Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5)(3)
The spirited lass held her body rigid, her lips in a tight line, as he removed her soaked, heavy cloak and hung it by the hood on a protruding branch near the spot Duncan had prepared for a fire. She shivered in the freezing night air, the damp silk of her dress clinging to the generous curves on her too-slender form. While watching her for signs of regained fight, he untied his rolled plaid from the back of his saddle. He returned and unfurled the dry material into the air, caught the loose end, and wrapped the wool around her quivering body.
Without a second thought, he pulled her into his arms, tucking her beneath his own cloak to share what warmth he could. Her shoulders went rigid, but after a moment, her tense muscles loosened, and she leaned further into him.
He too stiffened his arms and spine in shock, realizing he’d inadvertently given comfort to a lass after his self-preserving vow, but he slowly relaxed at the impossible notion that she’d be like any of the relentless women who’d pursued him. Schemes and motives to escalate social standing were far different than appreciating basic needs for survival.
The lass’s shivering stopped, and he pulled back to look down into beautiful eyes that had softened from those of a cornered wolf to those of a lost pup.
With an arm beneath hers and a finger looped through her ribbon binding, he led her to a flattened part of the mossy, fallen trunk and pressed gently on her shoulders until she sat down. Duncan and Seamus approached the far side of the sheltered area with their harvested pine, shaking the snow off its branches as they argued about the best way to truss the limbs up as they’d been instructed.
Two seconds after her teeth-chattering stopped, the lass’s mouth opened. “You canna keep me prisoner. You’ve no idea what evil comes after me. You and your men are not safe.”
Robert barked out a laugh as he helped Duncan stack dry wood for the fire. “Ahhh, I see the way of it. You’re concerned for our safety.”
She glanced at Seamus and Duncan. “Aye. Yours and mine.”
He arched a brow and gave his companions a pointed look. Had she hit her head? Duncan and Seamus were among the largest in their laird’s guard. Robert’s own stature bested that of his men in height and breadth by several inches. Never having feared beast or man, he couldn’t make sense of her claim.
He turned back to her, assessing her expression. She believed the words she’d spoken. “What’s your name, lass?”
She tilted her head, weighing her answer.
He wondered if she’d utter a truth or a lie and carefully watched her eyes. They stayed locked onto his, never straying. She didn’t blink. Her body never flinched.
“Susanna.”
Truth.
“What’s this evil that comes after you, Susanna? Why are you in its sights?” he asked.
Her eyes grew wide, and her gaze drifted to the spot in the trees where she’d come flying into the clearing. Her voice dropped to a whisper as the first sign of fear flashed across her face.
“My father.”
CHAPTER TWO
Susanna looked away from the depths of the ominous forest into the eyes of her imposing captor. Frightening memories taunted her mind, and she pinched her eyes shut, willing the thoughts away like she’d always done. She finally inhaled a deep breath, her lungs burning for air.
She focused on the only thing certain to calm her during one of her rioting panic attacks. Mama.
“Child it will be all right. We live in a world we cannot control. Live for me. If we live for each other, no one can touch what lies inside.”
Her mother placed a hand over the fist Susanna clutched against her chest. With patience, Mama uncurled Susanna’s tight fingers and spread them open, covering her chilled hand with her warmer one. “Our hearts hold the greatest treasure. Love. We believe the suffering we endure is temporary, and that God will deliver us from it to a better place. Trust in that.”
“But Mama, why does God make us suffer so? Why us...at the hands of such hateful men? They enjoy inflicting pain upon us. Why does God allow it?”
Her beautiful mother’s blue eyes gazed down at her. “I do not know why. I only know their joy is brief, but ours will be eternal.”
Susanna closed her eyes. She gripped her mother’s hand and made the only wish she’d ever make, in a prayer bound tight in hope...that God would have love embrace them.
Something touched Susanna, pulling her out of her poignant reverie. She fluttered her lashes open to find her captor had hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face. His lips hovered above hers. Coal-black hair fell like a silken drape, brushing against the high points of harsh cheek bones. His dark brown eyes stared deep into her soul.
Her breath caught. No one had looked at her with that kind of depth besides her mother. Shocked by the oddity, she stared up at him. Compassion and understanding washed across his face. Had she not seen those same things in her mother, she wouldn’t have recognized them.
“Your father will never harm you again,” he said, his voice almost a growl.
Susanna laughed. The man knew nothing, yet spoke with confidence, as if he commanded the world. She narrowed her eyes, remembering what he was...what they all were. “Aye. He’ll not hurt me. No man ever will.” She jerked her chin away from his touch, keeping a wary gaze leveled on him.
The Highlander pulled his hand back and straightened to his full height. He stared at her with scorching intensity.