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“When we started sleepin’ together, and I wanted ye tae meet me family, ye point blank refused. Ye made it clear our relationship was just a bit of fun, nay strings attached. We were never gonnae be anythin’ serious as far as ye were concerned.” He watched as tears welled in her eyes. She sniffed them back and set her jaw as she put her plate aside and clasped her hands in her lap.

“I had good reason fer doin’ that, Arne,” she tried to explain, her voice wavering with suppressed emotion. “I was afraid that if I let things get too serious between us, so that we became a proper couple, and ye introduced me tae yer family as yer woman, I’d be puttin’ ye all in danger.”

“I suppose that was because of this mysterious threat from yer past ye keep on claimin’ is always chasin’ ye, was it? Nae because ye did nae really care much fer me,” he said, a scornful edge to his voice.

She visibly bristled. “Aye, that’s exactly why. And if I had tae dae the same thing again, I wouldbecauseI cared fer ye. Whatever ye think of me, I did it tae protect ye and those dear tae ye from harm.”

“But it all changed when ye fell with child, eh? Then, ye wanted tae be with me and be a part of me family, me bein’ the laird’s braither and all,” he responded bitterly.

She hung her head and was silent for a few moments. Then, she looked at him levelly and said, “Aye, after that it was different. I wanted it tae be different. I wanted tae make sure our bairn had the happiest upbringin’ it could have, with its Ma and Da givin’ it all the love in the world, and a good family around it.

“It was foolish of me, but I was so happy, and I wanted that new life so much, I tried tae put me past behind me and tae forget the threat always hangin’ over me. I wanted tae believe everythin’ would be all right.”

Arne sensed the passion in her words, but he still was unsure that she could be trusted not to be lying to him again. “I realize now why ye never went far from the village. It was because ye were on the run, was it nae?” he asked.

She nodded; her eyes sad. “Aye.”

“Why will ye nae tell me who it is ye’re running from?” he demanded in frustration.

She sighed heavily. “I’ve told ye, I cannae tell ye because?—”

“’Tis too dangerous, of course,” he filled in sarcastically.

“Aye. And I’ll dae naethin’ that’ll would put ye and Thorsten at risk.”

Torn between wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt and forcing the truth out of her, he looked for a way to give her some sort of ultimatum.

And I ken exactly how tae dae it.

“How about a game of chess right now? Let’s play like we used tae, eh? It’ll be just like old times.”

She looked taken aback, but then she nodded. “Aye, all right.”

“But this time, I suggest we have a little wager on the outcome,” he said,

watching her face intently. He was satisfied she had no inkling of what he was about to propose.

“What sort of a wager?” she asked, giving him a dubious look.

“Well, we’ll play, and whoever wins can have one wish. So, what d’ye wish fer, Raven?”

“That’s easy—tae see Thorsten, of course.”

It was exactly what he had expected her to say. “All right. If ye win, ye can

see him.” She squeezed her hands together like a happy child, and her eyes lit up.

“Thank ye, Arne. And what will yer wish be if ye win?” she asked, all

innocence.

“Me wish is—that ye’ll leave Harris at once and never come back.”

He might as well have struck her. The color drained from her face, and she

stared at him, shock and sorrow mingling in her eyes.

“Are ye serious?” she finally asked, her voice low.