The Highlander's Bride(88)

“And if I don’t want to?” she said defiantly.

He grinned and yanked her up against him. “You have no choice, wife. You’re going with us. Start getting your things together, but remember we must travel light. I’m going to see that the horses are looked after and made ready for us tonight. There’s no time to warn your sister of our plans. Your father won’t let us leave here.”

“Teresa will help us,” Sara said with certainty.

“I don’t doubt that, but it’s best she know as little as possible. We will stay to ourselves today. The villagers will assume we’re repentant of our actions, and it is best they think that. They will not suspect us of attempting an escape.”

Sara agreed with a nod. “We will need to be careful if the soldiers are only two days from here.”

“We’ll skirt the border of McHern land and keep away from nearby villages. We can’t be seen. The soldiers have probably already made the surrounding villages aware of who they’re searching for and made certain the consequences if they help us.”

“We’re on our own,” Sara confirmed.

He hugged her, holding her close, letting the warmth of her seep into him and aching to touch her more intimately, yet knowing there was no time. “We have each other, wife.”





Sara leaned back against the closed door after Cullen left and placed a hand to her rolling stomach. She was glad she hadn’t eaten this morning for she would have never kept the meal down. She had hoped, though never thought it possible, of going to America with Cullen and his son, but that hope was born of a love she prayed would be returned.

Her prayers had been answered in a strange manner, and while she was glad she was going with father and son, she couldn’t help speculate over the future.

She shook her head and pushed away from the door. There was no time to waste. She had to gather her things and be ready; ready to leave her home and family, probably never to see them again.

It was a double-edged sword she faced, leaving the only way of life she knew and a sister she loved dearly, and while her father would deliver her into the hands of Balford, she was aware he did it for the benefit of the clan and not because he didn’t love or care about her.

She would have no chance to speak with him before she left, to speak the truth to him and let him know she never intended the clan harm. She would tell Teresa and have her tell her father.

Her heart ached when she thought of saying good-bye to her sister, so she pushed the painful thought from her mind and got busy sorting through her garments and personal belongings. Night came fast enough when you didn’t want it to, and soon enough her time here would be finished.

As much as she ached to cry, Sara contained her tears and did what was necessary. She’d be ready to leave, though her heart would be hurting in more ways than one.





Cullen rubbed the horses down, fed them, and looked over the saddles. He purposely took his time, not rushing, appearing withdrawn in troubled thought, so that curious eyes assumed his repetitive actions were born out of worry.

“Preparing to go somewhere?” McHern asked, entering the stable.

“Needed my hands active to calm my concerns,” Cullen said, prepared to play his part in this charade.

“And concerned you should be,” McHern bellowed, and sat on an upturned barrel, gave a gruff cough and lowered his voice. “I don’t like that Balford fellow, a devious and mean man, takes pleasure in hurting people.”

Cullen glanced at him suspiciously.

“A leader’s duty is to protect his clan, all of his clan.”

Cullen nodded slowly, waiting for him to explain further.

“Protecting the clan sometimes means keeping them unaware of the truth for their own safety. So that when torture is threatened by a mean bastard of a man, the people have nothing to hide.”

“That takes a wise and courageous leader.”

“It takes—” McHern sniffed and rubbed at his nose with his sleeve. “It takes a coldhearted man.”

Cullen smiled. “No, it takes a man with a brave heart.”

McHern stood and held out his hand.

Cullen took it and McHern grasped tight hold while placing a firm hand on his back. “You take good care of my little girl. She’s a lot like me, God help her.”

“I—”

McHern threw his hands in the air and walked away. “Don’t want to hear anything. Know anything. You best be ready for Balford’s arrival.”

“I’ll be ready,” Cullen said.

McHern turned before walking out the door. “Don’t disappoint me.”

“You can count on me, sir.”

“Good, I’ll remember that—always.”