by Willa Blair
****
Strong hands dragged Ian from Abby’s embrace, yanking him from a restless sleep. He instinctively kicked out, but he was no match for the two seasoned warriors that held him.
“Ian! What’s going on? Where are you taking him?” Abby shouted. She lunged for him, and a third man grabbed her and held her down.
“Don’t you hurt her!” Ian screamed, struggling desperately, unable to break their hold on him. They dragged him out the door into the late-day sunlight.
“What’s going on? Where are you taking me?”
They refused to answer him, instead opening the door to a storage shed and shoving him inside. The door to the windowless room was locked from the outside, leaving him alone in the dark, Abby’s screams echoing in his head. Had they harmed her? He didn’t think Ewan would issue any orders of that nature, but then again, he hadn’t been expecting Ewan to lock him up after all they’d been through, either.
He groped in the dark, feeling around for some kind of weapon, but there was nothing. They’d obviously cleared out the small room in preparation for their prisoner. He paced back and forth like a caged tiger. Where was Ewan? Why was it taking so long for him to come? He kept replaying the swordfight in his head, kept seeing Angus lying on the ground with blood pooling beneath him. Exhausted from pacing, he finally slid down the wall and huddled on the dirt floor, resting his head on his drawn-up knees.
After minutes or hours, Ian heard voices outside. The lock rattled, and he jumped to his feet, his heart in his throat.
The door opened and Ewan stepped inside, a torch in hand.
“Ewan, what’s going on? What have you done with Abby?”
“Abby is fine.”
“What the hell am I doing in here?”
Ewan’s expression was grim. “Ian, Angus’s wound is festering. ’Tis doubtful he will live another day.”
Ian bowed his head, his heart sinking. He was no battle-hardened warrior living for the day when he could kill his enemies, like the characters he’d played on the big screen. When he’d engaged Angus in the swordfight, all he’d cared about was protecting Abby. He hadn’t considered the ramifications of his actions, and now a man, a kinsman, was dying because of him. He had hoped that Alannah would be able to patch up the wound, but he should have known better. A wound that bled that much would be dangerous enough in 2010, let alone in 1610.
“Ian.”
Ian lifted his head. There was something in Ewan’s eyes, something bad. “What is it, Ewan?”
“Ian, Angus is an important man in his village. His men are on their way here as we speak, and they will demand vengeance for his death. We’ve kept this feud from the clan chiefs for thirty years, but that will no longer be possible. The Mackenzies will bring the full wrath of their clan upon my village.”
Ian’s blood ran cold, for he also heard the words Ewan had not spoken. If the Mackenzies fell upon Ewan’s village in an act of aggression, that in turn would lead to the Frasers coming back with their full army. An all-out war would ensue, and that would have a dramatic effect on the years to come.
MacNab’s warning echoed in his head once more. Thousands of lives would be on his head. “Is there anything we can do?”
“There’s only one way to avoid this, Ian.”
Ian felt a ray of hope piercing the darkness of his guilt and sorrow. “What is it? What can we do?”
Ewan turned and walked a few steps away. When he turned back, he would not meet Ian’s eyes. “I have to turn you over to them, Ian. If I do that, they might spare my village. You’re a good man, Ian, and a braw warrior, but I cannot put your life before those of my people.”
Ian’s stomach dropped to his feet as a wave of nausea came over him. “And because I am a Mackenzie, and I killed one of my own while fighting on your side…”
“Aye, they will consider you to be a traitor,” Ewan said, finishing Ian’s sentence. He did meet Ian’s eyes then, and the expression on his face was one of genuine regret. “And the penalty for treason is death. I’m sorry, Ian.”
Ian wasn’t giving up that easily. “But what if we explain everything to them? I wasn’t fightin’ the Mackenzies because I’m a traitor to them. I was fightin’ to protect the woman they stole from her village in the middle of the night! I would have fought anyone to save her, no matter who they were!” His voice shook with fury and dismay.
Ewan shook his head in regret. “I fear that when they arrive here and find one of their leaders dead at the hands of one of his kinsmen, they won’t wait for an explanation. Especially since they do not know you, and therefore have no reason to sympathize with you.”
The logic of Ewan’s words was like a bucket of water dousing the flames of Ian’s anger. He knew that this was a case of “shoot first, ask questions later,” in which the fiery pride of the Scots would demand speedy justice.
Ian sank limply to his knees, staring up at Ewan in shock and horror. Oh God! He wasn’t ready to die! He wasn’t even 30 years old. There was so much he hadn’t done yet. He would never get to say goodbye to his parents and Robbie and Fiona, to tell them how much he loved them. He’d barely found Abby again, and now he would never have the chance to have a life with her. And what would become of her if he was killed? Would she find her way home to her brother?
Ewan laid a hand on Ian’s shoulder. “I’ll bring Abby to you. She can stay until…until I have to come for you.”
He left the torch in a holder on the wall and left the shed.
The lock was slammed into place, leaving Ian alone with his dread.
****
Abby sat huddled on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest. Once the two men had dragged Ian out, their comrade released his hold on her, stepping back to guard the door, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. Every time she moved, his hand twitched, and she knew there was no chance of her escaping unscathed.
What was going on? Where had they taken Ian? Ewan wouldn’t hurt him, would he? Why isn’t anyone telling me anything?
She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there, thinking the worst, when there was a knock on the door. The guard opened the door and Ewan stepped inside, a grim expression on his face.
Abby scrambled off the bed, her heart in her throat. “What’s happening, Ewan? Where’s Ian?”
“Come. I’ll take you to him.”
He took her arm and led her to a small storage shed. Wait! Was Ian really locked inside that tiny room? “Ewan, what’s going on? Why is Ian in here?”
He looked at her with grim sympathy in his eyes. “I’m sorry, lass. I had no choice.”
“No choice about what? Tell me what’s going on, damn you!”
He unlocked the door and ushered her inside. “I’ll send food shortly.”
“Ewan, wait! What the hell is going on?”
“Come inside, love,” said Ian. “I’ll explain.”
Abby glared at Ewan. “You’re a real bastard, you know that?” Without waiting for a reply, she turned her back on him and stepped into Ian’s arms.
The door slammed shut, and they were alone
“Ian, what’s going on? Why are you in here again?”
He was quiet for so long that she grew concerned. “Ian? Are you all right?”
“Abby, Angus is dying. He has a fever that they can’t bring down.”
“Oh, Ian, I’m sorry. I know you feel terrible about what happened to him. But I still don’t understand why you’re in here. After all, you didn’t attack him for the hell of it. There was a freaking battle going on!”
Ian took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The reason doesn’t matter, Abby. The fact is, a Mackenzie leader was struck down by a man claiming to be a Mackenzie but fighting on the side of the Frasers.”
Abby felt little spiders of dread creeping up inside of her. “What does that mean?” she whispered.
He looked at her with desolate eyes. “It means that if Angus dies, the Mackenzies will want the traitor that killed hi
m.”
“But…” her voice cracked, and she had to start over. “But Ewan knows why…why Angus was hurt. Surely he can explain?”
“Ewan has to protect his people, and he will do what is necessary to avoid a full-on war with the Mackenzies.”
She couldn’t believe this was happening. “And that means turning you over to them to—what, to be executed for treason? Ian, what will we do?”
“There’s nothing we can do but pray that Angus pulls through this fever.”
“No, that can’t be the only answer! Oh God, Ian!” she wailed, unable to hold back her sobs of anguish. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “We have to get the hell out of here! This is all my fault. If you hadn’t had to come after me, none of this would have happened.”
Ian pulled back and tipped her chin up, forcing Abby to look at him through a veil of tears. “Are you saying you would rather we had never gotten together again? Because I’m thinkin’ that at least we had this time together, to make things right between us. I got to hold you in my arms, to kiss your lips, to make love with you. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
She couldn’t breathe. “Even if it means your life?” she whispered.
His emerald eyes were like twin laser beams, piercing her with their intensity. “Listen to me, Abby. When I saw you standing before me at that fundraiser, I thought it was a dream, the same dream I’d had over and over again since you left. But you were real, and that meant I had a chance—a small chance, but a chance—to try and win you back. When you disappeared, it was like my heart had been torn from my chest. You were gone, vanished into the mist, and I had only just found you again.
“Being with you again has filled an empty space inside me; a space that was there for four years. I love being so close to you that I don’t know where I end and you begin. I love to touch you, to touch your hair, your face, your body. I love to look at you when you’re not aware I’m doing it. I especially love to look at you when you look back at me with your bonny eyes, the color of the sea. You make me feel cherished, wanted, loved.”
Abby could only stare dumbly at him as he poured his heart out to her.
“So, in answer to your question, no, I’m not willing to trade our time together for my life. If I die tomorrow, then I’ll die knowing that I had the opportunity to love and be loved by the most amazing and courageous woman, even if it was only for the briefest moment.”
Abby closed her eyes. He cradled her face between his hands, his thumbs brushing away the fresh tears that were tumbling down her cheeks. When he pressed his lips against hers, his kiss was the most tender she’d ever known.
She pulled back. She wanted to rant and scream and cry, but Ian didn’t need that from her now. He needed her to be strong. But if this was to be a time of declarations, then she wanted to take her turn as well.
She reached for his left hand and held it in both of hers. “You’re right, Ian.”
“I am? I don’t usually hear those words.” He smiled slightly, a ghost of his usual devilish grin.
“No matter how brief a time we’ve had together, I’ve had the privilege to find you once again, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Ian, when my parents died, I was so terribly alone. But something compelled me to come back to Scotland. I thought it was because I always felt at peace here in the Highlands. But I know now that it’s more than that. It’s not the Highlands that make me feel complete, it’s you. And somewhere deep down inside, I always knew that. I was meant to find you again, Ian; I know it with all my heart and soul.”
She pressed her lips to his forehead and then to his mouth. “You made me whole again, when nothing else could. Tha gaol agam ort. I love you. I always have.”
Ian reached out to caress her smooth cheek, tipping her chin up for a tender kiss. “Tha gaol agam ort-fhèin, mo mhùirnìn. I love you too, my darling.”
He pulled back and gazed at her. He traced his fingers over her face, and then took her mouth in a kiss that started out leisurely, but quickly became fierce. Heat rushed through her and she threw her arms around him, forgetting everything but the touch of his body against hers.
They sank to their knees, kissing hungrily, their hands urgently roving over each other. Ian sat back against the wall with Abby straddling his lap. She pushed his hair back and cupped his face between her hands, holding him still as she assaulted his mouth. He untied the laces at her neckline and pushed her chemise aside. His hands touched her bared breasts, and she threw her head back, reveling in his caress.
His mouth went to her throat, his tongue laving the spot where her pulse throbbed madly, and her head fell back to allow him better access. He dragged his open mouth in a wet trail to her breasts, paying homage to each one in turn, as her fingers tangled in his hair.
She couldn’t get enough of his hands on her. But she wanted to taste him again. As she nipped at his lips and dipped her tongue into his mouth, his hands moved up her thighs, drawing her skirt with them as they inched upward.
His thumbs grazed the sensitive flesh at her center, and she hissed with pleasure, wanting more. He moved his hands around to cup her bottom, and then back around to graze over her again. His fingers dipped into her, lingering for but a second before he moved them away again, down her thighs or over her buttocks.
He was driving her mad with his teasing touch. She reached down between them, moving his plaid out of the way. Now it was his turn to gasp as she dragged her fingers over his hot, rigid flesh—and then moved her hands away. They continued to torment each other this way, driving each other crazy.
But Abby quickly became impatient with their game. She took his hands away from her aching flesh and moved them to her hips. She stared into his eyes, holding his gaze as she braced her hands on his shoulders, lifted herself up off his thighs and sank down onto him. Her body shuddered as he entered her, and his eyes flared with desire.
She held herself immobile for a long moment, wanting to draw out the sensation. Then she slowly moved against him, enjoying the power she had over him in this position. She looked down to where their bodies were joined and licked her suddenly-dry lips at the erotic sight. His body jerked within her, and she looked up once more to see his eyes upon her, looking as though he wanted to devour her.
“Abby, please!” he ground out between clenched teeth. His fingers digging into her hips, he raised her up and lowered her again. The feel of him sliding within her was suddenly too much to bear. She frantically moved up and down upon him, his hands on her hips providing leverage.
She wanted more. She dragged her hands up her abdomen and cupped her breasts, offering them to his eager lips and tongue as she continued to ride him. She was so close, but she couldn’t quite get there…
One of his hands left her hips, and her eyes snapped open as he touched her where they were joined, his thumb rubbing over her sensitized flesh. She fell forward, clutching his shoulders for support.
“Oh God, Ian!”
“Come on, love,” he begged. He touched her again, dragging his fingers over her, and sent her over the edge. Her body began to shake, her flesh greedily sucking at him. He grabbed her hips in both hands once more, moving her up and down until with a shuddering moan, he surged against her, burying his face between her breasts as he found his release.
He fell back against the wall, his hands easing their hold on her hips as she laid her head on his shoulder. They held each other in silence, their bodies continuing to quiver.
Finally, he lifted her off him, gently setting her down beside him. They straightened their clothes and laid back on the furs. Ian tucked her up against his side, her head resting in the hollow of his shoulder. She curled against him, and she dimly wondered whether it was possible she had conceived after all this time together without protection. It had been foolish and irresponsible of them, but now she could only hope that their carelessness had paid off, that she’d be left with something of him that would live on after he was gone.
&nb
sp; Tears ran down her cheeks again, and she didn’t even have the strength to brush them away. It was so unfair. First her beloved parents, and now Ian? Why? What had she ever done to deserve having those she loved yanked away from her? She was trying so hard to be strong for Ian, but it was so hard to be strong when her heart was broken.
“I wish now that I’d said yes when you asked me to marry you, Ian. I was so foolish, and now we’ll never have the chance.”
Ian tipped her face up and gazed at her with urgency in his eyes. “Abby, listen to me. You were right the other day. We should have just gone into the mist and returned to our own time. I foolishly thought I could make things right.”
She couldn’t bear to hear him beat himself up for this. “Ian, you’re an honorable man, and of course you wanted to do what you could to end the feud. I could never hold that against you.”
“Abby, when they come for me, you need to get out of here. Take Jack. He’s faster than Bonny, and I…I want you to have him.” His voice broke, and his eyes glistened with tears.
He cleared his throat. “Take Jack and go. You know the way by now. Ride west to the loch, and then south until you see the big tree. You know which one, right?” She nodded mutely. “Good. When you see that tree, turn towards the water. When the mist appears, ride through it, and don’t look back. If the mist doesn’t appear, then keep going back until it does. Then go to MacNab’s. He’ll know what to do.”
“Ian, I…” There was nothing more to say. Ian pulled her into his arms and held her while they waited for what was to come.
CHAPTER 25
The sound of the lock rattling roused Abby and Ian from an uneasy slumber. Abby raised her head from Ian’s shoulder as Ewan entered the shed, a large basket in one hand. Ian stood and pulled her to her feet. He clutched her hand, steeling himself for the worst.
“Is he…?”
“There’s no change. I’m sorry.” He set down the basket. “Here’s some food for you both, as well as a change of clothes for you, Ian. I know you don’t want to be wearin’ those anymore.”
