Binding Vows(26)

“Let’s enjoy what we can for the small amount of time we have left. I’ll not pressure you again. You have my word.”

“Why do you have to leave?”

“This isn’t my place, Tara. I wish I could offer you more, but it isn’t possible.” His stern look from before vanished, his anger drifted as he stepped closer.

With a cry, she moved into his open arms and pressed her face against his chest. He soothed her with words, while she shed her tears. “Hush, lass.

All will be fine.”

But his words were anything but convincing.



****

Tara packed her bags twice, only to unpack them. Finally, she gave up and filled her glass to the top with the wine sitting on the table. Cassy was still out having a grand old time, while she paced the worn carpets thrown on the ground. What was she doing? She had wanted Duncan, completely. She knew there was no future with him, yet that didn’t stop her desire.

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When he escorted her to the door of her tent, true to his word, he didn’t press her for as much as a kiss goodnight. If he had, would she have offered him more?

She downed the wine, hoping it would put her quickly to sleep. At least in her dreams, she could enjoy the man. The wine did have the desired effect.

Within minutes of putting out the candles and lying down, her brain filled with images of Duncan, and what life could be like with him.



****

Grainna hovered over Tara’s bed and watched her sleep. Slipping into her drugged mind was like putting a hot knife to butter. Grainna added force by lightly touching Tara’s temples before she started her chant. Visions and verses swirled in her head and remained behind the curtain of dreams in Tara’s mind. Grainna slid in the image of the man she intended for Tara to desire. Tara struggled in her rest, her mind dark. She frowned in her sleep, and for a brief moment, Grainna worried Tara would wake.

To her horror, Tara replaced Duncan’s form where Grainna’s man once stood. Repeatedly, Grainna fought to erase the image of her would-be lover, only to come up against the sheer will of a first love. After hours of fighting, she gave up and worked with the man Tara desired. The vows Grainna chanted into Tara’s subconscious were easily placed once the vision of Duncan was secure.

Her task complete, Grainna left Tara’s tent and made a slight alteration in her plans.



****

The aspirin did nothing to resolve the headache plaguing her. To Tara’s relief, Cassy looked as bad as she felt. “Where were you last night?” Tara forced 75

Catherine Bybee



the black coffee down even though it made her queasy.

Cassy picked her head off her folded arms.

Bloodshot eyes peered back. “Out.”

“Yeah, I figured. But where and with who?”

“This is going to sound bad, but I don’t remember. I remember Fin and I were talking after you and Duncan left. We both assumed you would end up here, so we stayed away. Once Fin saw Duncan return, he took off. I was on my way to see you, when the hunky blond you danced with last night stopped by. You know the one?”

With a nod from Tara she continued. “We danced a bit, drank too much, then nothing. Blank! I don’t even remember how I got in here last night, or what time it was.”

Tara’s brow creased. “You and he didn’t...”

“No. We didn’t. I guess I drank too much. God, I hope I didn’t make a fool of myself.” Cassy cringed after sipping her coffee. “I’m giving up drinking.”

Tara smiled and agreed.

Tara had already filled Cassy in on what had happened with Duncan. She agreed to leave first thing in the morning with the contingency that if things got crazy that night they would go after dinner.

Gwen arrived an hour before the games were scheduled to begin. “There you both are. I was worried when we didn’t see you at breakfast this morning.” She took one look at them both and gave them a sympathetic smile. “I see the festivities were too much last night, for both of you. Well, I can fix that.” She opened the bag she kept at her side.

Gwen removed what looked to be a packet of herbs and mixed them with the water. She divided it between them both. “Drink. It’s my own special blend to help clear the cobwebs.”

Desperate, Cassy downed the brew in one quick 76



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swallow. Tara looked at it suspiciously.

“Drink it or not. It makes no difference to me.”

Gwen swept across the room and pulled out the gowns they were both to wear for the day.

Tara’s was a pale gold and white, virginal and perfect for a woman who would be handfasted at the end of the day.

Tara and Cassy had already signed releases, so their images could be plastered all over next year’s brochures.