“Ye’ve asked me to do a hard thing, Garrett,” she responded, her voice almost a whisper. “I needed time to think, to weigh…” she shrugged slightly, falling silent.
Yes, he did understand, he thought. It could not have been an easy decision. He quickly changed the subject.
“What of the five men who ride with Black Jack?” he asked, realizing she had made no mention of them.
She shook her head stubbornly. “I canna help ye there. I dinna know who they are, nor where to find them. “
Garrett leaned forward in his chair, his expression grim. “I must have them all, Madeleine.”
She looked at him sharply. “And ye must trust me in this, Garrett, as ye asked for my trust two weeks past. Once Black Jack is captured, ye winna have to worry about the others. They winna ride again, not without their leader.”
Garrett sat back in his chair, pondering her statement. He was tempted to ask her how she could say this with such certainty, but he decided against it.
First and foremost, he wanted Black Jack. If she claimed the others would cease their raiding, it must be true. She knew what was at stake if they did not.
He nodded. “Very well. I only hope I can convince General Hawley. He’s no doubt set his mind on hanging the whole thieving lot, then posting their heads on spikes as a warning to other Highlanders who might choose such a path. Black Jack’s head will have to satisfy him.”
He saw her flinch, her face growing deathly pale. He immediately regretted his callous and gruesome statement. “I’m sorry, Madeleine—”
“Ye’re sorry?” she blurted suddenly. Her laugh was harsh; her eyes flashed brightly. “I’ll have ye know this, Captain Garrett Marshall. If not for Black Jack, there would be far more fresh graves dotting Strathherrick, full of women and children who starved because yer fine countrymen saw fit to steal the bread from their tables. Fortunately we’ve food enough now to last the winter and seed to plant come spring. I’m giving ye Black Jack only to save my people more suffering and pain. The kind yer General Hawley would inflict upon them! The kind they’d not survive even with food in their bellies. Dinna forget it!’’
She tossed down the last of her wine and set the goblet shakily on the table. “I’ve had my say. We can discuss the details in the morning. I dinna want to keep ye from sharing yer wondrous news with Sergeant Fletcher. I’m sure ye’ve much to gloat over together, plans to make. Good night to ye, Garrett.”
She stood up abruptly, but he caught her hand in a steely grip.
“Do you really think I would gloat, Madeleine?” he said softly. “Sergeant Fletcher will hear of this soon enough.”
He set aside his goblet and rose from his chair, so close to her the brass buttons on his coat snagged her bodice. She jumped back as if stung, but he held her fast.
“Don’t you think I understand something of what your decision has cost you, Madeleine?” he demanded, his eyes searing into her own. “Don’t you think I sense your pain? To betray a kinsman, even for the sake of so many—”
“Ye’ll never know the half of how I feel!” Madeleine exclaimed, her voice throbbing with anguish.
She twisted free of his grasp and hurried to the open door, scarcely remembering to limp. She heard his footsteps behind her and she knew she would not escape him. He seemed determined to follow her.
She didn’t stop to think. In one swift movement she slammed the door, bolted it, and whirled around to face him.
Her eyes locked with his as he drew closer. She did not know in that moment if she was staying to protect Lord Lovat, or surrendering at last to the inexorable yearning that had taken over her senses, her body, and her will from the first time Garrett had held her in his arms.
All she knew was that soon she would face her death, by the hangman’s noose if she was brought to trial, or even more unnerving, by a brace of loaded pistols tomorrow night. She could almost feel the searing bullets ripping into her flesh, and she closed her eyes tightly, crossing her arms protectively over her breasts.
It wasn’t fair, it just wasn’t fair! her mind screamed. Hopeless tears squeezed beneath her eyelids. She had barely lived, had barely loved…
“Madeleine, what’s wrong?” Garrett’s voice called to her, his arms pulling her toward him. They enveloped her, and she sensed a seductive comfort like nothing she had ever known. She pressed against his broad chest, as if she could melt against him and be safe.
She opened her tear-filled eyes. His face was so close to hers, and his breath was warm against her skin.
“Why are you crying, Maddie?” he asked softly and gently. His finger traced a tear down her cheek. “Tell me, sweeting, tell me.”
She heard the words escape her lips with a voice she did not know. It was tremulous and frightened…so horribly frightened.
“Is it true what ye said at the falls, Garrett? That ye dinna want anything to happen to me?”
“Yes, it’s true,” he said, hugging her fiercely. “I’ve been so worried. But now you’ll be safe. You’ve given me what I need to protect you, Madeleine. You needn’t be afraid. Nothing will ever happen to you. Not if I can prevent it.”
She pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes, her slim hands reaching up to cradle his face. “Ye care, then, Garrett Marshall? Truly care about me?”
He nodded wordlessly and held her tighter, so tight she thought he might be able to drive the terrible fear from her heart. She wanted so much to forget the horror that was to come, if only for a little while.
