Nora turned at a voice that sounded oddly familiar to her. It took a minute to recognize Isobail’s brother Graham from the day before.
But this time, he wasn’t alone.
There were three other men with him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked them.
Graham gave her an evil sneer that was cold enough to set her teeth to chattering. “We’re setting things right.”
“I beg your pardon?” she asked.
Before she could move, Graham pulled out a dagger. “Come quietly, lass, and we won’t hurt you. Fight us and you’ll be much worse for the dare.”
Ten
Ewan stood in the stable, brushing his horse as his mind whirled with the day’s revelations. He didn’t know why he was out here, except that he couldn’t think of anything else to do with himself, and the horse needed a good brushing.
Maybe.
Not.
Basically, he needed something to focus on other than the burning pain inside his heart.
Ryan loved Nora.
But then, so did he.
His stomach twisted even more as he felt hopelessness deep inside his heart.
Why was it ever his plight to love women he couldn’t have? What were the chances of Nora’s father siding with him and breaking Nora’s betrothal with Ryan while Ryan loved her?
It was impossible.
Her father would never allow it.
You could take her.
Aye, he could and to what purpose? Another feud for his clan. More death. More sorrow.
There were so many lives at stake here. Things much more important than his own happiness which seemed paltry compared to what could happen again.
He should have stayed in the mountains. He should never have helped her.
Now that he had...
Ewan couldn’t get her out of his mind. He needed her more than he had ever needed anyone or anything. The mere thought of living without her was enough to send him to his knees.
How could he go back to what he’d been before her winsome smile had set him free?
“Ewan?”
He looked over his shoulder to see Catarina approaching. The lass was toying with the tip of her long braid. She looked hesitant as she drew near.
“What is it?” he growled. “Can’t you see, I’d rather be alone?”
She ignored his surly tone and stood by his horse’s head. She patted the horse on the nose as she watched him. “Nora didn’t lie to you.”
He felt his nostrils flare as more pain assailed him. “What do you know if it?”
