Page 56 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

Evanna heard it before it reached them - rain dropping like sheets, racing behind them.

“We willnae make it!” Aleck yelled at her. “We need to find shelter!”

But Evanna kept riding on.

Just not fast enough.

Rain and sleet bombarded them, and within minutes, Evanna was soaked. The water must have penetrated to her bones because she was deathly cold. The sleet hit her skin like tiny, sharp jabs from a blunt object. Her hands were numb and blue by the time they spotted a shack. The windows were dark, meaning there was no one inside.

Aleck helped her dismount and pushed the door open to let her in. Evanna huddled inside while Aleck saw to the horses. Hands trembling, teeth chattering, Evanna searched for some wood and matches to start a fire.

She managed to place a few papers and some hay into the fireplace and started a small flame. The sticks she had found caught the fire quickly enough, but they would need more wood if they were to avoid catching a cold.

Aleck came back inside, the rush of wind and howl of sleet cut short as he shut the door against the elements. Then it was only them in the dimness; the only sound their halted breathing and rapidly beating hearts.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“We’ll need more wood.” Aleck said.

Evanna sat by the hearth, teeth chattering. She couldn’t think straight; she was so cold. Aleck spied a few chairs in one corner and proceeded to break them up with his legs. Pretty soon the fire was roaring after an entire chair had been sacrificed to it.

But Evanna couldn’t stop shivering. Her breath was ice in her throat, pluming like smoke. Vaguely, she saw Aleck remove his coat and shirt, the clothes dripping water till a small puddle formed beneath them.

“I cannae believe that Vano,” he was saying. “To threaten ye like that. The Laird will have his head.”

“I dinnae want his head. I want him gone,” Evanna said, teeth chattering all the while.

“Yer still cold?” Aleck asked, touching her forehead. Evanna jerked her face away. “Yer cold as ice!”

“I’m fine,” Evanna managed to say from her trembling lips. The shivers had invaded every limb now, and she was shaking badly. But she was still annoyed with John, and she was still mad at Aleck for being so confusing. The sight of his naked torso wasn’t new to her. She had seen it often enough on the practice yard but never this close, never alone.

“Ye need to take some of these clothes off,” Aleck said. “There’s nae point in a fire if yer drowning in wet clothes.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“The heck ye are!” Aleck snapped. “Ye’ll catch a chill.”

“So what if I do?” Evanna snapped back. “It’ll be nae concern of yers.”

Aleck looked angry, but that was usual. It would be odd if he were being nice to her like he was the night of the feast. Sometimes Evanna was so confused by him it made her mad with distraction. Why couldn’t he say what he meant? Why not tell her straight that he could never love her? That she should nurse no hope? She would rather he dash her dreams once and for all than be kind to her and give fan to the flame of passion that burned for him.

“Whether I care or nae is beside the point. Ye’ll nae want to be holed up in bed sick with the sniffles with John to entertain. And Laird MacLeod would worry needlessly. Do ye want that?”

There he went again, giving her more guilt to add to what she already carried with her!

Evanna cried out with frustration. It was all too much: the storm, John’s changed personality, her father’s illness, Aleck’s indifference, and poor Sarah’s home life. Evanna wanted to cry, but she could not. Not in front of Aleck. She stood up instead and started walking about the room. A small window showed the sky outside was still dark, and getting darker as more clouds converged. Lightning flashed, illuminating the dark landscape for moments.

Her feet sloshed in her boots. She was completely sodden. Aleck’s suggestion held merit. It made no logical sense to sit in front of the fire if she was going to keep wearing this death trap.

Sitting on the dusty floor, she took off her riding boots and stockings. Aleck turned away from her and began to rummage in the battered chest of drawers. He pulled out a few tartans. They were moth eaten and old, but they were warm and dry. Feet liberated from their icy prison, Evanna extended them to the fire to warm while her fingers tried to undo the buttons on her back. Her fingers were so cold and numb they kept slipping off the buttons.

“Aleck,” she called. “I cannae…” Her breathing was labored, and she was shivering uncontrollably.

She felt his warm hand on the back of her neck. She gasped with relief, leaning her head back into the warmth of his hand. His hand steadied her shoulder as the other unbuttoned her dress. She could feel his hot knuckles graze her back, and her breathing became more ragged.

“Aleck,” she whispered, her legs shaking, more with sudden desire than the cold.

His strong arms wrapped around her, her back resting against his solid body. “It’s alright,” he whispered in her ear, his hot breath like a balm against her. “Yer alright.”