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Now he simply wanted to find Terese and start the process that would have them returning home, marrying, and spending the rest of their lives together.
Evan nearly crashed into him when he stepped out of the cottage.
“Can I stay, sir, can I stay?” Evan repeated nervously while bobbing up and down around him.
“What?” Lachlan asked, but before Evan could say anything Andrew popped in his face.
“I’m going to remain behind for a while to make sure the women are safe,” he said.
Lachlan shook his head confused. “What are—”
“Damn, I’m a happy man,” Boyd said, slapping Lachlan on the back.
Lachlan backed away from the three of them. “What the hell are you all talking about?”
They all turned silent.
“What’s going on?” Lachlan demanded.
Each man looked from one to the other as if they were trying to decide who would speak up.
“Someone better tell me and fast,” Lachlan warned.
Andrew was the brave one. “You better talk with Terese.”
Lachlan felt a jolt to his gut.
“Andrew’s right,” Boyd agreed. “It’s best you speak with Terese.”
Evan nodded. “She’s at the common shelter.”
Lachlan stormed off, his gut warning him that something was amiss, terribly amiss. And when he walked through the open door of the common house, Hester and Rowena made a hasty exit, leaving him alone with Terese.
“Tell me,” he said sharply.
“It’s nothing really and the others should not have said anything before I spoke with you,” she said casually. “It’s just that I feel it is time for you and your men to leave.”
“Why?”
“You have done all you can for us, and there truly is no reason for you to remain here, and I know many of your men wish to return home.”
She seemed so cold, so unattached to her words, as if she cared not at all and was simply dismissing him.
“What of us?” he asked bluntly.
She shrugged. “What of us? We have enjoyed each other as we intended. Now it’s over.”
Lachlan took a quick step toward her. She didn’t flinch or jump, she remained stoic where she stood.
“You’re going to tell me that I mean nothing to you? That what we shared meant nothing?”
“Of course it did,” she said and gave his arm a pat. “We spent a lovely time together, and I will remember you always. You know how it goes. You’ve bid good-bye to women before.”
Lachlan felt as if she had slapped him hard in the face and he grew angry. “You’re telling me that you have no feelings at all for me? This has been nothing more than a tryst you easily cast aside?”
“I care for you.”
“You love me,” he insisted, “as I love you. I don’t know what this game is you play with me, but I’ll have none of it.”
“We both knew this time would come.”
There she was. He finally heard her, the woman he loved and who loved him. Her tone was soft and concerned, and he was sure her voice had trembled.
He reached out to her, but she backed away from him. “Don’t do this to us. Don’t be afraid to let me love you or for you to love me.”
She chuckled. “It’s nothing like that—”
“It damn well is,” he shouted and she jumped.
“Raising your voice and getting angry will not settle this matter,” she warned coldly.
“There is nothing to settle,” he said, his anger not as defined. “We are in love and we will get married.”
“No, we won’t,” she said adamantly. “You and your men will leave here at dawn tomorrow. We will provide you with all the provisions you require, and we will thank you for your generous help and that will be the end of it.”
“You truly can’t mean this.”
“I can and I do,” she said emphatically.
He remained silent for a moment and then said, “If that is what you wish.”
“I do,” she said with a jut of her chin.
“Then I will do as you wish and since what we have shared means nothing to you, then you won’t mind sharing one last night with me.”
She paled. “I don’t think that would be wise.”
“Why? I mean nothing to you. Unless of course you are lying to me and send me away for a different reason,” he said sarcastically. “Then I would need to find out what you lie about.”
“This will serve no purpose.”
Lachlan slammed his hands flat on the table. “It will serve a damn good purpose. Make love with me tonight and then afterward tell me…look me in the eyes and tell me you want me to leave, and I will leave.”
“If that’s what it will take,” she said with a shrug. “Now I have work to do and you have men to get ready for morning departure.”
Lachlan went to step outside then turned around. “I don’t know what this is all about. I don’t know why you deny the truth. If you fear something then I wish you would tell me and I will fight your fear for you. I love you, Terese. I love you like I never thought I would ever or could ever love a woman. You are part of my heart, and I know I am part of yours. Don’t do this to us. Don’t throw our love away. Please don’t throw it away.”
