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He pulled back. “We must go,” he repeated, his voice coarse.

She nodded. Disappointment flickered across her face and disappeared. They dressed, ate the remnants of their midnight dinner, put some coins on the table, and left. It was chilly outside after the warmth of the room. The edge of the indigo sky glowed golden in the east, and the village had started to wake up. Roosters crowed. A woman left one of the houses and went to a cowshed with an empty bucket. Owen took a lungful of fresh air rich with the scent of grass and morning dew.

“Can ye ride?” Owen said to Amber.

“Yeah. I think so. If I survived yesterday, I think I’ll be all right.”

He helped her mount, and they rode out of the village speeding up to a trot once they were out. They continued like that for a while, and when the horses got tired, they slowed to a walk. Owen used the time to help Amber get comfortable on the horse. She learned much yesterday by doing, and now he explained to her what they didn’t have time for yesterday.

They rode through the woods, staying away from the road that went north. Amber seemed calmer, more relaxed and collected.

“I meant to ask you a question last night,” she said. “What did you mean when you said you knew what it’s like to be falsely accused of something?”

Owen looked sharply at her. Ah, he shouldn’t have said anything last night. If he told her, she’d know what a failure he really was. Would she be disappointed in him?

She’d shared with him, and he wanted to do the same. He was in love with her, and he craved a connection.

His horse swayed rhythmically as it walked. The woods smelled earthy, like wildflowers and moss, and wind rustled the branches and trees. The sun was high in the sky, its golden strays of light streaming between the branches.

“It happened on a day like this,” he said, his gut tightening. “A sunny, warm summer day. I was a lad of sixteen on my way home from Dunollie, the MacDougall stronghold. Our clans used to be allies, and my brothers and I were each fostered by the MacDougalls for a few months. Their children were fostered with us at Innis Chonnel, our clan seat back then, from time to time, too.”

Amber looked confused for a moment, so he explained, “’Tis a Highland thing to do. To tighten the ties between clans, we foster one another’s children. Alasdair, John MacDougall’s son, was with my family at the time.”

Owen’s fists clenched around the reins at the thought of what Alasdair had done later to Marjorie. John MacDougall had allowed his son to kidnap, rape, and abuse her. She’d been a changed woman since then. Owen and his brothers had trained her in sword-fighting, and she’d become a skilled warrior. But she’d vowed she’d never get marrit.

A decision he understood.

“King John Balliol was a guest at our house back then, and I was due to come back home. John MacDougall asked me to take a pouch with gold coins as MacDougall’s present to the king.”

“You were sixteen years old, and he entrusted you to take gold?”

Owen chuckled bitterly. “Aye. It seemed strange to me, too. But I’m my father’s youngest son, and one of the youngest of all cousins. Craig and Domhnall always got all the attention. Even Ian, my cousin, who was fostered with us for years. My da took him more seriously than me. I was often left to my own devices, so I roamed with the village children and did whatever I wanted to do.”

He didn’t add that his father had never punished him for neglecting his duties because he’d never even noticed. That’s when Owen had started to act out. When he was old enough to start sword-fighting lessons, he’d refused and wanted to learn archery first. He’d scared the washerwomen with pranks and hidden spices and expensive salt from the cook.

Owen had craved for his da to value him as much as he valued Craig and Domhnall, and to give him responsibility. He’d tried to distinguish himself from his brothers, but by age sixteen, he’d gained a reputation as a young man who liked to have a good time, chase after milkmaids, and make jests. His da simply hadn’t trusted him, and it was Owen’s own fault.

So when the MacDougall asked him to take the gold, no matter how much his gut had told him something didn’t seem right, he’d ignored his instinct and agreed.

“I imagined how proud my da would be once I came in and gave that gold to the king. How my brothers would look at me differently. How my father would start taking me with him to battles and give more responsibility.”

His nails bit into his palm as he gripped the reins tightly. “I declared I’d guard that gold with my life if need be, but I didna expect any trouble. A young lad like me wouldna attract much attention. I was so terribly wrong.”

Amber eyed him with sympathy. “What happened?”

“On my way, I encountered a bonnie lass being attacked. I fought the man and forced him to leave. The lass was shaken, and I stayed to make sure she was all right. We drank wine and, well, let’s say she became affectionate. I was a horny lad and her attention drew me in like honey draws a bear. I couldna resist.”

Amber pressed her lips flat and shoved a strand of hair out of her eyes.

“But I fell asleep before anything happened, and when I woke up, she was gone. So was the gold.”

“Hell…”

“Aye. I didna even think there was a point to go looking for her. But what was strange… ’Tis embarrassing to admit, so please dinna laugh.”

“Okay.”

He sighed. His cheeks warmed a little. “My cock wouldna go down.”