At her nod, he pulled Da’s knife from his sporran and cut the wee strand, rolled it around his finger, and gently tucked it away.
“This knife belonged to my da. He always said ’twas for protecting our family. I coveted it from the time I was a bairn. He finally gave it tae me just before he died, instructing me tae use it tae protect my mither. My family. I want ye tae have it.”
She shook her head. “Nae, Sean. I cannae.”
“Yeare my family, now, Kenna. ’Tis all I have, all I can give tae help protect ye. Please take it. I need tae know ye’ve a way tae defend yerself.”
“Ye ken I cannae take anything I dinnae bring. But I’ll keep the offer of such a precious gift in my heart.”
With his own heart shattering in his chest, he leaned down and kissed her, in desperation, in heartbreak and in love. “I love ye, McKenna Kincaid.”
“I love ye, Sean McCulloch,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“Ye must go, now.” He was sure part of his soul ripped away when he stepped back.
Nodding, her breath coming in short bursts, she took off her coat and let it slip to the ground. With one last heart-wrenching look at him, she turned away.
Sean bit down on his lip and curled his fists to keep from calling to her or reaching out to stop her. The bullet and blade he’d taken at Culloden hadnae hurt half this much. When she reached for the gate, he wasnae sure his legs would hold him. He prayed it would work and hoped it wouldnae.
Kenna stopped before she touched the gate and looked back. Tears streamed down her face. “Dinnae forget tae come for me.After,when time and place doesnae matter. I’ll be waiting.”
“I will find ye! I swear it.”
When Kenna’s hand grasped the corroded top of the gate, Sean thought his chest would shatter from the pressure. It took a moment to realize naught had happened. Kenna appeared frozen for several seconds before her hand closed over the spring-latch and pulled.
When the gate swung wide, Sean kenned ’twas the blood pounding in his ears that made the buzzing sound, and his heart finally rending that caused his dizziness.
As if from a distance, he watched Kenna step through, into the void.
“Kenna!” he cried.
But she was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
Sean sank to his knees.The gate worked.They’d won. And he’d lost everything.
He wanted to follow Kenna. To damn the repercussions and follow his heart. But he’d blindly followed his instincts before, and someone else had paid the consequences.
Mayhap Kenna would come back. Mayhap once she got there, ’twould be too frightening, too daunting, too overwhelming and she’d want to return. He’d wait. He’d sit right here and wait. She’d need him, when she returned.
Ifshe returned.
He sighed. She wouldnae return. She left to join her family. She wouldnae leave them again.
The eastern horizon turned from ebony to cobalt, tinged with a blush of pink, then a burst of yellow. Unable to sit any longer, unable to leave, Sean paced between the headstones, stumbling over rocks and debris hidden in the tall grass, all the time keeping a wishful eye on the gate.
What was Kenna doing now? Running? Hiding? Could she have already discovered news of her mither and sister? Or learned ’twas too late to help them? Had someone recognized her? Captured her with the intent of turning her in, to meet the same fate?
’Twas agonizing and infuriating, no’ knowin’. Spurred by his anger, he hefted several fallen stones back into place and tossed dead, fallen branches over the wall. ’Twas a disgrace, the neglect this hallowed place had succumbed to. Did no one in the village care?
The village.Owen!
Groaning, Sean glanced at the sun to gauge the time. Even if he ran most of the way back, he’d be late for deliveries. When he dinnae show up, Owen would be worried and anxious. He’d either try tae do the deliveries himself or go upstairs and find Kenna missing. ’Twas Owen’s reaction to the latter that frightened Sean.
Bloody hell. He shoved his fingers through his hair and stared at the gate. He dinnae want to leave but he couldnae stay. Was there naught in life but torn decisions?
Grabbing Kenna’s coat, he vowed to return as soon as the morning deliveries were done. How he’d explain Kenna’s disappearance to Owen, was another matter.
