The Highlander Who Loved Me

by Adrienne Basso

  Davina shuddered. “Perhaps they dinnae mean us any harm?” The look of disbelief he sent her way made her throat go dry. “Mayhap we can bargain with them?” she croaked.

  “They dinnae appear to be in a bargaining mood.”

  The men were climbing steadily, spreading out in a formation that covered all avenues of escape. “We’re trapped,” she whispered bleakly.

  “Not if we can find a way down where we won’t meet them coming up,” James muttered.

  “’Tis impossible. They have fanned out to cover all the pathways. We willnae be able to slip by them.”

  James shifted his stance and looked down at the gray waters of the loch. His brow furrowed for a moment, then suddenly his expression brightened.

  “Ye have a plan?” she asked hopefully.

  “Aye.” He stared again at the rippling water and Davina gasped in sudden panic. “James, ye cannae mean fer us to jump into the loch?”

  “It’s not that far. Malcolm and I did it often as lads.”

  “In the middle of winter? We’ll freeze to death.”

  He flashed a smile so wicked her heart leaped. “Better to risk a watery grave than to be taken by an unknown foe.”

  Davina stared down at the murky surface of the water. They were so high! Her eyes widened as she turned back to him. “Is there no other way?”

  He shook his head and her heart sank further. “I’m not a very strong swimmer,” she admitted.

  “Neither am I.”

  Davina’s head whipped around at the quip. She nearly screeched when she saw his eyes dancing with amusement, but then her fear calmed. If James was able to tease her, he must have complete confidence in their chances of escape.

  “We probably need not worry about the swimming,” she said quietly. “Most likely the fall will kill us.”

  “That’s the spirit.” James’s lips tightened into a cheeky grin. “Will ye trust me to keep ye safe?”

  “Aye.” Her lower lip trembled and she caught it between her teeth. She did not want James to think her fear was born out of a lack of confidence in him.

  “Hold on to me tightly,” he whispered.

  “Always.” Heart pounding, Davina pressed herself against his chest. His strong arms encircled her and she sighed, reveling in the warmth and power of his body. She had every faith in his ability to protect her; yet she knew the odds were not in their favor.

  “I love ye, Davina Armstrong.”

  His words startled her so completely, for an instant she forgot to be afraid. Her eyes were level with his and in them she saw the truth of those magical words. Her heart soared.

  “I love ye, James McKenna.”

  His bright smile gave her a burst of pure joy. She placed a hasty kiss on his cheek, then buried her head into his neck. He tightened his grip on her. Davina could feel his powerful muscles tense as he crouched, then leaped forward. She tried—and failed—to prevent the scream that tore from her throat as she felt herself falling.

  Frantically, she clung to James’s strength, though it was hardly necessary. He held her so tightly, there was no chance that she would slip away from him.

  They hit the water with unspeakable force. The wet, biting cold immediately wrapped around Davina’s lungs, stealing her breath. Another scream lodged in her throat as she felt them sinking deeper and deeper into the frigid loch. Branches, twigs, and slick vegetation scraped against her body as they fell deeper and deeper.

  I love ye, Davina Armstrong.

  The words echoed in her heart and mind, giving her strength to face the cold, black darkness that surrounded them. She let her body go limp, allowing the water to claim her as she fell. But then suddenly they were no longer sinking. Davina could feel James kicking and pulling their bodies upward, toward the surface.

  She tried to help, but had difficulty making her frozen limbs cooperate. Still, she did the best that she could, copying James’s movements. Her lungs were near to bursting when they finally broke through the surface. Gasping and sputtering, Davina held tightly to James as he treaded water, keeping them both afloat.

  The band of men appeared on the mountain ridge. Davina could hear their shouts of anger, but could not decipher the words, as they pointed down at her and James.

  “Let’s pray they have no bows and arrows,” James said, as he towed her through the icy water.

  Davina marveled at how he had somehow managed to keep her head above the water as he moved. Her limbs felt leaden; she could barely make them move and the wet material of her cloak and gown were like stones, pulling her down. Yet James appeared to have no difficulty pulling them toward the shore.

  When they reached the muddy bank, she struggled out of the water, crawling on her knees, her breath bursting in short pants.

  “Are ye all right, Davina?”

  She lifted her head at the absurd question, squinting at James through the wet, tangled strands of her hair. Her braid had come loose and the sodden mass was now covering her face.

  “I’m frozen to the bone, half-drowned, and scared of out my wits,” she chattered through her teeth.

  “Och, it does my heart good to hear the indignity in yer voice,” James said, as he swept her into his arms and settled her over his shoulder.

  Upended, Davina felt the bile rise in her throat. “I can walk,” she insisted. “Just give me a minute to catch my breath.”

  “We dinnae have a minute to waste,” James grunted. “Those men will be down the mountain soon. Our only chance to prevent them from taking ye is to hide in the forest.”

  “Why do ye assume it’s me that they are after?” Davina huffed, rising up on his shoulder. “Have ye never made an enemy?”

  “Never one that’s so persistent,” he answered grimly.

  Her teeth chattered and she tried to clamp them shut. She slumped over his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him, grateful that the heat of his body provided some warmth.

  “How far are we from the castle?” she asked.

  “Far enough,” he grunted. “We’d have to run through open fields to reach the gates, making us an easy target. I know somewhere that we can hide that is closer.”

  “Put me down, James. We’ll move faster if I run with ye.”

  He didn’t answer, nor did he set her down. Instead, he began running through the forest, hurling over large rocks, ducking to avoid the branches from slapping their faces. Davina could feel thorns catching on the fabric of her wet cloak and she worried about the scratches James was most likely getting on various parts of his body.

  He stopped for a moment to get his bearings in the dense woods and Davina slowly wiggled herself down off his shoulder. When he allowed it, she realized that he must be tiring.

  “It’s not much farther,” he said. “But it’s best to keep moving quickly, so they cannae find our trail.”

  Davina nodded and took the outstretched hand he offered. They resumed their mad dash through the woods. Even though she heard no one in pursuit, James set a grueling pace.

  After but a few minutes, Davina felt an ache in her side. Her lungs were bursting with the pain of each labored breath, her limbs ached from carrying the weight of her wet clothing, yet she stubbornly refused to complain, refused to ask him to stop or slow down, because she knew he would merely nod his head, pick her up, and carry her.

  Nay, she would not be a burden and drain his strength. She would persevere. Suddenly, James came to a halt. Davina stumbled forward, knocking into his back. With a startled cry, she fought for balance.

  Strong arms captured her. Lifting her chin, she gave James a wan smile of thanks, trying to hide the exhaustion from her face.

  Why have we stopped? She would have asked the question, if she could have found the breath to speak.

  “Come,” he said. “We are here.”

  Truly? Davina heaved a sigh. They had stopped in a copse of trees that looked no different from any others they had just run through. How could he be so certain?

  Motionin
g for Davina to follow, James tramped through the dense bushes. She dutifully dogged his footsteps, growing more confused as they drew deeper into thick brush.

  Then James dropped to his knees and began to crawl. Clamping her chattering teeth firmly together, Davina did the same. He started poking at a thorny bramble bush and she realized it hid the entrance to a low cave.

  “We have to crawl on our bellies to get inside,” James said, speaking to her over his shoulder.

  Davina instinctively reared back. “Good Lord.”

  “I know ye dinnae like tight spaces, yet ye found the courage to rescue Lileas from the crater. This will be easier. The space is not so closed once we are inside.”

  Trusting that he was being truthful, Davina ignored the discomfort that assailed her. She imitated his movements, crawling on her belly. Sharp rocks dug into her tender flesh, but she kept moving.

  There was nothing but darkness and the rustling sound of James’s body as he pulled himself forward. At one point she could barely lift her head without hitting it on the cave ceiling. Panic swept through her, but she kept going.

  Finally, they were able to stand upright. Davina swayed with momentary dizziness, but she willed away the queasiness. It took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, to realize that the ominous shadows were really only harmless bits of logs and rock formations.

  “We must wait to build a fire to dry out our garments or else the smoke will draw those men to us,” James said.

  Davina crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. As much as she longed for the warmth of the flames, she knew James was right. At least they were out of the wind.

  Her gaze went around the cave, taking in the gloomy darkness. “Is that water I hear?”

  “Aye. Just up ahead.”

  James took her hand and guided her farther into the cave. Davina kept her eyes on her feet, carefully picking her way over the stones. After a few moments, they entered a second chamber, far larger than the first.

  She lifted her chin when they stopped, gasping in astonishment. The area in which they stood was massive in size. Soaring columns of twisted rocks that appeared to be floating in midair were scattered around them, making her feel small and insignificant.

  The top of the cave was shaped like a beehive, with shafts of light streaming in from an opening at the peak. Davina craned her neck so she could better see the distinct color variations in the layers of rock that made up the walls and ceiling. Some were dark in color, but others shimmered like silver and gold. It was an enchanting, magical place; a place one imagined to be inhabited by fairies and other mystical creatures.

  But the most incredible part was the circular-shaped hole in the ground filled with water. It was fed by a narrow stream trickling down the side of the cave. Vapors of steam rose from the pool’s surface, beckoning with its inviting warmth.

  “I’ve heard tales of hidden water pools, but have never seen one,” she said.

  “Malcolm and I accidentally discovered it when we were lads. Our father insisted we stay away, but that proved impossible once we took our first swim.”

  “Why would anyone want to keep such a magnificent place like this a secret?” she asked.

  James shrugged. “We were told not to reveal where it was hidden, nor were we ever to return because the cave was cursed.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Nay! How can something this magical be cursed?”

  His gaze swept her face. “It’s the perfect spot fer a lovers’ tryst.”

  She swallowed. “Aye.”

  “But a hundred years ago the serenity of the cave was marred by death and violence. According to my father, two lovers met a most gruesome death at the hands of the woman’s husband after being discovered here by him. Mad with grief and remorseful over the deed, the husband slit his own throat. Months later, the three bodies were found in here together.”

  “How awful.”

  “My father insisted that their restless spirits would haunt the cave fer all eternity. But I think he conjured the tale in order to keep us away.”

  “Well, it probably wasn’t safe fer two mischievous lads to be here on their own,” Davina concluded.

  “A fair point. However, I also believe he enjoyed taking my mother here and wanted to make certain he had privacy.”

  As Davina looked again at the pool, she could not help but agree that it was the ideal spot for lovers to frolic. “Haunted or not, I’m glad that ye remembered where to find the cave. I was near frozen being outside in the cold wind.”

  “Never fear, I know precisely how to get ye warm.”

  “James,” she scolded.

  His brow lifted mockingly. “Ye have a most wicked mind, Lady Davina.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “I, on the other hand, am a most practical man. A few minutes in this water is all ye need to be warm again. Now, come here and I’ll help ye undress.”

  The promise of warmth overcame any trepidation she had about removing her clothing. Teeth chattering, she followed his command. He flung her wet cloak over a large boulder, then knelt before her. She put her hands upon his shoulders and braced herself against him as he tugged her leather boots off her feet, then removed the wet woolen stockings. Wiggling her aching toes, Davina began rubbing her feet together.

  Next off was her gold circlet and short veil. The thin fabric was already dry in some places, most likely because of the speed at which they had run through the forest. Gazing longingly at the warm water, she presented her back to James, but the wet laces of her gown were neigh impossible to untie.

  “Cut them,” she said wearily.

  “Nay, I can loosen them if ye just stand still,” James insisted stubbornly.

  Davina stood quietly, feeling his fingers fumbling with the wet knots. She was about to repeat her request that he simply cut them, when she felt the fabric give way.

  “Leave my chemise,” she requested, suddenly feeling an unexpected shyness at standing naked before him.

  He ignored her, stripping her of her final garment. He tossed it toward a flat rock. From the corner of her eye, Davina saw it glance off the top and slide to the ground. In an effort to keep her modesty, she crossed her arms and clutched her breasts as she approached the pool, but James seemed unaffected by the sight of her unclothed body.

  She sat at the edge, dangling her legs in the water. It was hot! Davina was contemplating the best way to get immersed in this glorious warmth when she felt James standing behind her.

  “Let me help ye,” he said briskly.

  His hands spanned her waist and he gently lowered her into the pool. She kicked anxiously, feeling for the bottom as the water rose higher and higher, then sighed with relief when her feet touched solid rock.

  The water lapped over her shoulders and her flesh tingled at the heat, prickling back to life. She turned and looked up at James, kneeling at the edge. Their eyes met. He dipped his hand into the water, swirling it through his fingers.

  His hand touched her shoulder and she tensed. But it felt so tender, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the sensual stroke of his strong fingers.

  “Are ye going to join me?” she asked.

  He leaned forward. A tremor moved through her and awareness sprang to life. Davina knew that she must be blushing fiercely. To hide her embarrassment, she flicked her fingers and splashed him playfully. Water droplets ran down his cheek, though a few clung stubbornly to his lashes. He looked young and boyish.

  “I’ll wait fer my turn until ye’re finished,” he replied.

  He stood and walked away. She watched him scour the cave, collecting a few small branches and what appeared to be a fur blanket. As he stacked the wood in a small pile, she realized he was going to try to light a fire.

  “Is it safe?” she asked.

  “Aye. I’d forgotten how high it is in here. If I keep the blaze small, by the time the smoke escapes through the top of the cave, it will be too weak to be seen.”

  Trusting his word, Dav
ina pushed herself off the edge of the pool. She stretched out on her back and floated, letting the warmth surround her, wishing she had some soap. It felt wonderful to rinse the muck from the loch off her body and out of her hair. But the pool water in which she now swam had a decidedly mineral odor, reminiscent of rotten eggs.

  Davina drifted to the center of the pool, then cautiously swam back to the edge. She could see that James had been most successful in his endeavors—a small fire was burning directly under the opening in the cave ceiling.

  It would provide a bit of warmth in the vast space, but more importantly aid in drying their clothes. Now that she was delightfully warm, the idea of putting on her cold, wet garments was most distasteful.

  “Come and soak yer cold bones, James. Though I confess I could stay in here fer hours,’tis past time that ye took yer ease.”

  He moved into the shaft of light near the pool and for a moment all Davina could do was stare. Hands on his hips, James stood dressed only in his brais, which were molded to his legs like a second skin. Glistening with moisture, his naked chest was all hard muscle and sinew strength. A sight of pure perfection, in spite of the scars that marred his side and shoulder.

  “Are ye getting out?” he asked.

  She swallowed hard. Then nodded, not trusting her voice.

  “Here. It’s not much, but it will keep ye covered until yer clothes dry.”

  She pulled herself out of the water and took the molted fur he offered with a nod of thanks, wrapping it around her shoulders. It was not very clean and smelled of the earth, but Davina didn’t care. “Come, snuggle inside with me, James.”

  His brow rose. “Are ye trying to seduce me, lass?”

  A small, nervous laugh bubbled from her chest. “I’m certain I look a fright. Ye would be a desperate man indeed to find me attractive in this state.”

  “I’m confident we are hidden from our mysterious foes, but ’tis best not to be distracted.”

  She nodded in agreement. Yet unable to stop herself, Davina put her fingers on his chest, needing to feel his solid strength. It calmed her, yet also intrigued. Of their own volition, her fingers glided sensually over his chest, swirling through the crisp hairs, glancing over the firm nipples.