“So?” Niall came up behind them without a sound.
Lachlann kept his arms around her but she struggled to get herself under control.
“I think we have to get the man back,” Lachlann said.
“Nae! ’Tis not to be done this way.”
She started to pull away and face her brother but Lachlann held her fast.
“Dunna be an arse. Look at her! She’s heartbroken.”
“Dunna ye understand? There’s to be an arrangement with the clan further north. She’s to marry one of their sons.”
“That’s not what her heart is telling her.”
Thomasina stilled at his words. Had she really said that? Lachlann relaxed his arms when she tried to pull away this time.
“What are ye saying, Lachlann? I only told ye Sean was a good man.” She wiped her nose and turned to face her brother. “I’ll not be losing yer only chance to get back into the clan, Niall. I promise ye.”
Niall glanced over her head to look at Lachlann before looking at the ground. He kicked at the dirt but neither of them spoke.
“When father came, he was dragging me away and telling me I’d better still be a virgin or O’Reilly would not be accepting me anymore.” Her voice grew quiet. “Sean threw his bag of coins at him. He ordered him to leave and not come back.”
Niall kept his eyes on her as she spoke, a dark expression on his face. He heaved a big sigh then looked at Lachlann.
“I’d say we ken what we’re to do then.” Lachlann was the first to break the silence. “Dunna ye agree, Niall?”
“Yea, yer judgment is sound. Let’s see if we can track the man down.”
“Sean?” Thomasina’s fluttering started again, like a butterfly set free to visit the flowers. “He’s going to the village. That’s where he’s gone.”
Niall cupped her face with a gentle hand then smiled. “Ye’re a wonderful lass, Thomasina, we willna be giving ye up to anyone who doesna realize that. Ye ken?”
She closed her eyes but didn’t speak. He was giving his blessing and she felt she’d been given another chance at life. Finally, she looked at him. “Ye can judge for yerself. I’ll not gainsay ye.”
Lachlann put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Then I’d say we’ve some riding to do.”
Chapter 10
Sean traveled through the night at a fast pace, as fast as he could accomplish without breaking his neck from a fall. The moon cast the road in enough light to pass without problem. Roana was a sturdy, wise animal who moved carefully among the outcroppings along the trail. He hadn’t even noticed the difficulty of the path when he’d held Thomasina asleep in his arms. The rise and fall of her chest as she slept, oblivious to all around. Overwhelmed by the bloodshed, she’d found an escape in sleep. He’d held her fast to him, protecting her with his body as he’d done at the inn. As he would gladly have continued to do for the rest of his days.
Pain shot through his chest as if it had been slammed into by an axe. Surely his heart was breaking in two. He’d been so close to having her. When did the feelings he had for Thomasina become ingrained in his gut? He’d ridiculed and tormented her the whole time while inside he’d marveled at her strength, at her fortitude, at her courage. She was an amazing woman.
That moment at the inn when she went into a panic thinking that everyone knew she was a woman. The reality that he needed her to be strong forhimhad swamped him. He’d not acknowledged it. He even convinced himself he just needed a good fuck but she was in him even then. That he had been able to calm her, to instill her with faith in herself, to trust herself even—that had been exhilarating. Without him even knowing it, he’d made the decision to be there for her, however she wanted him. That was his fatal mistake.
The only daughter of some northern clan couldn’t marry a warrior from Eire. She’d seemed like a lost soul whose father had laid aside any desire to guard her and see her well married. A man lost in drink and wasting away. Sean knew that well enough. She seemed to feel something for Sean even though she’d never said it. Was it out of fear that she clung to him? That she accepted his touch? That she had wanted him to make love to her?
A groan escaped from the depths of his soul. A single wolf in the distance answered him. Clouds passed in front of the moon, casting him in darkness. He urged the horse to stop then jumped down to lead the way between the trees.
“I’ll see ye safe, Roana. All is well. Sun up will be here anon.”
On foot, the road seemed endless. By daybreak, he’d found shelter at a fallen tree and slept. Haunted by strange dreams of being chased by some unknown foe. An animal. The animal became the soldier with the scarred face. He held a knife to Sean’s throat. The sensation of having his throat sliced open woke him with a gasp covered in sweat. He grabbed at his throat. Still intact. The cold air worked into his clothing and he shivered uncontrollably. A light dusting of snow had fallen while he slept. The sun was high in the sky. He felt exhausted.
Standing to stretch, he called to Roana with the whistle Thomasina had used. She came immediately, rubbing her nose against his outstretched hand.
“Glad I’ve not been abandoned by ye as well.”
Roana snorted in answer. Her ears twitching, she tipped her head up, bumping him twice as if to direct him to the area further up the hill. The path they’d been following no longer visible but he saw nothing untoward.
