Sacrificing his Highland Heart by Kenna Kendrick
Chapter Thirteen
Rose didn’t know why she agreed, but she did. Despite her hatred for him, she still felt a pull whenever he was near that kept her hungry. It was the best word to describe it. His smiles made him look far less fearsome, even though she didn’t fear him, yet it took away a little of the ice in his eyes. And sitting atop him with his arm about her, they were near to kissing again. She could no longer think properly.
And he’d teased her for the second time about watching him from the beach! He had quite the gall. Yet he was so soft and gentle when he asked her to accompany him to the festival as if he feared it would somehow be distasteful to him.
He took the reins of the wild horse, tied them to the saddle of the other, and he pulled his horse along beside them as they walked down the hill towards the farmland and villages. They were silent for a little while, and all she could think about was the warmth and strength of his arm.
“I thought you were training with the men this morning? That is why I was told you were not at breakfast.” She was glad they were walking side by side now. She could avoid his gaze as much as possible.
“So I was, but once we were finished, I went riding as I usually do. I enjoy the fresh air.”
“And what is it you do exactly? When you are training?” She waited for him to laugh at her, to tell her that it was not women’s business as her father or brother would have done. But there was nothing. He merely answered back.
“Even though the war years are over, I wish all of my warriors tae be at the ready. I select them from the clan when they are younger, and they train for many years. There is a special section in the castle for the training. Ye have seen the inner courtyard, surely.”
Rose nodded. Susan had shown it to her, and it was filled with dummies and targets and remnants of strange things she didn’t know the names of. But no men had been there. She had been hopeful at the time to see Euan there in action, but it was not to be. Since then, she had been too nervous about seeing the fighting, even when she could hear it reverberating throughout the castle.
“Well, we practice swordplay, hand fighting, archery, as well as to know what part of the body is the best to hit, that kind of thing.”
Rose was in awe. She knew of these kinds of things from reading and hearing about them, but she had never been spoken to directly about them. “Does it feel rather gruesome to discuss such things?”
He shook his head. “Nae any longer. It did, I think, in the past, but I was raised tae be a fighter, a warrior, tae protect my people.” His voice grew low and severe as he discussed it, no longer the playful Euan she had been seen in the last few minutes.
“Of course. That must certainly be at the front of your mind at all times. I know my father was always concerned for the people on his land. It consumed much of his time, even before the war.”
Euan nodded, and she was grateful that he didn’t retort something about the English being far worse landowners or businessmen. Instead, he just accepted her words. “I remember ye pulling a blade on me on yer first night here,” he said, a little of his teasing tone returning.
“Yes. It was given to me by my housekeeper,” she said hurriedly, not wanting to relive that moment again or discuss the matter of the heated kiss that had passed between them.
“It is a good thing that the lady of a clan should know how tae wield a blade. Men are bastards, and I have seen much in the war. I will…show ye if ye like.”
Rose looked down to see the hilt of his sword at his side. She suddenly felt the most unbelievable freedom. She was being given a chance to step into a man’s world in some way, like never before, and while she jumped at the chance, she didn’t want to appear overeager.
“I should like that very much.”
“Good. It will be done. Like I said, it is a good skill tae have, and one my wife should also be armed with.”
They were getting close to the village now, and she could see farmers out in the fields, merchants at their shops, children playing, animals roaming. It reminded her of home so much that her heart ached. “This is only one of the villages, but it is the one with the most land and most farmers.”
Euan was talking to her like someone he trusted and respected. He didn’t use a condescending tone or try to berate her lack of a male mind. He simply spoke as if he was speaking to anyone else. And he kept his grip on her arm tightly as they walked. When they entered the main road to the village, passersby greeted the laird warmly, and he nodded his head to each in turn.
Rose did the same, recognizing a few of the familiar faces along the way from her previous visits to the village. “I see. Well, that is a good thing that it is so close then.”
“Aye. But it is the castle which provides as much of the transport aid tae send crops from this village tae others who donnae have as much. The castle pays the highest prices while the smallest villages pay the least. The money goes back tae the farmers so that they can continue the good work of planting and harvesting.”
Rose turned to look at him. “What a wonderful system. I only know of my father’s kindness as a landowner, but I have heard terrible stories of others in England who take terrible advantage of their people. They grow fat while those on the land grow thin and die of starvation, even though the fields reside just outside their windows.”
Euan shook his head. “The war made that worse. Every man was desperate tae save his own skin. Then when many men died, their widows had tae fight against others just tae stay alive. Some of the men that remained after the war were villainous, practically turning intae criminals in the village, taking whatever, they wanted. My warriors and I did our best tae protect those women.”
Just as they were speaking, an older woman approached them, a basket in her hands. “Laird Rede,” she said, bowing her head. “Lady Rede. Please take this as a token of our affection.”
“Oh,” Rose said brightly, taking the warm loaf of bread from the basket. “You are too kind, Mrs…,”
“Macmillan, my Lady. And donnae think of it. It is the laird that has done us many kindnesses. I like tae repay him whenever he comes tae the village.”
Amazed, Rose turned to see Euan. He was smiling at Mrs. Macmillan, but he looked bashful at the same time. “Ye are always welcome, Mrs. Macmillan. Thank ye for yer bounty.”
When the woman left them to continue walking, Rose cradled the wrapped bread in her arms. “She is a widow.”
“Aye, and one of many in our villages across the clan. It is too bad that I cannae visit all the villages within a twelve-month, but when it is time for taxes, I try tae get tae each one.”
Who is this man that I have married? I confess I know not who he is, for he flits from one personality to the next.
“That is good of you,” Rose said. Together they made their way through the whole village and were turning back for home.
“I am meant tae tell ye of Beltane, I nearly forgot.”
“Ah yes, please do.”
“It is the start of our new year. In the old days, when the people worshipped many gods, this was the time when the goddess of agriculture and spring would change places with the goddess of winter. Light and happiness could return once more tae the world. It is a celebration of spring and new life. There will be a large fire, and we will sacrifice a few animals. It will take place just outside the castle on the first of May.”
“That is only in a few days.”
Euan chuckled. “Correct. So ye have a few days if ye wish tae change yer mind.”
Rose smiled. She couldn’t help it, looking at his handsome face, entertained by his teasing. “I do not need a few days. It is my duty to go, and I confess that I am rather curious of all that Scotland has to offer.”
His smile dimmed ever so slightly. “Duty. Och, aye, the duty as Lady Rede. Well, I thank ye then.” He looked up at the sky. “It is time tae return tae the castle. Ye will ride with me, and the other horse will ride along beside us.”
“Yes, we must return the bread, still warm,” she said, trying to cover her disappointment at cutting their time short.
* * *
Duty indeed. He wasn’t sure why that word rubbed him the wrong way. What had he expected? Rose to cry out happily that yes, she would love to go with him to the festival but only because he asked her. Was he a complete fool?
And yet, he was gratified that she had agreed to go and had made a small truce on their long walk through the village. He didn’t realize that when he’d rescued her from the wild horse, that it would turn into a whole afternoon of spending time together, and yet he was glad it had. He had gotten to see her kind words, kind smiles, and listen to her questions. She was like no Sassenach that he had ever heard of before.
She was actually interested in Scotland and what the land she now lived upon was like. He had heard from some of his men that she often visited the village with Siobhan. “Here, lass,” he said, grasping her waist to lift her up to the horse. She kicked her leg over to ride astride again, and he grinned.
“What? Am I too immodest for a lady of Rede Clan?” Her thin-lipped expression showed her displeasure at his teasing.
He swung up behind her, and when he picked up the reins, he pulled her back against his chest. The thought of immodesty, as well as her closeness, was almost too much to bear with all at once. “Nae at all. Nae in my mind. It shows yer strength. Ye are a good rider.”
“Ah, so you have changed your mind about me when before I was not thought fit to ride your wildest horse.” Her tone was stiff yet, at the same time, teasing. He would have given anything to get a look at her face just then. He knew that she’d be smiling but trying to hide it.
As he steered Sgiathan towards the castle, keeping a slow pace since the other horse was still tied to it, he leaned forward to whisper in Rose’s ear. “I will tell ye a truth, lass.” He smiled when he felt her shudder underneath his proximity. His lips brushed her ear, and he felt his body heat in a flash. “Ye handled that horse better than any of my men who have tried tae ride him before. Nae one else would have made it as far as Laird’s Hill, nae for want of trying.”
Rose said nothing, but in his arms, he could feel her tension release just a little. They rode in silence with her inside of his arms. At the stable, he scolded the young stable boy for leaving it unattended so that the lady of the castle was left to ride the wildest horse.
“Och, laird, ye must forgive me!” The boy cried helplessly. “I was just around the back tending tae my…business.”
“Laird Rede,” Rose said, touching his arm so that he turned his face towards her. His anger softened at the look in her eyes. She smiled, and something inside him sparked into life. “Clearly, it was just a mistake. I wonder who was meant tae ride the horse, for it was already saddled when I arrived.”
The boy looked greatly relieved to be rescued by the beautiful Lady Rede, and Euan understood him. It was delightful, indeed, to be the recipient of one of Rose Sayer’s smiles. “It was one of the other men, my Lady.”
“Well then, that is all settled now. No one was hurt. What is your name?”
“James, my Lady.”
“James, you have done well. I will leave you to decide the best horse for me, and I will come back another day and see if you have chosen well. What do you think? You know that I can handle the wild horse, and I am a well-seasoned horsewoman.” Rose was smiling, but Euan saw James’s eyes turn to him for clarification as if he was afraid of answering in the affirmative.
“Answer her, lad,” Euan said, his anger having completely dissipated.
“Aye, aye,” the young boy hurried to say. “Of course. I shall select a horse for ye, my lady. It will be the perfect one.”
Rose beamed, and Euan was transfixed by her sweet look. He had wished for her to smile at him so that they were no longer at odds, filling the castle with tension, but now he was wondering why he had ever wished for that. If she asked him for anything in the world at that moment, he would have given it to her without question. That was a dangerous power she unknowingly wielded.
“Thank you, James. Until then.” Then she surprised Euan by taking his arm and leading him away from the stable. He followed her, prodding, but he was still speechless. She was smiling, and she was touching him. His head was spinning, but he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Rose was still carrying the bread on her arm, and her eyes were looking towards the castle.
“You have such a beautiful home, Euan. I have never seen a castle before. I have never really seen anywhere before besides my own small home and hamlet.”
Euan had to keep from swelling up with pride. Finally, words came to him. “Thank ye, Rose. That is kind of ye tae say.” He wondered if she would ever love this place as much as he did and if she would ever feel comfortable calling it her own home. The thought made him feel less like a tyrant keeping a woman hostage. Maybe they might even end up not hating one another as much as they did. Or rather claimed they did. He didn’t know anymore.
Just inside the castle, Euan needed to take his leave. Something strange was going on inside him, and he knew that if he spent any longer with his wife, he would be very tempted to do something that he would regret. “I must go tae meet Walter and find out where he spent his afternoon.”
“Oh yes, I am so sorry to take you away from your good friend,” Rose replied and put a hand over her mouth.
Slowly, tenderly, Euan took her hand from her mouth and laid a kiss on the back of it. He kept her gaze, and she watched him with astonishment and confusion. He held her hand for a little bit longer than was necessary. He lowered his voice. “Ye have naething tae apologize for, my lady. Ye are my wife, and ye will always take precedence.” He kissed her hand again and then dropped it, afraid that if he touched her any longer, he would wish to kiss her elsewhere, and now was not the time or place. “Thank ye for spending yer time with me today.”
He bowed his head and walked away, leaving his young wife breathless at the base of the stairs.
