Highlander's Rebellious Love (11 page)

Conversation ceased for a while between Patience and Hunter, each appearing lost in their individual thoughts. It was Hunter who finally broke the silence.

“How is your arm?” he asked.

She saw no reason to lie to him. “It pains now and again and reminds me it is still healing when I brush against it. There is naught to be done for it except to give it time.”

“You have healing skills too?” he asked surprised.

Patience laughed, shaking her head. “Not me, my sister Emma, though she taught me some fundamental care for injures associated with battle.”

“I recall hearing that one of the Macinnes sisters was well versed in healing ways.”

“Emma is the knowledgeable one between the three of us. She learns all she can about whatever she can. She would worry me near to death when she would take off into the woods on her own. She would not return for hours and when she did it was with a basketful plus an armful of foliage. And then there is the way she senses the soil, knowing when it is lacking, hungry, or ripe for planting. She is amazing.”

“You envy her?”

Patience laughed and shook her head. “There is no envy between my sisters and me, only admiration and love. We are the same, yet we are different, if you can understand that.” She did not give him a chance to respond. She did what he had the habit of doing, she abruptly changed the subject. “With so few having seen the Dark Dragon that would mean he could visit the McCuil croft and no one would know it was him.”

Hunter found Patience an interesting woman. She was intelligent, perceptive, a skilled warrior, and fiercely independent. She did what had to be done without much complaint, and she was not only loyal to her clan, she cared about them. She was, in many ways, unique.

“The question would be... why would he? Why risk exposing his identity?”

“To see those he cares about.”

Hunter laughed. “The Dark Dragon care? Do you truly believe that a man who could do the horrendous things that has been said about him... would care?”

A knot twisted tight in Patience’s stomach. “If I do not believe that, then there is no hope for my sister.”

Hunter felt a punch to his gut and quickly reached out to her, laying is hand on her arm and giving it a gentle squeeze. “My tongue can be foolish at times. There is hope for your sister as long as you keep it strong in your heart. We will find her and all will be well.”

His touch was not only comforting, but so were his words. That he made it known that he would join her in the search for her sister restored some hope in her. How was it that this man, a relative stranger, affected her so? She was never one to lose her thoughts over a man, but then perhaps she had never had one she wished to lose her thoughts over.

“We will see this done, Patience, you have my word on it.”

One’s word was not given lightly, at least not by an honorable man. Some men gave their word without ever having any intention of keeping it. And while she did not know Hunter well, the way he protected and cared for his mum said much about him.

He gave her arm another reassuring squeeze before removing his hand, and she caught a flare of determination in his blue eyes.

Patience sent him a nod. “That is most kind of you.” She took firmer hold of her reins. “I need to go speak with Edward.”

“I will be here waiting
impatiently
for you,” he said with a flash of lust in his eyes and a brash grin.

Patience had to smile at his audacious manner, the man could titillate, charm, and coax. It was no wonder women were drawn to him. Still, she could not help but wonder if there was much more to her husband than he allowed others to see.

She was about to guide her horse away from his when she turned and said, “While your tongue can be foolish, it is also quite talented.”

Hunter’s grin grew. “Oh,
mo chridhe
, you have yet to taste its many talents.”

Patience shook her head and rode off, though could not stop the images that flooded her mind of just what those other talents could be.

Chapter Ten

The sky had turned golden, the sun near to setting when they crested a small hill and spotted the McCuil farm. From the distance, Patience could see a small cottage, two pens, and fields that appeared ready for planting. There was nothing that distinguished it from any other farm, except that the inhabitants were protected by the Dark Dragon.

Patience was pulled out of her thoughts by Hunter’s blatant reminder that she now had a husband.

“I am looking forward to bedding down with you tonight, wife,” Hunter said, easing his horse alongside hers.

Patience wagged her finger at the farm in the distance. “I see no place for a private liaison tonight.”

“A secluded spot can always be found.”

“Impatient to have your way with me, are you?” she asked, tossing him a smile.

“Ever since I caught first sight of you.”

“So you have said and now remind me yet again. It is whether I truly believe you or not.”

“You wound me, wife,” he said, slamming his hand against his chest.

“Your heart wounds so easily?” she teased.

“A man is no man, nor does he ever truly live if he refuses to open his heart and take the chance of having it broken or torn to pieces. And that goes for women as well.”

“And have you ever had your heart broken or torn to pieces?” she asked.

He laughed. “Broken hearts are common, especially among the very young. I was but six years when I suffered my first.”

“Six years? First?”

“I found women intriguing from an early age, but Liza wanted no part of me. She was, after all, an older woman of eight years.”

Patience laughed.

“I was nothing more than an annoying little pest to her and she told me so, thus breaking my heart. But surely you have suffered a broken heart or two when you were young or have broken some.”

Patience shook her head. “Swords and fighting interested me more than love and lads. While other young lassies were smiling at the lads, I was punching them.”

His hand reached out to rest on her leg and she realized then how often he touched her, innocent touches, comforting touches. His hand was always there, becoming all too familiar.

He gave her leg a firm squeeze. “You are lucky then, for I will never break your heart or tear it to pieces.”

“You are right,” she said sadness in her voice. “You will never do either to me, for you cannot break a heart or tear one to pieces when no love exists.” She rode ahead toward the cottage, fighting back tears that had suddenly threatened to consume her. She rarely cried and she would not start now. What did it matter that she had not gotten the chance to marry for love? She had married for much more. She would rule her clan and she would keep her clansmen safe.

She realized then that she had been wrong... he had broken her heart. He broke it the day he wed her.

Patience swallowed back the tears that fought their way to her eyes. Never would she let him see her cry—never. She blinked several times to clear her eyes and as she did, she took note of how quiet the farm seemed. It was then she noticed that the pens were empty. There was not an animal in sight, nor was there movement about. She slowed her horse and brought her hand up for her men to ease their approach.

Hunter reached her before Edward did.

“It is too quiet,” Hunter said his eyes attentive as he looked around.

Edward flanked her other side. “The place looks abandoned.”

Patience turned to Hunter. “Would there be a reason for that?”

“I cannot think of what would make them take flight.” Hunter rubbed his chin. “It makes no sense. They are well protected. Why would they leave their home?”

Patience had explained to her men the reason for their detour before returning home. Each and every one of them had expressed their support in helping to find Heather, though she had heard apprehension in their voices, and had seen it on their faces when the Dark Dragon had been mentioned.

She turned to Edward. “Take some warriors and check the surrounding area. I will see to the cottage, and see that a warrior stays by Una McLaud.”

Edward nodded and rode off.

Hunter’s hand shot out to grip her wrist with more strength than usual. “I will go with you, but first you will tell me why unshed tears linger in your eyes.”

Patience yanked her wrist free, annoyed at his sharp eyes. She would have to remember that he saw more than she realized.

“And do not attempt to deny it. I know the glare of unshed tears when I see it.”

“Is that because you caused the unshed tears?” she snapped her annoyance spiking, for though his tone was firm, as if he would not be denied an answer, concern was also there.

“I will not deny that I have caused a few, and I will not deny that I would be extremely angry with myself if I caused your unshed tears.” He reached out once again, took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “Now tell me,
mo chridhe
, what I have done, so that I can make it right.”

Damn him for making her heart flutter and damn him for having seen her unshed tears. She never showed weakness to anyone and that he should see it in her made her angry, though not at him... with herself. And at the moment anger would serve no purpose. She was on a mission and that came first.

She slipped her hand out of his and with a sharp, curt tongue said, “You cannot make it right.” She tugged at her reins, but his hand was on hers quick to stop her and the strength of his grip was far stronger than before. More and more she was realizing that there was more to her husband than he allowed others to see.

“I can and I will.”

“We have no time for this nonsense,” she snapped. “Take your hand off me.”

“Promise me we will discuss this later.”

She tried to free her hand and found his grip impossible to budge. She turned blazing green eyes on him. “Do not make me tell you again to release me.”

His hand moved off hers and his blue eyes suddenly blazed as brightly as hers. “We will discuss this later whether you wish to or not.”

She rode off without answering him and he followed, taking a moment to calm his anger. He had somehow hurt her and it had not been his intention. His firm grip had not helped matters. He had to remember that she was a warrior, a woman of strength, though beneath was a woman yet to blossom and that was who, he was certain, he had hurt. He would find out and he would make it up to her.

Patience was dismounting when Hunter joined her. She looked over at him. “How many people reside here?’

“Five,” he said once off his horse. “Noble McCuil, Ewan’s oldest of four sons, Mary, Noble’s wife, and their three children; Ella the eldest at ten years, Paul, eight years, and Trent the youngest at six years.” Hunter glanced around. “There are usually other people about as well. Those from surrounding farms come to visit or offer Noble a hand, hoping it will help get them into the Dark Dragon’s good graces.”

Hunter stepped in front of Patience as she went to approach the door. “Let me. I am a friend.”

She nodded and waited as he knocked before opening the door and stepping inside. It was only a moment before he waved her in. A quick glance around the fair-sized room was all it took to see that it was empty. Uneaten food was left sitting on the table, though the fire had been doused in the hearth. On a closer look, Patience saw that all clothing, bedding, and personal items were gone.

“They left in a hurry,” Patience said.

A shout from Edward had Patience and Hunter hurrying out of the cottage to see her warriors escorting an old man with long white hair toward them. His gait was slow and his shoulders hunched. That was until he turned his head and his eyes settled on something, and then suddenly it was as if he became a different man. He straightened to a height a head above Edward and his hunched shoulders turned broad, his chest wide, and his stance proud. No longer was he an old man who needed help or protection, but a seasoned warrior to deal with cautiously.

“Una?” the man said, squinting his eyes as if he could not believe it was her.

Beast took a protective stance in front of Una. His broad chest wide and his mouth raised in a snarl.

“Ewan,” Una called out, her eyes squinting as well as if trying to confirm it was him and, when satisfied that it was, she patted Beast’s head to let him know all was well and hurried over to the man.

The tall, white-haired warrior spread his arms and welcomed her with a tight embrace.

Watching them, Patience thought they appeared like long lost lovers, leaving her to wonder. She followed alongside Hunter as he approached the pair.

With an arm still around Una, the man extended his hand to Hunter.

“It has been some time, Ewan,” Hunter said, giving his hand a hardy shake.

“Too long,” Ewan agreed and looked down at Una. “I am startled to see your mother here. Greer had told Noble that she had taken ill. I am pleased to see she has recovered.”

Una shook her head. “I have not been ill.”

Ewan’s brow knitted and he looked to Hunter. “What goes on and why are you with a troop of Macinnes warriors?”

Hunter slipped his arm around Patience’s waist. “Ewan McCuil, I am pleased and honored to introduce you to my wife Patience Macinnes.”

Patience had to smile at the way Ewan’s aged, though sharp eyes sprang so wide that she thought they would pop from his head.

“I do not know if I should congratulate you or give my condolences to the lass.”

Una slapped his chest. “Mind your manners, Ewan McCuil.”

Ewan took hold of her hand. “You have to admit, Una, it is shocking news to hear.”

“But true nonetheless,” she said, “and I am proud to call Patience my daughter.”

Ewan nodded as if properly chastised. “Then I offer your son and his wife a long life and many children.” He could not help but grin and chuckle. “Of that I have no doubt.”

Una slapped him again. “You speak your mind as always, Ewan McCuil.”

“And would you want it any other way, lass?” he asked bending his head down closer to hers.

“No,” Una was quick to say. “I will take you as you are, just like I have always done.”