“I will go with ye, Brie,” he said, firmly. “I willna sit in this cabin while ye’re down there working. If ’tis too much for me, I’ll tell ye. But ’twill be fine. Ye’ll see.”
He got up to stir the fire and add a couple more logs, wanting to say something that would restore the easiness they’d shared earlier. To tell her that Soncerae’s voice could well be nothing more than a remnant of his nightmare. But ’twould no’ be fair. He still dinna belong to himself, so he couldna promise anything to her, even if she’d let him.
He turned, gave Gus a pat, and taking his que from Brie, settled onto the opposite end of the sofa.
“Before we both dozed off, ye promised tae tell me about the footprints ye found outside. Why did they have the power tae ‘shake yer confidence’ as ye put it?”
Brie shrugged. “I probably overreacted. I just never thought the Mountain-Man would come this far back.”
“Mountain-man?” Mac repeated. “I dinna ken.”
“That’s what the locals call whoever is breaking into cabins up here. There were a couple of incident’s last year, but this summer there’ve been a whole slew of burglary’s. Always just one set of tracks and always when there’s no one around, which is why I was so surprised to see that he—or someone—had beenhere.”
Mac’s throat thickened at the thought of Brie in danger. How could he leave here knowing such a man prowled the mountain? His blood boiled, knowing the blackguard had recently been outside Brie’s home. ’Twas a brazen act, knowing Mac was here as well. “What is thismountain-mansearching for, that he needs tae break in tae so many cabins?”
Brie shrugged. “From what I’ve heard, he takes random items. Anything from food and blankets to guns and ammunition. Sometimes, even clothing. Some people think he’s camping out somewhere on the mountain.”
“Have ye someplace safer tae go, just until the thief is caught?”
Brie looked at him as if he’d suggested she cut off a limb. “As far as I know, he’s never hurt anyone.”
’Twas Mac’s turn to give her a look of incredulity. “Even so, ye canna ken for certain what he might do, if cornered.”
“I’ll admit a few people have wondered what would happen if they walked in on him, but so far, that’s never happened. I think he’s too smart for that.”
“And I think ye’re much too smart tae believe what ye’re saying.” Mac stood and paced the length of the room, angry that Brie would put herself in such a position. “It nearly happened tonight!”
“So, you’d have me surrender to my fears and just walk away from my home?”
Och! Such a stubborn lass.
“Aye. If ’twould see ye safe.” They locked gazes, each of them determined to press their point. Finally, he strode to the sofa, grasped Brie by the upper arms, and pulled her to her feet. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he brought his face within an inch of hers. “If I have tae lose ye, ’twill no be from yer obstinance!”
“Myobstinance?” she spit back. “Exactly, what is it you want from me, Mac…whoever-you-are?”
He stared into flashing sapphire eyes, wishing he could speak all the things in his heart. “I want…”
Hewantedto crush his mouth to hers. Kiss her with all the desperation in his heart and feel her kiss him back with the same passion. But he couldna as long as he dinna ken who Soncerae was, or who in his past he owed allegiance to. “I want to see ye safe,” he finally said, releasing her.
Unable to trust himself, he turned away and crossed his arms, pulling them tight against his ribcage as he walked to the fireplace. “ ’Tis late, Brie. and ye’ve planned a busy day, tomorrow. If ye’re ready tae retire, I dinna wish tae keep ye.” He groaned his frustration and embarrassment, realizing he’d all but sent her to bed in her own home.
Several seconds passed before she said anything. “The bed is made up in the spare room, across the hall from the bathroom. If you don’t find what you need, just knock on my door.”
He dinna turn around, afraid he’d weaken. “Thank ye, lass. But I think I’ll watch the fire a bit longer.”
~ ~ ~
A constant scratching at her door pulled Brie from her dream. She blinked the sleep away, already forgetting the details, but couldn’t shake the lingering sense of foreboding.
“Good morning, Gus.” She stumbled from her room, scratched behind his ears and looked around for Mac. Both his bedroom door and the outside door stood ajar. “You two have been outside, already?”
Gus backed up a few steps, wagged his tail and emitted something between a whine and a bark.
“You can stop now, Gus,” she laughed. “I’m up.”
Another joyful bark erupted when Mac came through the door, his arms loaded with firewood. “I’m sorry, lass. I tried tae keep him outside so he dinna wake ye.”
She watched Mac deposit the wood near the fireplace, brush off his hands and the front of his longshirt. At some point, he’d exchanged her father’s clothes for his own. He’d even cleaned his boots. The sight of him in his kilt, standing tall, rugged, and ridiculously handsome, took her breath away. And reminded her, he didn’t belong here.
