by Jenna Stone
Anna raised his hand to her lips, and gently kissed each of his knuckles, looking up into his eyes as she did so.
There was a storm brewing in Rowan’s eyes, and the intensity that Anna saw in their green depths terrified her. Rowan had fought for her honor, and in doing so, he had exerted a silent decree of possession.
As if reading her mind, Rowan broke the silence, “I wanted to kill that bastard when I saw him touching you. He’s lucky that I didn’t.”
Anna knew that Rowan was dead serious. “I’m glad you didn’t…you can’t risk losing your chance at freedom over me,” she said, still holding Rowan’s bruised hand in her own.
Her words hung silently between them for a moment. They both knew that Rowan had already risked his opportunity to begin a new life, his chance at freedom and with every step closer to Williamsburg, his chances of capture increased. By now the ship’s register would have been read, and the Murray brothers had not been judicious about concealing their identities. If they were found out, they would surely be indentured immediately, and the precious hope of freedom and a new life would slip through their grasps.
“We could leave now, Anna. They’d never find us,” Rowan whispered, heart thudding anxiously in his chest, surprised that he had even uttered the words that he had worked so hard to repress.
Anna’s breath caught in her throat. She had denied her feelings for Rowan, pushed them away and fought them despite knowing he was what her heart wanted.
“You know that I can’t,” she said, stone faced.
“Then why the hell is it that when you kiss me…I know that yer fighting it, fighting this attraction or whatever it is between us just as hard as I am?” Rowan said between his clenched teeth, anger heavy on his bruised face. “Ye can’t or ye won’t, Anna? Which is it?”
Anna felt fresh tears welling up in her eyes, and she bit her lip in an effort to hold them back. She looked at his face knowing that Rowan was everything that she wanted and yet everything that she could not have.
Rowan reached out and grabbed bother of her hands in his, and leaned forward, locking her eyes with his own. “Come away with me, Anna. We can get away now; I promise that he’ll never find ye. Quinn and Malcolm and us, we can build a life, a good life for ourselves…we’ve got some money tae get us started,” his green eyes were intense as he searched her face. “I’ll make ye happy, Anna,” he whispered.
Tears rolled down Anna’s cheeks. “I know you would, Rowan. I can’t even dare to dream of how happy I would be to run away right now, to be with you, to let myself…”
“Then do it! Choose me, Anna,” he whispered as he raised her hands to his bloody lips and kissed them softly.
“You know that I can’t, Jonathan knows that I survived the ship wreck, there are men out looking for me, and my family…”
“Damn them all! Ye canna go through yer life always puttin’ others before yer own happiness. This is your life, Anna, choose it as ye will!”
“I have a duty to my family, and you if anyone should understand what that is like,” Anna said, voice heated now as she glanced over at Malcolm and Quinn.
“And above all, ye have a duty tae yerself that ye’re refusing tae acknowledge,” Rowan said, voice escalating. “And for that matter, ye have a duty tae me! God doesna put two people on this Earth, and have this…this feeling between them if they are not meant tae be together. Can ye no se it? Christ, can ye no feel it, Anna?”
“You know that I do,” she whispered, leaning forward and kissing him ever so lightly on his bruised lips. The taste of his blood was coppery in her mouth. “And I will think of you for the rest of my life, Rowan Murray…but I know that I can’t have you.”
“Then I’ll wait for you,” he vowed. “I’ll wait until I can have ye because now I doona think that there can be another, not after I’ve felt what it is between us.”
Malcolm’s boots crunched across the ground, announcing his most inopportune presence. “Ye really should bind those ribs, brother,” he said, crouching down next to Rowan.
“Buggar off,” Rowan said angrily, not in the mood to deal with the nagging of his brother, and wanting to finish his conversation with Anna. He glanced up at her as she wiped away the last of her tears; she looked relieved that Malcolm had woken and joined them.
“What did ye do tae her?” Malcolm asked accusingly as he saw the tears streaming down Anna’s face.
“I’m fine, Malcolm,” Anna lied coolly as she wiped away her tears.
“Ye better not have made her cry,” Malcolm threatened protectively, glowering down at his brother.
“Stop it, Malcolm. I said I’m fine,” Anna said dismissively. “We were just talking about what happened and I got emotional. I’m fine.”
Rowan exhaled slowly, shakily from the pain of his broken ribs. “I’m going tae be fine, Anna,” he whispered, seeking to give her an excuse that would explain her tears to Malcolm. “Can ye bind up my chest as ye were talking about earlier? It might help.”
“Sure,” Anna said, glad to have something purposeful to do with her now shaking hands. She reached up and unbuttoned the first three buttons on his shirt, then slid it up carefully over his head, causing him to wince in pain in reaction to lifting his right arm.
She tore a strip of material from the lining of her dress, causing Malcolm’s face to turn crimson as she exposed her legs.
He stood abruptly and walked back over to where Quinn was sleeping.
“Holler if ye need me, Anna,” he called over his shoulder, apparently still not trusting Rowan to be alone with her.
Anna wound the fabric from her dress tightly around Rowan’s ribcage, securing it with a knot.
“Aye, it feels better already,” Rowan lied through his teeth, seeking to lift Anna’s spirits.
“Liar,” she said, not buying his rouse. “Let me help you lower down to the ground so that you can sleep,” she said, standing and extending her hand to Rowan, taking his left hand in both of hers and helping him slowly lower himself down to the ground.
“Bloody hell!” he exclaimed under his breath, groaning as he tried to find a comfortable position.
Anna grabbed a blanket and lowered herself down to lie next to Rowan, fitting her body up against his and trying to be careful not to bump into his ribs. Unspoken words hung heavily between them, and Anna began to speak but the words choked in her throat.
“Now I feel better,” Rowan whispered, and saving his unfinished battle for her heart for tomorrow, he kissed Anna’s hair then drifted off to sleep.
Men. Anna huffed in her mind. One minute he was pouring out his heart, begging her to choose him, and the next his breath was hot on her neck as he slept, holding her tight against him.
Anna swallowed hard and felt the burning in her throat that happened only when she tried to choke back tears. She held her emotions inside until she felt Rowan’s rhythmic breathing take on the characteristics of deep slumber, and then she let the first warm tear trickle down her cheek.
This is my fault, its gone too far. I’m going to end this tonight, she vowed silently as she wriggled out from under Rowan’s arm and looked at him one more time in the darkness.
He was perfect, despite the bloody cut running across his angular jaw and the bruises that covered his face. His battle wounds make him even more beautiful to her, more beautiful because he had acquired those wounds defending her. He was everything that she had ever wanted. And to make things worse, he had just told her so openly, so honestly that he wanted her too.
Anna realized right then that she was falling in love with Rowan Murray. Every so quietly, she stood up, brushed off her skirts and walked into the darkness, knowing full well that she was about to break Rowan’s heart as well as her own.
Chapter Eight
Rowan awoke just before dawn; his rough transition into wakefulness gave him a painful reminder of the injuries that he had sustained last night. His broken ribs throbbed terribly, and a relentless headache pounded in hi
s skull.
Something wasn’t right. His eyes flew open. Anna.
“Anna?” he croaked as he pushed himself up painfully from the forest floor. “Anna!” he said now, more urgently, voice wringing with alarm. He was on his feet, panicked eyes scanning the trees and dense undergrowth of the forest, still hazy with morning’s first light.
“Anna’s gone! Get up ye lazy bastards!” Rowan bellowed, frantic now to find her.
Quinn rolled over and squinted up at his brother.
“She left last night,” he said lazily as he gathered his blanket more securely around his shoulders to fight off the chill of the morning.
“She what?” Rowan growled angrily as he hastily balled up his blanket and tied it to his mare’s saddle.
“After ye fell asleep, she left. The lass has a fair bit more sense about her than ye do, and I figured that she made up her mind tae leave before she did ye anymore harm, sae I pretended tae be asleep and let her go.”
“Ye just let her go? Just like that ye let her go?” Rowan exclaimed, voice surging in exasperation with his brother.
Quinn nodded, and yawned loudly.
“Have ye any idea how stupid…how dangerous it is for her tae be out in the forest at night alone? Rowan raged, pacing back and forth and glowering down at Quinn.
“She’ll be fine, she’s plenty capable. This place is crawling with English, they’ll get her tae Arbor.”
Rowan shook his head in blatant disapproval. “I canna believe ye, brother. Ye ken that I…that I care about her and…”
“Yes, I know precisely, Rowan,” Quinn snapped, cutting his brother off. “I can see it written all over yer face. I’ve watched ye fall for her, and I warned ye…”
“I couldna help it!” Rowan raged. “Do ye think that I wanted this?” he asked, eyes wild. “Do ye think that I asked for this?”
“No, I doona, but this is the best thing that could have happened – her leaving ye. Ye need tae let her go and think of our future here. Leave her be,” Quinn threatened.
“I’m going after her,” Rowan said sternly as he untied the mare from her tether. She pranced eagerly him, ready to be on the road.
“She’s made her decision brother,” Quinn said, rising to his feet and glaring up at his younger brother, eyes clouded with warning. “If ye really love her, ye should let her go. Let her find the life that she was meant tae lead before she met ye.”
“If anyone understands what it means tae love someone, it should be you! I’ll no live the rest of my life wonderin’ if I should have gone after her,” Rowan said as he mounted the horse. “If it was Mairi…”
“Don’t ye dare bring Mairi into this,” Quinn seethed, eyes dark and foreboding.
“I’m going after her,” Rowan said defiantly and kicked the mare into motion, guiding her towards the road.
When he reached the pale dust of the road, he saw the unmistakable pattern; crimson contrasting with the light Earth.
His breath choked in this throat. Blood.
***
Quinn and Malcolm caught up with Rowan at the edge of a small town just before dusk. Rowan accepted their presence, but did not speak to his brothers. Unspoken words hung heavy in the air between the brothers.
Rowan was on edge, and shadow of worry was now openly visible on Rowan’s unshaven face.
Rowan reined his horse to a stop outside of a small inn and dismounted painfully, holding his ribs as he forced his body upright. He was stiff from riding all day, and his injuries hurt more than he was willing to show his brothers. He walked into the inn to inquire about Anna, and walked back out a moment later, shaking his head in signal to his brothers.
Fear was beginning to grow inside of Rowan. He was determined to find her, determined to set things right between them. She could not just walk out of his life in the middle of the night and leave so many words unspoken.
Repeating the same ritual for the third time, Rowan painfully dismounted his horse and tied her to the hitching post. He walked into the small inn and his heart nearly stopped beating.
There sat Anna smiling at the hotel bar, seated on a tall stool enjoying a mug of ale, surrounded by the very same soldiers that had tried to kill him last night. Rowan felt his mouth drop open in surprise, and in the same instant, he felt his blood begin to boil as he spotted the man who had dared to lay hands upon Anna.
Involuntarily, a low growl escaped from his throat and all at once, the pack of English Soldiers and Anna turned to look at him.
Anna’s eyes flew open in recognition, and her mug of ale fell to the stone floor with a loud clatter.
No one moved.
“I don’t want any trouble,” the pot-bellied inn keeper said disparagingly as he shook his head from behind the counter. He scratched his rust colored beard while contemplating how to best diffuse the situation between the Scotsman and the soldiers while still earning himself a hefty profit.
“After listening to the lady, it sounds like what happened last night was all a big misunderstanding,” the innkeeper said firmly, knowing that he needed to tread cautiously or all hell might break loose. “Why the hell didn’t you tell them that she is engaged to marry Lieutenant Arbor?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in question at Rowan and shaking his head in the direction of the soldiers.
“Well, let me see. It could have been that they did no give me a chance tae tell them anything because he was too busy trying tae rape her and they were too busy tryin’ tae kill me,” Rowan said angrily, muscles tense and ready to attack at the slightest movement from the soldiers. His hatred for them boiled hot in his veins.
“And for their rudeness, they should buy you at least a pitcher of ale,” the innkeeper nodded at the barkeep, who had already begun to draw a pitcher of ale for said purpose. “As I said, this appears to have been a misunderstanding, and now that it is settled we can all get along,” he said with an air of warning heavy in his voice. “I’ll have no trouble here tonight.”
Anna refused to make eye contact with Rowan, knowing that she might fall apart if she did. She was ashamed of leaving him without an explanation, without a goodbye, but it was the only way that she could leave him.
Rowan stormed forward and grabbed Anna’s hand, “What did they do tae ye?” he asked, his voice angry as he examined the thick bandage that was wound around her forearm.
“It’s nothing,” Anna said, jerking her hand away from his grasp. “They didn’t do anything to me. I fell in the forest last night and I cut my arm,” she said, cradling her arm in her lap.
“It was foolish of ye tae leave in the middle of the night,” he said, exasperated, not caring that the eyes of the entire English squadron were intently focused on their conversation.
“It’s none of your concern, Rowan,” Anna fired back as she glared up at Rowan in challenge. “I’m fine.”
The innkeeper cleared his throat, enjoying the drama but still seeking to avoid a costly brawl in his establishment. “I’ve got a room for the lady,” he continued, seeking to stay in the good graces of Lieutenant Arbor by providing his best accommodations to his fiancée, “But the rest of you will have to take up in the barn with the horses,” he said, eyes flashing over towards Rowan, who was now flanked on either side by Quinn and Malcolm.
Quinn nodded in agreement, not being able to muster the energy or the will to fight with the innkeeper. He knew that the inn could not be more than half full.
Rowan paid for Anna’s room, and the innkeeper slid the key across the counter and into his waiting hand. Anna reached out to take the key from Rowan, and he stuffed it hastily into his pocket, scowling at her.
“After what happened last time ye were left alone with them, I’d feel better if I walked ye up tae yer room and saw that ye were safely locked inside,” Rowan said, eyebrows still knit together in a scowl as he remembered his previous altercations with the English. “I’ll meet ye out in the barn shortly,” he said, dismissing Quinn and Malcolm and starting for the stairs.
&n
bsp; He fitted the rusty key into the lock and swung open the door to the small chamber. The small bed was covered by a shabby quilt, an ancient looking rocking chair sat in the corner and there was a rickety bedside table. Rowan ushered Anna into the room, and went to the business of starting a fire in the small hearth. Being satisfied that the fire had taken; he stood and brushed the soot from his hands, walking towards the door.
He could not talk to her now, not while he was so shaken and unprepared. Rowan planned to go to the barn, collect his thoughts and talk to her in the morning. He wanted to make sure that he did this right, to make sure that his anger at the fact that Anna had left him did not cloud his thoughts.
“Lock the dead bolt as soon as I’m out the door. I’ll wait to leave until I hear it.”
Anna was puzzled.
He’s going to leave? He chased me down and now he’s going to leave without speaking to me?
“Stay,” Anna said, standing next to the small bed. “I owe you an explanation.”
Rowan shook his head and rested his hand on the door knob. “No, Anna. I canna.”
“Stay with me, Rowan,” she said more urgently now, closing the distance between them and pulling his hand from the door knob. “I don’t want to be alone here. I’m scared of them…and if you’re all the way out in the barn…”
“If ye are so damn scared, then why did ye take off in the middle of the night? God knows what might have happened tae ye! When I found that you were gone, and saw yer blood on the road I….” Rowan thundered, his anger making it difficult for him to put his feelings into words. He raked his hand through his hair and scowled down at Anna, trying to collect his thoughts. “Ye’ll be fine, Anna. Look at this lock,” he said, pointing at the thick metal bolt that would be sure to keep intruders out of the room.
“And with your ribs, the last place that you should be sleeping is on the ground!” Anna said, trying to strengthen her plea to get Rowan to stay. “You can have the bed, and I’ll…I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“It doesna matter much where I sleep, they’re still going tae hurt like hell,” Rowan said, knowing full well that she had no intentions of sleeping on the floor.