The Highlander's Conquest (19 page)

“Mind if we hunt as well?” Liam asked.

Blane shook his head. “We
’
ll take the other side of the stream, ye take this side.”

Liam nodded and took two others with him. The rest stayed at the camp to keep watch.
With purposeful strides,
Blane grasped his bow and quiver from his mount. Aliah wore hers as a permanent part of her wardrobe
, feeling safer with it strapped to her back
.
She’d felt naked when Blane ordered Liam to take it after she’d shot him—and grateful when he’d given it back to her.
She issued a command to Frosty to stay at the camp.
Best not to have
his eagerness to catch his own prey undermine their hunt.

“How will we cross the
stream
?” she asked.

“Come, I will show ye.” He took hold of her hand, engulfing her palm in his larger calloused one.
Instinct bade her
to
yank away, but she kept a tight hold, trusting her heart.
Blane’s feet crossed silently over the ground whereas hers crunched on every lea
f
and snapped every twig. She looked down at his feet as they walked, trying to figure out how he walked so silently. Each of his steps was measured, rolling from his heel to the ball of his foot with precision. The muscles of his legs worked in fluid motion. She was amazed to realize that his stealthy walking must have been thoroughly practiced.

Giving it a try, Aliah measured her steps, rolling on her feet, moving her legs with calculated motion. It worked! She had to stop herself from letting out a whoop of glee. Blane turned around and smiled at her, as if he knew what she’d been doing.

There was comfort in his hold on her, his easy smile, while he guided her through the trees. Aliah was both disturbed by it and at the same time felt her heart lighten.

Perhaps what Lorna had meant by taking fate into her own hands had to do with Blane after all. Before she could think further on it, they came to a large fallen tree across the stream. Its roots upended from across the way.

“’Tis not deep, but I’d rather have dry feet.”

“Me too,” she answered. “How did you know this was here?”

“We camped her
e
a
fore. I try to remember our route. ’Tis much easier for travel if ye know the land and what it has to offer.”

There was so much more to this man than she’d
originally
thought. Not only was
he
beautiful
and
brawny man, h
e was intelligent, cunning and even if he was loathe to admit it, she saw a sensitive side in him. ’Twas evident in the way he treated her and she’d witnessed him
behave toward
his sister
much
the same.
He pushed her away because he thought she deserved better,
not because he was cruel
. As much as it pained her, she knew h
is intentions were
good.

Sensual
ity
was the one part of his being she refused to acknowledge—doing so would only cause her to remember how very close she’d come to giving
him
her innocence.

“I’ll go first. Ye walk behind me, and hold on to me.” Blane stepped up on the log, bouncing up and down, getting a feel for it. “Come on,” he encouraged.

Her heart leapt. She’d never walked on a log before. Seemed like an easy enough task, and one that many would have tried, but Aliah had never found cause to do so. She tentatively stepped up, feeling the log shift under her added weight, and she lost her balance, grappling with Blane’s back for purchase. He chuckled, grabbing hold of her hands behind him and placing them on his hips.

Instantly she felt as though her fingertips were burned. Sinew and bone were carved beneath her touch, and as he walked forward one step, she could feel the motions of his body working beneath her fingers. ’Twas mesmerizing. He walked a few more steps and she found she barely paid attention to the log, so distracted was she by holding onto him.

“How are ye doing?” he asked.

“Wonderful,” she sighed.

Blane laughed. “
Ye’re
a natural.”

He wouldn’t say that on a normal day
when
she felt
clumsier
, but holding onto him kept her steady. “Only with your help,” she said.

“Ye must have more confidence in yourself, Aliah.
Ye’re
a remarkable woman.”

“Thank y
ou
.” She was touched by his words and found herself smiling.
That he would think so highly of her, and even tell her as much, spoke of something deeper between them.
E
ven though they tried to push each other away, they couldn’t.
Her heart leapt into her throat.

When they reached the other side, Blane turned around, stepped off backward and lifted her by the waist to the ground. They stayed unmoving for the span of several heartbeats, each studying the other
, the tips of their boots touching
.

“We’d best catch our dinner before the rest of the light fades,” she said
, interrupting the spell
.

“Aye, we w
ill most likely have to find our
way back in the dark as it is.”

H
and in hand, they crept through the
forest, finding a spot to hide just behind some brambles.
Once again luck was on their side—a wild pig ventured out into the open, nosing in the dirt. As one, they each took a shot, landing their mark.

“That was timely,”
Aliah
said.

Blane chuckled. “Seems the mountains would like to feed us tonight.”

“Aye, and a hearty roast it will be.”

Blane lifted the pig over his shoulder and the
y ventured back toward the log following the light of the moon,
crossing it much the same way they had the first time
. The men cheered when they returned with
meat
, especially Liam and his crew who’d come back empty handed.

While the men prepared to roast the pig, Aliah took a few moments to cuddle with Frosty on top of a plaid blanket that
had been laid before the fire. There was no denying it felt good to be off the horse and
lying
about. Aliah also found a certain comfort in being outside. She couldn’t help but think how much she’d missed
by
remaining indoors as a child. There were plenty of times when Arbella and Samuel remained out of doors until the sun had
sunk
and the moon shone bright. They’d oft had their ears boxed for it, but it didn’t seem to stop them.
Lying
back all the way, Aliah stared up into the
dark
night sky, dotted with a million diamonds. They’d found the perfect spot to stop, since the stream left the sky open and she could really admire the view.

Never before had she appreciated nature so much. How fortunate Blane was that he traveled so often, that he could breathe in the fresh air,
and
not have to deal
with the
strict rigors of a household. Her view was momentarily blocked when Blane stood over her, smiling.

“Admiring the
stars
?” he asked.

“Aye. ’Tis fascinating.” She sat up when he
tend
ered her a wineskin.

“Guess?” he asked.

“Drink of the gods?” she offered with a smile.

“Ye know me too well,” he answered. Their fingers brushed as he passed her the wineskin and dropped onto the blanket beside her.

Immediately a part of the evening chill receded as his heat invaded her space.
She tried not to laugh as Frosty moved to stretch out his large body between
the two
of them.

“That or I hope
d
you weren’t going to give me any
more whisky,” she said with a laugh.

His lips curved up in a lopsided smile as he gazed at her. “Och, lass, I learned my lesson the hard way already.”

Aliah dared not mention wine…or how he’d decided to name it Temptation after her.
Water was just fine.

He lay down beside her
and crossed his arms
beneath his head, lifting
it
. ’Twas almost as if nothing wayward had
happened between them. Part of her was content to leave it that way, to sink into this easy comfort they’d developed. The other part of her insisted on speaking to him about it.

The latter won out.

“Blane,” she said tentatively. “We need to talk.”

He rolled his head toward her, his eyes darkening in the meager fire light. “Do we?”

Blane was offering her a way out of the conversation, to nip her words before they crossed her tongue. How much she wanted to reach out and grasp his offer, but she couldn’t. There was too much left unsaid between them. For all the saints, he’d nearly taken her innocence.

“Last night…” she trailed off, unsure of how to begin or even what to say.

He let the silence linger, and she allowed the time of his reprieve to let her mind w
a
nder. Lorna had said that she should take fate into her own hands. What did she truly want? Convent? Blane?
Piousness? Passion?
Routine? Adventure?

Aliah glanced over at him. He still gazed at her, his eyes sparkling, his lips turned into a half smile. There was no judgment there. He patiently waited for her. She could imagine falling asleep to his gaze each night and waking to it each morning. ’Twas a markedly better fate than waking within a cold and lonely bed with only prayer and her fellow sisters in Christ for comfort.

While at one point
,
the church had seemed best for her, now she knew it wasn’t.
Perhaps she’d punished herself long enough. Perhaps
this
was God’s will.

She wanted Blane. With all her heart.
The answer was clear. Aliah wanted a life of passion, adventure. A life she co
uld live with the one man who presented a future shown with promise
.

And without a doubt… She knew. Every fiber in her being was aware of it, sparking, tingling, sending shivers of excitement and anticipation along her spine.

She was in love.

Chapter Eighteen

B
lane gazed into Aliah’s lovely eyes, watching the inflection of emotion as it raced along her face. Lord, he wanted to take her into his arms, to kiss her. His chest tightened with some foreign feeling.

He watched her throat bob, and then her lips parted, silent. She licked her lips nervously, and he waited on baited breath to hear what she had to say.
His heartbeat
quickened, as though whatever words would roll from her precious lips were the very essence of his survival.

“Blane, I—”

A shrill
bird call whistled in
the air, cutting off her words. Immediately he was on alert, jumping to his feet and drawing his sword.
Aliah glanced around rapidly, fear creasing her features.

“Go!” Liam shouted to
Blane
, his own sword drawn
.

Each of his men took up a battle stance
, weapons
ready
.
Without thinking, Blane
sheat
h
ed his sword,
grabbed Aliah’s arms
, lift
ed
her up
and swung her over his shoulder.

Tossing her onto Gunnar,
he leapt up behind her and
kicked the horse into a gallop, issuing a whistle for Frosty to
come
and a curse when his injured leg cried out with pain.
He didn’t look behind him to see who followed. Didn’t look behind him to see which enemy had found them—be they Sassenach, outlaw or enemy
Scot.
That didn’t matter. What did matter was getting Aliah to safety.

They crashed through the trees, Blane using his
targe
to
knock
low-lying limbs
out of the way
. They rode fast, at neck-breaking speed. Distance was needed between their enemy and themselves. His men would follow once they’d had a chance to dispatch whoever encroached on their camp. Of that he was certain. His men were the best and he trusted their strength, their abilities, beyond measure.

That shrill whistle had made his heart stop.
A cold sweat had started on his spine.

Only that whistle meant the enemy was on top of them. If a minute or two more had passed, Aliah would have been right in the middle of
a skirmish.

Whoever it was had been stealthy. ’Haps even followed them from Stirling. One never knew. These were
perilous
times, with many desperate, treacherous men willing to take risks and many
overestimating
their own capabilities.
That made them even more
dangerous
.

Blane was grateful that Aliah didn’t resist him, understanding the danger they were in. She sat in front of him on the horse, and he could feel her trembling. With one arm wrapped around her waist,
he hauled her close, attempting
to comfort her. But
it appeared
his hold did little but keep her atop the horse. She still trembled.

Frosty loped behind them
. H
e was glad for the dog keeping silen
t
,
else their enemy
would
hear his howls and give chase.

To the left the land sharply inclined up a mountain pass. That was the best way for them to go. The enemy wouldn’t
think he’d take such a dangerous route in the dark, and indeed he might not, save for that reason. Slowing Gunnar, he urged his mount to start his climb.
At least a
half
hour passed
, Gunnar slipping twice,
before B
lane felt they were safely away and they made it to a level part in the rise.
The sounds of a waterfall echoed ahead. They broke through the trees beside a
pool of water
, and he was glad for the light of the moon—it shone on the waterfall, spilling from atop a wall of rock
into the
pool
, and then slowly making its way down the mountain
.
A sense of recognition hit as he thought he may have
stopped here once before.

“
I believe t
here’s a
cavern
beyond the falls, lass,” he said into her ear.

She nodded, her head bumping against his chin.

“I’ll have to hide
Gunnar
, he
willna
fit inside.”

Aliah nodded again.

Blane would make sure she was safely put inside the cave first, her dog to guard her while he found a place to tie up Gunnar. He hated to do it. Leaving the horse out in the open like that, without protection. Anyone who came across the
destrier
would realize a lone warrior was not far behind.
Might attempt to find them, or simply
ste
al
his horse.
’Twas a chance he’d have to take.

Dismounting, he walked to the edge of the
pool
until he reached the wall of rock. “We’ll have to get a little wet, but I have extra plaids in my bag to keep us warm.” And whisky. They would need it.
He’d have to feed it to her slowly, with plenty of warning so he didn’t end up with the liquid fire spewed all over him.

“All right,” Aliah said.

Lifting her into his arms, he stepped into the
cold
water, trying to keep her as dry as possible.
Aliah put her arms around his neck and held tight.
He slid his feet along the slick bottom, feeling his way through the water. Frosty splashed behind them, not seeming at all bothered by a little swim. The
water steadily gre
w
deeper, covering Blane to his waist, and just barely touching the hem and rear of Aliah’s gown. He did his best to lift her higher, but the water only got deeper. By the time they reached the falls, he was chest deep in it and she was only dry from her chest up and knees down.

A break in the falls between the falling water and the stone wall allowed Blane to peer
behind
. H
e had a momentary fear that he’d remembered the wrong place, but sure enough there was a shallow cave
with
in the rocks—not going back more than ten feet.
The moon shone through the water, bathing the cave in silvery light. He let out a breath when he discovered it unoccupied by bear or
wildcat
.
They would be able to keep safe here.
Setting Aliah on the ledge, she sco
o
ted inside as he lifted himself and then the dog from the water.

Aliah shivered, pulling her knees up to her chest.

“I
will go and get my pack and
hide
Gunnar.
Why dinna ye
w
ring
the water
out
of
your clothes while ye wait, so ye dinna catch a chill. When I return, I’ll have a warm plaid for ye to wrap yourself in.”

She eyed him
guardedly
, but nodded.

Blane offered her a comforting smile. “Dinna
fash
, I will return. Frosty here will keep ye safe until I do.” He rubbed the dog on his head, who then shook himself dry, droplets flinging everywhere.

“If only I could simply shake myself dry,” she pondered with an amused curl to her lips.

“Aye, we’d both be a lot warmer then.”

“Blane…” She glanced up at him, catching his gaze with her moonlit
,
wide
,
blue eyes.

“Aye?”

“Come back, all right?”

Blane knelt before her, stroked her cheek. “I swear it,
lass
.”

Aliah nodded, leaning into his hand, her eyes dipping closed for a moment. His lips burned to caress hers, but he pulled back, not wishing to complicate this night further. They’d seemed to find a calm peace together that would only shatter once more if he were to press his desire on her.

Standing abruptly, he quit the cave, intent on returning with the dry plaids
once his
horse was safely hidden.

Although she was shivering from being cold and wet, Aliah’s insides warmed as she watched Blane retreat from the cave. She couldn’t help but notice the way his linen shirt became transparent as it stuck to his broad back, outlining
his shoulders and
every
other
muscle. His plaid
too
was
stuck to his solid form,
showcasing the line of his legs, the sculpt of his rear…

Ashamed, she averted her eyes. A woman of virtue wouldn’t dare look at a man in such a state. Aliah’s eyes glanced back. Well, obviously she was no woman of virtue, for not only was she looking, she was enjoying the sight. She gave up trying for purity and instead greedily watched his every move, even craned her neck to observe him glide into the water and walk the several feet to the shore. She sighed with disappointment when he was lost from her view.

Sitting directly in front of her, Frosty stared at her, snorting with what seemed to be disgust.

“Well, if
you
were a lady dog, you’d be looking too,” she retorted.

Frosty cocked his head to the side, staring into her eyes.

“You would,” she said, rolling her eyes.

The dog let out a long huff of breath as if annoyed with the line of conversation and instead laid down, staring out the space between the cave wall and
toward
the water where Blane had disappeared.

Aliah took the time that
Blane
was away to peel the layers of wet clothes from her body, wring
ing
them out one by one—making sure she did so on the farthest side so as not to get the back of the cave wet where miraculously the floor seemed to be dry.

Once she’d wrung out
her chemise, gown and hose, and
la
id
them on the ground, Aliah stood naked, shivering
, rubbing her arms and thighs for warmth
. She didn’t particularly want to put anything back on, for it would only make her colder. Blane would be bringing her a dry plaid to
wrap herself up in
…but until the
n
she was standing stark naked.
She glanced at the dog. Frosty was big, but not big enough to hid
e
her entire naked form, and besides the animal was so enraptured with Blane he was sure to run toward him when he approached, uncovering her nakedness.