Evan beamed at him. “You do me a great honor.”
“I give you only what I would have you deserve.” Conall prayed that his brother would seek to deserve the responsibility he was about to place upon him. “On the morrow, we begin your training. I would see all placed in your hands when the Bruce summons me back.” In his head, Conall heard his father’s voice in his, the stern yet praising guidance into the responsibilities of being laird.
“Aye, Conall, I will do what ‘tis needed. But what about Peter?” The loaded question had his thoughts whirling. He had yet to confront his would-be uncle with his omissions, having been locked away with Logan and Tearlach for the whole of the day. Such I will handle this eve.
“Peter will remain to guide you, but all decisions will ultimately be yours. His loyalty to me is what I question, nay his concern for the clan.” Apparently, he had decided to forgive some of the man’s deceptions. He acted for the clan’s peace, which is noble, even if he neglected me.
“Are you going to speak with the lass?” Evan asked as his gaze wandered to the cliffs. “Sarah has spoken with none since the events in the hall, or so says Robena.”
“Leave the lasses be, Evan. You ken that ‘tis nay our way to force those who serve the clan to warm your bed.” Such lessons his father had taught him as he grew to manhood.
Evan chuckled. “‘Tis no force, brother, and nay has there been a bed.”
“Leave them be,” his voice a harsh command. “Think of the clan, nay of your selfish desires.” But Evan only continued to laugh.
“I am nay a selfish man, I always seek to please before I take my pleasure. Mayhap ‘tis why she comes back for more.”
“Enough, Evan. Let me have the remainder of the day with the notion you will act as a fine laird, nay one who wastes the day chasing all in a skirt.” His brother had a knack for trying his patience while innocently goading him with his lack of experience with women. But then Conall couldn’t claim to be a saint. His coin had bought more than a few raised skirts over the years. Such was the way of men who lived in service to the Bruce.
“Aye, you are pleased with me for the day and I will cease to remind you of my poor habits. Go speak with Sarah, lest she spend the night out of doors.” Evan gave him a nudge and Conall left his laughing brother, ignoring his advice. No man should treat one of legend with such disrespect.
Conall passed the outer buildings that housed his warriors and wondered if Gordain had been told of his fate, but let the thought slide away as Bella leapt up and ran to his side. The beast lacked her expected enthusiasm and he wondered how long Sarah had played fetch given the tired state.
She never turned to face him, nor did she rise. But she called him by name and he pondered if she felt his arrival the same way he felt hers, with a shiver of recognition.
“Hello, Conall.” She sat on the grassy patch with her arms banded around her tucked knees hidden within the folds of her blue skirts.
“Greetings, Sarah. How do you fare?” he asked her back and when only a sigh greeted him, he positioned himself to sit next to her. Bella settled at his side and rested her bulk against his leg.
“How much trouble am I in?” Her question mystified him, as she had done no wrong. Her keen sight had saved the clan from deception and potential hereditary elimination. Plus, she saved me from Gordain’s dagger.
When he said as much to her, she shook her head, which caused more strands of her hair to fly about her head. “You doubt me?”
“Yes,” she said with her eyes on the horizon. “I have been here for a whopping two days and have unraveled plans for peace, ruined your wedding and left a man bleeding on the floor. Plus, I elbowed you. I’m sorry for that.” Finally, she turned to him, but her gaze locked on his jaw.
Her fingers touched his beard with gentle exploration and he leaned in for more. “I am nay harmed.”
“I can’t even tell if I bruised you with all of this,” her voice trailed off with her fingers remaining on his whiskers.
If Conall had one definite thought, it had to be that shaving his face clean would allow him to completely feel her touch. His decision to scrape it all away came easily even as he hoped she would later find another excuse to touch him. Suddenly, he prayed there would be a bruise from her strike that needed soothing.
To his disappointment, her hand fell away to her lap. “Be at ease, Sarah. All that has transpired bodes well.”
“Yeah, right,” she mocked him.
Matching her gaze on the distant waves that rose and fell to crash upon the rocks, he spoke of his relief that he would not wed by force. That Elspeth would be sent to a convent to bear her child in safety seemed to give her little comfort, though sending Elspeth back to the Campbell keep would have been too dangerous for the lass. Gordain would heal and then be sent to serve with the Bruce’s men. His fate was better than the death he had earned by attacking two lairds.
She listened and nodded with no relief on her face. “But you are back to a feud that can risk lives.”
“I hope you are wrong. After much negotiation, Tearlach signed a contract that mirrors the one we agreed to for the dowry. Grazing lands have been shared, coin has been given and I hold a new piece of land. Such a treaty should keep the peace for a wee bit. Plus, a few of the Bruce’s men have accompanied him home and will stay to ensure ‘tis a quiet summer.” In his head, all had been completed with great satisfaction. Peace with no unwanted bride, a feat that exceeded his greatest hopes. When he shared that with her, her sigh seemed to carry relief.
“I thought I had endangered everyone here,” she admitted, finally holding his eyes, the blue of hers deeper and darker with the light of day fading.
“If I were to chastise you, ‘twould be for placing yourself in harm’s way. You should have never sought to set yourself in Gordain’s path. Why would you risk your life?” While grateful to escape uninjured, his blood ran cold down his spine at the memory of Sarah leaping at the dagger. She could have been hurt, or even worse.
To his surprise, she let out a breathy laugh. “Clearly, you’ve never met my family.” Her gaze settled on his and she smiled for the first time. “My mother runs a studio, a place where she trains adults and children to defend themselves. My sister and I practically grew up there and taking those classes wasn’t exactly optional.”
“I hear no joy in your recollection.” Conall noted her brilliant eyes dimmed and the moisture she attempted to blink out of sight.
“Rachel, remember I told you about her, she loved it. In fact, she works there continuing the family business. I never found the love for martial arts, but I went and tested to make my family happy.”
“I had forgotten there are two of you,” Conall marveled aloud.
Sarah gave him a playful wink. “Double trouble, that’s what my dad always said.” Her voice choked at the mention of her father. Her head shook away the grief as she lifted her face to the sky. “When I saw Gordain pull the knife, I reacted on instincts I never realized I carried. Looks like I actually learned something in all of those years of classes.” After a deep inhale, she lowered her eyes back to his and chuckled.
“You saved my life.” His praise had the enticing blue eyes rolling back in her head.
“I merely bought you both a few seconds to react. If I had completed the defense move, the dagger would have either fallen to the floor or would have been in my hands. Plus, I should have immobilized Gordain with a painful grip on his wrist that would have brought him to his knees.” Her gaze drifted away to resume staring at the waves. “My mother would have loved to see me in action.”
Given his daily training, Conall understood the personal introspection and the what-should-have-been. How many times have I thought about a battle with clarity after the bodies have been buried? Even on the peace of his lands, his thoughts wandered to the variety of scars that marred his flesh, each due to an error on his part.
“No warrior is capable of perfection in the heat of battle. I hol
d no regret for interfering. Yet, you aided in such a manner that potentially saved lives. My gratitude will be never-ending.” Recalling the Bruce uttering similar praise to many a man, including himself, he offered, “‘Tis my duty to offer you reward. Is there aught you would seek? My stores are full of fine fabrics and many a precious gem.”
The face that turned to him held only revulsion for what he had thought any woman would crave. “I’m going to assume you are acting appropriately, but no thank you. But if you know of a method for me to return home, then I will happily take it.”
How quickly he had forgotten she didn’t belong on his lands, even if her presence felt beyond perfection. “Forgive me, as I failed to recall your loss.” She nodded and turned back to the sea. “You are here, Sarah. I ken of no travel to return you to your clan.”
“I know,” her soft voice whispered. “But the timing is lousy. Before I left, or arrived here, or whatever we call it, my sister told me she is going to have a baby.” A melancholy smile covered her lips. “Make that two babies. I can’t comprehend that I will never meet them.”
Conall felt his eyes widen at the thought of two heirs arriving on the same day. Such bounty nearly ceased his thoughts. “Your brother by marriage is a fortunate man.” He intentionally left out concerns for Sarah’s sister. While birth inherently carried dangers, twins multiplied the risks.
“Yes, he is. Rachel is a wonderful woman and my best friend.” Again, she blinked away moisture. “I can’t even tell her about what happened to me. She’d flip and want to hear every single detail.” He knew what she left out when her voice trailed to silence. Her clan would never know what happened to her. The thought of such grief and pain made his chest ache.
Having no cure for her heartache, Conall sat in silence at her side and let the crash of the waves speak for him. The sun lowered to nearly kiss the top of the sea before she stirred at his side.
“I want to speak with Elspeth.” Sarah’s request made no sense to him.
“Why?” The lass meant naught and would leave in the morn.
Sarah sat straighter and let out a long breath. “In my time, I help people who have trouble finding their way in life. Elspeth’s life has just taken a dramatic turn, mostly due to me. I want to apologize, give her a chance to voice her anger or sadness and help her find a path.”
His eyebrows crinkled. “Her path is set.”
“Well, that’s part of it. She is a bright young woman with hopes and dreams that no one gives a damn about. Admittedly, she is no saint, but is being treated as the ultimate sinner.” The vehemence in Sarah’s voice caught him off guard.
“I dinna ken how you will aid her, but I stand in your debt. If you wish to claim, by right, a visit with her, I will allow it.”
Sarah’s hands scrubbed over her face and Conall’s eyes wandered the pale skin of her fingers that bore the same freckles as her face and neck. “Before I arrived here, I failed the last person I tried to help. Maybe helping Elspeth will allow me move past that defeat.”
“I doubt how you could fail any,” Conall immediately said.
Rising to her feet, Sarah brushed bits of grass from her skirts. “That’s because you don’t know me. I am as flawed as everyone else, not some legend come to life.”
Conall rose and let the breeze from the sea wash over him until he caught the wind dancing in her curls. The wind has been busy loosening her braid and pulling curls free. Between the wild tresses begging to be set free and the fact that she stood holding his gaze as brave and bold as a warrior, he questioned if she was correct. Even in the chaos in the hall I spoke of her being my legend. Why does the thought offend her?
“You hear insult where I mean to praise.” He knew he failed to ease her mind when she turned away from him to face the keep.
“I don’t know what I hear,” she mumbled. “I’m so damn confused.”
He could relate to the thought. I ken nay who to trust and whom to seek to punish for a marriage that nearly ended my clan. Foul ideas filled his head as he stared at her hair that blew if only to tease his hands. “Why did you speak when all remained silent?” If she hadn’t, he likely would have married Elspeth. Lena and Peter both had the same concerns and yet neither shared them with him.
“It was wrong, at least to me. Those two are so in love with each other. I can’t even imagine how hard it would be for Gordain and how he would have had to watch her marry you. You really can’t be surprised it caused him to fight for her.” Her passionate tale caught him off guard, making him wonder how fine it would be to love a woman enough to risk his very life. “I’ll also add that her deception pushed decency past the limits.”
Conall pondered her view of the situation. “You see love where I only saw deceit. Your wisdom brings me shame. I thought only of myself and nay a bairn conceived in love,” Conall admitted with true regret. “But yet you forced it all into the light, where those I trusted kept the truth in the shadows.”
Sarah turned to face him with her lips twitching, something close to a smile on her lips. “Don’t you see? They wanted peace even if they weren’t comfortable with how it would happen. And I brought a few more details than either of them had. Don’t blame them for wanting the greater good.”
Reaching out, Conall took her hand and tucked it in his. “I will use the guidance of your generous heart when I deal with them. Rest assured, all will be done to make them ken that the greater good also includes the man.”
When her hand squeezed his, a genuine smile lit her face, gratitude spoken without words. Her head tilted as she asked, “Are you going to be in trouble with Robert the Bruce?” Laughter immediately followed. “I can’t believe I just asked that, like speaking of him is totally normal.”
“You ken his name even in your time?” That he served such a ruler filled him with immense pride.
“Yes, and at some point, I will likely ask you a hundred questions that separate the real king from what I know about him. But answer me, have I created trouble for you with him?” Her eyes begged for a reply.
“Nay, his own man declared the wedding cancelled, nay me. While I doubt my ability to be able to meet all his commands before I return to him, the fault is nay mine.” While he spoke, his thumb stroked the petal soft skin of her hand. He felt too bold at the touch but saw no signs of her discomfort. If anything, Sarah leaned closer and held him as much as he held her.
Mayhap his brother saw what he had thought only to be his desire. Dare I dream that Sarah feels the same attraction? Is holding her hand a courting gesture or merely one of comfort?
“Aren’t you somewhat disappointed? I mean, Elspeth is incredibly beautiful.” Her question baffled him. He saw only a scrawny lass nay a creature to stoke his fires. Add in that they had hardly spoken and naught would be missed.
“You have odd notions of beauty, Sarah. I beheld naught in her.” His eyes wandered her unruly hair tousled by the breeze, skin the color of winter’s snow and more flesh than any man could ever crave, but he couldn’t find the words to speak of her beauty, of how she beckoned to him. Words would only fail to express how being near her made him feel alive after merely surviving for years. So, he settled for what had to be a poor sharing of his thoughts. “She has naught compared to you. Never have I met your like, a woman who appeals to me with her outer beauty and inner kind heart.”
Instead of blushing, her gaze narrowed on his. Abruptly her hand pulled away from his, leaving his skin aching for her touch. Staring down at her head that barely reached the top of his shoulders, he asked, “Have I offended you? Forgive me for being so bold.”
A sad smile faced him. “You are so sweet and I would like nothing more than to believe you actually see me. But I think you see a legend, not a woman.”
He had been a fool to take Evan’s advice, which only upset her. But he wasn’t going to allow her to think he saw the legends he had heard as a child, even if he had fantasized for years about having the fates gift him with such a woman.
“Sarah, I see flesh and blood before me, nay a creature who lives solely in a tale.” Doubt filled the blue depths of her eyes, framed by full red lashes.
Her head shook and silently spoke of her doubt. Not quite sure how to make her believe him, his hands grasped the sides of her face and held her gaze to his. Her lips parted in surprise, but she didn’t back away. “I see only you.” His whisper lingered between them. Then acting solely on impulse, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. The sensation of her full lips against his had his blood roaring in his veins. With his body seeking closeness with hers, his mind focused on the singular thought he had always craved to feel: mine.
Conall’s hands held her cheeks as his lips pressed innocently to hers. Every cell in her body exploded as if being brought to life for the first time in her existence, with each sensation magnified. The sea breeze that had ruffled her hair and skirts, softened to nature offering her caresses withheld by the man before her. Her lungs couldn’t decide if they should hold in precious air or inhale deeply to suck in his essence. All these thoughts and impulses stemmed from only his lips touching hers.
I want more, her body screamed. The past year of sexual desires being pushed to the background, instantly changed to demands. She wanted his touch on every inch of her skin, not only her face. Her body tightened and heated with longing unlike any form of desire she had even known. But still, his lips merely lingered against hers.
What am I doing? The internal question ignored as her lips moved by instinct, seeking to initiate the kiss she wanted, the one her soul demanded. Her lips wandered his mouth, seeking his lower lip and then the upper before exploring his mouth. The sound emanating from his throat screamed of intense male hunger in her head and spurred her tongue to taste his lips.
The control she had over the kiss ended as his fingers pushed into her wind-frazzled braid. He gripped her hair as his tongue pushed into her mouth to explore and taste her.
The slow and sensual kiss evaporated as his kiss shifted to what she could only describe as sloppy and utterly disappointing. What the hell? Didn’t anyone ever teach this incredible man how to kiss? With the intruding idea that another woman had known Conall’s mouth, fury bloomed in her chest. He’s mine. The certainty took root and grew beyond a doubt.
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