Highland Song (23 page)

They were being followed. Lainie sensed that at the same primitive level as she sensed the raw hunger in Slade's eyes whenever he looked at her.

She wondered if Slade remembered the times they'd touched and the heat that seemed to spark each time, simmering with untold possibilities. She had never known anyone like him. She'd never wanted anyone the way she wanted him. Something elemental and primitive stirred inside her.

It's only passion and hunger. It's not love.

Throughout the long hours on the trail, the memories haunted her. Each time they returned, they sent a myriad of wonder and excitement through her, undermining her fury at Slade.

How could she be angry at a man whose heart and soul matched
hers.
She had waited all her life for someone like this--a man who could be gentle and kind yet protect her from the world.

He can't believe I'm a woman who would give herself to a man for trinkets.

Surely, he understands. Surely, he can see through the rumors and realize who I really am. He's just too obstinate to admit he was wrong about me
.

The thought was as alluring to Lainie as the possibility of seeing her home and being welcomed into it. She had dreamed of the time when she could ride across the narrow land bridge to the MacPherson castle with her head held high. She prayed the time was near.

"Wait for me." Slade said no more. Nor did he need to.

Lainie reined in her tired mount, took the lead rope of the packhorse, and watched Slade leave without asking where he was going or why. She simply sat on her horse and waited for his return with a patience that came from exhaustion not the will to obey the stubborn man. Around her, the last colors of the day drained from the sky, leaving twilight behind.

It was full dark when Slade reappeared as silently as a wraith. The packhorses were too busy cropping grass to bother calling a greeting to their trail mate.

Slade waited for Lainie to ask where he had been and why. When she didn't, his mouth tightened with what she read as irritation.

Are you going to sulk all night?" he asked.

"Why do you care what a liar, a cheat, and whore does?" Lainie asked sweetly trying not to let her own anger show through. "Someone who gives herself to a man for trinkets," she added.

She pretended not to hear the word Slade hissed beneath his breath as he dismounted. He began unsaddling his horse with quick, angry motions. When he finished he turned to Lainie with his fists on his lean hips.

"I don't understand why women get upset when a man calls them what they are," he said bluntly

"Well I can understand how a bad-mannered, blind, inflexible, unfeeling lecher like you might feel that way," she said, while she inhaled a long deep breath. He had treated her so poorly she no longer cared whether she was polite or even cautious. She was tired of walking on eggshells around him.

A taut, eerie silence followed while she dismounted.

And then Slade laughed.

"Stop using all your strength to fight a battle you can’t win, little fox. I don't have any plans for you tonight. I'm too tired."

Lainie slanted him a wary sideways glance.

"I may be lecherous," he said dryly, "but I'm not stupid. As long as Jericho is following us, I'm not going to get caught with my britches undone."

Lainie told herself she wasn't disappointed that she would get none of Slade's disquieting, spellbinding touches that night--or any night soon. She was better off not to let herself care about him or the way he made her feel.

Only one thing a man wants from a woman, make no mistake about it. And I don't want for any man to get that far with me again. I'll fight him with all the strength I have if he tries to rape me. I'm not a foolish girl caught in the romantic notion of love.

Yet even the echoes of her memories and the pain she recalled vividly even now couldn't keep Lainie from seeing Slade with his nephew, smiling and gentle, and with his sister. The love in him had been strong enough to touch. She remembered, too, the way Callie looked at Hawke--with only love in her eyes. No man could gain that starry-eyed stare if he caused pain.

She wanted to see if that love could be real for her too. She longed to make with Slade the home she had always dreamed of, the one she had always thought would be hers. She wanted a safe haven from a world that didn't care whether she lived or died.

The realization of how deeply and in how many ways she longed for Slade terrified Lainie. Unlike Bertram in the farthest away part of her mind, she knew Slade would not hurt her. But if she gave her heart to him, she might be hurt in a way her heart would never mend. She didn't want to give in to her strange and unexpected yearning for Slade.

Lainie dismounted in a hurry. As she stood and flipped the stirrup up over the saddle horn, Slade's arm went around her waist, pulling her close. She felt the muscular length of his body molded against her from shoulder blades to thighs. A hard ridge of flesh pressed against her hips.

"Unfeeling is the last thing I am," Slade said. "Especially with you around to keep the fire burning inside."

She inhaled a deep breath. She had been so lost in thought when he first touched her she almost panicked. But she fought the sensation and let herself relax in his arms. And the moment she did, she knew she'd lost every battle of will she had thought to fight against Aaron Slade.

First, his lips teased her sensitive ear, then the tip of his tongue, then the edges of his teeth. The restraint of the caresses was at odds with his heavy arousal.

The combination of intense masculine hunger and equally intense self-control was both disarming and compelling to Lainie. Her only experience with men was at odds with what was happening right now. Bertram had taken what he wanted and to Hell with any feelings for her. And she knew that when Slade gave her up to Bertram the same thing would happen. She closed her eyes and wondered at the unfairness of it all. And wondered too how she could possibly convince Slade to take her home instead of to Edinburgh. She would have to convince him first that she wasn't who he thought she was.

Maybe the longer he's with me, the more he will see I'm not a girl to be bought and sold on a man's whim
.

The idea was profoundly appealing. Lainie wanted Slade to look at her and see a woman he could trust and respect, a woman he could build a home with, have children with, and share a life with.

She wanted him to see a woman he could love.

Maybe when he sees that I keep my word, too, he'll look at me with more than desire. Lainie thought yearningly. Maybe and maybe and maybe…

If I don't try, I'll never know
.

As Slade felt the subtle softening of Lainie's body, both hunger and relief swept through him. He hadn't meant for her to overhear his conversation with Stephan. Nor had he meant to hurt her by rubbing Stephan's nose in the fact that Lainie wasn't the sweet, highland innocent she appeared to be. But Stephan hadn't left Slade any other choice.

"Does this mean Jericho is far enough back that you're not worried about being, er, distracted?" Lainie asked.

"No," Slade admitted reluctantly, releasing her. "I'm afraid we'll have to have a cold camp tonight, in more ways than one."

"Is Jericho that close?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Good Lord, How could he be? After a day on the trail like we had, even our shadows were complaining about following us."

"How did he know where to find us after he lost my trail out of Ayr?" she asked.

"There
aren't that
many ways through the hills."

Lainie closed her eyes and inhaled a long deep breath. "I guess the country isn't as empty as it seems."

"Oh, it's empty, all right. I've gone months at a time without seeing a soul. Just the crossroads and passes get kind of crowded."

"Even if I didn't have kin in this area, Jericho would have found us. Sometimes I think even the trees gossip."

"You're probably right about that," Slade said. "We've got an edge, though."

"What's that?"

"I know the land. Most of Jericho's men have never been out of England."

"He has Red," Lainie pointed out.

Slade's grin was as hard as his voice.

"Red is superstitious. He won't like traveling in the highlands. If he goes with Jericho, it will be protesting all the way. A man doesn't do a good job when he's forced."

Chapter Nine

The ever-present threat of Jericho had stripped Lainie's nerves raw. Her fingers tightened on the reins. She looked over her shoulder and was not relieved when she saw no sign of man.

Slade was always vigilant. During the day, he covered their trail and rode with his weapons within easy reach. During the night, he and Lainie slept with the horses picketed around their campsites. Many times, he would send Lainie ahead while he backtracked to check for any signs Jericho followed them.

Late one afternoon, Slade reined in and waited for Lainie. "I want you to keep riding. Don't stop for anything," he warned. "I'll be back." He watched the shiver snake down her back and wished he could do something to stop the fear.

She nodded. "You promise?"

"Don't worry about me." Without looking back, Slade turned and rode to a high point on the trail. He dismounted, pulled out his spyglass, and studied the land.

Slade swore under his breath, collapsed the spyglass, mounted, and cantered quickly to catch up with Lainie and the packhorses. At the sound of hoof beats she turned.

"Lainie," he called out, "It's just me." He watched her breath rush out, and saw the anxious flash of her eyes and the light shinning off her hair that swirled in disarray beneath the glowing sun. He also saw the subtle line that fatigue and worry had drawn around her soft curving lips.

She brushed her hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her then she looked down the trail. "Did you see anyone?"

He didn't want to worry her, but he didn't want to lie either. "I caught site of Jericho. He had ten men with him. All wore Bertram's colors."

"So, they act in the name of the general. Everything legal of course," she murmured.

Slade reined in next to Lainie. The temptation to lean over and taste once more her delicate blend of salt and sweat and warmth almost overpowered him. He scowled savagely at his own growing, unruly desire for the girl who had set Bertram's heart so aflame that he'd placed a bounty on her head just to get her back. He didn't want the scoundrel's leavings but he wanted Lainie.

"It appears that way," he said.

"How close are they?" Lainie asked anxiously, glancing at Slade's grim face and twisting the reins between her fingers so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

"They won't catch up with us tonight," Slade said, looking over his shoulder and wishing he hadn't went he looked back and saw fear in Lainie's eyes.

She licked her cracked lips and pulled her hood up as if that act would protect her. If Jericho caught up with them, he'd be the only thing standing between her and weeks of hell.

He couldn't help but follow the tip of her tongue. He couldn't stop the hard running of his blood or the raw need he felt when he watched her graceful movements. He'd forgotten about the joys of pure lust, heightened senses, the driving force and the incredible pleasure. Too long he had been coldly methodical in his seductions, almost indifferent, merely satisfying a purely basic need.

He cursed himself for wanting a woman so much he couldn’t think straight.

"Then we can relax a little?" she asked hopefully, looking at him with eyes like the summer sky.

"No we can’t." Was his hardened reply.

Her mouth curved down. "I guess Jericho and his mercenaries can track well enough even without Red."

"Red seems to have overcome his superstitions. Either that or Jericho gave him enough inducement to keep him on our back trail." Slade didn't want to think about that enticement. He'd heard the talk in the tavern about sharing Lainie when they caught her. The thought made his skin crawl. Lainie was his. He wasn't going to share her with anyone.

Lainie made a startled sound and looked at the surrounding land. "Maybe you don't know
this back country as well as you think
."

"I know the land. And we're going to hit some pretty rough territory before we get through to MacPherson land," Slade said. "Can you keep up?"

Lainie nodded. "I can. I've heard my brothers talk. When I left home, I always took the roads and stopped in the towns along the way," Lainie said. "The land is so steep and rugged, it reminds me of home," she said wistfully.

"Reminds you of home? Will the land I receive for bringing you there be like that?" he asked pointing to the surrounding countryside.

She looked beyond his hand. Rising above was a cliff with a winding trail that seemed to appear and disappear at will.

"That's a cliff, Slade. It's made of rock. You've decided to take me home. You want land then trinkets?" she asked.

"Don't know where I'm taking you," he said.

"But…"

With a wry grin, Slade took off his hat, wiped his forehead on his sleeve, and resettled his hat.

"When I figure it out, I'll tell you," he promised.

Frowning Lainie looked at the cliff.

"Really?" she asked sweetly.

"A man wouldn't want to give up all his secrets now would he? Might give a certain someone the upper hand." Slade said, baiting her, knowing he should stop teasing yet unable to resist the soft curve of her lips when she concentrated on what he said.

A sideways glance at Slade convinced Lainie he wasn't leading her on. He still didn't know what he was going to do with her.

Even Slade looked as if he was feeling the exhaustion of the trip. He had rolled up the sleeves of his white linen shirt, and the collar was untied. Sweat glistened like tiny diamonds in the thicket of black hair revealed by the half-undone shirt. Three days on the trail had left
a thick
, black stubble of beard that made his smile savage rather than reassuring.

No one looking at Slade now would have been misled into thinking him anything but what he was--a hard man with a reputation for getting what he wanted.

Yet despite Slade's threatening appearance and the currents of sensual tension that coiled invisibly between
herself
and him, Lainie had never slept more securely than she had in the past few days.

For the first time since she was brutally attacked by Bertram, she was not the one who had to sleep lightly, listening for every noise, ready to grab whatever weapon was at hand and
defend
herself from whatever predator was prowling the night beyond the campfire.

Being able to depend on someone else was such a simple thing, yet the realization that she could rely on Slade kept rippling through Lainie like currents through a river, changing old certainties that had been imbedded in her mind.

Slade saw Lainie take in a breath and let it out, then do it again as though breathing deeply were a luxury.

"A moment for your thoughts?" he asked, smiling for the first time since he'd ridden back.

"What? Oh." She smiled slightly. "I was just thinking how nice it is to sleep through the night without worrying."

"About what?" he seemed to prompt.

"About a bully or a lecher taking something he has no right to take, or about outlaws stumbling over my campsite." Lainie shrugged. "That sort of thing."

Slade frowned. "I could make up my mind a whole lot easier if you'd just settle down and tell me why you became Bertram's plaything."

"Plaything? I think I've told you enough."

He nodded curtly. "Have it your way then."

"I wanted to pay him back for the pain he caused. Lord but the pain never seemed to fade. Nothing I did erased the memory," Lainie said. “But I was never Bertram’s plaything."

For an instant, Lainie was on the verge of telling him everything.

Then, "Didn't Bertram pay you enough?"

She turned from him, tears burning hotly in the back of her throat. "He didn't pay me. I wouldn't take anything from that man."

"He won't give up until he has you again," Slade said. "I don't think I'm going to let him have the chance."

"Really? Why?"

Slade's eyes narrowed in surprise. "That doesn't mean I believe everything you've told me. I saw with my own eyes what you're capable of. But then I also have to explain things to your brothers."

It was Lainie's turn to be surprised.

"My brother's," she paused. "I haven't seen them in long time. I wouldn't want them involved. They might do something that couldn't be taken back."

"Like killing Bertram?" he asked. "Or me?"

"I don't want Hawke or Ian to know what happened."

"You don't have to worry. I won't tell them what I don't know," he muttered.

"Good, I wouldn't want anyone to die because of me. Hawke would want to defend my honor and so would Ian. It's why I left. And it's why I'll never say anything to them when I see them," Lainie said heatedly.

"Especially if there is no reason for your honor to be defended. If you gave yourself to Bertram to distract him from your spying, then your honor does not need defending. It's nonexistent." He leaned toward her. "Tell me, Lainie. Do you have any honor--or loyalty?"