Page 50 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
It was only then that Maxwell heard a sob escape from her. His actions had reduced his wife to tears and for what? His own protection. An overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over him. Everything he had done had been for his own selfish gain, to protect his own heart from suffering. Bram had tried to warn him, tried to get him to see what he was doing to her, but in his stubbornness, Maxwell had not listened. He had hurt the woman he loved.
And I do love her.
She had suffered so much in her life, had lost everything that she had held dear, suffered as a witness to her own mother’s brutal murder, and had been separated from her sisters through no fault of her own. And what had he done as her loving husband? He had only added to her suffering.
When they had first returned to the castle after rescuing her, Maxwell had promised that as long as he was near her, he would never let anything bad happen to her again. Instead of keeping that promise and protecting her, it was he who had hurt her more than any other could. What a selfish fool he had been.
Her shoulders shook when he walked up behind her. She was trying to smother her sobs, but she could not control the involuntary actions of her body. She needed his comfort, but when he lay his hands upon her, she flinched. Perhaps it was too late. Perhaps too much damage had been done for him to save the situation.
I need tae tell her the truth. ‘Tis the only chance I have tae make this right.
Taking her by the shoulders, he slowly turned her around to face him. Hooking his fingers under her chin, he lifted her face, and though the tears that now ran down her face pained him, Maxwell forced himself to look at her.
“I’m so sorry, Skylar,” he whispered. “Ye deserved so much better than this.”
Her eyes looked up to meet his, though they danced with confusion at his words.
“I have much tae tell ye, if ye’ll let me. Come,” he said.
Maxwell led her to the bed and sat her down before lowering himself beside her. He took her hand in his, taking a deep breath. He ought to have done this from the very beginning. As hard as it was going to be to tell her his story, it would have saved them both a lot of heartache.
“My father was a good man,” Maxwell began. “He was a fair and just man who ruled over the clan with a firm hand. He would never have seen any person go without, but nor would he have overlooked an injustice. I had thought, at the time, that there would be many years until I would have tae step intae his shoes. But fate had a different plan for me. My father was murdered by the English, ye see.”
“Och, Maxwell,” Skylar breathed, her eyes flying wide. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “Aye, the entire clan was sorry too. He was a well-loved man, and I was left with rather large shoes tae fill. Even if I had wanted the lairdship, which I didnae, it certainly wasnae the way I would have desired it. When it happened, nae one connected it tae any Scotsman. There had been a battle, and my father had been killed by the English. That was all we kent. About three months after I took his place, however, news came tae us that Laird Johnson had been the one who had led my father intae a trap.”
Skylar gasped, bringing her hand swiftly to her mouth.
“Aye, it came as a shock tae me too—tae all the clan, in fact. Once I discovered it, I made it kent all over the glens that I would avenge my father’s death. I was young and foolish then. I didnae ken any better. I underestimated the cruelty o’ Johnson, but it didnae take long for me tae discover how much o’ a monster he truly was.”
“When I was young, there was a lass I loved dearly. Me and Coira had been together for years, and as we grew, so did our love. I couldnae imagine being with anyone else in my lifetime. Everyone kent how we felt about each other, and when I took the lairdship, it was kent tae all that a union between us would be imminent. The wedding was arranged, and with little less than a week tae go, Coira suddenly disappeared.”
“A huge search went out for her. My men searched over many miles, villages and hamlets near and far, but each time, they came back empty-handed. Some tried tae tell me she had been frightened off and that the idea o’ marrying me had made her flee. I could never believe it. I kent she loved me, and I loved her. We were inseparable. On the day our wedding was supposed tae occur, Coira did arrive at the castle.”
Skylar’s eyes were wide with anticipation, hanging on his every word. By her expression, Maxwell knew she was waiting for the dreadful truth.
“Well, her body arrived at the castle,” Maxwell continued.
“Oh my god,” Skylar whispered.
Maxwell sighed deeply, trying to steady himself. He had not spoken about Coira’s death for many years. He had suppressed his feelings so deeply to avoid the huge pain it had caused him, both then and even now. Yet, he had little choice but to relive every single moment of it. He could no longer hide, not if he wanted a chance for himself and Skylar. This was the only way he could make it right. Perhaps he deserved the pain he currently suffered after the hurt he had caused the woman who now sat beside him.
“There was a note pinned tae her body. The message was from Johnson. It said that I now had two deaths tae avenge and that Coira had suffered at my hand. Had I nae been so vocal in my need for revenge, she might still be alive. He could have killed me, but he wanted tae make me suffer. Finally, the note said that he would look forward tae the day we could meet face tae face, for then he would join me with Coira once again, and we could be together forever.”
Maxwell took a long moment, partly for himself and partly for Skylar. It had taken much of his strength to get out without breaking down in front of her. It was a dire story and much for her to take in all at once.
“So ye saved me tae get back at Johnson?” she asked. Her tone was not quite accusatory but not far from it. He could understand she was still angry with him, but she was entirely wrong in her assumptions.
“Nae,” Maxwell said, shaking his head firmly. “I saved ye because it was the right thing tae do. I kent the ways of Johnson’s men, and I had kent about Colum for a long time. He’s a cruel man, nae unlike the laird he serves. When I saw they had captured ye, I simply couldnae walk away. The truth is, I caused my clan more trouble by saving ye, Skylar, but I just couldnae stand by and let him do tae ye what I kent he planned tae do. I couldnae have lived with myself.”
“Thank ye for yer honesty,” she said plainly.
“Aye, well, better late than never.” Maxwell paused a beat. “I couldnae have kent at the time that I would have feelings for ye, Skylar. And though it likely hasnae felt like it this past while, I do.”
“And yet, ye still brought a maid intae our bed,” she said tersely.
“I shouldnae have done it.”
