Page 83 of My Notorious Highlander

"Saints!" Isobel said. "I cannot imagine having to hold onto the rocks to avoid falling down a cliff."

"Aye, 'twas the most frightened I've ever been. And to think my own brother wanted me to die."

Isobel shook her head, blinking back tears. "I'm glad Haldane's dead, and I'm not going to apologize for saying that." She gave her husband a defiant look.

"As am I." Dirk raised an auburn brow. "He refused to change his evil ways, and he got what was coming to him. I always knew only death would stop him from trying to kill me. I'll have to thank Torrin when he feels better."

"McMurdo pulled you to safety?" Isobel asked her.

"Aye, 'twas unbelievable." Jessie had never been more shocked and grateful in her life.

"'Twas not out of the goodness of his heart. 'Tis simply that he wants the tomb in the church so badly."

Jessie nodded. "I wonder why?"

Dirk shrugged. "Who can guess what goes on in such a twisted mind? But I believe he fears that the people of Durness will desecrate his remains after he dies unless they are sealed up safely in the church."

"I see. Well, I'm glad you had that to offer him. Aiden said you told him about Haldane."

"Aye." Dirk frowned, looking morose. "The lad took it hard, but he said he knew 'twas going to happen sooner or later. And though Aiden caused big problems for Erskine and the clan, he said he was glad he got to talk to Haldane one last time."

Jessie nodded, tears burning her eyes once again, more so for Aiden's grief than her own, because the two lads had always been so close.

"I've been meaning to ask you," Dirk said. "Why is Torrin here? Not that I mind him visiting."

Jessie glanced at the clan members passing by them in the corridor. "What do you think?" she said in a hushed voice.

"Come inside the room." Isobel pulled her into their chamber and Dirk entered, too, closing the door behind.

"I can guess why he's here, but I might be wrong," Dirk said. "When we stopped by Munrick a few weeks ago, he again asked for your hand."

Jessie's face felt scorched of a sudden. "He said he came to protect me from MacBain." Jessie explained how the two men had run into each other far south of Durness and traveled north together.

"And did he protect you?"

"Aye. He broke MacBain's nose when he tried to barge into my chamber in the middle of the night. Then, when MacBain tried to kidnap me, Torrin rescued me and had MacBain and his men thrown into the dungeon. The next day, he had his men, along with some of the MacKays, escort the brigands off MacKay lands."

"Saints! I'm glad he's here, then. Have you changed your mind about marrying him?" Dirk inquired.

"I'd rather not discuss it at the moment," Jessie said, unwilling to share her conflictive feelings.

Dirk gave a wee smile. "Very well. We'll talk about it later."

"What happened on the ramparts when you fell?" Jessie asked Isobel, wanting to know, but also hoping to change the subject.

"After you left, Seona and I were watching that horrible battle below, on the beach." She shook her head. "Dirk fell and I thought McMurdo had stabbed him."

"'Tis my leg, you see," Dirk said. "My calf is still weak from where Gil's arrow went through it weeks ago. I stumbled and fell. Which was fortunate, for it allowed McMurdo's blade to miss me."

"Thank the saints. And I'm glad you were not hurt terribly when you passed out," Jessie told Isobel.

"Seona caught part of my fall, but my head slammed against the battlement." She gently rubbed the side of her head. "They helped me inside, though I wanted to go back out and see what'd happened to Dirk, but the guard wouldn't allow it. And then Nannag examined me and told me—" Isobel pressed her lips tight and glanced at Dirk. "Can I tell her?"

He smiled back, love shining in his pale blue eyes. "Aye, of course."

"Nannag told me I am with child," Isobel whispered.

Chapter Fourteen