Page 18 of Highlander’s False Identity

This was crazy, he was deeply attracted to this girl, yet all signs were warning him of getting in too deep if he spent any more time with her. He wanted desperately to believe in her innocence, but there was still the chance that the charges were true, and for that reason, being alone with her was unwise.

“Aye,” she said softly.

“I just ken that ye’ll find the proof ye need, although I wish it were not true about everything ye told us!”

Now Edme looked at him thoughtfully.

“Aye, nae as much as I do, Beathan!”

* * *

The next morning, they started early, the horses waiting for them before the gray fingers of dawn got to work on the black sky.

Despite the shortness of the night, Edme looked as radiant as ever. Beathan could only marvel at her complexion, as they got ready to mount the horses from the keep.

He had spent most of the night awake, his mind turning and twisting for hours. He wanted to go with her to Duncan Castle, but then, on the other hand, he did not.

No such fear seemed to have affected Edme. She shone as if she had slept in a laird’s bed, not the rough hay mattress in the servants’ quarters where she had spent the night.

At this hour of the morning, the keep’s barracks were cold and still. And although the sun’s rays were not far off, an owl hooted overhead, its eerie call echoing into the distance.

It was cold, and Beathan detected a shiver running through the girl as she mounted her horse. He couldn’t help wonder how she had survived for the last three days, alone, in the wilderness.

Seeing her shiver, Beathan leaped off his horse and quickly brought her a shawl from his knapsack. He draped it over her shoulders softly.

“Thank ye Beathan,” said Edme sweetly, and Beathan wanted so much to kiss her as she sat atop the pretty white mare. He pulled away at once, remembering the temptation was why he had not wanted to accept this mission in the first place. But the choice was not his to make, and he had not yet seen his father. So here he was.

“It’s nae bother,” he said lightly, but was surprised to find Edme turning towards him, her blue eyes shining brightly in the moonlight.

“It’s nae nothing, it’s everything, your help. An’ especially since I dinnae deserve it after everything I…,’” the girl stopped abruptly, she looked shaken and pale.

“Hey,” said Beathan, he had been about to mount Prince but stopped where he was, placing a steadying hand on her shoulders.

The young lass whipped her head around so fast it was a wonder she didn’t get whiplash.

“S-sorry!” Beathan said, instinctively removing his grip from her shoulder. Edme flashed him an uncertain look. It was hard for Beathan to decipher what was going on her head – he barely knew what was happening in his own at the moment. She looked surprised but, if Beathan thought that she didn’t want his attention, she didn’t exactly communicate that with her eyes.

Edme’s piercing gaze, looking more blue than gray, beamed up at him. The corners of her lips flickering slightly.

“Nae, Beathan, I’m the sorry one,” she started, but Beathan put a finger to her lips to stop her talking further.

At the moment, he had every intention of giving in to his desire and kissing her deeply on the lips. But just as he was about to, she leaped away.

Startled, Beathan stepped back. Edme’s gaping eyes pointed Beathan’s attention to someone standing behind him.

His father!

The laird cleared his throat slightly, before setting his eyes on the pair of them.

“Father!” Beathan said, stung by his sudden appearance.

Wallace did not smile, but Beathan could tell from the twinkle in his eyes that he found the situation amusing.

However, Edme looked mortified, her pale cheeks coloring an intense pink. It was clear that from her demeanor, her only thought was to set off as soon as she possibly could.

“Father, I am glad ye are here,” said Beathan, rushing over to the laird. “I was wondering if,” he began. He dropped his voice, and eyes, to speak conspiratorially with the laird.

“I just wondered if maybe one of the guards ought to accompany Edme…,” he began. He ached as he said this - half of him wanting nothing more than to be at the girl’s side.