Page 63 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Any. My life for ye.”

“Keep that life safe,” she said. “Keep yerself safe. I willnae forgive ye if harm comes to ye.”

Aleck lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles, like they had just been introduced at a ball. That brief moment lasted an eternity, and all promises were made within it; then their hands parted, and Aleck rushed down the stairs.

Her hand was on fire where it had sojourned with Aleck’s lips. It would be the only memory warming her heart for months to come. It would help her through sleepless nights and tears. But before that she needed to fortify her heart and steady herself if she were going to make it through without breaking down completely.

Chapter Twenty-Five

As he packed his meager belongings into a cloth bag, Aleck took stock of the room he had spent most of his life in. It felt smaller somehow, now that his life was packed away. The cot looked like that of a child, certainly not big enough to support him. He remembered nights when he would be lost in the vastness of it as a little boy, missing his older brother, even though he kicked in his sleep.

How had he not realized until this moment that he no longer fit on the cot?

It had taken him packing his belongings and deciding to leave to realize he had outgrown his bed. Would he be standing on the great plains of the fabled Punjab when a realization would hit him that he had outgrown Scotland? God forbid!

Would he meet a lass somewhere far off and realize he had outgrown Evanna? Never.

Just like he had packed away his things, he would pack his love and devotion for Evanna in his heart of hearts. It would be the beacon that would always point him towards Scotland, like a compass always yearning for true North.

Shouldering his burden, he picked up his sword and left his room. Joseph and Royce were waiting for him when he stepped out.

“I still dinnae see what the hurry is,” Joseph said, taking Aleck’s cloth sack from him and carrying it on his own shoulder.

“Aye,” Royce grunted. “The East India Company isnae going anywhere. Ye could leave come spring.”

“I’ve nae come by this decision overnight,” Aleck lied. “I’ve thought on it plenty for some months now. Besides, it’d be hard leaving Scotland in the spring.”

“That’s true enough,” Royce nodded. “There’s nae place like Scotland in the spring.”

“Could ye nae have left after the wedding? The Laird will need all hands on deck for that. Ye’ll miss the feasting and the dancing,” Joseph said.

“And the women,” Royce muttered, nudging Aleck in the ribs with his elbow, his head tilting slightly to their left.

Aleck looked where he was indicating and saw Isla standing in the training yard, talking animatedly with her father and Lockard. They were staring at him, flinty eyed.

“That does nae promise to be pretty,” Joseph predicted.

“Nae.” Aleck agreed.

Royce made to step in front of Aleck, but Aleck touched his shoulder and shook his head. “I’ll see to it.”

“Ye sure ye dinnae want us around?” Royce asked. “’Cause I’ll take on Lockard for ye.”

“Her Da looks like he has weak shins,” Joseph observed, letting the sack drop to the ground as he readied his fists for a fight.

Aleck felt a rush of love for his friends. When he’d planned on leaving, he hadn’t factored in how much he would miss their comradery.

“I’m nae sneaking out like a traitor,” Aleck insisted. “I have my Laird’s permission to go. They have naught to hold against me but some outlandish fantasy of a silly lass.”

Royce and Joseph still looked uncertain.

“Nae point in ye making yer lot tougher with Lockard while I’m gone. He’ll make ye muck out the pigpens for the rest of yer lives if ye give him any trouble.”

Royce made a face, and that decided it for the both of them.

“Yell if ye need us.” Joseph hugged Aleck. “And bring us back some rubies, eh?”

“Aye, and none of them spices,” Royce hugged him next. “Burn a man inside out they do.”