Page 19 of The Highland Heir

“You are the worst friend,” he said withoutheat. In fact, his lips pulled up on one side in a reluctantsmile.

“I have apologized for that many times overthe years. Perhaps you are an even worse friend for bringing it upover and over and not honoring the forgiveness you so gallantlyoffered.”

“Mayhap it would be easier to accept yourapologies if you wouldn’t laugh when you extended them. I would bea fool to believe you held any true regret.”

It was true enough, she had laughed at thisincident as well as the day she’d pushed him on his arse. God saveher, she was laughing now just thinking of it.

“I surely didn’t make the bird shiteon you. I canna conjure up a bird and instruct it where to leaveits droppings. I know you accuse me of being a witch, but I do nothold control over the creatures that fly about the sky.”

“No, only those that slither upon theground,” he teased.

How odd this moment was. So simple as to beforgotten immediately, but she couldn’t because it was these timeswhen she felt closest to Kieran. She couldn’t allow it to beforgotten when he moved on with his life.

She’d done her best to keep distance from himrecently, but now she thought better of her plan to save her heart.She didn’t want to waste a moment of time with him.

She wondered, again, what would come of her.She hadn’t realized how intertwined their lives had become. Shetalked to him every day. And had done so for so many years.

Even when one of them was ill and the otherwas told to stay a distance away to avoid catching, they still satoutside the other’s door to chat and worry over the other.

And now they would be expected to juststop.

He would have another to turn to. Mayhap hewouldn’t even notice Ella was gone. Would she be so easily swappedout for someone else? Perhaps it was this fear that worried her themost.

Well, that and the gaping dark nothingnessshe saw before her. Kieran may not like that he was being forced tomarry, but at least his future was written out. He knew what toexpect.

Ella had no idea what to do with the rest ofher days. Would she just sit in her cottage, thinking about thetime a bird shite on Kieran and doing her best to grasp on to thememory of his laughter?

While he lived would she simply justexist?

Nay, she needed to find something forherself. And soon.

But for now, she could properly grieve forwhat she was about to lose.

“I will miss this,” she said withoutthinking.

He frowned at her. “Do you have something totell me? Are you not planning to come back with me? Do you intendto stay on at Kildary with your aunt?” He frowned and reined hishorse to a stop. “If this is your plan, I want to know. For I’dsooner turn around right now before we’ve even left Sinclair landsrather than continue on knowing I’ll have to say goodbye to mydearest friend.”

Dearest friend. It was an honor to be hisdearest friend, and yet not enough.

“Nay. But it soon will not matter where Ilive. After you marry, I will remain in the village and you’llreside in Castle Girnigoe with your wife, and we’ll only see eachother for festivals.”

“I come into the kitchens nearly every day tonab a tart. You’ll still be there, won’t you?”

She couldn’t tell him that she wouldn’t. Evenif she stayed with the Sinclairs, she wouldn’t be able to be at thecastle. Even the thought of seeing him with his wife at his sidetwisted her stomach into knots.

But for now, she would go on as if everythingwas fine.

“I suppose,” she said, knowing it wasprobably a lie. “But as you age, you’ll need to resist the tarts sonot to go soft in your middle.”

He patted his firm flat stomach. “Never.”

He flashed his bright smile, and she feltanother fracture in her heart.

How would she ever survive what was tocome?

Chapter Eight

When the sun was near to gone, Kieran turnedinto the forest to find a place for them to stay for the night.Fortunately, it was warm enough they’d not need a fire, for theywere passing through Oliphant lands.