“Tell me about yer clan, yer family,” Katie said, looking up at him from her lap, obviously attempting to take her mind off the storm.
Evan lifted her, tucking her against his body again, wrapping her in his arms. “’Tis an old clan. I believe I told ye a bit about its history already. My great-grandfather and grandfather worked hard to keep the land profitable after Culloden and the Clearances that followed.”
He stretched out his long legs and crossed his feet at the ankles. “My da and mum were verra happy together. She died from an infected foot when she accidentally cut herself with an axe. Da was verra upset at her, since he’d forbidden her to use the ax.” He shook his head. “She was a stubborn woman. Da was crushed when she died. I was about twelve years, and Alasdair only ten.”
“Do ye have any other brothers? Or sisters?”
“Nay. There were two wee lasses who died as infants. They were both born before me, so I never kenned them.”
Katie squealed as another flash of lightning lit up the room. She took a deep breath. “That was a close one.” Her voice shook, almost drowned out by the following clap of thunder.
Evan rested his chin on her head. “When I was a bairn, my mum told us that thunder was God playing with the angels on their bowling green up in heaven.”
Katie giggled. He smiled at the sound. ’Twas good to hear her laugh in the midst of her fright.
“Do ye think we will be able to leave soon?” She stared at him, the pulse in her neck jumping.
From what? Fear? Anticipation?
He studied her for a minute, not sure how she would take his words. “Nay. I dinnae think we’ll be able to leave until morning.”
She sucked in a deep breath, and her eyes grew wide. “In truth?”
“Aye.” He reached out and twirled one of the locks that had slipped from her topknot to her shoulder. “This is not familiar ground for either of us, and we passed a number of small ravines and creeks on our way here. Rapid water drowns more people than swimming in the lochs. ’Twill be dark soon and not at all safe to travel.”
He looked down at her, attempting to assess her reaction at his words. “I’m afraid we’re here for the night, lass.”
Chapter Eighteen
Katie’s heart sped up. Spend the night here…with Evan…just the two of us?
She studied his face and saw nothing to make her believe he had planned this. Which was, of course, stupid, since the man might be an arrogant and overbearing laird, but surely he could not control the weather and call up a storm.
“Verra well. At least we’ve had a decent meal.” She looked around the room which had grown smaller after Evan’s words. She glanced down at the worn mattress and one blanket he’d dragged out, and swallowed.
Evan reached out his hand and took hers. “Do not fash yerself, lass. Nothing will happen that ye dinnae want.”
Katie gave a very unladylike snort at that remark. Needless to say, she wanted Evan. What woman this side of the grave would not want to spend a night—alone—with this man? Just the thought of him placing his hands on her body. Her naked skin. She shuddered and shifted away from him, giving herself some room to breathe.
She raised her chin, hoping to seem unconcerned, and said, “What are the sleeping arrangements?”
He attempted to look serious but a slight smirk appeared. “There is only one mattress and one blanket, and not enough peat to burn through the night. We have to sleep together to conserve our warmth.”
She gave him a stiff nod. “There is yer tartan, also.”
“Aye.”
“I understand. We are two adults. We can certainly comport ourselves with honor.” She cringed at the stupidity of her words.
He placed his knuckle under her chin and raised her head. “Ye have nothing to fear from me, lass.”
“Of course not.” Despite her attempted bravado, suddenly the storm was not the most frightening thing in her mind. More frightening than what was going on outside the walls was what could happen inside the walls. Well, she was no squeamish miss. She could certainly keep her head around Evan. Even if they were sleeping side by side. She was strong and determined, and would not do something that she would regret in the morning.
Probably said at least once by every woman since Eve.
Katie rose from the sofa and wandered to the window, refusing to look at the mattress lying on the floor, beckoning her to throw caution to the winds. “It looks like the rain is easing up. Perhaps we can still make it back.” Just then, a bolt of lightning hit the tree outside the cottage, and the clap of thunder accompanying it made her jump back so far, she slammed into Evan, who had followed her.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Easy, lass.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, and she leaned back, into his warmth. “Come, sit on the sofa. If it pleases ye, I can sleep there, and ye take the mattress. I’ve slept in much worse conditions. I just dinnae want ye to go racing through the door into the storm. I will not touch ye inappropriately.”
“Nay?” She didn’t ken whether she was happy or insulted. Didn’t he feel the same stirrings as she did?
“Not unless ye want me to,” he added with a straight face. But his eyes said something very different.
Back to that again. Dinnae the man ken she wanted to experience what she thought would follow his lovely kisses, but giving her consent made her feel wicked? Not that she wished to be forced, and she kenned in her heart Evan was not the sort of man to force a woman.
Evan lit the two candles they’d found, which gave the room a soft glow. They continued to study the rain pouring down. Evan rested his
