Page 6 of Highlander’s False Identity

Nothing. She did not so much as flinch when he brought his head close to hers. Panicking, Beathan went to check her airways. By placing an ear to her mouth, his face close to her bosom, he could tell she was not breathing.

Urgently, he pressed his mouth against her lips. They were so tender and a delicate shade of rosebud pink, their sweetness at odds with the girl’s usual brash manner.

She lay there, as pale as a corpse, her chest not responding to his compressions. Forcefully he breathed in through her airways, her honeyed perfume swirling in the air like a song.

After a few sharp breaths, he gave a slight pause, giving a chance for the girl to breathe alone. But there was nothing. Now panicking, Beathan worked harder, breathing in deep and rhythmically to her flattened lungs.

It seemed to take forever, and a deep silence fell over the glen as if everything was still and waiting for her to take a breath.

Beathan did not know how long he waited, it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, but it felt like days. After several rounds, he was forced to stop to catch his breath. He was just about to continue when the girl took in a large breath.

She slowly came around, opening her eyes with a small groan. Sitting up, the girl tried to get to her feet.

“Nae ye dinnae!” said Beathan gently, pressing her back down. “There be plenty of time for that when we get back to the keep!”

Edme looked up. “The keep? How ye gonna get me there Master Craig?” she asked pointedly.

From behind him, Prince snarled impressively. Beathan glanced at the horse and laughed. The girl groaned, rolling her eyes.

Reading her mind, Beathan continued. “Dinnae ye fash, this time, I’m going to make sure ye cannae fall!” he grinned, fastening the wench’s hands securely behind her slender back.

As he tied her up, Beathan felt a sudden jolt of what could only be described as lust, racing its way up through him.

Beathan scowled. This was the last thing he needed now, to let unnecessary passions get in the way of a cool-headed decision. He had made that mistake once before. This time he resolved to make sure she did not escape.

“Come on, lass, be still. Ye need to keep yer strength up for meeting the Sheriff!”

The girl groaned as Beathan smiled. Helping her up gently, he fastened the tired girl onto his horse, ensuring she was firmly set. Then he leaped on in front and cracking the whip set the stallion off on a gentle trot back towards Craig keep.

“Well, the second attempt was better than yer first time!” drawled the girl, enigmatically as they went. Her voice was dreamy, but when he turned to look, Beathan saw a serious look shoot through her eyes. Then they turned mischievous.

“First time?” he asked, confused. “I barely ken ye, lassie. The first time for what?”

Beathan momentarily took his eyes off the path to look at her, uncertain.

“Och, Beathan!” she whispered coyly. “The first time ye kissed me, of course!”

Chapter Three

“Whoa!” Beathan almost fell off his horse. But for once, it was not the fault of his capricious stallion, but his lack of attention.

Clutching at the reins, he grappled frantically with the wild beast.

“Hush boy, hush,” he murmured, trying desperately to put the stallion back under control.

Even as he tried to stop them both falling, he caught a glimpse of amusement in the girl’s blue-gray eyes. It was clear that she thought something was hilarious.

“What is it? What’s so funny?” he demanded, irritated, now that the horse was finally calmed. He rounded on the smirking girl, who seemed to find him a constant source of amusement – something that he was quickly tiring of.

“Ye, yer face!” replied Edme. “I thought ye were goin’ to throw us both off of this mangy nag – again!”

Beathan’s eyes flashed angrily.

“Ye can say what ye like about me, lassie, but ye leave my horse out of it!” he barked, before realizing that he sounded ridiculous.

But he would not turn around to meet the girl in the eye to give her the satisfaction. Recovering himself, the lad riposted, “Besides, there’s only one mangy nag around here an’ it isnae Prince!”

Behind him, he felt a shuddering, which instinctively he knew was the girl laughing. Again.