Page 20 of Highland Steel

“How did you do that?” she asked, taking the sword from him. “My father never taught me that trick.”

“That’s probably because most men dinna ken how to do it. I, on the other hand, use it all the time. It catches my opponent off guard.”

“Show me. I want to learn how to do it,” she begged him.

“Me, too,” cried Newell, running over to them.

Logan looked from Newell to Rhoswen and then over to Blaine. “I suppose ye want to learn it, too?” he asked their sister.

“Me?” Blaine’s eyes opened wide. “Oh nay. Please, I don’t want to learn to fight. I’d much rather sew or weave.”

“As ye should,” said Logan with a nod of his head. “I’ve got bread in my travel bag as well as dried beef. We’ll have a bite to eat and water the horses and then we’ll be on our way.”

“I’ve got a wineskin full of Mountain Magic, and so does Ethan,” announced Caleb.

“I’d like some of that.” Rhoswen sheathed her sword.

Logan groaned. “Mountain Magic is no’ for ye or yer siblin’s,” he told her. “Hawke’s got ale. Ye’ll drink that instead.”

“Why?” asked Rhoswen hurrying after him as he made his way to his travel bag attached to the horse in order to get the food.

“Dinna ask so many questions,” grumbled Logan. “My head is startin’ to hurt.”

“Shall I start a fire?” asked Caleb.

“No time,” Hawke answered. “The winds are pickin’ up and it’s goin’ to storm.”

“Move quickly,” said Logan, passing out the food. “Newell, help Caleb water the horses.”

“Why do I always have to do it?” complained Caleb. “I’ve got better things to do.” He pulled his pine marten out of the bag attached to his horse and cradled it in his arms. Jack trotted over and stood at his feet, looking up at the animal.

“Dinna even think of eatin’ Slink. Now go!” Caleb stomped his foot and waved his arm. The wolf turned and ran off with Trapper following. Apollo cried from above them, flying in circles and finally settling in a tree.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Logan looked up at the clouds on the horizon. “We’ve got another guid three hours or so to go and there is no way we’ll beat the storm,” said Logan. The winds picked up and the skies darkened.

“I’m scared,” said Blaine, pulling her cloak around her to keep her warm.

“You’re always scared,” said Newell. “Well, I’m not. I’m ready to ride in the storm.”

“Nay,” said Logan, closing up the traveling bag. “I think it’s best if we make camp for the night and start out at first light after the rain.”

“I agree,” said Hawke.

The other two men mumbled their choice to camp for the night as well.

“Rhoswen,” said Blaine, running over to her sister. They conversed in quiet tones and then Rhoswen looked over.

“Where will we be camping?” she asked. “We lost our tents and most of the supplies to the bandits.”

“Ye dinna need tents,” scoffed Caleb. “We always sleep right on the ground by the fire.”

“On the ground without a tent?” asked Rhoswen. “Oh, nay, we can’t do that.”

“Ye get used to it after a while,” added Ethan.

“There’s a cave up ahead we can use,” Logan told them.

“But that’s out of the way,” Hawke told him. “It’ll take longer to get back to camp if we go there.”