Page 20 of Highlander’s Escaped Prisoner (Highlands’ Partners in Crime #7)
N essa packed a bag of food to take to Bryce the next morning, judging that he would be famished.
As he had once told her: “There is a lot of me to fill!” Fortunately, she was able to walk to her destination this time and was greeted by a ravenously hungry Bryce whose stomach was growling like an angry dog.
“I brought you some f—” she began, but Bryce had grabbed the bag out of her hand and was busy devouring a bannock before Nessa had a chance to finish her sentence. She giggled as she watched him, thinking how good it was to see a man savoring his food.
Eventually, he was satisfied and put down the earthenware goblet that had contained his ale, then wiped his lips. “I used to dream of food like that while I was in jail,” he sighed.
“You will not go back there,” Nessa told him. “We are on the trail of the killers. I have almost convinced my father that you are not guilty...almost.”
He stared at her speechlessly for a moment. “Nessa, you are a wonder!” he cried. “How did you do it?”
“Please do not become too excited,” she begged.
“I told him what Andrew said. He was angry that he had been accused of his brother’s murder, and it made him even more determined to find the real killer.
But Bryce...” She took his face in her hands and looked deeply into his brownish-green eyes.
“Even if the verdict does go against you, I will not let you be imprisoned again. I have some money and some friends in Glasgow. We can run away together.”
He laughed and ran his fingers through her hair. “So passionate,” he murmured. “I do not think it will come to that, my Nessa.”
“When did I become your Nessa, Bryce?” she asked, smiling fondly at him.
“Since the moment I fell in love with you,” he replied huskily. “I think it was the first moment I saw you.”
Nessa was speechless for a moment, then she threw herself on him, and they lay on the grass before he rolled her over, half-lying on top of her.
His hands were everywhere—her breasts, her tummy, shoulders, and thighs, and he followed every touch of his finger with his lips, covering her with kisses.
However, when he found himself touching her inner thigh, he drew back.
“This is not the time or place, Nessa,” he said hoarsely.
Nessa was dazed with desire, but she nodded in agreement. However, when he drew away from her, she said, “I love you too, Bryce.” Her voice was tender, her eyes shining.
“Then marry me,” he said lovingly. “If they find me not guilty. We could be so happy, Nessa.”
“Of course I will, Bryce,” she answered, smiling happily. “I was only waiting for you to ask.”
“Thank God!” he sighed with relief, then something occurred to him. “But Nessa, if they find me guilty, you will be marrying a wanted man. Perhaps it is better to leave such a big decision ’til we can be certain of what will happen.” His eyes were anxious.
“No.” Nessa shook her head. “I do not want to lose you, whatever happens, Bryce. We belong together.”
“What about Logan?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
Nessa’s blue-gray eyes suddenly became stormy. “What about him?” she asked, shrugging. “Let him go to the devil. They are kindred spirits!”
Nessa began to walk back to the castle, smiling as she went.
It was a cloudy day, but as she looked up to the sky, she could only see blue.
The grass was greener, the heather pinker, and the gorse was a blazing lemon yellow.
It was all in her mind, of course, but she felt as though she might burst with joy as she made her way home.
Surely everyone would be able to see it and recognize a woman in love?
Nessa sighed and tried to drag herself back to reality, but reality reached her first in the shape of Logan, who stood in front of her as she walked over the bridge and into the castle, blocking her way.
At once, Nessa’s euphoria evaporated, but she glanced around at the guards all around her and was reassured that she was in no danger.
“Nessa!” Logan smiled at her and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “I am sorry about our argument earlier. Please forgive me. May we have a talk?”
“I was also to blame,” Nessa confessed, although she was not being truthful.
She did not consider herself culpable at all.
Logan had received exactly what he deserved.
However, she needed to pacify him before she told him that their wedding was off.
“I should not have struck you.” She glanced at the bruise on his jaw, only just stopping herself from laughing.
Logan, however, laughed ruefully, his fingertips running over the ugly purple lump. “I must admit, Nessa, that for a delicate-looking lady like yourself, you pack quite a punch!”
They smiled at each other for a moment before Nessa turned and began to head for the parlor.
Her heart was beating nineteen to the dozen as she rehearsed what she was going to say to him: Logan, I need to tell you that the wedding is off.
Logan, I am afraid I cannot marry you. Logan, I am sorry, but I wish to end our betrothal. ..
Her thoughts proceeded no further before a large hand clamped firmly over her mouth, and another twisted her arm painfully up between her shoulder blades.
She tried to scream, but the sound was too muffled for anyone to hear it, and no matter how much she struggled, she could not free herself from the strangling embrace of her captor.
“Now listen to me, Mistress Nessa Guthrie,” Logan hissed into her ear.
“You are mine. You will always be mine, no matter what your father and Bryce Blair do or say. You are coming with me to celebrate our love, and when I have made you mine, do you think your laird-in-waiting will want you anymore? I think not.” He laughed mirthlessly.
“Lairds like their brides spotless, Nessa, and although Bryce Blair is a snake, I do not think he will feel any differently.”
He pushed her in front of him down the passages toward their trysting place. It was too far away from the main part of the castle for Nessa to be heard even if she screamed as loudly as she could, which was why they had chosen it in the first place, and Logan knew it.
Her mind raced as Logan shoved her through the door and onto the bed.
Now she had to remember every lesson she had ever been taught about defending herself, and she tensed in anticipation of his attack, but it never came.
Nessa lay sprawled on the bed, her eyes blazing with anger as she glared up at Logan.
“I warn you, Logan, yesterday’s punch will be like a caress if you touch me!” she growled. Although she knew that she was no match for him in physical strength, she was well-trained in self-defense of all kinds.
“Do not worry, my Nessa,” he laughed as he took out a piece of thick silk ribbon from his pocket.
“I will not touch you now since I must be about my duties, but I will be back tonight, so you will have the rest of the day to look forward to the delights of our lovemaking. But I know what a rebellious spirit you have, my dear, so just to make sure that you stay where I want you, you will need a little restraint.” He stepped forward to tie her hands.
“Never!” Nessa spat. “I will kill myself before I submit to you.”
“Submit?” Logan laughed. “I do not want you to submit, my Nessa. I want you to fight! I enjoy a little, shall we say...resistance?” His eyes had an evil glint in them as he smiled at her, and Nessa shivered. Now she was truly terrified.
He pulled her arms behind her back and tied the silken cords tightly.
“You see how merciful I am?” he asked, with a mocking laugh.
“I could have brought coarse twine to bind you with, but I thought of how tender your lovely flesh is. I will leave you to scream if you wish, but you know how far away we are away from everyone else here, so do not waste your breath.” Having tied her feet, Logan stood up to admire his handiwork and smiled in satisfaction.
“’Til tonight, my Nessa,” he said smugly.
“I am not your anything!” Nessa growled.
“Oh, but you will be,” Logan said silkily, as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Bryce watched tensely as the tall figure of Laird Roy Guthrie strode toward him, accompanied by six well-armed guards.
Nessa had left him a sword, but he had not used one for years, and he had no hope of defending himself against seven soldiers.
Nevertheless, he stood up straight and planted his feet wide apart, then held his weapon in front of him, ready to fight to the death if need be.
It was better than going back to jail. However, there was no need.
“Laird Guthrie the Younger,” Roy called as he approached Bryce, sheathing his sword. “Put your weapon away; I mean you no harm. My guards are for the protection of both of us. As you know, there are bandits hereabouts.”
Bryce hesitated for a moment, then laid his sword down on the grass.
He was still tense, however, and his heart was racing.
“M’Laird.” He bowed but did not approach Roy, who advanced and came to stand a few paces in front of him.
The two men sized each other up for a moment like two rutting stags, then both relaxed as Roy Guthrie offered Bryce his hand, which he took.
“I have not come to argue or to recapture you,” Roy told him. “Nessa has put forward a very convincing case for your innocence, and I am inclined to believe her. You have been most unjustly treated, Bryce Blair.”
“Thank you, M’Laird,” Bryce answered, and a wave of relief swept over him. “Nessa has been very good to me.” Again, he omitted the fact that she had tied him to a tree! “But I have no way to prove my innocence. All I can do is give my word, and that seems to be worthless.”
He looked so dejected that Roy patted his shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile. Bryce Blair had impressed him, even though he had not believed in his innocence at first.
Bryce smiled faintly at the other man, still not knowing whether Roy was convinced or not. He said: “Nessa tells me that you are having a meeting with my family and yours to discuss the whole situation.”
“Yes, we are,” Roy replied. “We want to resolve the border dispute once and for all. My brother’s death was the final straw, and I have resolved that there will be no more killings.” He sounded grimly determined.
“May I attend the meeting?” Bryce asked hopefully. “As the person who has suffered most from this situation, I feel it is my right.”
Roy looked at him doubtfully for a moment. “I must speak to your father,” he replied. “I will be back in a few hours, and I will leave a guard with you.”
“Why do you hesitate?” Bryce asked, frowning. “Surely I have the right to be there?”
However, he was talking to empty air since Roy was already striding away.