Page 82 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

“Come on, we need tae get on the boat!” Arne held out his hand to Raven, who in turn, held onto Ava’s as they sprinted down the sand and waded into the surf towards the boat.

“I’ll be back shortly,” he assured them before turning back towards the beach to help the brothers mop up. But just as he stepped onto the sand, he saw them racing towards the boat behind several of their men, all of them bloody, some nursing injuries. The men plunged into the surf and threw themselves aboard the birlinn. Arne jumped in after them, shouting, “Row, ye bastards, row fer yer lives!”

Later that night, exhausted, with some of the men weak from their wounds, the birlinn reached a fishing village on the coast about ten miles from Tarbert.

“There’s an inn just up there,” Everard told them, pointing up to where a faint orange glow could be seen, a welcoming sight in the surrounding darkness. “We can stay there fer the night and get any injuries treated before we head home.”

The inn was quiet when they entered, but when the landlord, who was cleaning the bar, saw them, he rushed to their assistance, summoning his wife and their servants to help. A healer was sent for, and soon arrived to treat the injured. Hot food, ale, and whisky were provided for those who wanted it.

Rooms were duly assigned and occupied. Raven and Ava had a room to themselves. Arne turned toward her as soon as they shut the door behind them. He felt absurdly happy.

They sat down next to each other on the bed and she turned and looked into his eyes.

“Thank ye from the bottom of me heart fer coming tae help me, Arne,” she told him earnestly. “I never expected it, nae after how we had parted before. I thought ye’d have been on yer way home.”

“I told ye, I found I couldnae leave ye,” he replied, taking the flask of whisky they had brought up to the room with them and taking a long swig. The liquid slid down his throat easily, leaving a warm, comforting trail in its wake. He handed the flask back to her. She sipped it, being careful of her split lip. His heart went out to her.

She leaned forward and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, as if she felt guilty for what she was about to say, “I want tae thank ye especially for killin’ Struan. I’m free now, and it feels wonderful. So, thank ye.”

“I enjoyed it,” he admitted with a wry smile.

“Arne?”

“Mmm?”

“Did ye read the letter I left fer ye?”

Dismayed that she should mention it, he shook his head. “’Tis still in me coat pocket. I told ye, I didnae want tae read it, nae after what was in the last one ye left me. Why would I want tae read that ye were leavin’ me again?” e sked morosely.

She sighed. “Where’s yer coat?”

“Over there, on the chair.”

She got up and went over to it and searched methodically through his pockets until she drew out the crumpled envelope. She brought it back and sat down, handing it to him.

“Read it now, please.”

He eyes it reluctantly. “Why?”

“Please, Arne, I’m beggin’ ye, try tae trust me just once more and read it.”

She seemed so insistent, he decided he had nothing to lose and would do as she asked. He opened it up and began reading.

Me darling Arne,

I ken ye’ll be angry and upset tae find this letter from me, and ye’ll think I’m running out on ye again. But I promise I’m nae, so please read what I have tae say and try tae understand. Two days ago, a strange man came up tae me in the marketplace at the village. He told me that Struan has Thorsten hostage and that he would kill him if I didnae go back tae him. He gave instructions to be at the old kirk at the far end of the village at midnight tonight if I wanted tae see Thorsten alive again. I have gone there tae give meself up tae Struan in exchange fer Thorsten.

I’m so sorry fer nae telling ye this, but I was fearful of what ye might dae. I could nae risk Thorsten’s life in any way, and I ken ye would nae want that either.

Last time I had tae leave ye, I thought I had tae dae everything by meself, tae protect ye and our son from Struan. But this time, I’m doing things differently. So, when ye read this letter, I want ye to follow me tae the old kirk. This time, I want us to work together tae save our precious son, so that we can be free of me past and live happily as a family. I ken if I had told ye, ye’d nae have waited until the morrow, so writing ye a letter was me only chance tae buy mesel’ some time with Struan and risk only me life, in case it is all a trap.

With all the love in me heart,

Yer Raven

When Arne finished reading, he had tears in his eyes.

“So, ye were nae leavin, me at all,” he said, hearing his own voice cracking.

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