Page 11 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

“It is unfortunate that ye did.” His tone held no judgement, just simple fact.

“Indeed, it is,” she agreed. “I have been quite foolish.”

“What is done cannae be undone.”

“I wish with all my might that it could be.”

Bran laid his chin on the top of her head in an intimate gesture. She could feel his breath upon her hair, and it caused a stirring inside of her. She sat up and moved away from him.

She noticed that her moving around had startled a tiny mouse who was nibbling on the bannock she had refused to eat the evening before. Bran laid a hand on her shoulder. “Dinnae fash. I will kill it for ye.”

Idalia shook her head. “Leave the creature be. It is causing no harm to anyone.”

Bran gave her a curious look but said no more on the matter. Together they arose and prepared for their departure in silence. When they left the boat, Bran handed the captain a small bag of coins in payment for his services and another bag of coins to buy his silence. The men took Bran’s horse from the boat as well, and Bran placed Idalia upon the horse’s back before settling in behind her. He turned the horse inland, leaving the coast behind.

They rode for a time in silence. Idalia searched the trees but saw no one. “Are you certain that August has had you followed? I do not see anyone following us.”

“They are there. They are always there, even when ye cannae see them.”

“How do you know?”

“Try tae run away and ye will discover for yourself.” The warning in his tone told her that she would not make it very far if she did.

“You believe he’s been having you followed this entire time?”

“Aye,” Bran replied, his tone sure but filled with annoyance at the knowledge.

“He does not trust you to do as he has asked?”

“Would ye were ye he?”

Idalia thought on his words for a moment. “I would trust that you would wish to save your own life.”

“Aye, but would ye trust me?”

Idalia had to admit she would not if she were in August’s place. Thankfully, she was not August Raymond. “I would not, but even spies must sleep at some time in the day or night.”

Bran shook his head. “The risk is too high.”

“The risk is greater if we do nothing,” she argued. She refused to give up on convincing him that he should let her go.

“The decision is made. Ye will nae convince me tae do other than that which I must do. I am done discussing this with ye. Now, ride in silence or I shall have tae take measures tae silence ye.” He pulled the bag that had been over her head out of somewhere, she knew not where, and dangled it in front of her as a warning.

“You would not do such a thing,” she argued with him, even though she knew it was futile.

“I would, and I will.”

Idalia fell silent. She was uncomfortable enough without having a bag placed back over her head. He had not untied her bindings, which had forced her to sit with her legs hanging together off to one side. She could no longer feel her feet. With her hands still tied, she was entirely dependent upon him to keep her steady on the horse. His arms were around her torso as he guided the hose forward, brushing against her in a manner that caused strange reactions in her. She did not understand her feelings, and it made her even angrier at him.

That evening they made camp by the side of a loch. When they dismounted, Bran sat her down upon the ground, and she collapsed. Her bound feet and legs were unable to hold her upright after having been unused for so long. “Och, lass,” Bran murmured as he bent down to pick her up off of the ground. He carried her over to a fallen tree and sat her down upon the trunk. “If I unbind yer legs, do ye swear upon yer sister’s life that ye will nae run?”

Idalia wished to refuse, to tell him that she would run no matter what, but in that moment, she knew that she could not. “I swear.”

Nodding, Bran untied her feet. The blood rushed back with painful speed. Her feet and legs felt as if someone were poking them with needles all over. She tried to reach down and rub them, but her bound hands would not allow it. Bran reached out and untied them, allowing her to remove her shoes. She rubbed vigorously at her feet until the pain subsided.

“I need to...” she could not quite bring herself to say the words.

Bran nodded in understanding. “Ye may go behind a tree.”