Chapter 38
Sheena was ready to mount her horse again and return to the castle.
But as she was leaving the croft, Jamie galloped furiously toward her, coming to a skidding halt in the yard.
Hearing the noise, the crofter and his wife came back out of their hut.
They could only stand there, mute in the face of Jamie’s black rage.
Sheena was equally mute and frightened. She had confessed to Jannet that she meant to leave the Highlands, and Jannet had effectively talked her out of it. But Jamie couldn’t know that, of course. And he was in no mood to be told.
“Stopped to tarry on your way home, did you?” Jamie said, his voice harsh and accusing. “’Tis well you did, so I found you ’afore you left MacKinnion land.”
“Well for whom?” Sheena dared to ask.
Jamie’s frown deepened, his eyes turning almost green, smoldering dangerously. “You didna heed my warning, and now you dare to be impudent, as well?”
“Jamie, I—”
“You mock me, you defy me, and you think nothing will come of it?” he raged, his anger robbing him of control.
“Jamie!”
“Nay!”
He moved his horse closer and caught her arm, pulling her. He wanted to shake her violently, but he only held her, his fingers biting. Seeing her wince didn’t lessen his anger or make him feel better.
“You misused the feeling I have for you, Sheena. I am lenient with you, so you’re thinking you can do as you please,” he shouted, “You’re my wife! There’s no excuse that will appease me this time!”
Sheena yanked her arm away. Her chin went up stubbornly. “Then I’ll no’ give one!” she shouted back.
She would have liked to explain, was the truth. She would have told him she’d changed her mind. She had tried to tell him, but his tirade had made it impossible. Now she refused to try. She had her pride.
“I’ll no’ be taken back!” she said adamantly. “I’ll no’ live with such an arrogant, churlish knave!”
Jamie glowered at her for an eternity, his fists clenching. An ominous gleam entered his eyes, and some of the steam went out of her then. He was fighting for control and she knew it.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, too quiet. “I’m no’ here to bring you back, Sheena.”
Confusion took over. “I dinna ken.”
“You’re my wife—that hasna changed. But I’ll no’ be shamed by you again. You’ve abused me for the last time, Sheena. I dinna want you back.” His mouth was a grim line. “That should make you happy. I certainly have failed to make you happy, Lord knows.”
She felt a tightness in her chest, and her vision blurred. “You…you’re letting me leave?” she said softly, close to choking on the words.
“Nay, Sheena.” His voice was overly tight, as if it was all he could do to keep it under control.
“I forbid that. You’re a MacKinnion now, and you’ll live on MacKinnion land.
I’ll have a dwelling built for you. You’ll live there—alone, as is your wish.
You can tend the land or no’. Whichever, I’ll see you dinna starve. ”
She was incredulous. “Jamie, you canna mean this.”
“I didna think I would ever say such a thing. But you’ve said from the beginning that you wanted naught to do with me. Finally, I believe you.”
Sheena fought to keep back both tears and fury. How could he?
“You keep me as wife, but mean to deny me what that entails?” she stormed. “You think you can?”
“I know I can.”
“I refuse! You canna treat me that way!” she cried. “I’ll be going back to my father.”
“You’ll stay!” he thundered. “I’ll give you this warning just once. You go home to your father, and I’ll tear his tower down piece by piece to find you. Heed me, Sheena MacKinnion, for I’m through with threats!”
Jamie had said all he was going to. He grabbed her horse’s reins and rode off at a furious pace, her mare galloping along behind. The yellow-gold of Jamie’s hair and the green and gold of his plaid became a blur as Sheena’s tears came.
“Och, now, hinny, there’s nae need for that.” Jannet put her arm around Sheena and led her back inside their home. “Sir Jamie will be relenting, yer’ll see. He’s a temper is all, just like the auld laird, his father. But it willna last.”
“Last!” Sheena echoed. “He’s been in a temper since the day I met him.”
“And has there been a reason for that?” Jannet asked wisely. Seeing the two of them fight with so much emotion had told her what she’d suspected was true.
Sheena didn’t answer. She was devastated. She tried to tell herself that the ache she felt was only because of Jamie’s anger, and because she wanted to go home and he was stopping her. But that wasn’t the whole truth, and she knew it.
As Jannet tried to soothe her, insisting Sheena stay with them until Jamie came to his senses, all she could think of was that Jamie had left her, had ridden off and left her. And she didn’t even know what had happened in Angusshire between the clans.