Sometime during the night, when Colin’s steadybreathing indicated that he was asleep, Tess got up and wentoutside, throwing her cloak over her shoulders as she went out thedoor. For the first time in days, the wind had dropped off to anoccasional sea breeze, and the cold seemed bearable. She raised herface to the sky and gulped a chest full of air. If she could onlyforce down the painful knot of loneliness that she was feeling.
Makyn still had not birthed her lamb, whichsurprised Tess somewhat. The young woman was too restless, though,to sit beside the ewe. The scent of dawn was already in the air.She pushed herself to her feet and started walking toward the rockyshores.
The sea, the air, thesky…everything seemed calmer.
But not inside of her. Without the distraction ofthe wind and the storm, the reality of her situation on the Isle ofMay was suddenly pressing harder on Tess. In all her years here,she had never once considered the possibility of leaving theisland. She’d never even thought of being forced to live somewhereelse. The thought was frightening.
She still had the nightmares from time to time. Thefleeting images of a terrified young girl running through darkcorridors and passages. And there were other memories, too, thatcontinued to haunt her. Faces that she could put no name to.
Eleven years had passed, and she had grown less andless eager to find the answers to her childhood questions.Charlotte and Garth had protected her and cared for her, and Tesshad gradually become more than happy to forget the past. She’dnever thought beyond just living the rest of her life righthere.
She stood on the edge of a rock and let the coldwater lap up to her shoes. Looking around her, Tess realized shewas standing on the same rock that she’d dragged Colin onto not somany days ago. How had everything changed so quickly?
In a storm he’d come to the May. Like a storm he’dthrown her life and what she’d always thought she needed into totaldisarray. Restless and confused, she pushed a loose lock of hairbehind her ear and braced herself against a gust of wind whippingoff the gray-green sea.
Then, far to the north, she saw them riding theswells. Feeling a sense of panic rise in her chest, Tess strainedher eyes to be sure.
Boats.
They were coming for him.
Colin woke with a start. He sat up, unsure for amoment if Tess had called his name or whether he’d dreamed it. Heglanced immediately across the room. Her bed was empty.
She called him again. Her voice came from outsidethe prior’s house. In an instant he was up and reaching for hisshirt when she dashed into the chamber.
“They’re coming!” she said breathlessly. She was awhirlwind of motion. Colin didn’t think that she even knew that shehad pulled his shirt down over his head and was adjusting histartan on his shoulder. “Down the east side of the island. I sawthem. We must make a fire…signal them so they know you’rehere.”
Tess continued to speak hurriedly. Her fingers wereflying as she attempted to help him finish dressing. But she neveronce looked up into his face.
“‘Tis important where you set up…the fire. If you doit by the inlet, then ‘tis an invitation for them to come ashorethere. If ‘tis on the high rock on the island, then you are onlywarning a ship of the dangers of the island reefs.”
She continued on, but Colin was in no hurry. Themorning light cast a soft blue tint across the chamber. Her cheekswere flushed. The smell of the sea and fresh salt air surroundedher like the most exotic of aromas.
“Come with me,” he blurted out, surprisinghimself.
All her movements suddenly ceased. Dark, astoundedeyes stared up at him.
“Aye. Come with me, Tess. I will take you to theHighlands. My family will welcome you. You’ll like BenmoreCastle…and you can stay there as long as you wish.”
“Nay!” she whispered softly. “I cannot.”
He tried to reach for her. “Tess—”
“Don’t!” she said more firmly, taking a step back.“But you must go. Now. Please…now…Get them to take you to themainland.”
Colin paused. His mind raced with arguments, butshe’d already heard all of them.
“And please don’t tell them about me. Don’t sayanything about Garth and Charlotte being dead. Please.”
He nodded, feeling no enthusiasm.
She reached down, picked up the flute, and put it inhis hand. “Now go!”
She left him no choice. Frustrated. Angry. A chillof desperation settling in his belly, Colin strode out of the roomand across the moor to the sea.
CHAPTER 7
I will take you to the Highlands. My family willwelcome you…
