The Angel and the Highlander (10 page)

“I need your help,” Rowena said.

“Can’t someone else help?” Lachlan asked a bit sharply.

“I’m sorry,” Rowena said with sincere regret. “I need Terese’s help.”

“Whatever for?” Lachlan demanded.

“That doesn’t concern you,” Terese snapped. “If one of the women needs another we do not bother to ask why. We are there.”

“Let someone else be there,” Lachlan argued.

Terese yanked her hand out of his. “No. When I am needed I go without question.”

Lachlan grabbed hold of her arm and pressed his cheek to hers to whisper harshly, “I need you.”

“And I you,” she assured him, “but first I must see to this.”

“You make me wait?” he challenged.

“I am worth the wait,” she murmured in his ear and felt him shiver.

“Then I will wait no matter how long it takes,” he assured her, his tone more tempered.

She kissed his cheek. “I will do my best to make it quick.”

He grinned. “I on the other hand will not be quick.”

Terese laughed as he reluctantly released her and she hurried to Rowena

He called out, “I’ll wait at the cottage.”

She acknowledged him with a wave and followed Rowena into the house, asking quickly, “What’s wrong?”

“Megan suffered a wound early yesterday and foolishly ignored it, too busy tending others.”

“Is it bad?”

“It wouldn’t have been if she let me see to it right away. It already shows signs of poisoning.”

“We can’t let that happen,” Terese said and the two women immediately went to work on Megan. It took longer then either woman expected, Terese busy bathing the wound with a special brew that would hopefully flush away any poisons, while Rowena mixed a paste to be applied. Another brew was prepared to help Megan rest. Just when they thought all was done, Talon roused with a slight fever and the two women went to work on him.

It was near dawn by the time Terese was free to
take her leave and at first she thought it was too late, Lachlan would have never waited for her. Tired as she was, she was more curious so she crept silently through the convent grounds and just as quietly eased open Lachlan’s cottage door.

The only sound in the one room was the crackle and snap of the fire in the hearth. As she approached Lachlan where he lay on his side in bed, she saw that he was asleep. His chest was bare and she admired his sleek muscled lines and grew curious when she noticed how the blanket rested low on his hip, meaning he was completely naked beneath.

Instead of passion striking her, a yawn did and she knew she was too tired to do anything but sleep.

“Damn,” she whispered, annoyed yet again that they had lost the chance to be together. She was about to turn and leave when she heard.

“My sentiments exactly.”

She looked and saw his eyes open and her heart gave a quick catch. “You waited.”

“I’ve slept on and off, each time hoping when I opened my eyes you’d be there.”

“And now I am here…but—” Another yawn demonstrated what she was about to reluctantly tell him. She was tired.

“I am as tired as you,” he said,” though I’d love you to sleep beside me.”

He eased the blanket back just enough to invite and not tease.

She smiled at his thoughtfulness and his invitation
and without hesitation she joined him, though she kept her clothes on. She rested her back to him and he in turn wrapped her solidly in his arms.

“I’m glad you came even though you were tired,” he whispered and kissed her cheek.

“And I’m glad you waited,” she murmured as they both drifted off to sleep together.

L
achlan watched Terese sleep. She purred like a contented kitten and he smiled. She felt good in his arms, so good that he wanted to keep her there, not let her go. Not now, not ever.

He rested his head back on the pillow and drank in the scent of her hair that simply intoxicated him, but then everything about her made him drunk with joy. These feelings were strange to him; while he enjoyed many women none had the affect on him that Terese did, and right from the start.

Lord, but he thought he would suffer for his unholy thoughts about a nun and how relieved he was and pleased, ever so pleased, to discover that she was simply a woman, though
simply
did not describe Terese.

No, she was complex, courageous, thoughtful, beautiful, and…
his
.

He shook his head. He had always reserved his opinion on women after he bedded them, not so with Terese. He cared for her more than he wanted to admit. He truly enjoyed time spent with her and it mattered not what they did. They could sit in silence and watch
the sun rise or set, it didn’t matter; it was being with her that made the difference.

He had found himself looking forward to each and every day because he would see her, talk with her, laugh with her, tease her, and kiss her. He loved kissing her. She tasted so sweet, and she was as hungry for him as he was for her.

Damn, could he be falling in love?

He had no plans to fall in love, but then Cavan’s wife Honora had warned him often enough that love arrived in its own time. He, however, had objected, insisting he would be spared love’s burden. Had he tempted fate?

He buried his face in her wheat-colored hair and blessed fate, for the heavens had been generous to him. He grinned, thinking he sounded like his love-besotted brothers, and he almost laughed aloud envisioning their responses to his predicament.

She stirred in his arms and began to stretch her limbs, moaning as she surfaced from sleep. He gave her room and enjoyed the view, watching her arch her back, her round breasts almost greeting his face. She raised her legs in a lazy stretch and rounded her ankles, hearing a crack or two. A huge yawn preceded her eyes fluttering open and once she caught sight of him peering down at her, she startled and crumpled into herself as if trying to hide.

“Forgot where you were?”

She nodded, her eyes wide.

He smiled. “You are beauty and grace when you wake in the morning.”

“Truly?” she asked astonished.

“My word on it,” he whispered and was about to kiss her when his door crashed open.

Andrew rushed in. “Megan is—”

He blanched. “Sorry I interrupted, but…” He looked to Terese and she bounced out of bed.

“Has Megan grown worse?”

“She has a fever. She’s burning up,” Andrew ranted.

Terese fled the cottage without a backward glance.

Lachlan shook his head and glared at Andrew. “How bad
truly
is it?”

“Rowena told me Megan had a fever.”

“And that she was burning up?”

“Fevers do that,” Andrew said in his defense.

“So you assumed Megan was burning up,” Lachlan said and got out of bed to dress quickly.

“What difference does it make, Megan is ill.”

Lachlan placed a hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “I know you’re beside yourself with worry, but you stole Terese from me.”

“Would you not have done the same if it were Terese ill with fever?”

Lachlan nodded slowly and led Andrew out of the cottage. “Let’s go see how Megan is, though I must ask. What would you have done to me if it was you in bed with Megan?”

Terese was panting and had a stitch in her side by the time she reached the common house. She entered to an empty room and immediately grew concerned.
This was the time the women would be gathered for the morning meal with more than one busy preparing the food.

She made her way down the hall fearful of what she would find, and when she heard a shrill cry from Megan’s room she ran the last few feet.

Terese entered to find Rowena, Hester, and Piper crowded in the small room all laughing and sharing the morning meal with Megan, who was sitting up in bed and looking her usual rosy self.

Piper bounced to her feet, holding her bowl of porridge tight. “What’s wrong?”

Terese sighed. “Nothing, though Andrew—”

“That big idiot arrived here looking for Megan,” Rowena said. “And as soon as I mentioned fever, he turned deathly pale and took off running.”

Terese smiled. “He’s worried senseless. He believes Megan is about to meet her demise and had me believing it as well.
Burning
with fever, he told me.”

“He truly is worried about me?” Megan asked.

“Like a fool in love,” Rowena said.

“I agree,” Hester piped in. “The man is besotted.”

Piper added her agreement. “He follows you around like a love-sick pup.”

“I haven’t noticed it,” Megan said, though a hint of a smile told otherwise.

“Then you’re either blind or a fool,” Hester said.

Megan’s expression turned hard. “I was a fool once; I will be one no more.”

The women turned quiet and then Hester spoke.

“Perhaps it’s a man’s turn to be foolish in love with you.”

Hope sprang in Megan’s face though only briefly. It vanished as fast as it had appeared. “I will not be hurt again. The last one almost killed me.”

The women remained quiet, not knowing Megan’s past but knowing, from the way she had been badly beaten when they found her, she had suffered greatly at the hands of a man. A man who had claimed to love her.

It was Piper who suggested, “Why not give Andrew a chance?”

Hester added her opinion. “He seems like a good man.”

Before Rowena or Terese could offer their own thoughts, a rapid pounding sounded at the door, followed by two more bursts until it suddenly stopped.

Terese laughed. “I bet Lachlan grabbed Andrew’s hand before he could pound again.”

The women all grinned and suddenly made excuses to take their leave.

“What are you doing?” Megan demanded with a note of panic.

“Giving you time to get to know Andrew,” Hester said and scooted out the door, followed by Piper. Terese was about to take her leave, Rowena having already gone to answer the door, when Megan grabbed her hand.

“I’m afraid,” she said.

Terese sat on the bed beside her. “What have you
got to lose by getting to know him? You are safe here. No one will let any harm come to you.” She smiled. “Andrew cares for you and would kill anyone who dares to hurt you.”

Megan pulled Terese closer to her and whispered, her voice breaking with fear, “A man told me that once and I believed him. I trusted him. I loved him.” Tears filled her green eyes. “He kept me isolated, beat me senseless, and nearly killed me.”

Terese took firm hold of her hand and listened.

Megan choked on her tears as she said, “I had no choice. I had to do it. I had to kill him.”

Megan burst into tears and Terese wrapped the sobbing woman in her arms, her own eyes filling with tears for the horror Megan must have suffered.

“You did what you had to do to survive,” Terese assured her. “It is over now and done, has been for years. He can hurt you no more. Unless…”

Megan turned wide, frightened eyes on her.

Terese pushed the dark curls off Megan’s forehead. “Unless you allow the fear he instilled in you to stop you from finding and loving a truly good man.”

“I don’t know if—”

“Give Andrew a chance,” Terese encouraged and laughed. “Good lord, the man offered to shrink himself down when you said he was too tall, and he’s forever there to help you and not once has he raised his voice or spoken badly to you.”

“I am safe here,” Megan said wiping away the last of her tears.

“You know not a one of us would let any harm befall you. You may still have trouble accepting it, but you are safe here and will remain so.”

Hester peeked her head in. “Andrew would like to see you to ascertain for himself that you are well and not burning up with fever.” She giggled. “He’s beside himself with worry, Megan. You have to put him out of his misery.”

Terese looked to Hester. “What of Talon? He is only two doors down.”

“Rowena went to sit with him, since he seems to fancy her company,” Hester said. “I told her I’d let her know when Andrew was gone.”

“I could go outside and visit with him,” Megan suggested.

“No,” both women said.

“Rowena said at least two, maybe three days, off that foot,” Terese said.

Megan threw the blanket off her. “Then just get me to a chair near the hearth in the common room. It’s not wise for us to take a chance of Talon being discovered.”

“She’s right,” Hester said and Terese agreed.

The two women supported Megan with their shoulders under her arms, lifting her off the ground, their heights a good four to five inches over her petite one.

As soon as Andrew saw her he went to her aid, scooped her up, and plopped down in the chair near the hearth with her in his lap. He swiped the blanket out of Hester’s hand before she could cover Megan’s legs and he tucked it in securely around her. Then
with his arms around her he insisted she tell him what happened, he wanted to hear it all.

Hester grinned at Terese and disappeared behind the curtain to the women’s living quarters where Terese was sure she would wait to give the all-clear signal to Rowena. While Terese took hold of Lachlan’s hand and walked out of the cottage, the pair in the chair never noticed anyone’s departure.

“Tell me that I am right about Andrew, that he is a kind, good man,” Terese said as they walked over the convent grounds.

“That would depend,” Lachlan said.

“On what?” she asked anxiously.

“If I must include this morning’s incident when he intruded upon us at the most inopportune time,” he said with a grin.

She laughed. “Under the circumstances I think you should forgive him.”

“I will only forgive his foolish actions because he is a man in love.”

Terese stopped. “You truly believe that Andrew loves Megan?”

“I know he does,” Lachlan confirmed. “I have never seen him make a fool of himself for any woman, therefore, he must be in love.”

Boyd shouted for Lachlan and gave an impatient wave.

“Something must be amiss,” Lachlan said and gave her cheek a peck. “I will return as soon as I can.”

“It seems we both promise that.”

Lachlan cupped her chin. “A promise, that I assure you, will be kept.”

“Go, I will see you later,” she said, though her heart ached when he took off. Time was growing short for them and while there was no talk of love between them and certainly no necessity for it since it could never be, she couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to truly be loved.

Don’t think about it
. The warning pierced her thoughts, shattering the notion.

Terese shook her head and hurried off to see to the daily chores and the visitors that were becoming more and more permanent residents of Everagis.

Night brought with it a steady, gentle rain. It was good for the crops and though a few shelters were a tight squeeze for some, at least all were in out of the rain. The day had kept Terese and Lachlan busy with little time to spare for each other.

Meals were prepared and shared, those healing tended, the night chores finished and everyone tired for bed, though not Terese. She paced the floor of the common room feeling as if her flesh was on fire. The last hour she could think of nothing but Lachlan, the feel of his mouth hot against hers, his hand cupping her breast, his mouth nibbling her tender flesh. She shuddered with the memories.

She wanted him, good lord, how she wanted him.

All she had to do was go to him as she had this morning before dawn. So why did she hesitate?

Thunder struck and she jumped then wrapped her arms around herself. She knew why she hesitated. She knew that this was it. Once she went to him she would seal her fate. They would couple and she knew without a doubt it would be wonderful, and she would not want it to end. She would not want him to leave. She would want more and that was not possible. She had repeatedly warned herself against such senseless thoughts, but they would creep in and she couldn’t help but think what if…
what if
?

“Go to him and accept what is or keep your distance,” she whispered to herself. “Those are your only choices.”

She had thought she had settled this battle that brewed within her, but she hadn’t. Would she ever?

You cannot have more and you know it
. She silently chided.

Take what you can. Take it now and don’t look back. No regrets. Only memories to enjoy when he is gone. Go now to him. Go now and lose yourself in him. Forget who you are and love him.

Terese refused to argue any longer with herself. She ran to the door opened it and saw that the rain had turned heavy. She didn’t care. She had to do this. She had to do this now or she never would.

She shut the door behind her and ran, and began to cry. Her tears joined the rain that rolled down her face. Why she cried she wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was for the young woman who had thought her father would let her choose a man to love, or for the young girl who
had dreamt of finding love, or simply because life was nothing as she thought it would be.

But here at this moment life was hers for the choosing and she chose to love Lachlan if only for a brief time.

Through the rain and her tears she saw a figure approach. The dark shadow startled her and she slowed her pace, wiping at her eyes to see more clearly. It apparently did the same, holding back until the other could be identified.

One cautious step, two, and then she recognized at the same moment Lachlan did and they ran eagerly to each other, wrapping themselves in a tight embrace while their kiss served not to appease their hungry passion but rather to enflame it beyond reason.

Lachlan grabbed hold of her face. “Nothing. Nothing stops us, do you hear me?” he said, like a madman bent on finding sanity.