Rise of a Legend (Guardian of Scotland Book 1) by Amy Jarecki Page A

do a great many things that would surprise you.” She pulled a bridle from a nail on the wall. “Now help me saddle a couple of horses.”
    “Och, no, Miss Eva. I’ll face a month of mucking out the pig sties, I will.”
    “Robbie Boyd.” She fisted her hips and shot him a challenging stare. “If you’re not man enough to help me, I’ll go alone.”

Chapter Eight
     
     
    William’s shoulders weren’t quite as tense as they usually were when lying in wait for the enemy. He’d been so distraught last eve, he hadn’t realized how well Eva’s deft fingers had eased his stiffness.
    Though waiting was his least favorite part of battle, he’d never forget it was the most important. Impatient men ended up dead.
    At least waiting gave him time to think as the water from the burn rushed past, unaffected by the ravages surrounding them.
    He’d never encountered a woman like Eva. They’d only met, but she seemed to understand him better than many people who had known him for years. Her encouraging words wiped away all suspicion of her being a spy. As most had, she’d lost a great deal in this war with England—yet another victim of Edward’s brutality.
    Regardless, he’d most likely not see her again before she found employment. He almost regretted leaving her in the stall, but it was for the best. He couldn’t court a woman—could give his heart to no one but Lady Scotland. Aye, he’d like to. And mayhap one day he’d settle down, grow crops and raise a family.
    Take up the cloth? Fight with the Templars in the Holy Land as was his boyhood dream? Now he knew bonny Eva lived in Christendom, family life bore a bit more allure. The corner of his mouth turned up, picturing her hips swaying gently as she stirred a kettle of pottage over home’s fire.
    Holding her in his arms last eve had set his blood to thrumming for certain.
    And there is nothing like a battle to reset my priorities .
    There would be bloodshed for certain this day and he had no business thinking of anything but the task at hand. A man whose mind wanders is a man who ends up with his throat cut.
    Regardless if there was nothing he hated more than waiting, Brother MacRae had drilled three critical elements of war to ensure success: Wait for your quarry to come to you. There is nothing greater than the element of surprise. And stage your battles using the most advantageous ground.
    Aye, he’d live by this code and put a stop to his errant thoughts of a redheaded lassie.
    William opened his psalter and pulled upon his inner calm by reading. When he finished the psalm, he looked to the top of Loudoun Hill. His archers stood ready with their bows and boulders lined up to push down onto the unsuspecting horsemen as they rode through the pass.
    He and his best swordsmen crouched in their saddles, lying low in the gully of Winny Wizzen. Completely out of sight, they had not only the ground advantage, but the element of surprise on their side. If only the bastards would come.
    “How many horse and how many foot do ye reckon there’ll be?” asked Blair in a low voice.
    “Two dozen mounted and forty or so pikemen,” Eddy whispered, though he’d reported the same earlier that morn.
    Two to one. They’d fought worse odds, and this day William’s men had the ground advantage and, if nothing tipped them off, they had the element of surprise as well.
    “We’ll wait until they’re trapped in the pass with nowhere to run, then I’ll toot one blast from the ram’s horn.” William pointed toward the archers. “That’ll be their cue to start firing.”
    Blair crossed himself. “May God have mercy on their souls.”
    William followed suit. “Och, John, put in a good word for us while ye’re at it.”
    “I do that every waking hour.”
    “Wheesht,” Malcolm scolded from behind. But Willy’s elder brother was right.
    Without another word they waited.
    The silence before a battle always sent chills along William’s spine. When not a bird called,