She cried out at the biting pain his fingers caused.
“Ye dinnae order me aboot, bitch.” He pushed her away from him and she nearly fell backward, laughing as he watched her. “Ye are mine now. What does it matter what really happened?”
Her gaze went to the trail that led to the gate and beyond to the lush Highlands, then back to the man she was supposed to marry, and everything clicked.
In that moment all of it came to light. The control. The disregard and disrespect for her as a person. The arrogance he held over her.
The future of what her life would be flashed in her mind’s eye. She couldn’t live like that.
Wouldn’t live like that.
In a sudden burst of confidence, Alana took a step back, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her chin in defiance. Her voice was cold when she spoke. “Then ye dinnae ken me at all.” In a swift move she ripped the engagement ring from her finger and hurled it at her betrothed’s chest. “I would rather be free and ruined than married and controlled. Especially by the likes of someone as vile as ye.”
MacDonell stood there shocked for a moment afore he gathered himself. “If ye believe ye leaving has any impact on me, ye are sorely mistaken. I didnae want ye anyhow. Who would? Ye for certs cannae bear me any bairns. Ye arenae hearty enough for that. ’Tis best ye leave now afore ye succumb to the blistery Highland autumn and winter.” He moved to leave, but paused, tapping his finger against his temple. “Tell yer father I expect full repayment, along with interest for all I have had to deal with since ye darkened my doorstep with yerpresence.”
Alana only waited for a moment afore entering the stable and asking the lad there if Rory had left.
“Aye, my lady. Through the gate he went.”
Biting her lip nervously, she kenned she wouldn’t be able to catch him on foot. “May I have a horse? I promise ye will be compensated.”
The boy thought for a moment. “I have just the one. He’s mine, not the laird’s and I’ve been training him. He’s a good boy.”
He disappeared out the back door of the stable and after a few minutes, returned with a beautiful chestnut horse and handed her the reins. He leaned in close. “Ye neednae repay me. ’Tis my gift to ye for escaping,” he said with a wink. “Ye dinnae belong here.” He helped her mount and then stepped back. “Travel safe, my lady,” he said afore ducking back into the stable.
With a final look back at Caer Rannoch, she guided the horse to the open gate and kicked him into a trot. “Let us go find Rory!” She called, and only hoped she wasn’t too late.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Rory was halfwaydown the trail when he heard a horse galloping behind him, rapidly advancing. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he jumped off the trail, turning to see who was approaching. He fully expected to see MacDonell’s men, swords raised, ready to attack and strike him down.
Instead, his breath caught in his throat at the vision catching up to him.
Alana.
She was urging the horse forward, quick as it would go. She was breathless, her hair windswept, and the fiercest look on her bonny face. She would make any warrior a worthy opponent.
The horse skidded to a halt not far from him, and Alana dismounted, running to him. “I ended it,” she said, her voice shaking, chest heaving.
Stunned, he didn’t move as he absorbed her words. “Why?” He asked. “How? Ye had e’erything.” But the words were bitter on his tongue. She didn’t. He had left her in Hell and he kenned that.
Stepping closer, she shook her head. “I didnae. Without choice, I had naught.”
He looked away, trying to understand what had happened. Was he dreaming?
He pinched himself and felt the smart on his skin. Nay, he waswide awake and Alana was standing afore him.
His mind tried to assess what was unfolding. What the ramifications of it all would be. But, still, he had to ken the truth. To hear it from Alana’s own lips. “Are ye for certs this isnae just yer rebellion talking?”
Reaching out, Alana grasped his hand, holding it betwixt hers and bringing it to her chest. “’Tis love talking. And if ye walk away, I will survive. Hardly, but I will. And I’ll also ne’er forgive ye for it.”
Still, he hesitated. Wondering if he should pinch himself again to wake him up because for certs this was a dream. Had he fallen and hit his head on a rock? Was his mind playing tricks on him? Mayhap the ale he drank at Caer Rannoch was poisoned in MacDonell’s way of punishing him. Or the water he bathed in was tainted.
But then Alana cupped his face and brought his head down to her as she raised up on her toes, capturing his mouth in a fierce kiss that left no room for doubt.
Dropping his pack, he lifted her against him, wrapping his arms around her. Returning her kiss like he was starving for her touch. And he was.
When they broke apart, gasping for air, he stammered. “I didnae think I would e’er see ye again. The thought was killing me,” he confessed.
