“Do ye believe he would tell O’Reilly?”
Niall shrugged, rolled onto his back, and looked heavenward. “The man is a drunken fool.”
They watched the flight of a lark as it filled the air with the first songs of the new day.
Niall turned his head toward her, his gaze intense. “If ye’ve feelings for the warrior, tell me now.”
The fluttering began again, her pulse racing to keep up. “Methinks ye ken.”
“It would be safest to see ye wed to him now. That way, if O’Reilly finds us, there will be no question. He will not want ye if ye’ve been with another. ’Tis yer innocence he craves.”
A shiver of repulsion tripped up her backbone. O’Reilly had lusted after her even when she was a child? If not for her brother and his friend’s protection, the man could easily have forced himself on her, ripped her asunder even, to accommodate his perverse desires. Nothing would be worse than having him touch her.
“I ken how much ye’ve done to get back into the clan. I want ye to be welcomed back in as yer own man and stop this solitary life. I am not so selfish to think of only myself.”
“I ken that. Since our own father’s a drunk, ’tis up to me as yer brother to see to yer betrothal. If O’Reilly gets his hands on ye, it’ll be too late to make a better choice for ye.” He cupped her cheek. The warmth from his hand calmed her. “Methinks the warrior will be kind to ye. I canna say the same about any clans our uncle may choose to ally with. This may be what is best for ye.”
“Yea. If he is willing to take me to wife.”
“How could he not be?” He pulled her in close for a hug. “I’ll speak with him.”
Chapter 13
Sean’s body screamed with every movement but he refused to show his weakness. He wouldn’t allow them to waste any more time getting Thomasina safely away. The coast was just beyond them, the salt air already surrounding them. He’d find a boat and be home by nightfall. With the weight of his heart heavy in his chest, he mounted the horse behind Lachlann.
Thomasina reached up to him, a water skin near to bursting in her hand. “Ye need to remember to drink.”
Sean nodded. “Thank ye.”
Niall offered his arm to her and she jumped up behind him as she had with Sean. She turned to him and smiled. His heart squeezed.
“Where did ye learn such a thing as that?” Niall’s amazement came through in his voice.
She dipped her chin. “I’ve been practicing.”
“Let us hope ye’ll soon not be needing the trews. Once properly dressed as a lass, that will be a bit more difficult,” Niall offered and urged his horse to lead.
Lachlann stayed to the right, following close. Sean glimpsed over the man’s shoulder at Thomasina’s fine backside. He would have enjoyed seeing her in a dress, dipped in at her narrow waist, molding to her womanly form, her hair spreading out around her. He sighed.
“What is amiss?”
Sean hadn’t realized he’d sighed out loud. “Just thinking of my many regrets.”
Lachlann slowed his horse and fell back a bit. “Have ye many?”
“Yea. The threat of the beheading brought many quickly to mind. More than I’d care to admit.”
“Any ye can turn around and rectify to yer liking?”
Sean wanted to wed Thomasina. It had felt right to call her his betrothed. His chest tightened. He wanted her with him. He couldn’t imagine himself continuing on in the boat without her. He would miss everything about her. Her smile. Her sparkling, green eyes. Her angry frowns. Her determination.
He cleared his throat. “I am afeared not. ’Tis not to be.”
“Have ye given it all ye have in ye? Like in battle? Like it were a matter of life and death?”
Life without Thomasina did not seem like much of a life. “’Tis not a simple thing.”
Lachlann stopped the horse and turned his head to speak over his shoulder. “Are ye certain, Sean? Can ye leave the love of yer life behind on the shore when ye get into that boat? Without ever knowing how she fares? Without being the one to see to protecting her?” He glanced at him. “Without being the one to see to her happiness? Knowing that ye’re the one who would lay down yer life for her?”
