The Angel and the Highlander

by Donna Fletcher

  She was about to walk out of the river but instead froze, worried that he would notice the slight round of her stomach.

  “Leave my clothes and turn around,” she demanded sharply.

  He laughed. “I don’t think so.”

  She slapped her arms across her chest covering her breasts. “I do not feel comfortable naked in front of you.”

  “Why? What has changed?”

  “Everything,” she said curtly.

  “I disagree. You’re simply being obstinate.”

  “And it will do you good to get used to that,” she said then ordered: “Put the bundle on the ground and turn around.”

  “No,” he said firmly. “We are husband and wife. We have no secrets, which makes me ask, where were you tonight?”

  “Piper must have told you,” she said, not wanting to be caught in a lie.

  “You’re shivering,” he said, avoiding her remark and waved her out. “You’ll catch your death. Come out of there now.”

  “Put my clothes down and turn around,” she insisted.

  “Do as I say,” he ordered.

  “You dare dictate to me?” she challenged.

  “I dare to love you,” he said and dropped the bundle to the ground, quickly shed his plaid and sandals, and stepped into the river.

  She backed away, slipped on a rock, and was about to fall beneath the water when his hand reached out and caught her. He had her in his arms instantly, her body pressed firmly against his.

  She felt not only her own desire surge between her legs but also his. And damn if she didn’t want him to bury himself deep inside her and make her forget, if only for a while. However, she fought against surrendering, fought her own rising passion.

  “We stand naked in each other’s arms and that is the way it will always be…we hide nothing from each other; we trust and we love and then nothing can ever come between us.”

  How lovely to think that could be so, but there were things between them; her secrets and his lone decision.

  She felt the sudden change in him just before he took a step away from her, though his one hand took firm hold of her wrist. She knew then that he had felt the bulge in her stomach and wasn’t surprised when his hand moved gently over it.

  “Our child,” he said with such gentle reverence that she almost fell into his arms in tears.

  She merely nodded, unable to take her eyes from his; they were filled with such joy and love.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” He shook his head. “Did you ever intend to tell me?” He shook his head again. “Tell me now. Tell me what you intended to do.”

  She shivered.

  “Damn,” he muttered and scooped her up and carried her out of the river.

  He took the towel her clothes were wrapped in and briskly dried her off, though was ever so gentle when he came to her stomach and she smiled inwardly. He didn’t get dressed himself until he saw that she was fully clothed and had stopped shivering, only then did he slip his plaid and sandals on.

  She thought he would demand an answer to his query then, but instead after wrapping her soiled clothes in the towel he took her hand and walked her through the woods. She was surprised that he knew where he went and in the dark, but soon they were both walking through the door of his cottage.

  Once the door shut he turned to her. “Tell me now.”

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I had no plans. I didn’t know what I would do.”

  “Did you once think of telling me?”

  She smiled though it faded quickly enough. “I dreamt of telling you, but it was no more than that…a dream.”

  “Didn’t you think of me?” he asked with a thump to his chest. “How I would feel? What I would want?”

  “Did you think of me when you made the decision to wed me without asking?” she accused.

  “That’s different.”

  She laughed. “It’s always different when it comes to a man’s opinion.”

  He shocked her when after a pause he said, “I’m sorry. You must have worried over what you would do.”

  She was too stunned to reply. She had expected him to rant at her, perhaps even shake his fist, but never had she thought he would apologize.

  He smiled then, though not that charming grin he so often wore and that could entice. No, this smile made him look like a young lad overjoyed with a gift he had just received.

  “I’m to be a father,” he said proudly. “This is wonderful. We are wed and we are to have a child.”

  She walked away from him so that the table was between them. “This changes nothing.”

  Now there was that famous charming smile of his. “Come now, Alyce,” he coaxed with a swagger as he rounded the table. “All has turned out well.”

  With his approach, she inched away from him. “All has turned out in your favor.”

  “You can’t tell me you don’t love me. I know I’m not wrong about that,” he insisted.

  “I do love you; I will not deny it.”

  “Then why be obstinate about it?” he asked and eased closer to her.

  “Obstinate?” she repeated, stepping further away from him and noticing that they had almost made a complete circle around the table. “I’m being obstinate when you show up—”

  “Wait,” he interrupted. “Let’s phrase it correctly…when the man who loves you and who you love shows up.”

  “That’s even better,” she said. “The man I love and who loves me shows up, tells me we’re wed and that I will be returning home with him, never once considering that I do not wish to leave my home.”

  “Truthfully, home is where we both are.”

  “Then you are home,” she said with a broad smile and a wide sweep of her arms.

  “For the moment,” he agreed, “but I have obligations to my family and clan. And don’t tell me you don’t understand that.”

  She did all too much, for this marriage to Lachlan settled her obligation to her father and clan. “My father must be delighted with our match.”

  “He was very happy when I requested to marry you and accepted my offer immediately, and just as fast made the arrangements.”

  “Probably worried you’d change your mind,” she said, knowing her father probably beamed with pleasure. After all, their union brought together two powerful clans.

  “I assured him I wouldn’t,” he said. “I told him that I intended to keep you forever.”

  “He must have gotten a good laugh from that.”

  “I would never let him insult you or our love like that,” he said seriously.

  She sighed heavily. “Why did I have to fall in love with you?”

  “Because I’m irresistible?”

  She laughed softly and then yawned. “I’m too tired to argue anymore tonight.”

  “We haven’t argued; we’ve discussed,” he said and wandered over to her, slipping his arms around her. “You need sleep. You’ll be busy tomorrow.”

  “No more than usual.”

  He caressed her back. “With only two days before we leave I thought you’d have much to do.”

  She was startled out of her sleepiness and quickly stepped out of his arms. “What do you mean two days before we leave?”

  “Cavan needs me to return immediately and my family is eager to meet you, so we leave for home in two days.”

  She spoke with a sharp and direct tongue. “You may be leaving in two days, but I’m not.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. She glared at him with such a fiery warning that he released her hand as if he’d been burnt and she stormed out of the cottage.

  Chapter 24

  Lachlan knew this wouldn’t be easy, but in the last two days he had gotten a taste of why Alyce Bunnock had been labeled a shrew. She snapped and barked at him and his men and no attempt he made to assuage the situation helped.

  She had made every excuse not to spend a moment alone with him. All her time had been spent with the women she had, out of necessity, forged a siste
rhood with, which made this parting all the more difficult.

  He had maintained his patience with her, reminding himself that this was not an easy thing he asked of her. It would take time for her to adjust, and he was confident that once they had time alone together, and she became aware that being wed to him meant that she would retain the freedom she so strongly desired, she would be content.

  Until then…he jokingly reminded himself not to strangle her.

  They would be leaving in a couple of hours and Lachlan knew this would be the most difficult time for her and the other women. He wished there was something he could do to ease the pain of their parting, but he knew there wasn’t.

  Lachlan kept out of her way, seeing to last minute details and saying his own good-byes to Andrew and Evan.

  “She’s going to be missed,” Andrew said, casting a quick glance to where Alyce stood with the other women. “She truly is a strong woman who leads with confidence and wisdom.”

  Evan nodded. “Piper insists that Everagis won’t be the same without her.”

  “Show them that because of Alyce’s leadership Everagis has grown and will continue to thrive,” Lachlan said. “Make them see they do this in her honor.”

  Andrew smiled. “The people would be pleased to know that.” His smile disappeared. “But what of you?”

  Lachlan grinned. “Have you ever seen me incapable of handling a woman?”

  “That’s true,” Evan said.

  “Maybe so,” Andrew admitted, “but you’ve never loved a woman the way you love Alyce.”

  “That’s true too,” Evan said.

  Lachlan patted each of them on the back and maintained his grin. “Faith, me lads, faith.”

  Andrew’s smile returned. “You’re going to need plenty of it.”

  Alyce kept a brisk and confident tone with her good-byes, though tears pooled in her eyes. She refused to shed them, for if she did, they would all be crying like fools and she didn’t want the women to remember her that way.

  “You’ll all do well, and I will return to visit,” Alyce assured them.

  “Promise?” Megan asked, fighting her own tears.

  “You have my word on it,” Alyce said and saw that Lachlan approached. The time was here; she truly was leaving her home and family.

  “He comes for you,” Hester said sadly.

  Alyce gave the slim woman an exuberant hug and whispered in her ear, “You must be the big sister now. Watch over them as I would and love them all as I do.”

  “I will and thank you, thank you so very much for all you have done for me and the others.”

  Alyce turned to the pint-sized Piper next and with a quick hug and a kiss to her cheek, she said, “You are an amazing wonder in the woods. I would never have survived them without you. Love and be happy with Evan, you deserve it.”

  Piper was so choked with tears that she could only nod her head.

  It was Rowena’s turn and the two hugged and smiled, and Rowena whispered, “You take care of yourself and the babe.”

  “And you have a good life with Talon,” Alyce said and turned to Megan.

  Megan threw herself into Alyce’s arms and cried. “I will miss you. You have been so good to me. You gave me my life back.”

  “You took your life back,” Alyce said and looked around at the women. “We did well. We faced adversity together and grew stronger. We built a home with hard work and plenty of love and welcomed with open arms those who needed the same. Continue the good we have done and Everagis will continue to prosper along with all of you. And know that you all will remain in my heart.”

  She turned quickly and walked away, her heart feeling as if it were breaking in pieces and didn’t stop when she reached Lachlan, she walked past him to the waiting horses and, without anyone’s help, mounted the mare Lachlan had ready for her and rode off without looking back.

  Lachlan caught up with her a few moments later, which she had no doubt he would. She waited for him to chastise her, but he didn’t. He simply brought his horse alongside hers and rode in silence beside her.

  His men caught up with them, a few moving in front to take the lead and the others trailing behind.

  The ache still bit at her heart, though she knew it would fade. Her heart had pained her when her father had sent her away. She had felt betrayed, but eventually she healed. Did she really have any choice in the matter? She could either make the most of what life dealt her or surrender to what? Misery? Anger?

  No, she had refused to do that. She had forged a new life with new people and now it seemed that she was about to do that again. And once again against her will. Would she ever truly be able to decide her own fate?

  But if she were honest, hadn’t she decided her fate when she had fallen in love with Lachlan?

  “If you grow tired, let me know and we will stop and rest,” Lachlan said.

  She turned and stared at him for a moment before turning away from him to look straight ahead. There was love there in his eyes for her. It shined like a radiant beacon that reached out to her with tender concern and empathy and oddly it helped ease some of the ache from her heart.

  “I am sorry I have caused you such pain,” he said.

  His sincere concern continued to help heal her hurt, and she felt a twinge of guilt for the way she had been treating him, though not enough to forgive him.

  “In time—”

  She didn’t let him finish. “I do not wish to speak of it.”

  “It would be better if we discussed it.”

  “I don’t wish to discuss it.”

  He opened his mouth and she interrupted him again.

  “If you intend to tell me I’m being obstinate, you’re wasting your time.”

  He smiled and she wanted to smack it off his face, for he had used it as a weapon against her these last two days. No matter what she had said or done; he had smiled. But then why wouldn’t he; he knew he would have his way.

  “I know and you know that you’re obstinate. There’s no need to remind you.”

  “Then what did you intend to say?” she asked curious.

  “Anything that would allow for a conversation without argument.”

  “I told you I didn’t want to talk,” she reminded him.

  “We always talked,” he reminded in turn. “I often wondered how we found so much to talk about. We never lacked for conversation unless of course we were making love.”

  She didn’t fight or prevent her smile. He was right. They had talked endlessly and had never grown bored with each other. Truth be told, she missed that time with him.

  “I’ve missed talking with you,” he admitted.

  While she wouldn’t admit the same, she said, “We had good talks.”

  “We could have them again.”

  She threw his own words back at him, though felt a shrew for doing so. “In time.”

  He simply changed the subject. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” she answered curtly and turned her attention to the road ahead.

  “The babe hasn’t made you ill? Cavan’s wife Honora suffered some illness when she carried the twins, though Zia, Artair’s wife, suffered not a day and will probably have delivered the babe before we reach home.”

  “Please tell me we will not be living with your family in the keep,” she said.

  He gave a low laugh. “I knew that might be a problem so I left orders for a sizeable cottage to be made ready for us.”

  “Close to the keep?” she asked.

  “No, a distance.”

  “By woods?”

  “We live surrounded by moors,” Lachlan said.

  “Desolate land,” she claimed with a shiver.

  “Beautiful land, if you look at it differently.”

  “I prefer the woods.”

  “There’s a small cropping of woods not far from the keep, though most stay clear of it, claiming it’s enchanted; Honora being the exception. She frequently visits there. I’m sure she’ll take you there
if you wish.”

  “This is all so easy for you,” she said suddenly angry. “You return to a loving family to live as you choose and you expect me to do the same. How rude of you!”

  She snapped the reins to ride past him, but he grabbed hold of them and forced her mare to hold firm.

  “You will remain beside me,” he ordered sternly. “You can snap at me and disagree with me, but when I give an order regarding your safety you will obey.”

  She sneered. “I have and will continue to look after myself.”

  “That is no longer necessary,” he said sharply. “That is a husband’s responsibility.”

  “I didn’t ask for a husband.”

  “Well, you have one.”

  “Not by my doing,” she reminded.

  “That makes no difference. You’re stuck with me.”

  “We’re stuck with each other.

  Lachlan shook his head. “Not true. I chose to wed you. No one forced you on me. I didn’t even know you carried my child at the time, so that wasn’t a consideration. I wed you because I love you, therefore, I am not stuck with you.”

  Her heartache had taken on a different pain and she voiced it. “I wish I had the same right to choose.”

  “I believe love made the choice for both of us.”

  “I don’t doubt you love me, but I wish you would understand me,” she said.

  “I think I understand you better than you realize.”

  She disagreed. “I don’t believe so.”

  “Then perhaps it is you who needs to understand me.”

  A shout from one of his men had him riding off, leaving her to ponder his remark. She believed she understood him. Was it possible she didn’t? Was she missing something?

  She had two full months before they reached his home, perhaps there would be epiphanies along the way.

  The disagreeable weather made for a miserable journey. Rain haunted them as well as constant gray skies. They were caught in more than one downpour and had to seek what shelter they could.

  Alyce spent much of the journey alone since Lachlan was constantly busy seeing to all the problems caused by the weather. The small cart that carried essentials got stuck in mud more often than not and some of the horses had to be directed around thick mud holes. By evening when camp was finally settled everyone except those on watch slept.