The Angel and the Highlander

by Donna Fletcher

  He had expected to talk with her this morning. There were things he wished to discuss. Being it was well past sunrise she wouldn’t be in her usual spot on the hill. More than likely she’d be busy with chores and so he went in search of her.

  Gray clouds hovered overhead promising rain sometime today and though rain was needed to nourish the seeded fields, he much preferred the sun. He stopped to speak with Boyd, letting him know that once the shelter the men were working on was finished, they were to do no more.

  Boyd smiled and slapped his thigh. “Damn, we’re headed home soon, aren’t we?”

  “Just do as I say,” Lachlan said and headed to the common shelter. He had no designated departure time set, but he knew that soon, very soon he would need to discuss it with Terese, at least the possibilities. And the thought scared the hell out of him.

  What if she refused to go with him? He couldn’t believe that a possibility. He sensed that she loved him and after last night he believed it even more. In two or three weeks at the most, he should be able to set everything right so that she would be looking forward to returning home with him, especially when he asked her to marry him.

  The thought still set his heart to thumping madly and his stomach churning like he had drunk too much ale. He hadn’t thought love would claim him just yet. Truthfully, he hadn’t thought love would claim him at all. He had planned on eventually picking a woman who would suit his needs and wedding her. Now, however, he could see the benefits of loving the woman you wed, and he felt lucky to have found the perfect woman for him.

  He even understood his brothers’ attachment to their wives, though he’d never admit that to them. They would tease him unmercifully and that he could do without.

  “Lost in your thoughts?’

  Lachlan swung around and grabbed Terese around the waist, drawing her near for a quick kiss. “I don’t like when you leave my bed before I wake.”

  “I have chores and duties to attend to,” she said, hooking her arm in his to walk alongside him.

  “Aren’t I chore enough for you?”

  She leaned in to whisper in his ear, “You are no chore; you are a pleasure.”

  His passion lit and flamed like a dry log whose heat spread rapidly throughout, though he attempted to contain it.

  “Keep that up and I will drag you back to my cottage and keep you there the remainder of the day.”

  “Promises. Promises,” she teased.

  Thunder rumbled overhead and Lachlan glanced up at the gray sky that would undoubtedly shed rain soon. “The weather accommodates my need. Everyone will seek shelter from the storm. What else will there be to do then?…” He allowed her to imagine the rest.

  “You tempt,” she said.

  “I invite,” he corrected, thunder rumbling along with his words.

  She let his arm go. “We shall see.”

  He tried to reach out and grab her, but she laughed and took off insisting she had chores to do. He watched her disappear into the common shelter and once again glanced up at the darkening sky.

  “Don’t fail me,” he warned and stumped off to find Evan.

  Lachlan entered his cottage, shaking the rain off. He had been lucky to be nearby when the downpour started so he wasn’t soaked only damp along the shoulders and hair. A few minutes spent by the fire would take care of that.

  He turned and stopped, staring at the small table spread with food, and was that a jug of ale he spied? He then looked to see that the bed was made with fresh linens and a fine green wool blanket folded down.

  He sniffed the air. That was mutton stew, he was sure of it and then noticed the cauldron that hung over the flames. And there was a loaf of black bread on the table, not to mention tarts and sweet bread.

  Lachlan looked around, not that Terese could hide anywhere; the room was too small. Was this a gift, a feast for him alone? He certainly hoped not.

  The door suddenly opened and Terese popped in, rain dripping off her and holding a bunch of wild onions in her hand.

  “I forgot these for the stew,” she said with a shiver.

  Lachlan smiled and went to her. “You did this for us?”

  “It’s raining,” she grinned. “What else is there to do?” She sneezed.

  Lachlan reached out to her. “We need to get you out of those wet clothes.”

  She skirted around him. “First I need to get the onions into the stew or the flavor will suffer.”

  She went to the table and in seconds had the onions chopped and dumped in the stew. Then without thought she stripped off her clothes and hung them over a chair in front of the fire to dry.

  Lachlan savored her every movement. Her body was exquisite, narrow waist, rounded hips that would surely serve her well when birthing. The thought startled him and grabbed at his heart. Was he really thinking of children with Terese? He grinned. Yes, he could easily see her rounded with his child, and he would love her even more.

  Damn, but he did love her. How, when, where it had happened, he didn’t care. He only knew that he loved her down to his very soul and he’d let nothing, absolutely nothing stand in their way.

  He stripped before he went to her and wrapped himself around her.

  “I wondered how long it would take you to join me.” Her hand settled over his arms.

  He nibbled at her neck and nipped teasingly at her ear. “Was I fast enough?”

  “It’s slow and gentle I’m looking for, since the stew has time to cook yet and the storm looks as if it’s here to stay for a good while.”

  “Then we have all the time in the world,” he said and believed it so, since he intended to spend the rest of his life with her.

  He took hold of her hand and tugged her along to the bed. They settled beneath the folded blanket, though it was only their calves it covered. They lay on their sides facing each other. Their hands began to explore ever so gently and lovingly.

  “I will never grow tired of touching you,” he said between nipping at her lips and then settling a kiss on her that turned more heated than he had planned.

  Their passion took control and soon they were hungry and eager for each other. Their touches turned more demanding and their kisses more fiery. They both didn’t want to wait, couldn’t wait and they joined quickly; Lachlan slipping over and in her.

  It was magical between them, but then it was always magical between them. Each time was special, different and more than satisfying. And he never wanted this to end between them. He wanted to love like this forever with her, and he knew it would be so. He knew their love was strong enough to make it so.

  Before he slipped off her, with his breathing still labored he whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

  He rolled off her onto his back and lay there spent and content. He could hear her breathing had yet to calm, and wasn’t concerned when she did not immediately return his declaration of love. She would in time; he was sure of it.

  He wanted her to declare her love when she was ready, not because she felt obligated. She would need to choose her time to tell him what he already knew, and he would be patient. He wanted to savor the moment as she did now, though she could be pleasantly surprised.

  He turned on his side toward her, hoping to receive some comment from her and disappointedly saw that she was asleep, a slight purr pouting her lips. A pang of frustration struck him. Now he wondered if she had even heard him declare his love.

  He could wake her, but he really didn’t have the heart. He’d let her sleep and when she woke they would eat and afterward make love again, and then he would tell her again, after their breathing had calmed, after she was once again fully rational, after she was completely satiated from making love…he would tell her that he loved her and wanted to marry her.

  Chapter 18

  Terese sat at the head of the table in the common room deep in thought while the other women took their seats. Her heart ached and she felt close to tears but she kept both contained as she had when she heard Lachlan whisper in her e
ar, I love you.

  She had feigned sleep, though she had wanted to leap up and throw her arms around him and tell him the same. But she couldn’t, she had always known it wasn’t possible no matter how many times she dared daydream or hope for a miracle. She knew in her heart that in the end she would have to bid him farewell.

  Later after they had eaten, she had taken control of their lovemaking. And she made love with him as if it were their last time, which she feared it was.

  She savored every kiss, every intimate caress, lingering until she had driven them beyond reason and in their loving insanity they had joined like two lovers who could not get enough of each other or like two lovers’ last night together forever.

  She wanted to cry at the aching thought, but she reminded herself that she could no longer allow this to continue. It would grow only more difficult not only for him, but for her to say good-bye.

  Tears choked at her throat with the thought of never seeing him again, never talking with him, waking beside him, loving him. What a fool she had been to start this. She had thought she could easily keep it all in perspective and what did she do?

  She went and fell in love with him…madly and deeply in love with him.

  After they had made love, she had feigned sleep once again fearful of him not only repeating his declaration of love, but of her losing all sanity and blurting out her love for him. She had then waited until she was certain he was in the thick of sleep, and had snuck out of the cottage.

  Once at the common shelter she gathered the women for a meeting.

  “What’s wrong?” Rowena asked softly, knotting the tie of her night robe.

  Terese glanced around at each of the women, and from the looks of concern she suspected that they all were aware of her plight.

  Hester reached her hand out to her. “It’s time for the warriors to leave, isn’t it?’

  Terese was glad she phrased it as she did, for the thought of hearing aloud that it was time for Lachlan to leave pained her heart.

  “I don’t want Evan to leave,” Piper said tearfully.

  Terese had been so concerned with her own heartache she had forgotten about the other women who would possibly be affected by the warriors’ departure.

  “He’s only just kissed me,” Piper admitted. “And I liked it. And he doesn’t make fun of my connection to the woods; he shares it with me.”

  “Andrew hasn’t kissed me yet, though I know he wants to,” Megan said. “He’s patient with me and so gentle.” She chuckled. “And he makes me laugh and…” She choked back tears. “Lord, I never thought I’d care for another man ever again, but I find I do care for Andrew and would love to know him better.”

  “And you, Terese?” Rowena asked. “How do you feel about Lachlan?”

  A tear finally spilled from one eye and she let it trail down her cheek. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to meet a man to love, but I could easily love Lachlan. He’s charming, brave…” She laughed. “And a mighty fine lover.”

  The women grinned.

  Terese turned silent and the women waited, the laughter and grins fading.

  She swiped the tear off her face and her words were abrupt and stern. “Lachlan loves Terese, not Alyce.” She looked first to Piper then to Megan. “I know that neither of you would leave Everagis, but you both are welcome to invite Evan and Andrew to remain here if you wish. It would give them time to see if they would want to make a permanent home here with each of you.”

  “You should have the same for yourself,” Megan protested.

  “How I wish that could be so, but we all know it cannot,” Terese said. “Lachlan cannot remain here. He has a duty to his clan and his family. And I cannot go with him, for then my father will—”

  Hester interrupted. “Lachlan loves you; it’s obvious. He can request your hand in marriage from your father, and surely your father would agree.”

  Terese shook her head. “Lachlan isn’t interested in Alyce. He has referred to her as a shrew, and do you really think he would want to wed me once he learned that I have been lying to him all this time?”

  “But he has spent time with you,” Piper said. “Surely by now, he knows you are no shrew.”

  “I cannot take the chance,” Terese said. “If I admit my true identity and Lachlan doesn’t want me then my father will send men for me, and I will be forced to wed a man of my father’s choosing.”

  “What will you do?” Hester asked.

  Another tear slipped from Terese’s eye. “Tomorrow I tell Lachlan it is time for him and his men to leave.”

  “He will protest,” Hester warned.

  Terese fought the ache in her heart. “I will do whatever it takes to get him to leave.”

  Tears glistened in all of the women’s eyes.

  “We will be here for you and help anyway we can,” Rowena said and the other three women nodded.

  “I know,” Terese said forcing a smile that never surfaced. “And I will need your help when this is done, for my heart will break in so many pieces that I wonder if I will survive the pain.”

  Lachlan was upset to find Terese gone when he woke. She had done that a few times now and it disturbed him. He felt as if she was running from him, and he didn’t like the thought.

  He was also annoyed that he had never gotten another chance to tell her that he loved her and wished to marry her last night. He wanted this settled, for he was eager to take her home and introduce her to his family. He knew they would be surprised but pleased and that his two brothers would tease him unmercifully, but he looked forward to it, for they would truly share in his joy.

  His one disappointment was not being able to discover anything about Ronan, but with the mercenaries remaining in the area, he felt certain Cavan would send a group to further scout the area and make contact with the group.

  The thought of doing it himself had crossed his mind, but he considered the circumstances and the amount of men he had, and he had decided that the task called for more warriors than he had available.

  He would take all the information to his brother Cavan, and he would decide on how to proceed.

  Now he simply wanted to find Terese and start the process that would have them returning home, marrying, and spending the rest of their lives together.

  Evan nearly crashed into him when he stepped out of the cottage.

  “Can I stay, sir, can I stay?” Evan repeated nervously while bobbing up and down around him.

  “What?” Lachlan asked, but before Evan could say anything Andrew popped in his face.

  “I’m going to remain behind for a while to make sure the women are safe,” he said.

  Lachlan shook his head confused. “What are—”

  “Damn, I’m a happy man,” Boyd said, slapping Lachlan on the back.

  Lachlan backed away from the three of them. “What the hell are you all talking about?”

  They all turned silent.

  “What’s going on?” Lachlan demanded.

  Each man looked from one to the other as if they were trying to decide who would speak up.

  “Someone better tell me and fast,” Lachlan warned.

  Andrew was the brave one. “You better talk with Terese.”

  Lachlan felt a jolt to his gut.

  “Andrew’s right,” Boyd agreed. “It’s best you speak with Terese.”

  Evan nodded. “She’s at the common shelter.”

  Lachlan stormed off, his gut warning him that something was amiss, terribly amiss. And when he walked through the open door of the common house, Hester and Rowena made a hasty exit, leaving him alone with Terese.

  “Tell me,” he said sharply.

  “It’s nothing really and the others should not have said anything before I spoke with you,” she said casually. “It’s just that I feel it is time for you and your men to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “You have done all you can for us, and there truly is no reason for you to remain here, and I know many of your m
en wish to return home.”

  She seemed so cold, so unattached to her words, as if she cared not at all and was simply dismissing him.

  “What of us?” he asked bluntly.

  She shrugged. “What of us? We have enjoyed each other as we intended. Now it’s over.”

  Lachlan took a quick step toward her. She didn’t flinch or jump, she remained stoic where she stood.

  “You’re going to tell me that I mean nothing to you? That what we shared meant nothing?”

  “Of course it did,” she said and gave his arm a pat. “We spent a lovely time together, and I will remember you always. You know how it goes. You’ve bid good-bye to women before.”

  Lachlan felt as if she had slapped him hard in the face and he grew angry. “You’re telling me that you have no feelings at all for me? This has been nothing more than a tryst you easily cast aside?”

  “I care for you.”

  “You love me,” he insisted, “as I love you. I don’t know what this game is you play with me, but I’ll have none of it.”

  “We both knew this time would come.”

  There she was. He finally heard her, the woman he loved and who loved him. Her tone was soft and concerned, and he was sure her voice had trembled.

  He reached out to her, but she backed away from him. “Don’t do this to us. Don’t be afraid to let me love you or for you to love me.”

  She chuckled. “It’s nothing like that—”

  “It damn well is,” he shouted and she jumped.

  “Raising your voice and getting angry will not settle this matter,” she warned coldly.

  “There is nothing to settle,” he said, his anger not as defined. “We are in love and we will get married.”

  “No, we won’t,” she said adamantly. “You and your men will leave here at dawn tomorrow. We will provide you with all the provisions you require, and we will thank you for your generous help and that will be the end of it.”

  “You truly can’t mean this.”

  “I can and I do,” she said emphatically.

  He remained silent for a moment and then said, “If that is what you wish.”