Page 26 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance (Highland Revenge Trilogy #3)

“ R yland.” Esme whispered, shocked that her suspicions had been accurate.

“I knew you’d be a problem.” Mumbling, he pulled her up on her feet. “Far more of a problem than I ever imagined.”

“I don’t understand,” Esme said relieved, though only briefly, not sure what Ryland intended to do with her since he considered her a problem.

“I have no time to explain it to you right now. You’re not hurt, are you?” He took hold of her hand and started moving her along.

“Nay,” she said, shaking her head. “But those men who stepped out of the woods?—”

“Are faithful to Ryland,” he said.

“You. You’re Ryland,” Esme said, needing to say it aloud, needing to hear him admit it.

He brought them to an abrupt halt and yanked her against him, keeping her locked against his chest. “I need to remain Torrance for now. I cannot have you mistakenly refer to me any other way. And, at the moment, I have no time to explain it all to you.”

Her racing heart slowed, seeing concern rather than anger in his eyes. “I need to know one thing.”

His concern deepened and he spoke as if he had stepped into her mind and knew what she was thinking. “Aye, Torrance, is dead.”

Relief turned her legs weak, and his arm tightened around her. Tears tickled at her eyes, not out of sadness but joy that she was free and would no longer live in fear… unless.

She looked up at Ryland.

Confusion showed in his eyes. “You shed tears for him?”

“Nay, I shed tears of relief that I am free of him, but tell me, what fate awaits me with you?”

Ryland wished he had more time to talk with her, explain what he could, ease her worries, and do what he wanted to do most…

kiss her. He really had to quell his desire for her.

Bloody hell. He knew it was much more than that.

He loved her with all his heart and if he wasn’t careful it would get in the way of the plan.

“That has yet to be decided, but you have my word that no harm will come to you. You are safe with me,” he assured her. “Now, we must go. We can talk more when it is safe to talk.”

Ryland led Esme through the woods, his grip on her hand firm and his pace quick, as if time itself were nipping at his heels.

Esme noticed that he didn’t return to the spot where the men had surprised them but instead, he took her near the bend of a shallow stream, were a handful of warriors were gathered.

These were the men Ryland had spoken of—men loyal to him, not Torrance. Relief was short-lived. Strangers, no matter whose name they answered to, were still strangers.

A lean, tall, though not as tall as Ryland, warrior stepped forward at the sight of him.

“Finally,” he breathed, with relief. “I was beginning to worry that you were dead since we haven’t heard from you after receiving your first cryptic message.”

“I’m a difficult man to kill, Nug,” Ryland said with a grin.

Nug closed the distance between them and pulled Ryland into a fierce embrace, slapping his back as if proving to himself that he was real.

“Thank the Lord,” Nug said, stepping back after giving Ryland’s arm a firm squeeze. “You’ve no idea what it’s been like. Not knowing, worrying, praying.”

“I had no choice. The opportunity presented itself and I could not turn away from it,” Ryland said. “I thank you for trusting me and keeping my silence.”

“That was never in question. Need I remind you that we have been friends since we were young, Ryland? If you cannot trust me, who could you trust?” Nug said, then his gaze swept over to Esme. “I recall seeing you on a visit to Clan Glencairn. You are Torrance’s wife.”

The men behind Nug were all watching her now, silent, curious, waiting for her response.

“Widow. I am Torrance’s widow,” she corrected, surprising herself.

The silence that followed made her question her choice of words.

Then Nug arched a brow at Ryland. “Is it true? Torrance is dead?”

“Aye,” Ryland said with a nod. “I watched him take his last breath, though I had no time to bury him.”

“Then how can you be sure he’s dead,” Nug argued. “Evil is hard to kill.”

“I’m no fool, Nug. I went back when time allowed,” Ryland said. “The forest animals left enough trace of him for me to be sure.”

Before Ryland could respond, hoofbeats sounded nearby. Esme’s head snapped toward the sound, unease stirring in her again.

Two riders emerged from the dense forest, one barely big enough to ride the horse, and the other large and formidable.

“Dru,” Ryland said under his breath, and sure enough, the petite, young woman flung herself off her horse the moment it halted. Her red, wind-tossed hair was as fiery as her nature.

“I knew it!” Dru marched straight up to Ryland and jabbed a finger at his chest. “You lied to me. I knew something wasn’t right about Torrance. He would have never allowed Knox to wed me, not unless he meant to have Knox beheaded the next day!”

Knox dismounted with far more restraint, his gaze sweeping the area, then settling on Esme. He gave a polite nod as he came to a stop near his wife.

“You’re welcome,” Ryland said.

Dru softened. “I do owe you for recognizing and declaring Knox and my marriage valid. But tell me… was there any truth in what you said about my father telling Torrance that he was to find me a good husband, a safe one? Or was it an excuse you used to confirm my marriage?” She shook her finger at him. “And I will have the truth.”

“Are you sure of that, Dru?” Ryland asked with a quick glance at Knox.

“Aye, I’m sure,” Dru said, and Knox stepped close behind her.

“Your father cared only that your marriage benefitted the clan, and Torrance said the same to me.”

Dru tried not to show her disappointment, but Knox felt it and slipped his arm around her waist, and she leaned back against him.

“That’s not true,” Esme said to everyone’s surprise.

“I heard Torrance’s father make his son promise to find a good man to be your husband.

A man who would treat you well. He didn’t want to fail you the way he failed your mother.

Impending death has a way of making people realize their mistakes and giving them a chance to make amends.

Your father wanted to see you kept safe.

Torrance did not care about you or the promise he made to his father. ”

Dur smiled and squeezed her husband’s arm coiled around her waist. “I am grateful to you for telling me that.”

“My condolences you got stuck with her, Knox,” Nug said with a laugh.

Dru chuckled. “Funny, Nug, but at least I have someone who loves me.” She stretched her neck to gaze about. “Where’s the woman who loves you?” She chuckled. “I forgot… she only exists in your dreams.”

The men around them laughed.

One called out, “She’s right about that.”

“There are plenty women who favor me,” Nug argued.

“So, you dream often then,” another called out.

Esme watched the humorous exchange, uncertain what to make of it all.

These were people Ryland clearly trusted.

People who spoke to him with ease, without fear.

It was jarring, after endlessly being watched, judged, and commanded since marrying Torrance.

They laughed and teased, as if no danger lingered nearby, no past haunted them.

Yet she couldn't shake the ache in her stomach. These people were strangers to her. Loyal to Ryland… but what did that mean for her?

Ryland stepped back beside her, sensing her unease. His hand gently brushed her arm. “Trust me. You are safe with me, with them.”

Trust. Safe. There had been moments she had felt safe with him, and she wanted to believe that she could continue to do so.

But trust was another matter. She hadn’t trusted her husband, and she truly didn’t know if she could trust Ryland.

And the reason for that? Why had he coupled with her when he wasn’t her husband?

“You’re Torrance’s wife?” Dru called out to her.

“Widow,” Esme corrected.

“I am happy for you. You’ve suffered worse than most. Torrance was a cruel bastard. Good riddance to him.”

Esme was caught off guard by her blunt compassion, but managed to say, “Thank you. It is a relief.”

Nug grew impatient. “It’s time we?—"

“Talk,” Ryland finished, “And for you all to return home before you’re spotted and my identity revealed.

But we need a safer place where we can be sure no eyes can see us or ears can hear us.

And we have little time. I have no doubt at least one of Torrance’s warriors will make it to Clan Glencairn.

Brack will waste no time in coming to find me. ”

“Unlike others,” Dru said with a grin at Nug. “I figured we might need a safe place to meet, and for Ryland to stay if necessary, so I found one.”

“No clan around here can be completely trusted,” Nug said. “Nor abbey as well, since Torrance pays a good yearly stipend to many.”

“And you think I don’t know that, Nug?” Dru asked, wrinkling her nose at him.

“I forget you know everything,” Nug shot back.

Dru grinned. “Finally, you admit it.”

Nug glared at her. “One of these days?—”

“You will learn not to challenge her,” Knox said and glanced at his wife. “Tell them where we go.”

“There is an abandoned keep not far from here,” Dru said.

“Purdom Keep?” Nug asked anxiously and nervous whispers began to spread.

“Aye, Purdom Keep, a place where no one will venture,” Dru said.

“And for a good reason,” Nug argued. “It’s haunted.”

They had barely set a good pace, everyone dividing to meet at Purdom Keep avoiding any chance of them being seen together, when Esme spoke.

“Was this meeting with your friends planned?”

“Aye, though it didn’t go as expected. I sent a cryptic message to someone who could decipher it and who could make sure Knox and Dru also got the message.

I intended to see you safe at Clan Stott and then sneak away to meet with them.

I knew once my friends learned of the betrayal of Torrance’s warriors that they would know enough to alter the plan.

They knew I would do my best to be in this area near the specified time so all they had to do was wait. ”