Page 14 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
“Well, he cannae see out o’ it too well these days,” Maxwell said with a shrug that she felt at her back.
The laird then relayed the battle his brother had been involved with and how valiantly he had fought. Clearly, Maxwell had great respect for Bram, for he spoke about him with veneration and adulation. The men had clearly shared many battles together, and it was obvious they were very close.
For several hours, they continued talking about themselves and their families and reliving memories that sometimes made them laugh and sometimes made them sad. Skylar was careful to keep her secrets, but in a strange way, she sensed that Maxwell was keeping some of his own. Even with that being the case, a bond began to grow between them, a bond Skylar had not had with another person for such a long time but certainly not with a man who evoked such feelings of want and desire within her.
At some point, her eyes grew heavy, and she rested them as the laird relayed his memories. He had warmed her with his body, and the cold no longer kept her from sleep. As his soft tones continued, they lulled her into a drowsy state, and not long afterward, she heard his words no more.
* * *
Skylar stretched her arms above her head and yawned deeply. She had not known how long she had slept, but the light outside told her it was well past dawn. It was only a moment later that she realized she was lying in the tent alone. Rolling onto her back, she stared up and thought about last night. Maxwell had kept his promise and had only lain beside her to keep her warm. But he had done much more than that.
The man who earlier last night had been cold and reserved had listened to her and, she believed, heard her. He had rocked her in comfort when she was upset and laughed along with her when they had relayed memories of times in their childhood. She sighed deeply, a soft smile dancing on her lips as she replayed much of it again in her mind. They had connected in a profound way, and it excited her to think of what her future now held.
A little while later, a shadow crossed the tent and moved toward the entrance.
“Morning,” Bram said as he stepped inside, “I’ve brought ye something tae eat. It’s likely nae what yer used tae, but—”
“Thank ye, Bram,” Skylar replied. “I’m very grateful.”
She was disappointed that it was one brother and not the other, and she wondered if Maxwell regretted getting so close to her the previousnight. She took theplate and looked down at the meat. With a quick glance, it appeared to be rabbit again, but she was so hungry that she would have eaten tree bark if it had been offered to her. “I could’ve come out and ate with the others,” she said. “I dinnae need special treatment.”
“Och, well now, that’s where ye’re wrong,” Bram said, a slight smile lifting his lips. “While the rest of those hallions out there are burly men, ye, my dear, are a lady and thus indeed need special treatment.”
Skylar beamed a delighted smile at his words.
“And look,” he said gesturing to her. “That smile is my repayment. I can tell ye, I wouldnae get such a beautiful smile from that lot.” He thumbed beyond the tent. “Likely because most of them are missing half their teeth.” He grinned, showing there were no gaps in his own mouth.
Skylar burst into a fit of giggles as his witty comments and in that moment realized that Bram was definitely the easier going of the two brothers. He may well be a chilling sight to see, yet, in that moment, she discovered he was more delightful than she could ever have imagined. Her initial impressions of both brothers were rapidly changing by the minute.
CHAPTEREIGHT
The weather was relentless over the following two days of travel, yet they could not stop for shelter apart from camping for the night. Maxwell was determined to get back to the safety of Dunvegan Castle, and the sooner the better. If Johnson was to mount an attack, Maxwell needed to stay ahead of him, and more importantly, he wanted to be at the castle when it happened to be able to defend his family and clan.
The terrain was difficult enough, but the boggy undergrowth from the constant rain put more strain on the horses as they attempted to cover so many miles in such treacherous conditions. His steed had more of a struggle than the others, for though he was a strong beast, he had to carry the weight of two. Under the circumstances, and knowing Skylar still didn't feel completely safe, Maxwell was determined she ride with him, even if the easy way they had been with each other that first night in the tent had faded over the course of their journey.
That had been Maxwell’s doing. He had not gone into the tent again on the following nights. He simply did not trust himself. That first night had been difficult enough. While he had lain down beside her and held her tightly in his arms, the closeness of her body had been complete torture. Of course, he had not wanted her to freeze, but his decision had been made for her well-being, rather than his own.
Once there, however, he could hardly get up and leave. He had committed himself without considering the consequences. Forcing himself to think of anything but the soft and tender body that had pressed up against his stomach and groin, the conversation had not always been easy. He had promised he was there to do her no harm, and he had meant it. Neither would he take advantage of her obvious sorrow.
While Maxwell could not deny that he had enjoyed their engaged conversation, for he had indeed found out much about her and felt closer to her as a person afterward, he had also nearly driven himself crazy. Their discussion had distracted him somewhat, but constantly suppressing his raging urges had not been in any way an easy task.
She had drawn him in like a siren singing her love song, enticing him like a sailor to crash upon the rocks. Yet, as he had already surmised, she had no idea of the power she held or what she evoked deep within him. As she had slept soundly in his arms in the wee hours of the morning, he had vowed to stay away from her for the rest of their journey for both their benefits.
Skylar was in trouble. She needed help, not confusion and mixed messages of intent. He and his men had saved her from one oppressive situation, and he did not desire to confuse her by putting her in another. While there was something wickedly sinful about her, Maxwell had deduced that with her youth did come innocence. Even if she had been with other men, he sensed her heart would be easily broken, and he did not desire to be the man to break it.
For his part, his clan did not need a crazed laird who had lost his mind in madness for the wanting of her. He was already being pressured to marry by the council, and he did not want to complicate things any more than necessary. Marriage was the last thing on his mind with everything else he had suffered, yet he understood their reasoning. They were determined he was to marry into the MacTavish clan to strengthen their defenses, and his recent actions may have sealed his own fate. The council was not to know it yet, but by Maxwell showing himself and saving Skylar, he had only put their clan at even more risk than they had been before.
“Do ye want tae tell me what’s going on?” Bram asked.
Maxwell looked at his brother with a frown. “What do ye mean?”
The group had come to a stop for a rest before they made their way to Mallaig. There, they needed to cross their final body of water and then make the long trek to Dunvegan. Everybody was exhausted, and spirits were low. His men were tired from lack of nutrition, hungry from the lack of a decent meal, and sick to death from the freezing and wet conditions.
Maxwell had ordered them to stop at the edge of a wood and take some needed respite beneath the dense branches of the closely set trees. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing at all. Finding the stream with cold fresh water to fill their flasks had been a bonus.
Maxwell had been standing at the stream, thinking about their journey and wondering what Johnson would do in retaliation for him stealing his desired bride, when Bram had joined him.
“Och, come on now, brother,” Bram said with a tone of disbelief. Ye’ve been away in some other place since we rescued the woman. Did ye sleep with her?”
