Page 54 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Shhhh!” John silenced her.

Evanna saw red. How dare he? She was not some child to be shushed. She was about to tell him so when he pointed to their left, and she saw a big black boar staring steadily at them, its tusks yellow and lethal.

Evanna lost her voice. Swallowing, she eased her musketoon off her shoulder and slowly raised it, so she was aiming at the boar. John did the same, and they both waited patiently to make sure the boar wouldn’t move suddenly. Evanna’s finger caressed the trigger, holding off so John could have the first shot. She could sense him getting ready to fire when horses hooves thundered close by, sending the boar squealing into the bushes and breaking the tense moment.

“For God’s sake!” John cursed.

David had come clambering beside them on one of the horses. “Lady Evanna!” he said, breathless. “Yer needed at the Creed farm. They’re sending Sarah with the gypsy.”

“You buffoon!” John roared. “You made me miss my shot!”

“I apologize, sir.” David dismounted.

“He was just doing his job,” Evanna said. But John was too busy fuming to listen. “What do ye mean, David? What gypsy?”

“I dinnae ken for sure. Alice, the kitchen maid came running to tell me Sarah was being given away. She had just come by their farm.”

“I must go to the Creed farm. David, can ye please help Mr. Winchester track the boar?”

“Aye, Lady Evanna.”

“I’ll take the horse. Please excuse me, John.”

But John wasn’t listening. He was storming around the wood making more noise to scare off the boar. Why was he being so unreasonably angry? There was no time to think on it. She had to go save Sarah.

On her way, she went by the camp by the castle. Aleck was among the men who had come back for some refreshment. He waved at her to stop. “Where are ye off to?”

“The Creed farm. Something’s wrong with Sarah.”

“Can I come with ye?”

“I can handle it on my own.”

“I never said ye couldnae. I would like to be there to help.”

Evanna considered for a moment then nodded. Aleck mounted one of the horses and followed her. They galloped across the farms, and Evanna realized she felt more at home with Aleck in silence than she did with John, even when they talked and were nice to each other. Rather than comfort her, this thought made her angrier with herself and more so with Aleck. It was all his fault for not loving her back, and making her and those around her miserable.

Angry and bitter, Evanna galloped to try and make one miserable person less unhappy.

Chapter Twenty-One

They heard the commotion even before they reached the Creed farm. Raised voices and pleading sobs got louder as they galloped closer and finally the family came within sight. Sarah was on her knees, sobbing into her hands, a cloth sack by her side. Evanna assumed all her worldly belongings were in there. The Creed children were gathered around Mrs. Creed’s skirts, also crying.

The raised voices were those of Donald Creed and Vano. Evanna was surprised to see Vano there. When David had mentioned the gypsy, she had assumed Sarah was being sent off with the gypsy troop so the Creed’s could be rid of her, but something else entirely was afoot.

“Ye cheating scum!” Donald Creed was yelling. “Ye’ll pay the whole amount or ye willnae have her.”

“I’m not convinced she’ll prove a good wife. Crying at the sight of her betrothed is not promising. Ye’ll get half now and half if I’m satisfied with my purchase.”

“What is going on here?” Evanna brought her horse to heel and dismounted.

The entire family turned to look at her. They had been so engrossed in their argument they hadn’t noticed her and Aleck approaching. Sarah yelped with relief and got up in one fluid motion. She ran towards Evanna and hugged her tight, as if Evanna were a rope and she were in turbulent waters. Evanna held her close, placing a protective arm around her shoulders.

“This here’s none of yer business, Lady Evanna,” Mrs. Creed sniffed. She shunted her children back inside. “What we do with our daughter is our business.”

“I thought she was nae daughter of yers.” Evanna’s tone dripped frost. She had enough to deal with to take strife from the likes of Mrs. Creed.

“She is me daughter,” Donald Creed asserted. “And I decide what is to be done with her.”