what these scars represent.'
'A wife doesn't run away from an honorable man. I failed you.'
She shook her head. 'You didn't fail me. I thought you could never leave the past, and I was also afraid that you would give your son such a burden. I didn't give up hope until you went to Euphemia. I thought you chose her over me, and it became too much for me to accept. Why did you send her away?'
'Because she hurt you. Don't you have any idea how much you mean to me? When I was told what Raen did, I went into a rage. I wanted only to rid our home of the scum before you and I returned. I couldn't bear the thought of bringing such a pure heart into such a foul presence. That's why I wanted to send her away. I considered killing her.'
'The MacAlisters don't kill women.'
'No, we don't,' he agreed. 'I was going to banish her. I never wanted her to call herself a MacAlister again or dare to wear my colors. Euphemia had already left the holding, but only just barely. When I discovered her trail, I followed her so I could end it. Then I saw her embrace MacNare.'
'She was the traitor,' she gasped.
'Yes.'
'What happened then?'
'I'll explain everything later. You told me I only had to open my heart. Do you remember?'
'I remember.'
He put his hands on either side of her waist and pulled her closer. 'You were asking me to love you, weren't you? I should have told you then.'
'Tell me what?'
'That I love you.'
She shook her head. 'No, you only want…'
'I love you,' he said again. Tears streamed down her face. He gently wiped them away for her and pulled her tight against him. 'I know you love me. Why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid?'
'I didn't tell you how I felt because I knew you didn't love me. Yes, I was afraid, but you weren't afraid, were you?'
He leaned close to her. 'Yes, I was. Brenna, you scared the hell out of me. If I loved you, I became vulnerable. What would happen to me if you died? And then it was too late. I couldn't protect myself from you, but once I realized I loved you, I felt reborn inside. One of us will surely die before the other, but the memories will sustain the one left behind. You know what?'
'What?' she whispered.
'I'm never going to let you go. I know you deserve far more than I can ever give you. It doesn't matter, though. You're mine.'
She pushed against his chest. 'You aren't going to kiss me yet. You're going to have to tell me you're sorry first.'
'Because I failed to protect you.' It wasn't a question but a statement of fact. He let go of her, looked into her eyes, and tried to find the words that would redeem him.
'No, you didn't fail me. You did break my heart though. How dare you tell me to give you a son and then go back to England. It was a cruel thing to say to me, and I still cannot understand why you would hurt me like that.'
'You were mourning your family,' he explained. 'And I wanted to give you something to look forward to,' he added. 'And so I…'
'You what?' she demanded.
He had the audacity to grin while he admitted his sin to her. 'I lied.'
Her eyes widened in disbelief. 'You lied to me?'
'You can't really believe I would let you go back to England.'
'Don't you dare laugh at me. I did believe you. You shouldn't have lied. That was wrong.' The sparkle in her eyes made a mockery of her attempt to make him feel guilty. 'Have you lied about anything else?'
He shrugged. 'Probably.'
'You must stop it at once.'
'I lied when I had Jamie tell you I was going to Euphemia. Actually, I guess I didn't lie. I did go to her, but only because she was with MacNare.'
Her hand flew to her throat, so stunned was she by his casual remark. 'You went to…'
'Later, sweetheart. Are you going to let me kiss you now?'
'No,' she replied. 'You're going to let me kiss you. Things are going to change. From this moment on, when you leave our home, you will have the good sense to tell me first. If I ever wake up again and find out you've left, I'll hunt you down, and God help you then.'
'Ah, lass, you do love me, don't you?'
'You're going to wear your medallion too. I mean what I say.'
'I can't wear it around my neck. It becomes a weapon then,' he explained. 'If you sew it into my plaid, I'll wear it. Will that satisfy you?'
His wife looked radiant. 'I want you to change the doors inside our home. It's safe for you, but I have to go out the back way because I can't open them.'
'All right, I'll change them.'
'I want to ride the black.'
'No.'
She put her arms around his neck and leaned close to him. 'Will you think about it?'
'No.'
She was laughing when he finally helped her remember she was going to kiss him. His mouth took absolute possession, and for long minutes, he showed her how much he loved her. She was far more aggressive than he was, and it was only when he forced her to stop that she remembered where she was.
She wept against the side of his neck while he whispered tender, loving words to her, and when at last he insisted they go home, he had to wait until she finished crying before she gave him her agreement.
He draped his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the main path.
'Will we sleep outside tonight?'
'We won't sleep,' he replied. 'But if you want to stay outside tonight, we will.'
'Yes. You look tired.'
'So do you. Brenna, don't ever put me through this torment again. Promise me you won't leave me, no matter what happens.'
'I promise you. Come and meet my sister. What in heaven's name is she doing? She's entirely too close to the end of the path. None of the MacAlisters would…'
'Quinlan would.'
'What are you saying?'
'If she steps off the path, he's got her. That's what I'm saying.'
'Make him stop staring at her.'
'Your sister doesn't seem to mind. She's staring back. She keeps moving closer to him too.'
'Faith, come over here,' Brenna shouted.
Her sister ignored her. 'Connor, make Quinlan and Crispin come here.'
'I can ask, but neither one of them will come. As far as they're concerned, their duty has already been determined. They're protecting us, sweetheart. You should be proud of their restraint.'
'Why should I be proud of them?'
'They want to kill the English, of course.'
Dear heavens, she'd forgotten about Gillian. 'You must come and meet my brother.'
'No.'
'If he comes to you, will you meet him then?'
He shrugged before he gave her his conditions. 'If he's armed, I'll have to take him aside and discuss the insult with him.'
She knew what that meant. 'He won't be armed,' she rushed out. 'I'll go get him.'
