Her head was spinning, and she could hear the voices of men as she began to wake. She was inside and somewhere warm. She could hear the comforting sound of a fire crackling, and she was covered in soft, heavy animal skins.
“What is she wearing?” a voice she didn’t recognize asked.
“I don’t know.” It sounded like the man who had found her by the loch. “But she was speaking of strange things, things I have never heard before.”
“Is she a witch?” the first voice said.
“Och, don’t be ridiculous.”
“She could be, Colin,” the first voice said seriously. “She doesn’t look normal to me.”
“She’s different,” Colin said. “And I like that.”
Zoe pulled the animal skins tightly around her before daring to open her eyes. The men were both leaning over her, staring at her intently.
“She’s awake,” the one she didn’t recognize said.
“Lassie,” her friend from the loch spoke. “Lassie, are you alright?”
She rubbed her head. It was pounding and the pain was shooting through her.
“Yes,” she said groggily. “What happened?”
“You lost your mind and fell,” he said with a smile.
“Colin?” she asked, after hearing their conversation.
“Aye,” the man who had found her at the lake said. “I am Colin Campbell of Clan Campbell, head of the family here at Loch Awe.”
He smiled proudly, as did the man at his side who must have been a relation. They were so similar in appearance.
“It’s an honor,” she said, quickly wising up.
She was going to have to play along. She had read enough history books to know being accused of witchcraft in a place or time like this was not the sort of thing she should be encouraging. She had read all about how poor, misunderstood women had been either burned at the stake or dumped into rivers to see if they would float, and the last thing she needed after the day she had had was being hurled into the loch and left for dead.
“Are you hurt?” Colin sat down by her side and took hold of her hand. He had such a tenderness about him that contradicted the look of him. His hair and his tall, muscular frame would suggest he was a brute, but his manner was kind and caring.
“No,” she said meekly. “I don’t think so…”
“This is my brother, Douglas Campbell,” he said.
Douglas nodded his head but seemed to look skeptically at her, as if she had committed a terrible crime.
“Brother,” Colin said. “Please leave us.”
Douglas shot a look of panic at his brother and laughed in disbelief.
“Do you honestly think that’s wise?” he said with a condescending tone.
“Are you questioning my judgment?” Colin asked angrily and his brother immediately backed down. He turned and made for the large wooden door, heaved it open, and disappeared into the hallway.
“He is…testing at times,” Colin said with a sigh. “Now,” he got to his feet and went towards the fire. “You must change. Your clothes are sodden from the moss, and you’ll become quite ill if you don’t get warm.”
He leaned over a chair by the fire and picked up a long brown smock dress. It was the most hideous thing Zoe had ever seen, but she knew she must stay loyal to the only person around her who seemed to be on her side.
“Thank you,” she said graciously before she peeled back the animal skins and got to her feet.
Colin watched her as she crossed the room by the firelight. His breath seemed to catch as he saw her fully again. His eyes traveled from her ankles, up to her chest, and then to her eyes. Zoe smiled shyly and took the dress from him. There was a tension between them that made her long for the soft, loving touch she knew he possessed.
“I will leave you,” he whispered. “Please, rest well, eat what you can, and I will be back to see you within the hour.” He turned on his heel and made for the door. “I have appointed guards,” he said with a smile. “You will be safe here.”
Zoe smiled as she watched him leave. As he strode through the door, the top of his head seemed to skim the beams, he was so tall. She had no idea what was going to happen to her, or even if what she was experiencing was real… But because of Colin, she had the feeling she was going to enjoy every second.