by Amy Jarecki
She used her momentum to swing the oar above Alexander’s head. It slammed into John’s chest. Upon impact, the makeshift weapon flew from her grasp. Reeling backward, Jane watched the earl’s body topple from his horse and slam against the deck with a squelching thud. Unable to break her fall, she crashed to her back.
Alexander raced beside her. “My God, Jane, are ye hurt?”
She loved the sound of his voice when he spoke her name. Reaching up, she clasped his handsome face and drew his lips near. “I’m well enough to kiss you.”
He crushed his mouth over hers. She threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape, reveling in the wildness of his taste. Jane’s rugged Highlander had risked his life for her rescue and she would never again let him go. His tongue swirled while he gathered her in his arms. Her insides burst with a fluttering of joy.
Alexander sucked in a deep breath and stood, pulling her up by the elbows. “We must away to the skiffs afore we face another attack.”
Behind them, iron clanged as the Highland warriors fought their way down the pier.
Alex dashed to a small boat tied at the end of the dock. “I’ll step in and help ye aboard.” He climbed into the little boat and stood firm. Looking up, he offered his hand. “M’lady.”
She placed her palm in his. Rough fingers encased hers. “How do you expect to flee to the Highlands in this?”
Alexander chuckled and pointed to an enormous galleon at anchor in the harbor with sails unfurled. “These wee boats will serve to ferry us to me ship.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth. “That grand galleon is yours?”
“Aye, The Golden Sun. Taken in battle by me father and passed to me upon his death.”
By the time Jane settled upon a bench, Alexander’s men had arrived, panting and bloodied.
“Launch the skiffs afore more English bastards can swing their puny swords at us,” shouted a Highlander with flaxen hair. He clambered into the boat and took up an oar.
“That’s me brother, Ian.” Alexander moved to the bench beside Jane while the other men climbed aboard with Mr. Cox. “Ye must forgive his vulgar tongue. He’s the one who mixed the potion.”
Jane grinned at the handsome man—though not as ruggedly alluring as Alexander. “My thanks, sir knight.” She looped her arm through the crook in Alexander’s elbow and held him close. Over her shoulder, soldiers surrounded the earl. She stared at them until an excited yip resounded from the ship—Max’s bark.
***
Clutching the rope for dear life, the crewmen winched Jane onto the deck. Three pairs of hands pulled her over the rail. “Welcome aboard, m’lady,” said a rather spry sailor with a Highland burr she’d grown to adore.
“Thank you.” Once on her feet, Jane quickly took in her surroundings. Ropes hung from the rigging, the sails billowed with the wind. The boat groaned as if begging to be set to sea. From the bow, Max yipped, his toenails tapping the deck as he ran to greet her. Jane clapped her hands. “Come here, boy!”
Max skidded to her, spun in a circle three times and jumped on her leg. Jane bent down and scrubbed her fingers into the dog’s back. He slurped his tongue across her face. “Oh, you dear ragamuffin.”
Alexander threw his leg over the rail. “He’s mighty glad to see ye, m’lady.”
“However did you find him?”
Ian bent down and patted Max’s head. “He followed us from yer cottage.”
“I shall be forever grateful that you took him in.” Jane watched them pull Mr. Cox aboard from his perch on the winch.
A musket fired from the pier. With a jolt, Jane grasped Alexander’s arm.
“We’re nay out of this yet.” He placed a firm and reassuring hand across her shoulders. “All hands man yer battle stations. Weigh anchor!”
“Aye, captain,” the men brayed.
Jane clutched her fists under her chin. “Do you think they’ll come after us?”
Alexander pointed. “Is that the sheriff on the pier?”
Squinting, Jane scarcely made out his red and gold tunic. “Yes, that is he.”
Chains groaned and the ship swayed while it got underway toward the open sea. Alex grasped her hand. “Come with me.”
He led her up to the quarterdeck at the bow of the ship and scanned the shore. “It looks as if the sheriff hasn’t a warship at his disposal. I doubt we’ll hear from them again, but a sea captain can nay tell his men to stand down when in enemy waters.”
Jane marveled at the grandeur of Alexander’s galleon. Decks clean and well maintained, it was as impressive a ship as she’d ever seen. She rested her hands on the rail. “I thought you would be long gone. How did you find me?”
The sun brought out a brilliant blue in Alexander’s eyes, and he smoothed his fingers down her back. “Your Mr. Cox had something to do with it. I worked aboard a fishing galley for a few days, saw The Golden Sun anchored in the harbor when we returned with our catch…and then when I located me men, Mr. Cox appeared from the crowd and informed me of your plight.”
“’Tis a miracle you were still in Whitehaven.”
Alexander pressed his lips to her temple. “’Twas meant to be. For I cannot live without ye.”
Jane closed her eyes and allowed herself to savor his words. Never in her life did she consider she would be happy sailing to the Highlands on a grand ship, completely and utterly in love with a Scottish laird.
***
Alexander stood at the rail beside Jane and watched the shores of England fade, replaced by the verdant outline of the Scottish mainland. He laced his fingers through her exquisitely soft, fine-boned hands and nuzzled into her silken tresses. “I’m so overwhelmingly sorry for leaving ye in the wood.”
“But you had to go.” She pulled her hand away and stepped aside. “I acted selfishly. I was terrified to reveal my past because I was afraid. I am the one who should be asking for forgiveness.”
“Nay.” After all Jane had endured, he couldn’t imagine her begging an apology from anyone. “Now that I know…”
“I need to tell you what happened. Like you said, love cannot grow between two people when dark secrets simmer beneath.”
“There’s no need.” Alexander pulled her into his arms and breathed in the sultry scent of her tresses. “Ye were battered. Any man who raises a hand against a woman is a coward and deserves the gravest of punishments.”
Her arms tightened around his waist. “But I took Roderick’s life.”
“Because he was attacking ye. If ye hadn’t acted, he would have killed ye—I ken men like that. Sooner or later, ye would have ended up dead.”
She kept her eyes downcast. “I know in my heart your words are true, but I took his life, not he mine. My actions were still wrong.”
“I do no’ believe it.” He raised her chin with the crook of his finger and met her gaze. “I’ve killed in battle afore—this is no different. Every living soul has a God-given right to protect himself, be it lass or lad. Christ, Jane, ye cannot even bring yerself to kill a chicken. I do no’ believe ye could ever take a life unless provoked to defend yerself.”
She smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. “’Tis true. I cannot bear to harm any innocent creature.”
“Ye see? Ye’re the most kindhearted woman I’ve ever known.”
She cupped his face in her palms. “I promise I will never keep anything from you again.”
“Nor I you. I love ye, Jane.”
Sultry as summer’s heat, Jane rose up on her toes and Alexander met her lips with a low growl. She tasted of honey and pure woman. He drew her soft body against his chest, never wanting to release his hold. “Marry me.”
“Yes.” She ran a delicate finger over his lips. “I would spend the rest of my days with no other. I love you to the depths of my soul, Laird Alexander.”
Other Books by Amy Jarecki:
Scottish Historical Romances
Captured by the Pirate Laird
The Highland Henchman
Beauty and the Barbarian
Highland Dynasty Series (Coming 2015)
Pict/Roman Romances
Rescued by the Celtic Warrior (October, 2014)
Celtic Maid (December, 2014)
Contemporary Romances
Virtue
Chihuahua Momma
Visit Amy’s web site and sign up for her newsletter: www.amyjarecki.com
Table of Contents
Return of the Highland Laird
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Other Books by Amy Jarecki