Terese shook her head, her tears continuing to fall. “I don’t know. I love him so very much. I don’t know where I will find the strength to do it.”
The two women sat hugging each other while tears flowed freely, one heart hurting for the friend whose heart broke in two.
Chapter 19
Lachlan snapped and barked orders at his men and not a one made a comment. He was more than angry; he was furious. He couldn’t believe that Terese thought so little of the time they had spent together. And there was no way anyone would ever convince him that she didn’t love him.
He shook his head, not able to make sense of this turn of event, but confident he would change her mind this evening. He had to; he couldn’t imagine returning home to Caithness without her. It wasn’t about making love with her. It was more about making her admit how she truly felt about him, about them.
“You don’t mind that Evan and I remain here?” Andrew asked, approaching Lachlan.
“How many times have you asked me that?” Lachlan snapped. “And how many times must I continue to say no, I don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to be,” Lachlan assured him curtly. “You need time with Megan as Evan does with Piper. If it doesn’t work out you’re welcome to return home. If it does, then I’m happy for you.”
“That’s not what I’m sorry for,” Andrew said.
Lachlan understood. “Terese will see reason before it’s time to leave.”
“Megan tells me that Terese will never leave Everagis. Never. It is her home.”
Lachlan turned a vicious scowl on him. “I am her home as she is mine. She will realize that and come to her senses.” Lachlan turned and stomped off.
“Leave him be,” Boyd advised with a hand to Andrew’s shoulder. “He has never had a woman deny him anything. It will take time for him to accept this.”
Andrew shook his head. “It makes no sense. You can see how much Terese loves him and he her. Why would she deny the obvious?”
Boyd grinned. “Learn now that women are not sensible creatures, and they work hard to drive men crazy. Keep that in mind when dealing with women and you may, just may keep your sanity.”
Just before sunset Terese went to the stream, washed and donned fresh clothes, a dark blue wool skirt and a white linen blouse. She towel dried her hair, though it remained relatively damp, and slipped on a pair of sandals.
Her mind and stomach had been in chaos since this morning. She hadn’t eaten a thing all day and nor did she want to. How she would get through tonight, she didn’t know. Part of her ached to spend this last night with him and the other part wanted to scream out the unfairness of it all. But then she should be used to that; it seemed to be the way of things for her.
Piper popped out of the woods looking distressed, and for a moment Terese was caught between hoping something would save her from this night and praying nothing would stop her from making love with Lachlan one last time.
“Is something wrong?” Terese asked, waiting for fate to decide.
“No, I just feel this is so unfair to you,” Piper said.
Relief flooded her though was quickly replaced by apprehension. “Do not worry about me,” Terese said, gathering her things.
Piper was quick to help, folding things into the basket. “We all worry about you as you do us.”
Terese handed her the basket. “Please take this to my quarters. It’s time for me to say my good-byes to Lachlan.”
Tears pooled in Piper’s eyes. “I would die if I had to say good-bye to Evan.”
“Trust me, Piper, you would survive.”
Tears slipped down Piper’s fair cheeks. “But would it be worth it?”
Those words haunted Terese as she made her way to Lachlan’s cottage, and she took a breath before she knocked, wondering if this was a wise thing to do. Before she could change her mind Lachlan opened the door, took her hand, and tugged her inside.
“I had Rowena prepare us some food. Are you hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head, much too upset to speak let alone eat, though she did smile. She couldn’t help it. His charming smile was contagious and his handsome features were so pleasing to the eye, and he spoke with such concern and tenderness.
Lord, but she was going to miss this man.
Lachlan slipped his arms around her waist. “Talk with me, Terese. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She didn’t trust keeping her eyes on him for she feared she would surrender to tears and be lost. So she rested her head to his chest, which made matters worse, since she heard the confident beat of his heart.
He rested his chin on the top of her head. “Whatever it is we can work this out.”