Page 51 of Highlander’s False Identity

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“It’s just about ye and me now,” Beathan told her, running his fingers through Edme’s long hair and pushing a stray lock behind her ear.

“I killed him. I killed him,” she said, traumatized, as Beathan ushered her away.

“C’mon,” he said, helping her back to the keep. The fighting was over now as the straggling English soldiers were forced to accept defeat.

Wallace approached his son, but seeing the girl still sobbing on his arm; he simply nodded before withdrawing tactfully.

For a few moments, an eerie sort of calm presided, as Beathan stroked Edme’s hair and tried to calm her down.

“Ye did braw, bonnie lass!” he said gently. “Ye had me scared, too!”

She looked at him, but only to start sobbing again.

“I killed him!” she said limply. “I didnae want to, but I had no choice!”

Anger stirred in Beathan’s heart. The ordeal that Edme had been through had shocked him to the core. But he knew that she needed him, so he had to get a grip on his emotions.

“Och, this is my fault, Edme. I should have killed him when I got the chance!” Beathan said. This was something that had been on his conscience ever since they had first tried to catch Dughall.

“But if ye hadn’t have killed him when ye did, then I would have! Och, ye needed me an’ I let ye down!” he said. At this, Edme turned around to face him.

“Nae, Beathan, none of this is yer fault. I brought all this trouble to yer door,” she said softly.

“Edme I,” he began, opening his mouth, but the cold, gray sky above seemed to take his words before he could even start them. Droplets of cold, hard rain began to fall. “Here,” he said, offering the shivering girl his plaid.

He took his jacket off and placed it on Edme’s shoulders. She looked so cold; gooseflesh peeked out from the rips in her clothing. Immediately, he felt bad for the way the battle had turned out.

“Edme, I’m so sorry. I shouldnae have let ye stay here an’ put yerself at risk. It could so nearly have all gone wrong.” said Beathan, tears forming in his eyes.

“Beathan,” said Edme, sounding surprised. “Ye fought all the way to help me! I was the one who pushed forwards without thinking. I…just… thought… I thought I could appeal to his better side. He had one once before,” she said. He held her tighter in his arms. She was still shaking. But this time, it was with emotion.

“Och, I ken,” he soothed.

“It was stupid of me to think I could change him; no-one could in the end!” Edme wept.

“It wasnae stupid, Edme. Ye wanted to see the best in him. That’s what makes ye so special!” Beathan said, leaning forwards and stroking her face.

Then, the skies above opened with a tremendous downpour, everything for miles around getting a good drubbing. Beathan watched, entranced, as Edme’s hair absorbed the rainwater, getting wetter and heavier by the minute.

“Och, will ye look at me,” she yelled, trying to push the soaking hair out of her face. The woolen jacket she was wearing was soaking wet. And as for Beathan, he felt as if he were being washed away.

In the distance, he could hear the sounds of men, dogs, and animals running for shelter. But neither Beathan nor Edme moved a muscle.

“Ye must need yer head checked, Beathan, if ye want to be with me!” Edme said, her blue eyes suddenly locking onto his.

Beathan shivered; Edme had a way of overwhelming his senses with a strange sort of energy. “What do ye mean, lass?” he asked. In his arms, Edme had never looked as perfect as she did then.

“My clothes, my hair, everything!” she grinned. “An’ worse than this, ye ken that I’ve nae gold!”

She beamed at Beathan, her blue eyes twinkling. But he did not immediately catch her meaning.

“I, dinnae ken what ye mean?” he said, but Edme just laughed.

“Och, I’m the sole heir to the McKinley clan. I’m going to have to build it all up again from scratch. There’s only really Fergus left who I can trust…,” her voice trailed off. “An’ of course, there’s nae money left! Maybe I should have robbed ye after all!” she quipped.

But Beathan just looked at her intently. “Nae, I’ve got a better idea, an’ this way, ye get it all, nae just a wee bit o’ gold,” he said, with a smile.