Page 130 of Love Me Forever

“Back to where it all started, back to where I upset his plans and back to where I humiliated him.”

Ian shook his head confused. “Where it started? Upset his plans? What are you talking about?” Then it dawned on Ian, and his eyes widened and his voice rose with his temper. “Arran was responsible for my sister’s accident?”

Royce nodded. “Aye, I believe he was, though the accident did not go according to plan. The men he hired probably caused a worse accident than planned, and when my presence became known they were frightened away.”

“You think he knew you were at the cottage?”

“I think he discovered our whereabouts the same time Blair did.”

“Then he waited after that, but why? Why not appear right away?”

“It is beneficial to wait at times, especially if Arran thought he could fatten his purse.”

“After hearing there was to be a possible wedding, he thought to get more coins from you than from me.”

“He was in no great hurry. The coins are what matter to him.”

“So, he is patient again and takes Brianna to birth her babe where the babe was conceived.”

“And memories born. I only hope those memories of our time together keep her strong in her resolve and courage. I hope she remembers all I told her when we were there; if she does, she will know that I come for her. She will remember how very much I love her.”

“So he returns to the scene of his crime.”

“Aye, he returns to the cottage, and we will follow.”

CHAPTER34

The days were warm, the sky a stunning blue, and all around her flowers bloomed brightly and Brianna planned. Her time was growing short, and if Royce did not arrive soon, she would have no choice but to leave and seek safety in the woods.

Day by day she had gathered the items necessary for her escape and items necessary to birth the babe. Her delivery time drew near, and the thought of giving birth alone frightened her, but the thought of Arran taking her child away from her frightened her more, so she had no choice but to accept and prepare to deliver her child.

She had hidden the gathered items in the woods each time she scavenged for branches and twigs to fashion baskets. One basket she had made would help her carry all her items, and she would soon stock it and leave it in the woods.

Surprisingly, Arran had not bothered her, at least physically. His remarks were meant to torment and hurt, and at one time his words would have inflicted damage. Now, however, they had no effect on her. She was much too busy to pay him attention, though it appeared that she did little but collect material needed to fashion a variety of baskets. While her hands created, her mind plotted, and she felt secure that while it appeared that she sat idly by she was actually busy planning.

“You sit here every day making those stupid baskets,” Arran said, walking up to where she sat on a blanket beneath a tree, her hands busy bending and shaping the branches into place.

“What else have I to do?” She shaded her eyes from the sun that glared from behind his shoulder and then slowly stretched her arms, moving her head from side to side, pretending to ease her neck muscles when actually she watched the men who guarded the surrounding area.

She had been able to determine when they switched places and what men were less vigilant than others.

“You were always lazy,” Arran said with disgust.

“Did you think I would change?” While rubbing the back of her neck, she watched two men busy talking and laughing and not paying attention to their duties. She had watched them before and decided the two would serve her well when she made her escape.

“Nay, I did not and that is why it irritated me so to think that I required you in exchange of coins.”

“I am curious, Arran.”

He sneered. “A strange concept for one who never questioned.”

She did not bother to remind him of the consequences she was made to suffer if she had dared to question him.

She simply wished to settle her curiosity. “Why did you wait so long to abduct me?”

“Your ignorance astounds me.” She looked at him as if he were the ignorant one.

“What does my ignorance have to do with it?”