“Aye.” She turned, still hugging herself, as another clap of thunder rocked the cottage. “Do ye think it will last long?” Her pretty blue eyes were large with worry, and she chewed on her lower lip. The lovely plump lip he remembered kissing and nibbling on.
Don’t think of that now with the two of us alone—far from curious, judging eyes.
He viewed the small section of sky visible from the window. “No way to tell.” He draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him as she shuddered at another flash of lightning. She felt good against him, the warmth from her body, her curves that fit so nicely.
“I feel like such a ninny. I have always hated storms.” She licked her lips and looked up at him. “As a lass of about ten years, I was out playing by myself when a storm moved through quickly. Lightning hit the tree I was hiding under, throwing me several feet away. Da told me they found me lying on the ground, and that ’twas a good thing it hadn’t killed me.” She turned back to look out the window again. “I guess that’s why I’m always bothered by them.”
Evan pulled her away from the window and led her to the worn sofa left behind by the previous tenants. “Most likely. Did no one ever tell ye the worse place to be in a lightning storm is huddled under a tree?”
“Nay. But I learned it the hard way.”
“Aye.” They settled side by side on the sofa in front of the cozy fire. Evan was aware—aye, much too aware—of her softness, warmth, and the scent from her hair. Once again, he thought about his future. With Katie? Or without her?
’Twas a complicated issue. He was needed back in Argyll, not intending to be here for even this long. And he wanted to return to his home. ’Twas in his blood. The warriors of his ancestors had fought and died to keep the MacNeil clan together and the estate safe. His da had made him promise on his deathbed to always serve the MacNeil clan, to be strong and honorable. He would not break that vow for any reason.
His desire for Katie was turning into something more. Much more. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, and he found himself looking forward to seeing her each day and working on the estate together. Never had he spent so much time with a lass outside of a bed and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yet every time they visited another tenant and he introduced Katie as the new land steward, something inside him rebelled.
Nay. I cannot leave her behind when I return to Argyll.
“Ach!” Katie turned her face into Evan’s chest, her entire body shaking as an extremely loud clap of thunder shook the house. He began to rub her back and murmur soft words, almost as if she were a bairn.
Within minutes hail began to strike the house, the sound like rocks thrown at the walls. Katie covered her ears with her hands and hid her face in her lap.
“’Tis all right, lass. ’Tis only hail making all that noise.” Evan continued to rub her back. His main concern was not the storm but the flash flooding that could keep them stranded for more than a few hours. They’d passed several creeks since they’d left the castle. Even if the rain stopped, or lightened enough for them to return, the swollen ravines and creeks could pose a danger, especially if the rain continued past sunset.
The sky grew so dark, ’twas almost as if night had arrived. “Will ye be all right while I look for some candles?” He shifted to stand and make a search.
Katie nodded, her face still buried in her lap. He had to smile at the woman brave and courageous enough to drag her entire clan across Scotland but who cowered like a bairn during a storm. She was a warrior when defending her brother and clan but soft as a babe when in his arms.
He discovered two candles, a blanket, and a mattress from the small bedroom, too worn for the previous tenants to take with them. Hopefully, they would be able to leave before he had to lay alongside Katie for the entire night. But that didn’t look promising.
“Tell me about yer clan, yer family,” Katie said, looking up at him from her lap, obviously attempting to take her mind off the storm.
Evan lifted her, tucking her against his body again, wrapping her in his arms. “’Tis an old clan. I believe I told ye a bit about its history already. My great-grandfather and grandfather worked hard to keep the land profitable after Culloden and the Clearances that followed.”
He stretched out his long legs and crossed his feet at the ankles. “My da and mum were verra happy together. She died from an infected foot when she accidentally cut herself with an axe. Da was verra upset at her, since he’d forbidden her to use the ax.” He shook his head. “She was a stubborn woman. Da was crushed when she died. I was about twelve years, and Alasdair only ten.”
“Do ye have any other brothers? Or sisters?”
“Nay. There were two wee lasses who died as infants. They were both born before me, so I never kenned them.”
Katie squealed as another flash of lightning lit up the room. She took a deep breath. “That was a close one.” Her voice shook, almost drowned out by the following clap of thunder.
Evan rested his chin on her head. “When I was a bairn, my mum told us that thunder was God playing with the angels on their bowling green up in heaven.”
Katie giggled. He smiled at the sound. ’Twas good to hear her laugh in the midst of her fright.
“Do ye think we will be able to leave soon?” She stared at him, the pulse in her neck jumping.
From what? Fear? Anticipation?
He studied her for a minute, not sure how she would take his words. “Nay. I dinnae think we’ll be able to leave until morning.”
She sucked in a deep breath, and her eyes grew wide. “In truth?”
“Aye.” He reached out and twirled one of the locks that had slipped from her topknot to her shoulder. “This is not familiar ground for either of us, and we passed a number of small ravines and creeks on our way here. Rapid water drowns more people than swimming in the lochs. ’Twill be dark soon and not at all safe to travel.”
He looked down at her, attempting to assess her reaction at his words. “I’m afraid we’re here for the night, lass.”