Chapter 17

17

E mily was miserable.

With little knowledge of the landscape, she had become hopelessly lost. There were thick brambles and nettles all about her feet, with ferns flicking cold water all over her at intervals through the forest.

Relief flooded through her as she found herself in a clearing of sorts away from the rough foliage, but she still had no idea where she was. The rain was falling in torrents, and her body shivered violently beneath the many folds of her dress.

It was clear that her escape had been foolish, and the only logical next step was to return to the castle. Unfortunately, Emily could not recall which direction it was in. She hadn't paid enough attention to her surroundings in her determination to flee.

Lowering herself to an upturned tree root, she sat forlornly, listening to the sounds of the forest. A rustle caught her attention, and she froze, straining her ears to make out the sound. Whatever it was, it sounded enormous.

Excellent. I am to be eaten by the Ghillie Dhu for me troubles.

The sound was getting closer by the minute, and she quickly moved back from the center of the clearing, watching fearfully for what might appear.

The thundering hooves came closer as she held her breath and retreated into the darkness.

"I told ye I'd always find ye," came a deep, familiar voice as a gigantic black horse emerged before her.

Emily's joy at seeing Adam was so all-encompassing that she quite forgot how furious she was at his treatment of her.

She walked out from behind the trees, very aware that her brand-new dress was caked in mud and her hair was plastered to either side of her face. Adam, on the other hand, looked unfairly handsome. Rain ran in rivulets over his arms, the fur over his shoulders keeping him mostly dry.

"Ye're a stupid fool for runnin' away," he said furiously, but his eyes ran over her as though to check for any injuries.

Emily didn't reply. There was little she could say by way of an excuse. It had been foolish in hindsight. She wasn't sure when she had been more pleased to see him—at her wedding or this very moment.

He pulled off his cloak and threw it over her shoulders in a spray of drops, his large hands fastening it beneath her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin as he secured the tie.

"Where did ye think ye were goin' in this weather? It is almost night. Ye might have been eaten by a goblin."

"It wasnae rainin' when I left," she mumbled.

"Och, aye," he growled, "that isnae what I asked."

"I was goin' home. I have to see me family."

"Have ye any idea how many miles it is to Wilkinson Castle?"

Emily hesitated, trying to think how long it had taken them to reach MacNiall Castle from the kirk. Adam waited patiently for her to finish her calculations.

"Some," she said defiantly.

Adam's eyes twinkled. "Aye, ‘some'. Almost a day's ride, in fact. Do ye ken how far ye made it?"

"Five miles?" she hazarded.

"One. And if ye are ever bein' chased through the woods again, ye need to be better at coverin' yer tracks. It was like followin' the path of a bear."

Emily couldn't help but laugh at that, but the sound died on her lips as she thought of Bruce's letter.

"Me braither wrote to tell me he is comin' for me. I cannae stay here, or he will try to find me and kill anyone who attempts to stop him."

Adam's shoulders relaxed a fraction as he studied her carefully. "Yer braither seems like a sensible man. He willnae fight an army."

"Ye dinnae ken Bruce."

Adam sighed as she drew the letter out and handed it to him. He read it but gave it back almost immediately.

"Yer braither may be brave, but he is one man, and yer faither is frail. He'll ken he cannae take on all of Stewart's men—he isnae a fool. He likely wrote it to give ye hope." He eyed her wearily and then gave her a small, reassuring smile. "If it'll make ye feel better, I will send some men to keep watch from a distance."

"Ye would do that?" she asked, hope blooming in her heart that he would keep watch over her family.

"Aye. They willnae interfere. I need Stewart none the wiser, but they can report back to me. Yer braither is a brave lad, I could see that when he tried to get ye back. But he isnae goin' to do anythin' foolish. Dinnae fret."

Adam pulled her cloak more tightly around her and steered her toward the horse. Even in her weakened state, with exhaustion clouding her eyes, she was still surprised at how pleased she was to be returning to the castle.

The image of her cozy and well-appointed room came to mind. She pictured sitting with Freya, reading books in the library, and standing on the balcony looking out at the raging sea. In only a matter of days, she had grown to love the place.

As they walked to Buck, who nickered happily as if he'd found a lost playmate, Emily felt Adam's strong hands on her lower back and tried hard to concentrate on not falling over. Buck snorted at her in greeting, and Emily stroked his nose as Adam tsked quietly under his breath.

She reached her hands up to the horse's back, a familiar thrill of happiness running through her as she felt Adam's hands tense against her, about to help her into the saddle.

Then, out of nowhere, there was a violent flash of lightning above their heads. It was followed by the loudest thunderclap Emily had ever heard, and in the same second, the whites of Buck's eyes were suddenly visible.

With a great whinny of fear, the horse tensed up, his legs becoming rigid.

"Buck?" Adam said gently, reaching out a hand to soothe the beast. "It's all?—"

But as another grumble of thunder shuddered over them, the horse had heard enough. With a shriek of fear, he galloped at full pelt out of the forest and back to the castle.

"BUCK!" Adam shouted, running after him a few paces, but it was useless. The horse was long gone.

Emily stared after him in dismay. She was so tired, and Adam had come all the way out here to get her. Now they were stranded with no way of getting back.

This is all me fault .

Adam turned around, but instead of the worry she had expected to see on his face, he just looked annoyed.

"Damn horse never acted like that in his life before. Ye're makin' him soft!" Adam said, but there was warmth in his voice.

"What are we goin' to do now?" Emily asked.

Adam chuckled. "Dinnae look so forlorn, lass. I ken these woods like the back of me hand. I may nae be able to run ye a bath, but there'll be a roof over our heads, at least."

He returned to her, offering her his hand, and she took it without question.

He's a brawler. A brute! Why do I feel so safe with him?

Anticipation thrummed in Adam's veins as he led Emily slowly through the forest. It was as though he were a little boy again, camping in the woods with Doughall.

He hadn't visited the hunting lodge for some time, but he knew it was well cared for. Many people from his clan hunted in his woods, and they were welcome to use it whenever they needed.

He hoped it was unoccupied tonight, however, and as the familiar silhouette of the tiny house came into view, he was glad that there was no fire burning from within.

Helping Emily step over the uneven ground, he swept his arm before him, presenting their accommodation for the night and watching for her reaction.

Emily's eyes widened as she took in the little hut. Although it was only a single room inside, it had a working chimney and a wide hearth.

He opened the door, which creaked abominably. The interior was pitch black.

"Shall I carry ye over the threshold?" he asked.

"Dinnae ye dare," Emily retorted, walking inside and squinting around in the gloom. "Are ye plannin' to finally do away with me?" she asked.

Adam chuckled and went to the tinderbox, which he knew was always kept stocked. Using some flint, he lit a torch on a bracket on the wall, which sent leaping shadows all over the walls around them.

"I'll light the fire. Ye need to get out of those wet clothes before ye catch yer death."

"I dinnae plan on undressin' in front of ye." Her expression was indignant.

He huffed out a laugh. "If we marry, I will see ye naked every day of our lives."

" If we marry, I cannae imagine ye'd see me every day when we are livin' in separate castles."

"I would imagine I'd have a spyglass to look into yer room," he quipped, and she gaped at him. He could only laugh at her scandalized expression. "Now, are ye changin' or nae, M'Lady? I promise nae to look."

"Turn around," she said, and he rolled his eyes. "What am I goin' to wear?"

There was a small cabinet at the far side of the room where Adam kept some clothes if he was ever in need of them after a long hunt. Inside, he found a clean léine, which would do for now. It was enormous compared to Emily's tiny frame, but at least it was dry.

"Here," he said, handing it over. He bowed so low that his hair brushed the floor. "I shall respect yer honor, M'Lady, and ne'er gaze upon ye."

"Ye better nae!" she replied, but her voice sounded amused.

Adam dutifully turned to face the door, but the urge to peek was almost irresistible.

After a lot of rustling and a long sigh, silence finally fell behind him.

"Ye can look now."

Adam turned back, feeling a pulse of desire in his loins as he took in her shapely legs beneath the léine. Her hair, which was beginning to dry, fell down her back in wet waves, a stark contrast to the pale fabric. He stiffened as he saw how much she was shivering.

"I'll get the fire goin'," he said, walking to the cabinet and pulling out a woolen blanket. He went over to her and put it around her shoulders. As he did so, she pulled it further around her neck, and their fingers touched.

A spark of connection rose between them again, just as it had in the gardens. It took everything in him to drag himself away again.

"Where are ye goin' to find dry wood out there?" she asked as he headed to the door.

"There's a store at the back. Dinnae go anywhere."

"As if I could with nay shoes on," she grumbled, but as he left, she was already settling happily beside the bare hearth, wrapping the blanket around herself.

The rain was still falling heavily down on him as he went to the wood store and pulled out some kindling and logs, shielding it as best as he could with his body.

When he got back inside, he found her in the same position, looking a little warmer under the blanket.

He became aware of his own drenched clothing and dumped the wood in the hearth, looking down at Emily's upturned face.

"Now, ye may look away, too, lass, but I dinnae care about ye seein' me naked. In fact, ye might like it."

He pulled off his jacket and stripped off his léine in one motion. He could feel her eyes on him like a brand against his skin as he went to the cabinet, pulled out another clean léine, and put it on. He smirked as he turned to see her eyes dark with need and went to kneel beside her at the hearth.

He stacked the wood up as she tucked her toes beneath the blanket.

"What were ye thinkin', runnin' away like that? Anythin' could have happened to ye. "

"I wanted to get back to me family."

"So it was the letter from yer braither that had ye fleein'? Nothin' more?"

Emily didn't reply for a long time, and then she sighed.

"I spoke with yer maither," she began.

"I knew it!" Adam said, throwing the wood into the fire with some force. "What did she say? She doesnae represent the clan when she runs her mouth like that."

"Nay, nay! She just gave me her weddin' dress. She didnae say anythin'. In fact, she showed me what me chambers would be like if ye and I really do marry. I dinnae ken ye at all, and ye'll be me husband."

"If Stewart shows up, it willnae come to that, and ye can go home with yer family."

"Do ye really think he'd be so stupid?" she asked. "He must ken he cannae contend with ye and the forces of Laird MacGordon."

Adam shrugged his shoulder. "He kens what he wants to ken. Men like him dinnae believe anyone can beat them. That's how it ends badly for them, in me experience."

"Well, if he doesnae turn up, we will be married."

"I've already told ye we'd nae be a traditional husband and wife."

"Aye," she snapped, "ye've made it very clear me opinions and thoughts arenae welcome at yer council meetings."

"Nay matter yer faither's proclivities, it isnae common for women to be involved."

"Yer maither was."

"Aye, but only because me faither was away at war."

"Well, that's yer own short-sightedness, nae hers. She'd be a good laird if she was given the chance. She's a formidable woman."

"Aye, dinnae I ken it," he grumbled as he struck the flint, and they both watched the flames begin to dance before them. "I dinnae need anyone runnin' me clan for me—I've been doin' it for years. Me duty is to protect me people, and ye'll be among them as me wife. When are ye goin' to realize that ye belong to me now, lass?"

To his alarm, she jumped to her feet, threw off the blanket, and started to pace behind him. He turned around, confused.

"What do ye mean, belong to ye ?"