Page 42 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
Her eyes stung as tears welled within them. “I was afraid if I told ye where yer braither was earlier, that ye’d leave me behind, alone out here. I was scared. And I was worried that ye’d act without thinkin’, on yer own, without organizing an attack, and get yerself killed while tryin’ tae free yer braither.”
“ I wish ye would have told me sooner. But… I understand why ye didnae. I ken ye were afraid,” he said. He put a gentle hand on her arm. “I wouldnae have left ye alone. And I dinnae hate ye.”
“I was afraid I wouldnae have made it out alive on me own from the moment I saw ye fighting me faither’s men.”
“Ye’re a capable lass, Isolde. I believe in ye and I need ye tae believe in me too. I need ye tae believe I’m a man of me word and that I would have held true to it even if ye’d told me where me braither was. I wouldnae have abandoned ye,” he said gently. “I understand why ye felt ye needed to keep the truth away from me. I just wish ye’d have trusted me more tae begin with. Trusted that I’d hold tae me word.”
“I dae trust ye.”
He pulled a face. “Now. And tae a point.”
His words, said somewhat lightly, carried a sharp point. She looked down and battled the guilt that wormed around in her belly.
“I’m glad ye finally told me,” he said. “And I thank ye fer finally givin’ me that trust.”
She offered him a tentative smile. “Better late than never?”
A gentle laugh drifted from his mouth. “Aye. Better late than never.”
“We’ll be safe once we reach Achnacarry,” he said.
“So… ye’re still goin’ tae take me with ye?”
“Of course I am. I’d nae leave ye out here tae fend fer yerself. Nae with MacPherson’s men out here huntin’ ye,” he told her. “Once we get tae Achnacarry, I’ll figure out how tae get me braither out of Cluny House.”
Isolde was overcome with emotion and she had to swallow the lump that had risen in her throat. She truly hadn’t expected him to be so kind. And she knew she didn’t deserve it. Nobody had ever cared enough about her to do anything like that before, and she was overcome by powerful waves of emotion.
Struan reached out and brushed away the tears that spilled down her cheeks with his thumb as he gazed into her eyes. She trembled from head to toe, a myriad of emotions swirling around inside of her. His lips curled into a gentle smile.
“All right, we should probably get back on the road and get away from here before more of MacPherson’s men come,” Struan said. “Those two are goin’ tae be missed eventually and I’d rather we’d be far away from here when they are.”
“Aye. ‘Tis smart,” she said.
They quickly packed up their things and got the horse situated. Struan lifted her up and put her into the saddle then climbed upbehind her. She leaned back against him, drawing strength from his strong, solid form
As he got the horse moving, a sense of foreboding settled down over her. They were far from safe yet. And even when they did get back to his lands, Isolde felt a sliver of fear over what might come. She was a Mackintosh, after all. But through all the fear and uncertainty, she also felt a glimmer of curiosity. And a small ember of hope.
—
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
