“I will do nothin’,”Theodore said through clenched teeth. “She’s made her pick. I wish her nothin’ but peace and happiness.”
Theodore mounted his horse.Every nerve in his body sparked as he turned the horse about.
“Simon Leery,”the sister said, much to Theodore’s angst. He tightened his grip around the leather straps.
“She’s nae,”Theodore answered. The thought of her picking such a match didn’t make sense. It was clear that was her father’s choice. Theodore’s anger flared as he ground his teeth in frustration. He had sworn not to get involved, not to interfere and to let her live out her life. But Simon was not a man who deserved her. No, he would force her to take another.
“Ye’ll find him proposin’at Creek Fork’s,” Sister Marget called, her voice carried over the breeze as Theodore made his way to the mainland. His heart pounded just as fiercely as his horse’s hooves hitting the ground. Out of all the devious men that could have come around for her, why Simon? Sure, he had some lands that her father could negotiate to own. But still, the very thought of her with him, caused Theodore to see red.
The landscape passedby in a blur as he rode hard through the glens and pastures. Small stone cottages littered the countryside as he traveled closer to the lake. With each hour that passed, his heart seemed to beat a bit harder. The thought of being too late to make a difference cut through him like a razor.
Theodore rode hardto make up for the time he lost going around the cliffs. He couldn’t risk that path, not when the weather had been so bad recently. By the time he spotted the small cottage, the sun was kissing the horizon. His heart pounded as he slowed the closer he got.
Through the windowhe could spy someone moving about. He pulled on the reins and slipped of the horse. Swallowing hard, he walked to the door as his mind skipped and jumped from one thought to the next. His purpose had been to stop Madison frommarrying. But as he reached a hand to knock on the door, he paused.
What am I doin’here? This is wrong. I cannae be givin’ her hope like this.
“Can I help ye?”
He frozeat the sound of the young voice. Fear pricked as he fought the urge to pull his dirk. After all, he hadn’t come to pick a fight, but to save Madison from a life of misery.
Slowly,Theodore turned. He blinked to find it wasn’t Madison standing before him, but a younger version of her. He stepped away from the door to let her pass. All hope of slipping away unannounced had flown out the window.
“I cameto speak with Madison, but I think I might have made a mistake,” Theodore answered.
“She’s downby the creek. I can show ye the way if want,” the girl said with a huge grin. “I’m her sister, Hallie.”
Theodore could see the similarities.The girl before him shared the same almond shaped eyes as Madison. But the color was different. It wasn’t the same chocolate brown Madison had, but more of a murky water. Hallie tilted her head as the door flew open.
“Hallie, who are ye talkin’to? And where’s Madison? Ye dinnae leave her alone by the creek again, did ye?” the father said as his eyes narrowed on Theodore. “And who might ye be? We daenae want any trouble.”
“And I bring none,”Theodore stated as he drew his hands up in surrender. The fact that he’d been spotted by not one but two now made it complicated for him to explain why he was there. It wasn’t like he could express his desire to marry Madison.
“Then why have ye come?”her father asked as he tossed a towel over his shoulder.
“I’ve cometo hear of the betrothal,” Theodore said, trying to be as cheery as he could be. But the very thought of never having the chance to tell her how much she really means to him broke his heart. Even if it was the worst possible timing, he had to tell her the truth. She was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.
“Betrothal?And pray tell who is gettin’ married?” the father said with a joy in his tone that tickled Theodore’s ear.
“Madison,”Theodore answered. “She’s to be married is she nae?”
The father glancedto Hallie before turning to look at him once again. “Aye, I’m sure she’d like to be, but as far as I ken, she’s nae betrothed to anyone.”
A relief washedthrough Theodore as if it were a rushing river threatening to wash everything from him. He tried to breath, but the air was too heavy. Madison wasn’t engaged. The fact that she could still pick him thrilled him. It was in that blink of a moment he realized the pain and anxiety he felt wouldn’t go away. She had become a part of him and there was no way he was about to let her go for a second time.
“Sir,”Theodore said as he turned to the father. “I’m Laird MacLeon and I’ve come to ask for yer daughter’s hand. I swear I will honor her and love her for as long as I breathe, but I’ve recently learned, I cannae go one more day without her.”
Madison’s fatherblinked as Hallie’s excitement radiated off her as if she’d turned into the sun. Edward reached for Theodore’s arm, pulling him into the small cottage.
“What’s this now?”the mother asked as her husband pulled in the stranger. “Who have ye brought in here? And what do ye think ye’re doin’ with him?”
“Hush, woman,”Madison’s father said with a wave of his hand as he led Theodore to the table and sat him down. “Let the men speak. Hallie, ye’ll go back to the creek and keep yer sister occupied. Ye’re nae to come back till dark. Is that clear?”
“And what amI to tell Madison if she asks why we cannae go home yet?” Hallie asked with a sort of pout that grated on Theodore’s nerves. But he hadn’t come here to negotiate for Hallie’s hand.
“Tell her I’m procurin’her a husband,” the father stated as he placed a secure hand on and flashed Theodore a smirk. “But ye must nae tell her who.”
“She’s nae goin’to like this,” Hallie said as she started for the door. Madison’s mother placed a reassuring hand on Hallie’s shoulder before letting her out of the cottage.
