Page 10 of Ena’s Surrender

A roar filled the air, crackling and snapping and overwhelming the sounds of the girl gasping for breath. The cottage that Renault had forced the woman to run from had collapsed in on itself.

Renault had saved them.

In wordless wonder, Ena stared down at him, this Englishman who had risked his life to save a family of Scots. He had shown his enemy kindness and bravery. He was everything she had never expected from an Englishman.

The woman had recently relocated from north of the Scottish West March. But before she could say her name or explain what had happened, riders appeared in the distance. The reivers were returning from their raid the night before. A late arrival that had left Ena anxious for the better part of the day.

She shoved the pie into Renault’s hands this time. “Go into Maribel’s pen. I’ll be there in a moment. And dinna make a sound.”

Renault accepted the pasty before quickly slipping away toward Maribel’s stable. As he departed, the severity of what Ena had done crashed down on her.

She was hiding their enemy from Bran.

The woman’s husband was among the returning reivers and quickly set to the task of seeing to his family. They had a cousin located nearby who would allow them to stay with him while their home was rebuilt. Ena noticed the woman had pointedly refrained from mentioning Renault’s involvement, and for that, Ena was grateful.

“Soldiers were waiting for us,” Bran said as he walked with Ena toward their hut. “We assumed they would be, but the forces were greater than anticipated. We had to hide for the better part of the night and well into morning before we could return but managed to keep from losing any men. We’ve a plan for next time though.”

Ena followed him into their cottage and prepared the bit of venison and bread for him while he stripped off his boots. Even as she listened to the story of how they were all nearly killed and what measures they would take next time, she could not stop her mind from wandering to where Renault was hiding on the other side of the wall.

Their enemy.

A man who would have been among those ready to kill Bran and his men.

A man who had saved a Scottish family.

A man who somehow managed to divide her heart and make her question her own beliefs.

“Are ye well, Ena?” Bran asked.

She gave her head a little shake to clear her thoughts. “Aye, forgive me. I was thinking of that poor woman.”

“’Tis a miracle they all survived, especially with a log falling onto the lass as it did,” Bran said.

Ena nodded.

A miracle, indeed.

Bran quickly ate the bread and venison—so tired, he did not even make mention of the extraordinarily large portion she cut for him. Within minutes, he laid out on his pallet and was deep asleep with Moggy stretched out against his side, purring in contentment.

Ena waited several minutes, clattering about as she cleaned up the dirty dishes. He did not stir. Even when the metal pot clanged to the ground.

Only then did she open the side door connecting the stable to the hut.

Renault glanced up at her, his eyes pale blue against his soot-covered face. He grinned and his teeth gleamed brilliantly white.

She chuckled in spite of herself. “Ye look ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous…ly handsome?” He waggled his brows.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head but could not stop the smile from spreading over her lips. She handed him a cloth. “Maribel willna mind if ye use some of her water.”

Renault bowed to the goat. “Thank you kindly, Maribel.”

The goat stared blankly at him.

He handed the pie back to Ena. “Mayhap this time you’ll keep it?” With that, he set to cleaning off his face and hands.

It was on the tip of her tongue to decline, to say she had never wanted it in the first place. But that would be a lie. She had been desperate for the pasty from the moment she caught its rich scent hovering under the usual odors of the market.