Hearts of Highland Fire

Chapter 20

20

They were free. Remy rode out of the McCellan village like the devil was chasing them, with Gretna clutching the saddle until her knuckles were white with strain. Her heart pounded in her ears, listening to horse’s hooves and waiting for the moment that an arrow would come whizzing by her ear. She knew that if it had been up to James, he would have killed them rather than let them go, but the laird had spoken and for now, it seemed that he was holding up his side of their bargain.

Remy hadn’t said a word to her since he had pulled her onto the horse and shot out of the courtyard, but Gretna could feel the tension in his body behind her as they rode away. He too was expecting for the laird to go back on his word and hunt them down.

Night fell around them and so did the threat of the forest as the horse raced on, the clouds preventing the moon from shining a light on their path. Gretna silently prayed that their journey would be a safe one, her body chilled from the cold night air. She had left everything behind that she had brought with her, not even bothering to grab her cloak before they left.

Not that she cared. She was on her way back home, back to her clan and that was all that mattered. No longer did she have to worry over her marriage to James. The laird had broken the agreement and given her her freedom.

Her future was hers once more.

By the time Remy stopped the horse, Gretna’s teeth were chattering and she could barely feel her face from the thrashing wind. Remy dismounted and she slid into his waiting arms, her breath catching as she felt his touch for the first time when they weren’t fleeing finally done for their lives. She could barely see his face in the thick darkness, but when he immediately stepped back, she found herself surprised.

“We are far enough,” he stated, his voice carrying in the still night. “We made it off their land. We should be safe now.”

Gretna shook off the mantle of worry that settled on her shoulders. “Ye came back.”

“Of course, I did,” he answered. “I told ye I would.”

He didn’t sound too pleased about it and Gretna’s worry intensified. Had something happened while he was back at their clan? Had her brother said something to him or threatened Remy about leaving Gretna behind?

“Remy,” she started, her voice trembling.

“Sit,” Remy said instead. “I am going tae gather wood for a fire. Donna move and if ye hear anything use yer dagger, lass.”

Gretna felt around until she found a fallen log and sat upon it, the cold seeping through her gown. If she had known that tonight was the night Remy was to return, she would have worn a thicker gown.

Still, she would never forget the way he had ridden into the courtyard and demanded that James released her like a knight in a romance novel. Her heart still hadn’t recovered from the sight and Gretna felt that it would always be in her memories.

He had come back for her.

A rustling sound caused her to reach for the dagger strapped to her thigh, the one thing she hadn’t gone without her entire time at the McCellan keep. As she rose from the log, the sound grew louder and she realized that it was more horses coming their way. Was it James coming for her?

“Remy!”

Gretna sighed in relief as she recognized the guards that had been her constant companions during his absence, three figures coming into her view a moment later. Remy came into the clearing as well, dumping the wood into a pile.

“Ye are a sight for sore eyes,” he responded as the men dismounted and touched arms with him. “Any troubles?”

“Nay,” the lead guard stated with a quick shake of his head. “We were told tae leave and leave we did.” He looked around. “Are we setting up camp here?”

“Aye,” Remy replied. “Tis too dark tae continue to ride tonight. We can take turns with the watch.”

The guard nodded, motioning to the other two men. “We will set up a perimeter then. There will be no surprises on our watch.”

Gretna watched as the men slunk into the darkness, leaving her and Remy alone once more. While she was happy that they had all gotten out when they did, she longed for the safety of her brother’s keep.

“Ye need a blanket, lass.”

“I’m fine,” she said, attempting to keep her teeth from chattering too loud. He made a noise and moved to get the fire going. Soon there was a small flame and light started to filter through the darkness, illuminating Remy’s tall form. Gretna moved toward the fire, the delicious heat warming her fingers. She didn’t say anything for a few moments, but the silence was too deafening between them.

“Ye seemed tae be handling yerself,” Remy finally said, breaking the silence. “I trust that ye aren’t hurt?”

“Nay,” she said quickly. “I’m not hurt. James left mah alone for the most part, only using mah tae stroke his ego every once and a while.” It could have been a great deal worse.

“Wot did ye say tae the laird?” Remy asked.

Gretna met his eyes over the firelight. “I canna tell ye but I was told something that the laird would be desperate not tae have come out.” She was going to keep her promise to him and not tell anyone what she had learned or from whom. “It was enough.”

“Aye,” Remy answered, looking away. “Ye did fine, Gretna. Ye were strong.”

Gretna flushed at his praise, remembering his words that he had left her. “I tried tae be.”

He gave her a curt nod and silence fell between them once more. She wanted him to take her into his arms and tell her how much he missed her or even just show her that he actually missed her.

Right now he was making her feel as if she was some sort of burden to him. “Did Ian send ye?” she asked, hoping that he couldn’t hear the hurt in her voice.

“Aye, he did,” Remy answered, his eyes finding hers. “I wasna going tae leave ye there, Gretna. That was never the plan no matter wot yer brother said.”

Hope flared in Gretna’s chest, waiting for him to say more about his return.

When he said nothing, she finally let the frustration boil over. “Ye came back for mah because ye care for mah.” There. She had said the words that she had hoped he felt the same.

His gaze narrowed. “Aye, lass, I do care for ye. Ye are Ian’s sister and under mah protection as captain of the guard.”

Gretna placed her hands on her hips, not believing that it was the only reason he cared for her. “Donna lie tae mah.”

Remy swallowed, looking a bit nervous himself. “I’m not, Gretna.”

Och, he was so stubborn! Gretna rounded the fire until she was standing only a few inches from him, seeing the tense but wary expression on his face.

“Ye say ye care for mah because of Ian,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm. “But I donna believe ye at all, Remy Wallace.”

“Tis the truth,” he bit back though there was no fire in his eyes to match his tone. “We canna, there is nothing we can have between us, lass.”

Gretna slid her hand up his arm and to his chest, pressing it against his heart.

“Tell mah another lie, Remy Wallace,” she said softly. “Because I willna lie tae ye. I know in mah heart that I love ye.”

“Gretna,” he growled but she shook her head, feeling his heartbeat thundering under her touch. Even if he rejected her after what she needed to say to him, then so be it. At least she had tried. “I love ye because of who ye are,” she continued, the words pouring from her very soul. “I donna care aboot a keep or a title, Remy. I want tae be loved and loved fully. The question is, can ye love mah the way I should be loved?”

He stared at her for what felt like a lifetime, his jaw clenched, but Gretna didn’t move from her spot nor did she remove her hand. Even if he didn’t want to say the words, she could feel his reaction by the rapid beat of his heart under her palm, telling her all that she needed to know and what she would fight for if the time came.

“I canna give ye anything,” he rasped, startling her. “I canna give ye yer fancy gowns or a comfortable bed tae rest yer head on.”

Gretna’s heart tightened in her chest.

“Oh, Remy,” she breathed. “I donna need any of that. I just need love.”

Something crumbled in his expression, but instead of gathering her into his arms as Gretna had expected, he dropped to one knee before her, pressing her hand against his chest tightly.

“I’ve tried tae forget ye, lass,” he admitted. “I tried tae tell mahself that ye deserved better than mah, but the very thought of seeing another man touch ye makes me sick tae mah stomach.”

Tears sprang to Gretna’s eyes. He truly did care for her.

“So I will tell ye now,” he continued on. “I love ye like the grass loves the dew in the mornings. I love ye like a horse loves his feed and I will love ye until the end of mah days and then a lifetime after that.”

Gretna felt the tears slide down her cheeks and with a sob she fell to her knees, only to have Remy catch her as she fell and crush her to his chest. His scent wound its way around her and so did his arms until she could hear the rapid beat of his heart against her ear.

“I’m verra sorry, lass,” he said, his hand combing through her tangled locks.

“For wot?” She asked, her voice muffled by his chest.

“For loving ye,” he murmured, pressing his lips against her temple. “But I canna stop. I know ye are meant for someone more deserving but.

“Shh,” she interrupted him, pulling back enough to frame his face with her hands. “I donna care aboot that. I love ye, Remy Wallace, and will until the end of mah days.”

His face crinkled into a smile and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers.

“I donna deserve ye, lass.”

“Nay, ye donna,” she laughed, her heart full of happiness. “But I only want ye, Remy.”

He blew out a breath before his lips captured hers and Gretna threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close. After weeks of being apart, she couldn’t believe that they were finally together like this. The worst was over and their new life together was beginning.

They were both breathing hard when she finally broke free of his kiss, letting out a small laugh.

“I canna believe this is happening.”

He reached up and cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her skin.

“Neither can I.”

Gretna met his tender gaze. “Did ye tell Ian?”

Remy let out a choked laugh. “Do ye think I would be standing here right now if I had?”

Gretna swallowed as she thought about her brother. “Ye are his closest friend. He wouldna hurt ye, Remy.”

“While I thank ye for yer vote of confidence,” Remy replied, wrapping his arm around her waist. “I donna think that our friendship extends tae the very fact that I wish tae be with his sister.”

Gretna laid her head on his shoulder.

“It doesna matter. I will talk with him.” Ian would see that they cared for one another and wouldn’t stand in the way of her happiness. She knew that was all that her brother wanted for her.

“Let’s not dwell on it tonight. I just wish tae hold ye while I can.” Remy sighed.

So they positioned themselves near the fire, using the blanket from the horse to provide some sort of barrier between them and the ground. Gretna lay before the fire and Remy settled behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pressing his lips into her hair.

“Sleep,” he whispered.

She snuggled against his hard body and for the first time in weeks, she fell into a dreamless sleep.