Joanna's Highlander (Highland Protector #2)(44)
“The cave narrows until we get around the bend created by the left wall closing inward.” He splayed his hand high upon the rock wall to his left as Joanna swung her light to see what he was talking about. “Ye see how it seems t’close off in front of us just up ahead?”
Joanna nodded, her steps slowing as though she thought their journey was nearly over.
Grant gently pressed against the small of her back, pulling her in front of him and urging her forward. “There’s a space between the walls at the rear of the cave. Ye see it just there? Room enough for us to slip through, and then ye’ll see the steps.”
“Steps?”
“Aye. Steps of stone leading upward to protect the tunnels when the river happens to flood.”
“Tunnels?” Joanna’s voice had taken on a strained squeak, higher in pitch with every word she uttered.
Grant felt Joanna’s uncertainty more keenly with every step. But there was no helping it. Not until she’d seen everything and understood the entirety of Clan MacDara’s history and duty to mankind.
They squeezed through the narrow passage at the rear of the cave. Joanna walked through easily, but Grant had to turn sideways and expel all his air to push through the tight space. He hated this damn entrance and was certain that the druid clans had built it this way just to punish him for his defiance of the goddesses.
“I see the steps.” Joanna halted so quickly, the back of her head thumped against the center of Grant’s chest. “Are you kidding me? A spiral staircase of stone? At the back of a cave?”
“Aye.” Grant took in a deep breath and felt along the cool, damp wall to his right. Dwyn had promised the passage had been checked and restocked with everything needed for today. If that was the case, lanterns, flashlights, or some form of light would’ve been placed in the storage hole that had been cut into the cave wall. He exhaled when the back of his hand finally brushed against something a great deal smoother than the surface of the wall. A lantern. One like his brother Ross had shown him that turned on by twisting the top handle until it clicked. Brilliant light flooded the eerie chamber, chasing all shadows away from the winding stone stairway disappearing up into the earth.
“Up we go, then.” Grant held the lantern high and attempted to sound a great deal more positive than he felt. “Mind the height of each step, lass. They’re wicked on yer shins.”
Joanna climbed in silence, her hands raised shoulder high and inching along the cave walls on either side of her. The light from the lantern strapped to her forehead barely lit the winding spiral of stone that seemed to go upward into the darkness forever. “How far is it?” she asked, stopping her climb to stare upward.
Grant lifted the lantern higher. “Not nearly so far as it seems. I promise ye once we reach the tunnels the journey willna be so bad.”
“And you still can’t tell me where you’re taking me?”
“I fear ye wouldna understand without seeing proof with yer own eyes.”
“Proof of what?”
What could he say to ease her fears and help her feel closer to him so once they reached the final chamber she might accept all he had to say? “Proof of my family’s history. All ye should know about me afore we…” Words failed him, his voice trailing off like the lantern beams fading into the shadows. What would she say if he spoke his heart right now? Dare I risk it?
Joanna carefully shuffled around on the stone step until she’d turned and fully faced him. Her headlight hit him square in the eyes, flooding his sight with blue-white light. He cupped one hand across her forehead while keeping his eyes averted. “Can ye turn that damn thing off?”
“Oh. Sorry.” Joanna reached up and flipped the switch and the headlamp went dark. “Better?”
Grant blinked, keeping his own lantern down at his side to gently light the chamber without blinding either one of them. “Aye. Much, thank ye.”
The fact that she’d turned around to face him made him even more uneasy—if that was possible. “Why have ye turned, Joanna? Have ye gone as far as yer willing to go?”
She looked up at him for a long moment, chewing the corner of her lip like she always did when she was sorting out what she was about to say. Finally, she reached out and barely stroked the backs of her fingers up his jawline. “I’ve gone as far as I’m going until you finish your sentence. Talk to me, Grant. Time to ’fess up.”
“What sentence?” He knew exactly what she meant, but he wasna ready to come forward and confess all—at least not unless she forced him. Telling the woman she belonged to him while they made love was one thing, but saying it now…
“All ye should know about me afore we…” she repeated, sounding stilted and archaic as though she were reading from an old English Puritan manuscript rather than mimicking a Scottish burr. “Before we what?” she asked again, her voice falling to a coaxing whisper.
The chilly, damp air of the passage suddenly seemed infinitely warmer, and Grant tensed as beads of sweat trickled down his back and settled in the crack of his arse. Now what the hell do I say?
Joanna stared up at him. She didn’t blink. Just watched him—motionless and waiting. Her eyes were wide and dark, their deep green color indiscernible in the low light of the cave. She stood so close that he swore he could hear her heartbeat—or maybe that was his own blood he heard a-poundin’ in his ears.