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“It will be painful for a while, then merely sore and finally heal as long as—”
Terese shook her head. “I don’t want to hear all that could go wrong. Just tell me what I need to do to keep it right.”
Rowena went into a list of things, finishing with, “But I don’t expect you to listen.”
“I’ll see that she does,” Lachlan said.
“That might work,” Rowena said with a chuckle.
“Help me up,” Terese ordered.
“See, already she doesn’t listen,” Rowena said but did as Terese asked, though Lachlan took over and assisted Terese, his arm going around her.
Terese kept her arm wrapped around Lachlan’s after he had helped her to sit up. It was a good thing too, since she felt dizzy. She rested her head to his shoulder. “The room spins.”
“Take your time,” Lachlan said, holding her firm.
She wished she could stay there resting against him. That he was muscled, his body taut, was obvious, but it was the warm comforting feel of him she liked the best.
Her vision cleared completely, the dizziness passed and she was able to sit without help, so she had no choice but to let him go. But she didn’t. She held on to him for a few more moments until common sense warned her to release him.
When she finally did, he seemed reluctant to let her go. “Are you sure you feel well enough?”
“I’m fine, though you could help me to a chair,” she said and was surprised when he carefully scooped her up into his arms and placed her gently on a chair. It felt even better resting against his chest, the woodsy scent of him teasing her nostrils and her senses.
It was over too soon and too soon she would have to tell him the truth.
“The others wait outside,” Rowena said.
Terese had forgotten Rowena was there. For a moment she only had thoughts of herself and Lachlan. Could that be why she wanted the truth revealed? Did she want Lachlan to know her a woman free to do as she chose?
“Bring them in,” Terese said before her thoughts turned too crazy.
Megan, Hester, and Piper entered and joined Rowena and her at the table. Lachlan chose to stand, arms folded across his chest.
“Before you start I’d like to have a say,” he said.
Terese nodded.
“I thought more was going on here than met the eye. I must admit I never expected that the five of you had taken on the persona of mercenaries. I’m sure you had a reasonable explanation, and I can assure you that neither I nor my men will reveal your secret to the church. Of course,” Lachlan said with the hint of a smile, “there is the stipulation that you never again do such a foolish thing.”
Terese knew the other women felt as she did, that they would allow no one to dictate to them. They had survived on their own this long and they would continue to do so.
“What you tell to the church doesn’t matter to us,” Terese said.
The other women nodded in agreement.
Suspicion dawned in Lachlan’s eyes. “And why is that?”
“It’s simple,” Terese said. “Not one of us is a nun.”
Chapter 10
Lachlan shook his head.
“You heard me right,” Terese confirmed.
He thought he had, but it was too crazy too think it was the truth. “None of you are nuns?” he asked, looking yet again for validation.
Terese glared at him. “Not a blessed one of us.”
“Explain,” he said tersely, not certain if he was feeling angry or foolish over the revelation.
“We are women—”
“Misfits to most,” Megan threw in and all the women nodded.
Terese continued. “The sisters picked us up one by one along the way and offered us shelter and a home if we wished to take vows. But before anything could be decided the nuns took ill. We looked after them, tended them and then buried them. Everagis was our only home, and so we took on the identity of nuns.”
“That’s two guises so far, nuns and mercenaries,” Lachlan said. “Are there any more I should know of?”
“Not a one,” Terese said, knowing she lied again, yet knowing it was necessary.
“What of your names?” Lachlan asked. “Are they your own?”
“They belong to us,” Terese said.
“Is there any more you need to tell me?” he asked.
“There is nothing more,” Terese said.
Lachlan looked at the lot of them then settled his eyes on Terese. “You lead them?”
“I do, and proudly.”
He nodded slowly and after a moment of silence he said, “Rest your wound, I will speak with you later about this.” And with that he marched out of the room, shutting the door none too gently behind him.
His men moved out of his way, his intent steps and the rare look of anger in his eyes warning them to stay clear. He grew more angry when he found himself at the spot where he and Sis—He stopped himself; Terese was no Sister. She was a woman like any other woman and…again he stopped and realized what this revelation meant.
