Page 6 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

“It’s all going tae be fine, wee Thorsten, me darlin’, just ye wait and see,” she told him through her stifled sobs, pressing kisses to his shock of pitch-black hair that was so like her own. “Ye’ll be better off without me. Ye have a good faither from a good family. He’ll look after ye. I cannae protect ye any longer, but ye’ll be safe with him.”

The hopeful words belied the terrible feeling that her whole world had suddenly been ripped apart. A mixture of fear and trepidation coursed through her as she began stuffing Thorsten’s tiny clothes into another small bag.

“I dinnae want tae leave ye, bonny lad, but ’tis fer the best, ye’ll see. And one day, we’ll be together again. I’ll find a way.”

Through her tears, she silently prayed that would be the case. But deep down, she knew that the vengeful man who had sent the riders to find her would not give up until they did. And if he found out about Thorsten’s existence, he would not allow him to live. The fearful knowledge sat in her belly like a cold, dead weight. It was that, the fear for Thorsten’s life, that was keeping her from completely falling to pieces.

As she finished putting Thorsten’s things into the bag, she glanced over at the chess board on the table in the corner of the room. Just seeing it there and the memories it stirred increased the almost crushing pain in her chest. Outwardly, it was a simple chess board, yet for Raven, it was a symbol of all her hopes and dreams for a happy future, hopes and dreams which were now crumbling around her.

Now, it stood for everything and everyone she was about to lose, and never have again. She felt as though her heart was being torn into pieces.

The noises from the neighboring room grew in volume and intensity, shrieks and groans of two people rutting like beasts. Raven tried to shut it out and held her palms over Thorsten’s tiny shell-like ears, lest the noise wake him from his peaceful slumber. The shrieks increased until the woman screamed as she reached her climax, or pretended to, shortly followed by an exhausted groan from the man.

“Ye’ll nae be sorry tae leave that behind, I’ll wager, lassie,” said Morag, coming quietly into the room and jerking her thumb at the wall. The old madam was wearing a gaudy gown and had a hard, painted face to suit her hard life. But when she smiled at Raven, the kindness of her true nature shone out from beneath the thick layer of powder and rouge.

“I nae sure I willnae miss it, Morag,” Raven replied with shaking voice, ineffectually sniffing back her tears. “At least while I could hear it, I kent we were safe.” She summoned a weak smile despite the terror gripping her, urging her to be gone. “I’m packed and ready tae leave now,” she added, nodding at the bags on the bed.

“Ach, ye dinnae have tae hurry so much, lassie. The girls have promised tae keep the men that are askin’ questions about ye busy fer hours, so ye have plenty of time. Besides, I’ve already told them ye’re nae here, and I’ve given them some information that’ll lead them astray.”

While she spoke, she came over and stroked Raven’s hair then gently kissed Thorsten’s head, looking at him with the doting eyes of a grandmother. “Are ye certain ye need tae dae this? Ye ken we can hide ye both fer as long as ye need, and nay man will ever find ye. Ye’ll be safe,” Morag said coaxingly, clearly hoping Raven would agree to stay.

Raven sobbed as she said thickly, “I want tae stay, Morag, but ’tis too dangerous. I fear fer me son’s life if those men find me, and they’ll never give up. If Thorsten and I stay here, he would never be safe.” She looked at Morag, her eyes blurred by tears, adding, “Besides, ye’ve already done so much fer us, and I dinnae want tae put ye or the girls in danger. Even lyin’ tae those men fer me just this once is puttin’ ye all at terrible risk.”

“Well, ’tis an awful shame,” Morag said, her lined forehead creasing further with obvious disappointment and worry. “We’ll miss ye, lass, and the wee man.”

Raven almost gave way under the weight of emotions coursing through her then. She hugged Thorsten’s small warm body close for comfort as she choked out,

“Ach, Morag, I’m gonnae miss ye, and the lasses as well. Ye’ve looked after us both so well, and I’ll never be able tae repay ye fer yer kindness. But if they’ve tracked me this far, I fear it’ll nae be long before they catch up with me. I have nae choice but tae run if I want tae save me son.”

“Ach, there’s naethin’ fer ye tae repay, hinny. We all wish we could dae more tae help ye.” Morag came closer and circled them with her arms, hugging them both tenderly.

“Ye’ve been a Godsend, Morag. I dinnae ken what I would have done without ye, givin’ me a job here and protectin’ me fer so long.” Raven’s stifled sobs of sorrow and gratitude wet the front of the older woman’s gown as they embraced, probably for the last time. For more than a year, the hard-faced, otherwise ruthless madam had been the closest thing to a mother she’d had, and Raven was loathe to leave her and her safe berth at the house.

When they finally drew apart, Morag held out her arms and said, “Here, let me hold him. This may be the last time I get the chance.”

I hope it isnae the last chanceIhave tae hold him too.

“I pray it willnae be, Morag, but I fear ye may be right. Ye’ve been as good as a grandmaither tae him while we’ve been here,” Raven said, carefully handing Thorsten over. She struggled to hold back her sorrow and panic as she hurriedly stuffed an extra shawl into the bag, a gift from Morag and the girls. Before she closed the bag, she went to the nightstand and took a letter from the drawer and put it inside.

Morag watched in grim silence as she cradled the sleeping baby. Then she asked, “Are ye sure there’s nay another way, lass? Is wee Thorsten’s faither nae back from the fightin’ yet?”

The question unleashed a fresh bout of sobbing from Raven, who felt her heart was being torn in two. Her voice shook as she answered, “Nay, but I think ’tis fer the best that he’s still away.” She had been working hard to convince herself of it. “If he were home, I dinnae think I could dae what I must. It would just make it more difficult tae leave, and that would put him and the bairn in danger.”

“That’s cruel indeed, lass. Me old heart goes out tae ye,” the madam murmured sadly, gazing down at the baby and stroking his mop of hair. “There’s nay mistakin’ the lad’s maither with that hair. ’Tis truly as black as a raven’s wing. But those bright blue eyes of his are his faither’s. He’s the perfect mixture of ye both.”

The words were like daggers stabbing at Raven’s already aching heart. A vision of Arne arose in her mind. The picture was as vivid as though he were standing next to her, as if she could reach out and touch him. She could see every detail of his powerful warrior’s body, the rough, masculine beauty of his features, his short, almost white-blond hair that she loved to run her fingers through, and his piercing blue gaze that glittered like sapphires in the sunlight whenever he looked at her.

The vision tore at her tortured soul.How can I leave him when I love him so much?

Suddenly, she clutched at her chest, finding it hard to breathe, let alone speak.

“Are ye alright, lassie?” Morag asked anxiously, coming closer and putting a hand on Raven’s shoulder. Raven laid her own over the top of it, taking comfort in the old woman’s reassuring touch. Slowly, she caught her breath.

“Aye, as alright as I can be,” she replied, unable to stop the trembling of her limbs but mentally steeling herself. “I have tae be strong, tae be able tae dae what I have tae dae.” She kissed Thorsten’s cheek as he lay sleeping in Morag’s arms, leaving the traces of her tears behind.

Finally, she managed to say, “Aye, he has his faither’s eyes. Arne will be proud of him.”Will he be reminded of me every time he looks at Thorsten’s hair?

“There’s nay time fer mourning,” she added, pulling herself up to her full height. “I must go. Help me with the bags, will ye, Morag, please?”

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