Highlander's Rebellious Love (22 page)

Hunter turned to Ewan. “I would prefer you took my mum and Beast to your son’s home in Gullie Loch and keep them there until you hear from me. Greer would not dare attack there.”

Una did not protest, she threw her arms around her son, hugged him tight, and told him that she loved him.

Hunter hunched down and took Beast’s face in his hands. “You stay with Una and protect her.”

The big dog licked his face and went to Una’s side.

Hunter helped his mum mount her horse as Ewan got on his, and then they were gone, Beast following alongside them.

Patience had already mounted and as soon as he did, she said, “I know of Eddleston Abbey because we stopped there on our way here, but I know of little else in the area. Do you know of a place we could take refuge until the Dark Dragon sees to the mercenaries?”

“I know a place where no one will follow,” he said with a nod. “Stay close.”

They took off and Patience was grateful that they had maintained a slow pace when they had set out this morning, for the horses were not tired and flew like the wind. They traveled west, never slowing down or daring to stop.

The mercenaries would find their tracks, all going in different directions and not know which ones to follow. They would probably divide as Patience and her warriors had done and that would be good, for it would make it easier for the ghost warriors to dispose of them.

Still though, this reminded her that she needed more men. Greer would not stop until Hunter was dead, the Macinnes clan blamed, and a war started.

After a few hours of grueling travel, Hunter slowed his horse and Patience followed along, doing the same. They came to a stop at the edge of thick woods, a small mountain rising behind it. The trees were so dense that barely any light could be seen among the branches and for some reason Patience shivered at the thought of entering it. Then she spotted the numerous objects hanging in the trees and knew why—they were charms to keep evil at bay.

She looked to Hunter. “Evil resides here.”

“Not so,” Hunter said and turned and guided his horse through the dense trees and foliage.

Patience followed, realizing her husband knew the way... he had been here before.

It took some time and maneuvering through areas that had no path yet Hunter seemed to find one and it brought them to a cottage sitting in a small clearing. The place appeared as if it had not been occupied in years, though the thatched roof remained intact as did the closed shutters on the one window. Beneath, a broken bench leaned lopsided against the cottage wall. The woods had reclaimed what once must have been a large garden. At one time it must have been a lovely place, though lonely tucked away in such a dense forest.

“You are familiar with this place,” Patience said as Hunter approached the front door.

“Aye, I am,” he said and opened the door.

Patience followed him in and stood staring at the rather large room that appeared as if it had been left waiting for someone to return. In the meantime, cobwebs and dust occupied it.

Hunter pushed the shutters open, letting in some light.

Patience looked around and knew a woman had to have lived here. Though the blanket on the bed looked to have been repaired several times, it had been done so with skilled hands. A shawl, also repaired several times, hung on a peg near the door, and baskets and crocks were plentiful.

“You knew her well?” Patience asked curious and though she hated to admit it to herself, a bit of jealousy.

“She knew me better,” he said, his glance going to the dust-covered shawl with sadness.

“You cared for her?” A stronger pang of envy struck her then.

Hunter nodded. “Very much, she saved my life in so many ways.” He reached for one of the chairs and smashed it to the floor, the aged wood splintering. He continued to break the chair apart as he spoke. “Her name was Elspet and people thought her a witch. She was no more a witch than you and I. What she was—was a knowledgeable and plain-featured woman. And that could be a curse in itself for any woman.”

Patience thought of her sister Emma. She was knowledgeable and plain and had suffered for it, men wanting nothing to do with her. It had broken her heart to see her sister treated so poorly and she had made anyone who treated Emma poorly pay dearly for it.

Hunter placed the broken chair pieces in the fireplace and as he worked to get a fire started, he continued. “One day my father did not like what I had to say and gave me a good beating. Greer came upon me before I had a chance to recover and finished what my father had started, beating me senseless. I vaguely recall him dumping me someplace. When I woke, I found myself here.” Elspet eventually told me that she had found me outside her cottage.”

“When was this?”

“About eight years ago when I was ten and six years. Elspet healed my wounds and helped me understand much about evil. She had suffered more than her fair share of it. I visited her often after that, though I let no one know that I did. I knew none would understand. They believed her a witch and fear kept them from hurting her, though there were many women who came to her for her healing knowledge, never letting their husbands know.” He stilled, staring at the flames greedily licking the broken chair pieces. “We would talk endlessly when I visited and I would see that she had what she needed. One day she took ill and she told me that her time here would soon be done. I was heartbroken and spent much time with her. I did not want her to die alone and was glad I was here with her when she took her last breath. I still miss her.”

Patience felt her heart break for him and hurriedly wiped a tear from her eye before he turned around.

“She did tell me that after some turmoil I would find happiness and have a loving family of six children.”

“Six?” she repeated startled.

“Aye,” he said with a firm nod, and I look forward to having every one of them.

“It would not be you having them.”

“I told you once that whatever you suffer I suffer.”

Patience laughed, shaking her head. “I do not think you would suffer the same pain that I would while delivering our child.”

Hunter walked over to her and ran the back of his hand gently down her cheek. “Believe me,
mo chridhe
, my pain will be as great as yours, for I cannot stand the thought of being so helpless in preventing you from suffering such pain.”

He bent his head, to take a kiss when a swirl of wind rushed through the door sweeping up the dust around them. He went to shut the door and stopped, casting a glance at the heavy gray clouds.

“A storm brews,” he said turning to her. “I need to settle the horses and hunt for food.”

Patience looked around the room, then at Hunter. “I know nothing about tending a keep, let alone a single room, that was Heather’s responsibility. Besides, I would feel as if I intruded upon Elspet’s home, touching anything of hers. I will hunt for food.”

“Do not go beyond the woods,” Hunter cautioned, not surprised by her decision.

Patience stopped at the door and turned with a smile and a sting to her words. “Thank you so much, I truly needed that reminding.”

Hunter walked over and grabbed her arm before she could get out the door. He stepped close to her, lowering his face only a few inches from hers. “It is best you get accustomed to me reminding you, worrying about you, warning you when necessary.” He held up his hand as soon as she attempted to protest. “I will always look after you, always take care of you, always be there for you and I will always—” His blue eyes scorched with a sudden passion, and then he kissed her.

It was a potent and abrupt kiss and Patience stumbled when he released her and turned away. She hurried off, not wanting to stay there, not wanting to hear what he was about to say to her before he stopped himself and kissed her, not wanting to hear those words that would change everything between them...
I will always love you
.

Chapter Twenty

Patience stilled after entering the woods. Could it be possible? Could he truly love her? Could she be falling in love with him? Surprisingly, she no longer felt him a stranger. Was she growing that accustomed to him? She also found that she enjoyed his company. Conversation came easily with him. Then there was the way he touched her, a gentle touch to the arm, his hand at her cheek, his arm around her waist, so innocent and yet her body sparked to life with each tender touch. And now that they were alone... she shook her head. What was she doing wasting time thinking on such things now? There was hunting to be done, warriors to avoid, and they needed to get to the abbey to meet the others. There was no time for this nonsense.

She made her way further into the woods, marking the trail as she went. She had grabbed her cache of arrows and her bow off her horse and readied one, then with light footfalls she combed the woods.

Stopping a moment to listen, she heard a rustle. She turned slowly and there just a few feet ahead was a doe, her eyes wide, standing as still as Patience. She was a beauty and would provide them with more meat than they needed, but they did have to eat. She raised her bow ever so slowly when suddenly a gust of wind swirled up around her, sending dust to sting her eyes.

Then she heard the sharp voice in her head.
Do not harm my family!

Patience dropped her bow to her side and when the wind settled, she saw that the doe had remained where she was, though she was now busy munching on leaves. She was no longer fearful of Patience; she felt safe and protected.

Patience felt otherwise. Elspet was obviously protecting her forest family. Tales of ghosts were often shared in the Highlands and the storytellers would warn against upsetting spirits. So Patience took heed and decided to see what else she could scavenge from the woods.

With her arrow returned to the cache and her bow draped over it, she started foraging. Many plants still needed maturing, while some young plants could be tasty. Wild onions were tasty at any time and would flavor a weed stew as Heather liked to refer to it. She had shown Patience and Emma how to easily cook one if it should ever prove necessary and Patience wished she could hug her right now for having taught them.

She circled around to make her way back to the cottage with enough plants to make a filling stew, when a voice called out in her head.

He comes!

Patience dropped the armful of plants and grabbed for her bow, but before she could reach for an arrow a voice echoed through the woods.

“Do not dare draw a weapon against me!”

Patience turned slowly, knowing who she was about to face, though she wondered if he was half beast for he spoke with a growl. She almost gasped when she laid eyes on him, and she was relieved that he stood a distance away from her, for there was no doubting that it was the Dark Dragon.

He wore a black metal helmet etched with symbols unknown to Patience. The helmet covered all but his eyes and the tip of his chin, making him appear all the more fearsome. Black leather armor covered his entire body, defining his thick-muscled frame, while hardened leather spikes ran along his shoulders and down his upper arms, warning all to keep their distance.

Patience had never liked the taste of fear and had always fought against it, but seeing this giant of a warrior encased in black made her tremble, for it was as if pure evil stood in front of her. And that evil had her sister.

With quivering limbs, she took a step forward. “When do I see my sister Heather?”

His voice rang with authority. “When I so choose.”

Patience held her tongue and her temper, though she wanted to lash out at him and scream that he had no right to keep her sister. But her warrior side warned against such a foolish response.

“Two days and you and your husband are to leave this place,” he commanded.

She did not bother to ask or else, for she knew if they did not obey his ghost warriors would see that they did.

“Do not dare defy me, Patience.” He turned and walked off, consuming the shadows that embraced him.

Patience stood staring after him, her body trembling more than before. He had said little, but had spoken volumes. His visit had one purpose... to warn her against disobeying him. The problem was that she was never good at being obedient, but then she had never met a warrior that made her quiver with fear.

With shaking hands, she gathered up the plants she had dropped and made her way back to the cottage, her mind on her sister. How was sweet, kind Heather dealing with such a menacing man? She could only imagine the fear Heather must feel. She had to see her. She had to know that she had not been harmed. Once she saw that for herself, then she could concentrate on the obvious... how to combat such a formidable warrior?

She reached the cottage as the first drop of rain splashed on the ground. The door sat open and she entered, though paid little attention to the fine job Hunter had done of making the place habitable. She dropped the plants on the table and stared at her husband.

“What is wrong?” he asked concerned by how pale his wife was.

“I met the Dark Dragon.”

Thunder rolled over the land with her announcement and Hunter hurried to close and latch the door against the arriving storm, then went to his wife, taking her in his arms.

Patience latched onto her husband’s strong arms. “He is more than I imagined.”

“So I have heard.”

“He came to warn me not to defy him,” she said his snarling voice ringing in her head. “He sounds more like a beast than a man.” She turned sorrowful eyes on him. “How do I rescue my sister from a beast?”

“With great patience and care.”

Patience stepped away from him, shaking her head. “How can I be patient when my sister remains the captive of that monster?” She shook her head again and answered her own question. “I have no choice just as the Dark Dragon said, and he made sure to let me know that.”

“The more you know of your enemy, the more power you amass against him. You will be ready when the time comes.”

Hunter was right and that thought calmed her some. The Dark Dragon may have had a message for her, but in return he had given her a glimpse of the man—and he was just a man—the one she would battle to get her sister back.