closer and sat down.

Bryce untied the pack from the horse, cared for the beast, sat cross-legged in front of the fire, and handed her a hard piece of dried meat. She stuck it in her mouth and scrunched up her face at the overabundance of salt.

While she ate, he pulled a tunic from the pack and drew it over his bare form.

“You don’t talk much.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Don’t you even want to know my name? Perhaps where we are going? Or why I’m out in the woods alone?”

Again, he shrugged.

The man’s ability to shrug off every word was the height of annoyance. “Mister Cameron, not to be rude, but I cannot travel all the way to England with someone who never opens his mouth.”

Those words garnered his attention. His mouth gaped open, and the salted meat fell to the ground. “England?”

“But of course. Why else would I need to travel south?”

“But I can’t take ye to England.”

“Whyever not?”

“Because I’m on my way home. Crissy, me sheep, they are waitin’.”

“I’m sorry but you did agree to help me. And I need an escort.”

“But to England?”

“Yes.”

The man seemed to ponder her words. His twiddled his thumbs and scuffed his boot against the ground but didn’t speak. To keep from further questions later, Lucy spoke now. “You see, my original escort left me.”

“Ye are alone?”

“I’m afraid so. Not by choice, mind you. The beggar swiped my clothes, horse, and food. It was by God’s grace I have a hearty constitution and the ample ability to walk or I wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Bryce said nothing.

“So what food stores do you have?”

He pinched a piece of salted meat between two fingers and held it up.

“Ah. We will stop in the next town for supplies, I suppose.”

He stopped chewing.

While she spoke, her hands nervously fluttered about. “Of course, my previous companion escaped with my funds, so I will have need of yours. Rest assured, once we reach my destination all will be repaid.”

“I have no funds.”

“But surely you’re not traveling without some means of monetary support?”

“Aye, I am. I have all I need.”

“What? A horse, a tunic, a soggy pair of trews, and salted meat? I refuse to live on dried-out meat for the continuation of this journey.”

“Verra well. I’m out of the meat, anyway.”

“What? Surely you jest, Mister Cameron.”

“Afraid not.” Bryce finished chewing the tough meat. He slapped his thighs. His eyebrow rose. “By the way, lass, I don’t believe ye gave me yer name.”

“My name? Oh, yes, of course. My name is Lucy Lom—“ She paused and gnawed her lip. Perhaps it was best not to give her real name. The less he knew, the better off he would be. She continued, “Bard, Lucy Bard is my name.”

“All right, Lucy Bard. And where are ye goin’ exactly in England?”

“Well I must hasten to London.”

His eyes widened in disbelief. If Bryce had been a talker, he would surely have protested, but instead he shook his head.

For now Lucy was content with the quiet acceptance. As long as she continued on course, she would arrive in London in plenty of time.