The Angel and the Highlander (9 page)

T
erese spent the afternoon trying to make baskets with Megan, but she snapped more branches than she bent into shape. Finally, Megan shoved her aside and ordered her not to touch another branch.

“We’ll soon have no branches left and only one basket has been made.”

Terese apologized. “I’m sorry.” She plopped down in the chair at the table where Megan worked. Sun filtered through the open door and the wooden shutters had been thrown open to allow for even more light. The small cottage was used mostly by Megan who cherished her solitude more than the others. She made baskets, wreaths, worked on the loom, and spun fine wool for their clothing.

A spring breeze drifted in and around them as Megan continued to work and Terese sat and watched.

“You seem dazed, not yourself,” Megan said, her fingers bending and rounding the branch to skillfully form a large basket.

“It’s Lachlan,” Terese said honestly.

Megan shook her head. “No good can come of that.”

“He is not like other men.”

“I thought that once.” Megan again shook her head. “It wasn’t so.”

“I’m attracted to him.”

“He will hurt you; all men do,” Megan said coldly.

“I’d like to believe differently.”

“Wouldn’t we all?”

“He will leave and it will be done,” Terese said as if it didn’t matter, though her heart gave a little tug.

“What if you fall in love with him?”

“There is no time for that,” Terese assured her.

“Love doesn’t need time; it needs only two senseless souls.”

“Andrew looks like a senseless soul when he’s around you,” Terese teased.

“I loved once and I’ll never make that mistake again,” Megan snapped.

Terese knew better than to question Megan about her past. No one did, but she had hoped that perhaps Andrew’s interest in Megan might help heal whatever wounds she had suffered and give her another chance at love.

“Andrew is tenacious and considerate of you,” Terese said.

“He is too tall!” Megan blurted.

Terese saw fear in Megan’s eyes, but she shuddered and it quickly faded away. However, Terese felt she had another piece to the puzzle that was Megan. It wasn’t Andrew she avoided; it was his size.

“Andrew seems gentle enough,” Terese said, hoping to help Megan see the man differently. “And he’s lean.”

“With muscles,” Megan emphasized. “Have you seen the size logs he’s lifted? Why, I bet he can squeeze the life from a man with one hand.” She shuddered again. “I want nothing to do with him.”

“As you wish,” Terese said.

“And you would be wise to be careful yourself,” Megan warned, raising her voice. “Men are not truthful creatures.”

At that moment Andrew popped his head in the open door. “I am,” he said proudly. “I would never lie to you.”

“So say you now,” Megan challenged.

Andrew hesitantly peered inside the cottage as if waiting to see if Megan would order him out but when she didn’t, to Terese’s surprise, Andrew ducked his head to fit through the open door and entered.

“I would always be truthful with you,” Andrew assured Megan.

“Then start now,” Megan said, continuing her challenge. “Why do you follow me around?”

Andrew’s cheeks blushed. “I like you.”

“Why?” Megan demanded and snapped the branch in her hand.

Andrew grinned. “You’re a tenacious little one and fearless. I admire you for that.” Andrew’s grin faded. “If there’s something you don’t like about me maybe I can change it.”

Megan stared at him for a moment then said softly, “You’re too tall.”

“Oh,” Andrew said, looking deflated then suddenly
brightened. “I could hunch down when I’m beside you.”

And he demonstrated, looking positively ridiculous, though he had Megan laughing.

Terese quietly slipped out of the cottage, the pair not noticing her departure and that she had to contain her laughter at the sight of Andrew making a fool out of himself to win Megan’s chilled heart. A heart that Terese believed Andrew had been defrosting all along.

She strolled the convent grounds, stopping to speak to different people along the way. While Lachlan had been generous in offering everyone a home with the clan Sinclare, Frances and Henry expressed interest in possibly making a home here with the women, both having spent their lives in the area and not wanting to leave it.

Gelda expressed the same to Terese when she had stopped to admire her freshly sowed garden. Gelda and her family much preferred to make Everagis their home if that was possible.

Terese wished the same for herself, that Everagis could remain her home, but where it was a certain possibility for the others…it wasn’t likely to be for her.

Her passionate mood quickly dwindled to one of concern not only for herself, but for the other women. She had to keep her feelings for Lachlan in perspective. She would enjoy him here and now, know intimacy for the first time with him, but never forget that there was no future beyond that.

Rowena caught up with her as Terese approached the common house.

“You look concerned,” Rowena asked while keeping her smile bright. “Do you feel all right?”

“Better but weary.”

“From your wound or your thoughts?”

“A bit of both, I think,” Terese said and wasn’t too successful in forcing a smile.

“You should rest your wound and your thoughts,” Rowena suggested. “I could make you a brew if you’d like.”

“I would like that,” Terese said and was grateful she had such good friends and would always have them. They would be there for her long after Lachlan was gone and that she must also remember.

Terese cupped the mug in her hands as she walked down the narrow hall to her room. She had instructed Rowena that if she didn’t wake for supper not to disturb her. She closed the door to her small quarters where a narrow bed and chest vied for room and sat on the bed.

She almost changed her mind. Her body, and damned if her heart hadn’t joined in, wanted to see Lachlan. But she had to stay in control. She couldn’t surrender completely to him. If she did, in the end she would be hurt.

Once she finished the brew, she laid on the bed to rest, but when she closed her eyes all that she saw was Lachlan, all that she felt was Lachlan’s touch, all that she breathed was the earthy scent of him and all she wanted was…

“Lachlan,”
she whispered as she drifted to sleep.

Terese woke with a start from a dream well before sunrise. She threw off the wool blanket and swung her legs off the bed, shaking her head at the dream or to rid herself of it, which she wasn’t certain.

Her father’s hardy laugh continued to echo in her mind, so pleased was he that he had gotten his way. He had married her to a man of his choice and there she had stood in chains.

Terese shivered and hurried into her green wool skirt and yellow blouse, she tied her shawl around her waist wanting it on hand when she walked to the hill to watch the sunrise. She slipped sandals on, combed her hair, and just as she began to braid it she stopped and stared at her wrists. The idea of being chained to a stranger for the remainder of her life suddenly made her all the more determined to remain free of her family.

Alyce was dead and she would stay dead. She would get involved with no man, but she would enjoy Lachlan while he was here, then send him on his way and worry over it no more.

Her door creaked opened and Piper peeked her head in. “Good, I was afraid I’d have to wake you.”

“A problem?”

“Someone wants to see you,” Piper said.
“Now.”

“Septimus?”

“How did you know?” Piper asked.

“Something he said to me when he and his men came to our assistance.”

“I’ll go change into my nun robes.”

Terese stood. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Why?”

“Septimus knows we are not nuns.”

Piper was full of questions, but Terese was eager to have done with this meeting and promised later she would tell all. They left without waking anyone and traveled a shorter distance into the woods than Terese had expected.

Septimus stepped out of the dark, the full moon spotlighting him. “You’ve had time to heal. Now I want answers.”

Terese nodded to Piper and she moved away, swallowed by the dark shadows to wait nearby.

“First I have something to say,” Terese said sharply and didn’t give him a chance to argue. “Your leader knew from the time I entered your camp that I was no nun. He knew Everagis was no true convent. He was also aware that the clans had sent scouts. What is going on?”

Septimus smiled. “And what makes you think this?”

“You said it yourself when you mentioned the game I played. Your leader has known all along. How long has he kept a watchful eye on Everagis?” She held her hand up when she saw that he was about to argue. “Don’t waste my time denying it, or I will take my leave and you will be left to explain to your leader why you returned with no answers.”

“He was right,” Septimus grinned. “He said you’d be either a formidable adversary or worthy friend.”

Terese nodded. “So, your leader wisely decided I would make a better friend.”

“He felt you would
serve
him better that way.”

Terese stepped forward and with nostrils flaring and her tone sharp as a sword she said, “I serve no one. You tell your leader that it will be a
partnership
we share or
nothing
.”

Septimus chortled. “I don’t think you’re in the position to bargain.”

“Oh, but I am,” Terese assured him with a chilling grin.

“And why is that?” he asked still amused.

Terese stepped closer, her whisper harsh. “I know your leader’s secret.”

Septimus startled, though quickly recovered. “That might prove a problem.”

“Not so,” she disagreed. “We both have much to gain by our silence.”

“That is true.”

Terese turned around slowly in a circle as she spoke. “I know you are there. I know you can hear me. We share a camaraderie few understand. Let our original agreement stand and our secrets will forever remain buried.”

“So be it,” said a deep voice from the darkness.

“When do the warriors leave?” Septimus asked.

“When the messenger who was sent returns.”

He nodded. “We will keep a watch over Everagis and if you are in need—”

“I will reach out to you,” Terese said with a promising nod. “One more thing.”

Septimus waited.

“What of the warring clans?”

Septimus grinned. “That will be settled in the next few days and will be a problem no more.”

Terese understood. “If your men should need care—”

“I know where to bring them,” Septimus concluded and after a slight bow disappeared into the dark.

Piper was at her side before she summoned her and wisely she remained quiet until they were a distance away.

“I don’t understand,” Piper finally said, slowing the pace.

“You don’t need to,” Terese assured her.

“You spoke of a secret.”

“It is between the leader and me.”

“Does it place you in more danger?” Piper asked anxiously.

“Any secret has its danger.”

“You do not intend to share, do you?” Piper asked.

“I cannot, for I gave my word, as you all did to me,” Terese reminded.

“I understand,” Piper said. “But I fear the danger this will place you in while trying to protect us.”

“It is necessary.”

Piper merely nodded. “We better hurry. The sun will rise soon and Lachlan will expect to join you on the hill.”

No more words were necessary between them. Terese knew that Piper would say nothing of this meeting. It would be Terese’s decision when and what she shared with the other women.

It wasn’t the women Terese was concerned with;
it was the secrets that she continued to accumulate. Sooner or later, secrets had a way of being discovered.

As much as she didn’t wish to see Lachlan leave Everagis, she knew it would be safer for all when he did. The thought had her hurrying her pace even more and when she and Piper approached the edge of the woods, the sun was just about to break on the horizon.

Terese left Piper and sprinted across the field and up the hill where Lachlan was waiting. He turned and smiled.

And she ran into his arms.

L
achlan hugged her waist and felt his heart swell with the kisses she lavished over his face. But it was a twist to his gut that he got when he saw the look of sorrow in her blue eyes, and he felt a sudden sadness as if she were saying good-bye to him.

The thought tore at him, the pain unbearable and he yanked her against him. With a fiery glare that was meant to mark her, he claimed not only her lips, but her as well.

Her surrender sealed the exchange for him. She submitted to him willingly, eagerly, and that told him that she wanted to be part of him as much as he wanted to be part of her.

Their kiss trailed off to smaller kisses until their lips simply brushed and they rested foreheads to each other.

“I thought you might not show up this morning,” Lachlan said.

Terese rested her head to his shoulder and her hand to his chest. “Why?”

“I was told last night that you took to bed early and
were not to be disturbed. I thought perhaps that you changed your mind about
us
.”

“I needed to think,” she said, taking his hand and leading him to their favorite spot where with an arm around her waist he lowered her and himself to the ground.

He ran the back of his hand down her cheek and lightly across her lips, and she turned her face into his touch.

“You have a gentle and patient way about you.”

“Not all that patient,” he said with a glint of a grin. “But tell me what troubles you.”

He saw that she hesitated and it disturbed him. He took her hand. “We are friends, Terese, and always will be. I trust you and wish for you to trust me.” He felt her ease slightly away from him, not far, barely a fraction, but it was a distance nonetheless. He would have none of it and tucked her closer against his side. “Don’t,” he warned softly. “Stay beside me. You belong there.”

Her smile though sweet, was sad. “I’m not sure where I belong.”

“I can only imagine. Being sent away by someone you thought loved you, having to assume a different identity to remain safe, and learning to be a warrior to protect yourself and others. It cannot have been easy. But trust me when I say I will not hurt you. I would
never
send you away and I
will
always protect you.”

“Why? We are but friends who will pass in the night and then be no more.”

This time the pain struck his heart and gave him worry, for she spoke the truth and yet, he didn’t like
the sound of it. It took a moment for him to respond and even then he wasn’t sure of his words.

“Think of no time beyond this time. Nothing else matters, nothing else exists, except you and I, and here and now.”

She smiled slowly, though he saw that sadness still tinged her blue eyes.

“No time beyond this time,” she repeated softly.

Again a pain struck his heart and he worried, for what if it was the old god’s love arrow piercing his heart? What if he was falling in love? What if Terese was the woman meant for him? He had no idea what he would do.

They talked as they did each morning, debating opinions, laughing and kissing and deciding that they would share a private noonday meal and later, much later they would share much more.

With promises and plans made, they parted to see to their responsibilities. But noon brought a far different plan then either of them had expected.

Terese was ready and waiting for Lachlan well before the assigned time. Rowena had packed a generous food basket and Terese knew the perfect spot to take him. It was near the stream but secluded. The sun had remained bright in the sky and her cheeks flushed pink with the thought of spending time alone with him.

No time beyond this time
.

Terese intended to remind herself often of those words, to simply enjoy the here and now and not
worry beyond the moment. She deserved this time, this pleasure and she would have it without regret, though guilt was another matter.

They were friends who could trust as he had reminded her again and again. But she wasn’t being completely honest with him and that bothered her. She had rationalized the situation over and over, and concluded the same each time. There was no way she could confide the truth to him. She would lose her freedom and that she refused to do.

No time beyond this time
.

Those words would be her saving grace, and she would think on them often and long after he had gone.

Shouts and cries startled Terese out of her musing and she rushed out the door of the common house to see everyone running to a group of people entering Everagis. Terese quickly joined them.

“These people are fleeing the battle between the clans and the mercenaries,” Megan explained quickly when Terese caught up with her as Megan helped a partially crippled old man to the common house.

Andrew appeared and took charge of the old man. “Where do you want him?”

Megan pointed to the large tree near the common house and then turned to Terese. “There are about five who have injuries. The others are exhausted and hungry.”

“Then let’s take care of them,” Terese said, but before she reached anyone Piper popped up in front of her looking fretful.

“One of the mercenaries has been injured,” Piper whispered. “Septimus and a few of his men wait in the woods for us to tend him.”

“Wait for me in the usual spot while I gather what we need,” Terese instructed and looked around for Rowena. She would need one of Rowena’s healing baskets to take with her and while all looked to be in use, one would need to be spared.

Lachlan’s unexpected approach and battle-ready expression stopped her in her tracks.

“I leave Andrew and most of the other warriors here to protect everyone. Boyd and Evan go with me,” Lachlan said.

“Why?” Terese asked. “The battle doesn’t concern you, and what can three men do against so many?”

Lachlan ginned. “Such confidence you have in me.”

She bristled, knowing full well the sizeable force of the mercenaries. “It is
concern
I have for you.”

He took her hand. “I am not foolish. I wish to track the mercenaries and see if I can find their camp and hopefully spy upon it.”

“This is about your brother Ronan, isn’t it?” she asked.

“I need to know if he is among them and needs freeing.”

“If he is?” she asked, shaking her head. “You have so few men to be able to help him.”

“Again, I am not a foolish warrior,” Lachlan reminded. “I have coins to offer for his release and if not…” He shrugged. “I send word to my brother Cavan
and he will lead a force of men here to free our brother. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of Angus Bunnock’s men joined him. It would be his way of showing gratitude to our clan for helping him and having his own men ascertain that his daughter was dead and buried on hallowed ground.”

Terese blanched and her legs grew weak. That couldn’t happen; her father’s men would recognize her and forcibly return her home.

Lachlan slipped his arms around her. “You pale and shiver. What—”

She hugged him tight. “I don’t want anything to happen to you…
to us
.”

He kissed her gently. “Nothing can ever happen to
us
. I promise you that.”

She watched him disappear among the mayhem and knew he had given her a promise that he didn’t know he would not be able to keep. If he ever discovered the truth, they would no longer be friends.

Terese pushed the worrisome thought from her head and found Rowena, secured a healing basket, and joined Piper with less worry of discovery since Lachlan had already taken his leave. His men paid her movements no heed, too busy scouting the perimeter of the convent.

It didn’t take long for Piper and her to reach the injured man and at first glance both of them knew that he would need more care than either Terese or Piper could give. And his formidable size would be a problem. Piper could stand behind him and not be seen.

Terese looked at Septimus. “We need to get him to Rowena. She is the only one skilled enough to stitch such a severe wound and tend him if he is to have any chance of surviving.”

Septimus didn’t argue. “Two of my men will get him there for you.”

Terese nodded and then did something she didn’t want to do but knew she had no choice. “Tell your leader that Lachlan of the clan Sinclare and two of his men are tracking your group. He intends to spy on you.”

Septimus nodded. “He was right. You are good to have as a friend rather than a foe.”

Terese felt like no friend betraying Lachlan, but her survival depended on it. And she didn’t fear for Lachlan’s safety, for she knew the leader would never hurt him or his men.

“Piper will keep you informed of your man’s condition,” Terese said.

“Your help is greatly appreciated,” Septimus acknowledged with a bow of his head.

“You don’t seem the kind to be a mercenary,” Terese couldn’t help but say.

“There was a time none of us were,” he said and with another bow of his head, turned and left.

It was late evening when quiet returned to Everagis. Everyone was settled and fed and the injured had been cared for and were resting comfortably. Rowena continued to tend Talon, the wounded mercenary. His leg injury had required thirty stitches and she now
sat with him, worried that he would develop a fever. Though his size and rough features would have most fearing him, he was grateful and polite to Rowena. Once again Terese wondered over the origin of the mercenaries.

Terese lingered around the grounds later that evening in hope of Lachlan returning. When it grew late and exhaustion finally took hold, she gave up and, disappointed, went to bed. She woke with a start when it was still dark and anxiously threw on her skirt and blouse. With hurried though quiet steps she made her way up the narrow hall into the large room of the common house and rushed to the door. She halted, her hand on the metal latch, and took a deep breath.

She knew Lachlan had returned and waited. She sensed his presence. How? She could find no sensible answer. She only knew that he eagerly waited for her as eagerly as she wanted to go to him.

She opened the door slowly, for a moment thinking perhaps this was all a dream and then she saw him.

He stood with his arms folded across his chest, a slight pitch to his stance, and the half-moon spotlighted a charming smile on his handsome face.

She felt her breath catch, her heart flutter, and her flesh tingle. She wanted this man, needed him and so without further thought, guilt, or regret she ran to him.

His arms spread wide and she ran into them. They wrapped lovingly, protectively and strongly around her and for a sheer moment she felt as if she had arrived home. The thought near buckled her legs.

“I knew if I stood here long enough that my mere presence would wake you.”

She kept the tremble from her laughter, though it was no easy task, for it rippled through her entire body. “You did wake me.” She hesitated almost afraid to give voice to the truth. “I could feel you.”

“My magic worked,” he whispered. “For while I stood here, I envisioned touching you.”

“Where?” she dared ask.

His hand slipped slowly beneath her blouse and she knew he waited to see if she would stop him.

When she didn’t, he whispered, “Here.”

She startled when he gently scooped up her full breast in his cool hand and ran his thumb across her nipple until it hardened at his will. Her already weak knees almost gave way, especially when his lips and teeth began to nibble along her neck and up along her ear, sending a myriad of tingling sensations rushing over her flesh.

“That’s just the start of where I plan to touch you,” he murmured and continued nibbling.

This time her knees did waver, but his arm caught her firm around the waist.

“You’ll sleep with me tonight,” he said softly.

It wasn’t a question or a command. It was simply what they both wanted, and he knew it just as she did.

“I will be yours tonight,” she said willingly.

“And every night, and day and morning and afternoon and—”

She giggled for he punctuated each reference with a
nibble and a kiss. “Have you the stamina?” she teased, feeling as insatiable as he.

He released her and staggered backward with a hand to his heart. “You wound me, woman.”

She laughed and sauntered over to him. “I heal all wounds with a kiss.”

He grinned. “I have a lot of wounds.”

Her voice was low and whispery. “Show me.”

He tapped where his hand rested at his heart. “Here.”

Her hand reached in his shirt and slowly spread it open. Then she splayed her hand on his chest, her body further titillated by the warmth of his flesh and his hard muscles. She had no experience with intimacy, though she wasn’t ignorant of it, she and the other women talked about men and sex. The women who were familiar with it advised those that weren’t that it came more naturally than one would expect and to trust your instincts when the time came.

She found that her instincts were much more aware than she was and so she freed them and followed their lead, which was why she did not pause when she felt the urge to kiss his wounds and make them all better, so very much better.

Warm and delicious
, that was how he tasted and the need to nibble at his flesh and sample his nipple with a light flick of her tongue caused a jolt to them both.

Lachlan grabbed hold of her arms and forced her an arm’s-length away. “We need to go to my cottage now.”

She nibbled at her bottom lip missing the taste of him.

“Stop that,” he ordered with a gruff groan.

“I like the flavor of you,” she whispered. “I’d like to taste more.”

Lachlan’s groan turned deep and urgent, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him as he marched off.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get far.

“Terese!”

She knew from the frantic call there was a problem and being it was Rowena, it could mean only one thing. There was a problem with the mercenary. She stopped, forcing Lachlan to halt, though he did so with an annoyed grunt.