Page 87 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“I didnae think I was worthy,” he confessed. Now that the truth was out, there was no point concealing little bits.

“Ye, unworthy?” Laird MacLeod placed a hand on his shoulder. “Why do ye think I asked yer father to pledge ye to me, son?”

Aleck was stunned. Never in his life had he been told that his oath was a request from the Laird himself, and not a gift from his father. He was very confused, and it altered the way he looked at his past.

“Why?”

“Because I always envisioned ye taking over after me. Why do ye think I sent ye in my stead to my tenants and farm holds? Why do ye think I wanted ye as Evanna’s shadow? I had secretly hoped ye two would fall in love and marry. Yer more than worthy, my lad. Yer my son.”

Aleck was overcome with emotion. All the years he had wondered what his place was in the grand scheme of things, and whether there was more to life than duty and honor. And God had always planned for him to be here, to serve the Laird and learn from him, so he could one day lead his people.

“Now go.” The Laird said, patting Aleck on the back. “Bring my dear daughter back home.”

“I’ll assist.” Ashton put his coats back on. “I owe Evanna an explanation.”

Laird MacLeod accepted his offer. “As for ye,” the Laird turned to Lord Winchester. “Leave within the hour, or I will nae be responsible for my actions.”

Lord Winchester fumed and threatened reprisals but in vain. Aleck wasted no time. If Evanna had left early in the morning, she had already been on the road for hours. He needed to be quick to catch up to her before nightfall.

Praying for a broken carriage wheel, he rushed to the stables, fetching his sword on the way, and within ten minutes was galloping out of the castle, Ashton following closely behind him.

He was finally free - free to love Evanna, free to be a man in his own right, free of the thoughts of failure and dishonor. He couldn’t wait to catch up with Evanna and share the gift of emancipation with her. They could both be free and in love together. They were so close!

Chapter Thirty-Three

The sun hung low on the horizon. They were stranded on a stretch of road, the carriage wheel broken. Evanna sat on a tree root with Sarah while Father Gilmore harassed the driver, Keith, with incessant questions and suggestions on how to go about fixing a broken wheel.

“Ye should have checked for cracks in the spokes before we left.” Father Gilmore observed.

“I did.” Keith struggled with the hammer.

“Are ye certain ye should be hammering at that?”

“Aye.”

“Would nae it be more sensible to fashion a spoke out of a staff or something?”

“That’s an excellent idea, father. Why dinnae ye go and find us one in the woods, eh?”

“I’ll nae have any of yer cheek.”

Evanna smiled a little at their exchange. She felt much lighter now that she had left the castle behind. She would not have to face Aleck, nor provide explanations to Ashton on why she had encouraged John’s advances. It was such a complicated mess, and it hurt her heart to think upon it.

“We’ll need to find shelter soon,” Sarah said, scuffing the heel of her shoe in the snow mingled dirt. “We cannae spend the night out in the cold.”

Evanna was pleased to have Sarah there with her. When she had asked the little girl to help her pack, she had asked whether Evanna was headed to Winchelsea. Seeing no harm in telling Sarah the truth, Evanna had revealed her destination. The girl hadn’t hesitated for even a minute and asked if she could accompany Evanna and be her serving maid in the convent. She had argued that her parents would not miss her, they were just concerned with her wages, and this way Evanna would not miss her home too much. Evanna was grateful to have her by her side. She was a source of great comfort.

“Yer right,” Evanna nodded. “We’ll have to abandon our carriage and send people back for our trunks. Should we take a horse and find an inn further on?”

“Aye!” Sarah dusted the mud off her shoes and stood up. They were unhooking one of the horses from the carriage when they heard the thunder of hooves. Hoping it was someone from a nearby village Evanna looked behind them on the road.

Three men on horseback, swords raised were galloping towards them.

“Brigands!” Evanna cried. “Run!”

But it was no use. When she turned to run the other way three more men came riding from that direction.

“God have mercy!” Father Gilmore cried, falling to his knees in prayer.