Wed to a Highland Warrior (18 page)

“My farm is just over the rise,” he said with relief.

They all were pleased to see smoke pouring from the chimney, and father and son broke into a run.

Bliss squeezed Trey’s hand. “We must hurry.”

He didn’t question why, he ran along with her.

As they all drew near the cottage, a shrieking scream pierced the night air.

Peter and his son stopped dead for a moment, then ran, Peter screaming, “Emma!”

Chapter 23

B
liss laid the freshly scrubbed little girl in her mother’s arms.

Emma cradled her close and reached out and grabbed Bliss by the wrist. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

Bliss smiled. “You did all the work and suffered much of the labor while alone.”

“But if you hadn’t arrived when you did, I would not have had the strength to—” Tears choked off her words.

“Fate had other plans,” Bliss said.

Emma smiled and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

“I’m sure that your husband and son are anxious to see you and the babe. I’ll go fetch them and give you some time alone.”

Emma nodded once again, choking back tears.

Bliss left the cottage to find Ian and Peter waiting right outside the door. She smiled and stepped aside, and the two rushed in.

Trey walked over to her. “Are you all right?”

His concern for her above anyone else amazed her, not that he didn’t care how mother and child fared. He simply wanted to know first how she was. It was so very nice to know how important she was to him.

She drifted closer to him, and his arms instinctively wound around her. “I am fine, and mother and daughter are doing well.”

“Well enough to travel soon?” he asked, his hand gently massaging up and down her back.

She rested her head on his chest, welcoming his soothing touch. “Emma is stronger than she knows and will do anything to see her family kept safe. I would suggest that we leave in the morning, find a safe place to camp, and leave Emma and the babe there, and Ian to watch over them while Peter, you, and I go to fetch Corwin’s wife and son.”

“You have it all planned,” he said on a laugh, “though tell me. Is there a reason that you need to go along?”

She glanced up at him. “I don’t want to be away from you.”

His smile faded as he leaned down to kiss her, a gentle touch of the lips before tasting more deeply. And when done, he said, “Nor I you, but I also want to see you kept safe. If it is not necessary for you to accompany us, then I prefer you remain with Emma and the children.”

“I can’t say it is necessary,” she answered truthfully. “I only know that I have the overpowering need to remain with you.”

He kissed her again though lightly this time. “And I am selfish and want you with me, but—”

She stilled his words with her fingers pressed against his lips. “Let us stay together while we can.”

He gently pushed her hand away and frowned. “What do you mean
while we can
?”

“I don’t know,” she said, feeling as troubled by her words as he did.

He tightened his grip on her. “I will let no one take you from me.”

You can’t stop fate.
Her thought sent a chill through her.

“Not even fate,” Trey said, as if he knew her thoughts.

“We stay together then,” she said, trying to convince herself that there was nothing to worry about when she knew that there was.

“We stay together,” Trey confirmed. “You, Peter, and I will settle Emma and the children safely, then go fetch Rona and her son.”

Bliss smiled, pleased and relieved that he had agreed. She had no idea where this need to remain with him had come from. Could it be possible that they would not stay together, and she was beginning to sense their eventual separation?

She hoped not. It might have been only a short time since she had grown accustomed to him, but it seemed that they had become as familiar as longtime friends, talking, trusting, sharing, and . . . loving.

“How is it that I have fallen so deeply in love with you?” she asked, her eyes going to his.

“I have no answer, for I do not understand myself how easily, willingly, and so unconditionally I have fallen in love with you.”

“I want it to be forever.”

“You obviously worry that it won’t be; therefore, I wonder if you know something and are not telling me.”

“I don’t know, that’s just it,” she said. “I do not know if we are meant to be together forever.”

He grinned and stole a quick kiss before saying, “I
know
that we are meant to be together forever, so do not worry yourself over it. We have joined as one and will remain so.”

Bliss had to smile; he spoke with such conviction that she could not help but believe his words. “You have a knowing of your own,” she teased.

“Don’t tell anyone,” he whispered, “but I get it from my wife.”

She laughed. “I am not some contagious illness.”

He hugged her close and nuzzled his lips at her neck before whispering in her ear, “You are contagious to my heart, and I’ll have it no other way.”

They kissed then, a hungry, needy kiss that more than stirred their passion.

“When we reach your home, I wish to spend as much time alone in your bedchamber as possible,” she said, her body already deeply aching for him.

“That is a wish I will happily and eagerly grant.”

Peter gave a shout to them from the open door, waving to them to join him and his family.

They smiled in resignation and went to join the happy family.

T
rey understood where Ian had gotten his stamina and determination. It was from his mother, Emma. The woman was up early the next morning, and, while her newborn daughter slept, she prepared a hot pottage. After they had all eaten their fill, Emma had to be made to sit and rest while Ian and Peter saw to gathering food, clothing, and blankets to take with them.

It was a few hours after sunrise that they were finally on their way. Corwin’s farm was not far from Peter’s, and so it had been decided that a spot would be found halfway between the farms for Emma and the children to wait.

It was midmorning when a spot Trey felt would be safe enough was found, and Emma settled. Ian took his responsibility seriously, asking Trey for a weapon so that he could protect his mum and sister if necessary.

Trey understood that because of the lad’s recent bout with the soldiers, he felt vulnerable and needed something that would help give him a sense of security. He gave Ian a dagger though not without instructions and warnings. He could see the relief on the lad’s face after the brief lesson finished. Ian now felt more capable of defending his family.

Peter thanked him for helping his son. “I’m a farmer, not a warrior like you. It is good he learns from a warrior.”

Trey rested a firm hand on the man’s shoulder. “You bravely escaped your captives; I’d say you’re a mighty fine warrior.”

With courage instilled in father and son, good-byes were said, with tears, and the trio departed. If all went well, they would be back by nightfall, and so far Bliss had not mentioned any delays, so Trey was hopeful.

Silence once again was their traveling companion, Trey wanting nothing to interfere with keeping alert to surrounding sounds. A few times he stopped, having heard a sound and made sure he paid heed to his own instincts before proceeding.

He saw no point in troubling Bliss each time. If she sensed anything, she would be right there to tell him, and so he did not bother her with every little sound. What concerned him more was the weather. It felt like snow. He had expected at least a light coating yesterday, and, with the temperature dropping, he feared more than a dusting.

They were close to the farm when Bliss hurried to his side, grabbed hold of his arm, and whispered, “Soldiers.”

“We go slow and quiet,” he said, looking at Peter, who nodded.

Raised voices could be heard as they drew closer to the farm, though they remained hidden in the woods. When they were finally able to get a look, they saw two soldiers yelling at Rona, her son, barely five years, clinging to her leg, his eyes wide with fear and tears.

From what they could hear, the soldiers were accusing her of hiding her husband and threatening harm to her and her son if she didn’t tell them where he was.

“Wait here,” Trey ordered.

Peter stepped forward. “I’ll help.”

Trey shook his head. “They search for you as well; better they don’t see you.”

Peter looked upset but did as Trey said.

Trey walked out of the woods and headed straight for the soldiers.

“Now here’s a big one that can fight for the king,” one soldier said, as Trey approached.

“I have no use for King Kenneth,” Trey said, and his fist flew out so fast the soldier had no time to respond. He went down hard and fast.

The other soldier was so shocked that he didn’t react as fast as he should have, which gave Trey enough time to land a solid blow to his jaw, knocking him out.

Peter and Bliss came running as soon as the two went down.

“Peter,” Rona cried out when she spotted him. “Is Corwin with you?”

Peter’s saddened expression answered her, and she collapsed to the ground, crying, her young son crying along with her though he didn’t know why.

Bliss knelt alongside her, slipping a comforting arm around her as Peter recounted the tale of her husband’s bravery and that, because of him, so many men went free, and how in the end, Corwin had cared only for his wife’s and son’s safety. That was why they were here, to take her and Darren to safety.

“We need to hurry,” Peter warned, and Bliss helped the woman to stand.

Though Rona continued to shed tears, she did what she had to do and got herself and her son ready to leave.

Trey and Peter saw to securing the soldiers so that they could not follow once they revived or alert any nearby troops. They were done in no time, as was Rona. Peter picked up the young lad and hoisted him onto his soldiers, Rona sending him a grateful smile.

They hurried off, Trey wanting to reach Emma and the children by nightfall. He felt uneasy though he couldn’t say why.

A little after nightfall, they arrived, and Rona dropped down beside Emma, Darren clinging to her, and the two women cried in sadness and relief.

Trey pulled Bliss aside away from the others. “Something troubles me.”

Bliss nodded. “I’ve felt it myself though I don’t know what it is.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I will be glad when we are home, where I know you will be safe.” He could feel the sudden change in her, a quick almost undetectable bristle that vanished as soon as it had appeared. “What’s wrong?”

She had no chance to respond, Peter calling out to them both. He was worried that soldiers would or had already gone to his farm in search of him. Would they be able to track them here?

They discussed all the possibilities, and though Trey knew what had to be done, he said nothing about it. He would wait for the right time though he knew there would be no keeping his plan from Bliss. No doubt she already knew.

Peter took the first watch, leaving Trey to curl around his wife beside the campfire and keep them both warm. The others had already fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion and relief from the day’s sadness.

“Our return to your home will be delayed yet again,” she whispered, “but it cannot be helped.”

“It won’t be a long delay, just a slight detour.” He nuzzled at her warm neck, his hand beneath the blanket playfully creeping up to gently squeeze her breast. He truly should have thought better of his actions since the simple touch began to grow him hard.

“That is not fair, husband,” she murmured, and he heard passion stir in her voice.

She stirred his even further simply by calling him husband. He liked when she did that, acknowledged the importance of who he was to her.

“To neither of us,” he whispered against her ear, and felt her shudder. Damn but he wished they were alone.

“Please stop, Trey,” she whispered so softly that he barely heard her. “It does not take much for me to want you and for that want to grow . . . and to pain me if left unsatisfied.”

He moved his hand away from her breast reluctantly. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Love me so much?”

Her teasing tone brought a smile to his face. “You know me too well,
wife,
and that pleases me.”

“Since I have pleased you, it is only fair that you owe me one.”

He laughed softly in her ear. “And I will see that you get a good, hard, and long pleasing.”

She chuckled. “See that you do, husband.”

“You have my word.”

T
hey woke the next morning to snow just beginning to fall. It could prove a blessing or a problem. If the snow continued, it would hide their tracks, but if it stopped, their tracks would be visible, and they could be found easily. If the snow worsened, that would present a bigger problem, especially with a new babe to worry about. They hurried and gathered their things and were on their way, hoping to cover as much ground as possible before the snow stopped or worsened.

It was only midmorning when the snow began to slow, and Trey brought them to a stop. He saw the worried look on Peter’s face and knew what he was thinking.

“Snow or not, I knew this time would come though the snow has made it even more of a necessity,” Trey said. “Peter, you need to travel on to MacAlpin keep with everyone while Bliss and I make tracks that the soldiers will follow.”

“They will look for more than two sets of tracks,” Peter protested nervously.

“Not so,” Trey said. “The soldiers don’t know if your son or you made it home, and since you were not seen at Rona’s place, they do not know you travel with her. They will assume she left with me, who no doubt would carry her son, leaving two sets of tracks. The snow covered your farm, so the multiple tracks cannot be seen. With the place empty, the soldiers will assume that you or your son made it home and left, thus looking for two sets of tracks.

“The snow still falls, but not for long. Bliss and I will wait here to see that the snow covers your tracks. And then we will go in a different direction. Once the soldiers find our tracks, they will assume it is either Rona and the warrior or your son, or you and your wife, and follow us.”

Peter looked ready to protest.

Trey didn’t allow it. “You take yours and Corwin’s family and see that they get safely to my home. Leave the rest to me and Bliss.”

“Bliss should come with us,” Peter said.

“She will not leave her husband,” Emma said, “just as I would not leave you.”