Page 39 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

He laughed when Father Gilmore glared at him from under his bushy eyebrows. As if he had summoned her by some kind of magic, the church door opened and in walked Evanna. She was dressed simply today. Her hair was tucked inside a pretty bonnet and her wool dress was a sensible brown. But even with the muted colors and lack of adornments, she radiated beauty.

“Good morning, Father Gilmore.”

“Good morning. It’s lovely to have ye back with us, Evanna.”

“Ye must be wondering why I asked to see ye.”

Father Gilmore shot Aleck a warning glance. “Nae. Ye are always welcome in the house of God, and I, His humble servant, am here to serve ye in whatever ye may need.”

Aleck masked his chuckles by clearing his throat.

“Was it a confession ye wanted to make?” Father Gilmore asked.

“Nae. I wished to make a gift to the church.”

“Eh?”

This statement took them both by surprise. Evanna had never been religious, and if she had complete convictions in her faith, she had never demonstrated them by attending church services. Her gift seemed suspicious, but who was Father Gilmore to look a gift horse in the mouth?

“God bless ye for thinking of the church.”

Evanna lifted the shawl she was holding and unfolded it to reveal a heavy golden cross. It was dazzling to look at even in the gloom of the church, the candles’ light bouncing off its surface.

She handed the gift to the priest, who took it with reverent hands. “God bless ye, Evanna MacLeod,” he repeated. “It is a generous gift. I didnae ken ye were so devoted to our Lord.”

“He helped me when nae one else would,” she said, draping the shawl around her shoulders. “This is but a small token of my gratitude.”

“It is well received.” Father Gilmore knelt by the altar and placed the golden cross on the lectern.

Evanna knelt and said a prayer. Aleck watched as her lips parted and moved gently over benedictions and her hearts desires. It was impossible to watch her spill her heart out to God without feeling his own heart breaking in his chest. He waited for her as she lit a candle for her mother and then approached him.

“Shall we take the tour around the tenements?” she asked, loudly enough for her voice to carry to Father Gilmore and the gaggle of women that had entered the church.

“Aye. Laird MacLeod wants ye to learn about yer land and yer people,” he said keeping the same pitch and range of voice. No one should suspect their actual mission.

They left the church and crossed the yard where two horses were waiting for them. Aleck helped her mount her steed. Her hand in his was warm and solid, and when she leaned on him to hoist herself up, he inhaled the scent of her—lilacs and soap. They rode a few miles from the castle before they slowed their horses down to a trot.

“John Winchester, eh?”

“Why?” she asked, raising her eyebrows archly. “Ye dinnae like him?”

“What’s there to like?”

“Yer only basing yer opinion of him off two meetings.” Evanna protested, but there was merriment in her voice, not offense.

“Takes less than that time for a gentleman to prove he’s one.”

“Ye just dislike him because he’s English.”

“I like Ashton just fine.”

“I ken what ye saw in the woods must have felt inappropriate, but I assure ye it was naught of the sort.”

Aleck still wasn’t convinced. He’d seen the way John Winchester had danced with her the night before. He’d seen the sly looks the man had passed to the other gentlemen present when they had walked the gardens at Ashby manor. Evanna was possibly too naive to understand the nature of men, but Aleck had met enough men like John Winchester in his life not to trust him with anything, let alone a woman.

“Well, I suppose ye’d ken all about inappropriate behavior.” She had thrown the sly accusation out and trotted ahead of him without giving him a chance to respond.

Aleck felt hot underneath his collar, even though the day was cold and a wind was picking up. He would never be able to explain away the kiss between him and Isla in the stables. He wanted to kick himself for allowing it to happen in the first place. He urged his horse on to catch up with Evanna. They thundered along the road, Evanna racing her horse at dangerous speed.