Chapter Sixteen
He was tiring when he caught up with her.Logan spied her perched on a rock, resting it seemed, her back to him.It had taken him two hours to catch up with her and he’d sprinted most of the way.She must have been walking slowly and likely stopped to shelter while it was dark.A wise move with wolves around but there was risk in that too.She was still too close to Kilcree.
He paused and drew in a breath before continuing up the hill.Foolish woman could be spotted from miles around.Her golden hair and blue gown stood out against the yellow and green hills.He squeezed his clammy palms together and told himself to keep moving.How would she greet him?With disgust?Delight?He would not blame her for the former.Who knew how he’d make up for his barbaric behaviour?
Far off, a sound carried in the wind.He turned in the direction of the noise.“Hell fire.”Gillean’s riders.They’d spot her with ease once they reached the valley beneath.
He raced up the hill, his legs burning in protest and pulled her from the rock as the men entered the valley.When he grabbed her and clapped a hand over her mouth, she screamed against his palm.Her feet slipped from beneath her and her weight against him made him lose his footing.They tumbled together down the gentle slope and when they came to a standstill, he was on top of her.She wriggled against him, her knee barely missing his groin while she cried out against his hand.
“Hush, there are riders about,” he hissed.
She softened and fell quiet.He grew aware of her curves against him, of her pink parted lips and wide blue eyes.The confusion fell away, his annoyance melted.He felt her chest rise against his in a staggered breath and he hooked a hand under her head.In one swift swoop, he brought his mouth down upon hers.Lorna’s nails grappled at his back and she opened her mouth to him eagerly.Days of frustration and desperation were poured into that kiss, as though now the barrier of lies had dropped away, he could no longer hold back.
He kissed her aggressively, urgently, barely having the time to savour her taste but relishing the warm recess of her mouth.His body grew tight, his breaths rapid.He tore away, panting, and eyed her.
“Ye bore me a son,” he stated gruffly.
She nodded.
Tears misted in her eyes and all the lies dropped away.He saw only truth.She’d been right.Gillean had lied to him and kept him from his son...and the woman he loved?He could not be sure.He admired her courage, found her beautiful, but did he love her?
He eased himself off her, eyed her muddy gown and scratched face and grimaced.Taking her hand, he led her back up the slope and they crouched behind the rock.He peered over to see the riders had taken off to the North.Thank the Lord, for he had all but forgotten them once her body had touched his.He hoped they would not see them again.
He turned to her.“Ye damn fool lass.They were nearly upon ye.”She flinched at his words and he knelt beside her.“Why did ye no’ tell me sooner?”
“Would it have made any difference?Ye didnae believe me then, would ye have believed me sooner?Besides I couldnae risk Gillean finding out about him.I couldnae trust ye.Ewan is heir to my dowry—the dowry Gillean keeps from me.”
“Ewan,” he murmured experimentally.
“He looks like ye,” she said with a sad smile.
“Aye, ye said.”A noose-like knot tightened his throat.He had missed the birth of his son.He curled a fist and shook his head.“Gillean lied to me.”
“Gillean lies to many people.”
“I treated ye poorly.”
“Aye, ye did.”
How like her not to lie to soften the blow.“I have much to make up for.”
“Like locking me up?”
“Aye, that.”
Her lips curled upwards.“And for not believing me?And for dragging me around?And for—”
Logan silenced her with a swift kiss and tugged her hand.“Aye, all of that.”He paused to study the area, and confirm the riders were nowhere to be seen.“Come, let us go to our son.”
***
Lorna was wearying, though she did not complain.He saw it in her slowing steps and the way her shoulders dropped.He peered sideways at her and moved closer to take her arm.It was the first time he’d touched her since that kiss.They had been walking for several hours, mostly in silence, with only a few questions punctuating it.He had much to process, he hardly knew what to say.
“Come, there is a stream there.Let us get a drink and rest for a few moments.We’ll be hidden from the main path.”He pointed to where a thin trail of water broke the mountains and had carved a jagged path in it.
They made their way down the slope to where the stream levelled and Logan peered at the mountain looming over them, its beautiful shades of green and yellow failing to make it any less dramatic .Horses wouldn’t be able to traverse it so they’d be safe here for the moment.
Lorna knelt by the stream and lifted her skirts to wash away the grime from her legs.Logan eyed the pale length of her calves and closed his eyes as he scrubbed a hand over his jaw.
