Page 75 of Sins of a Scot
Owen shook his head. “Nae, ye willnae. I’m nae going tae let go o’ ye, I swear. But I need ye tae take that step, Iseabail.”
Even as her whole body trembled, she shifted slightly, and feeling her leg moving, Owen kept a tight grip on one arm, while she used the other to balance herself against the wall.
“Good. Now the other leg,” he said, watching her like a hawk.
She didn’t speak, perhaps because she couldn’t, but she did as he directed. She now faced the wall with her two hands against it, while Owen still had a solid grip on her arm.
“All right. Let’s keep moving. One slow side-step at a time.”
And with Iseabail facing the wall, and Owen with his back against it, they slowly made their way down the rock face. When the terrain beneath their feet became a little easier, he let go of her arm, leaving her to climb down herself. Eventually, they arrived at the very bottom, where Iseabail bent herself at the waist, blowing great breaths from her lungs in relief.
Owen placed a hand on her back. “Are ye all right?”
“I am now,” she panted.
He then moved further on and found a soft, grassy part of the river bank. Throwing the bag onto the ground, he nearly collapsed beside it. He had fought many men, found himself in dangerous situations, even battled for his life, but he couldnot compare any of those circumstances with the terror he had experienced today.
Iseabail’s life was at risk, and I cannae lose her.
It was true, and he could not deny it. She had found a way into his heart. Unwittingly, she had discovered a path that no other before her had found. A path Owen did not even know existed.
Several minutes later, Iseabail joined him, still seemingly stunned at their experience.
“We should eat. It’ll make ye feel better,” he offered.
“I’m nae hungry,” she replied quietly.
Owen let that comment slide and dug into the bag, retrieving the parcels of food Ada had packed for them. There was bread, meat, fruit, and wine. Opening the parcels up, he laid them out in front of them both, and leaving Iseabail the option of changing her mind, he tore off some bread and took some meat.
From this perspective, the waterfall looked beyond beautiful. Now they were safely on the ground, it was awe-inspiring, while at the same time, rather serene.
“I like the view from down here much better,” he said wryly.
Iseabail slowly turned her head and looked at him. She did not smile, however, and as light-hearted as he was trying to be, he understood why. Survived they had, but she still had a heavy burden on her shoulders.
“We’ll rest here a while, and let our clothes dry out,” he said. “Then we’ll think of a new plan and a new place to start looking. Whatever happens, Iseabail, I promise we’ll save yer faither and braither.”
Iseabail watched as Owen slept soundly. He had laid down to rest, and in doing so, had winced. It was only then that Iseabail had remembered his wound, but when she asked him about it, he had told her he was fine, and that he just needed to rest. It was not long after he had closed his eyes, that Iseabail watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slipped into peaceful slumber.
I have been so selfish. I should have waited another day, until he was properly well.
But Owen had told her he felt fine. In fact, he had been as eager as she, to leave the healer’s cottage in search of the waterfall and the crystal, for all the good it had done them. Clearly, he had not been fine at all.
Or perhaps, the strenuous effort o’ saving me caused him more harm.
Gazing down at him, Iseabail admired him, a soft smile on her lips as she drank him in. Now her fear had fully abated, she could think straight again, and at that very moment, her heart was full of love and gratitude for what he had done for her. But the smile slipped as she thought of what lay ahead.
He had said earlier, that they would find a way to save her family, but Owen could not know, because she had not told him, that saving her family involved much more than just retrieving the crystal. There was a final demand, a demand that would separate her and Owen forever.
And yet, what choice did she have? If she did not acquiesce to Laird Sutherland’s wishes, all her efforts would be wasted, for she knew the cruelty of the man. No doubt, he would not hesitate to slaughter Keane and her father, if he had not already done so.
Perhaps ye should tell Owen. That way, ye dinnae have tae carry this burden on yer own any longer.
But telling him would pain him deeply. Had he not already suffered enough because of her? How could she now, especially after he had saved her life, pain him even more?
He’s going tae find out sooner or later.
Yes, he would. And perhaps selfishly, Iseabail would prefer it was later. They didn’t have much time together, and she wanted to relish every last moment, not spend it in awkward moments, for surely, if she confessed what she knew, it would cause a rift between them.
