Page 53 of Intrigued By A Highlander

The three shook their heads as Owen spoke. “The woods whispered her up.”

Knox sensed that they were trying to scare him away. “Are you saying she disappeared like Autumn?”

“Gone suddenly, not to be seen again,” Owen said.

Knox didn’t believe him. “And where can I find her cottage?”

“Don’t know,” Rona said and the other two nodded, agreeing. “Mave showed herself when she wanted to, when she sensed she was needed. We didn’t need to know where she lived.”

“Then how do you know she’s gone?” Knox asked.

Wilbur was quick to answer. “She hasn’t been seen in quite a while even though some have needed her healing skills.”

Knox reached into the folds of his plaid and pulled out three coins, handing one to each of them. “I appreciate the help.”

Their eyes turned wide, and they nodded to him and thanked him profusely.

When Knox turned to mount his mare, Wilbur spoke up.

“Have your look and leave right fast,” he urged. “Mave was right. Trouble is brewing and it’s about to erupt.”

He rode out of the village, uneasy glances following him. They were hiding something. He could feel it. And he intended to find out what it was.

Dru cuddledin the blankets to chase away a chill that wouldn’t leave her. She had rid herself of the last of what was in her stomach and worried that she may have taken too much wolfsbane to purposely make herself sick. She was known in these parts, and she needed to avoid running into someone that could present a huge problem for her.

When she had no choice but to wed Knox, she had convinced herself that she would find a way to see the task done. That they would need to travel here was inevitable and here was where she hoped this would be settled, since here was where Autumn died. Once he learned of her death, it would be done—their agreement fulfilled. That meant their time together would be finished and her heart ached at the thought.

She was a fool. She had known Knox for barely half of a moon cycle and she believed she had feelings for him—could possibly love him. Her mum had warned her about love striking fast and hard, crippling the heart and blinding the senses. Only to wake up too late to the cold, hard truth. Besides, there was no way that she and Knox could ever be a true married couple. It was impossible and she had to accept that.

Tears that had gathered in her eyes began to slip down her cheeks and she let them fall. She let herself mourn the life she could never have. She hurried and wiped them away when she heard the approach of a rider. She fought back the tears and kept as silent as she could, hoping it was Knox and not a stranger.

The horse came to a stop near the bushes, and she held her breath for a moment.

“Dru.”

She expelled the breath and a few lingering tears slipped down her cheek.

Knox ducked and stepped past the bushes and felt a punch to his gut when he saw the tears trickling down Dru’s cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her and dropping down beside her.

“My stomach does no better and I grow colder,” she said, and it made no sense, not after her musings, to say more, but she did. “And I feared you wouldn’t return to me.”

Knox wiped away her tears with a gentle swipe of his finger. “I am a man of my word, wife, and when I tell you that I will always return to you, I mean it.”

She forced a faint smile.

“I found out the way to Autumn’s cottage and that it’s empty. You can rest and heal there while I make more inquiries.”

He tucked the blankets around her before lifting her into his arms and he soon had them up on his horse. He didn’t waste any time in following the directions the old man gave him, and he was right, the path had been reclaimed by the forest, but not enough to prevent him from traveling it.

Even without care, time hadn’t worn the cottage that was larger than he anticipated.

“I can manage. You don’t need to carry me,” Dru said, when he brought his mare to a stop.

“It’s not a chore to have you in my arms.”

His words touched her heart as did his gentle smile.

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