Page 58 of Love Me Forever

She stopped and glared at him, ready to battle, when suddenly she changed her mind. “You truly cannot bear to see me suffer, can you?”

“I would suffer all your pain if I could.”

She stepped forward to slip her arms around his waist and lay her head to his chest. “I am so blessed to have you love me.”

His arms circled her, making certain most of her weight rested against him. “You may not feel that way in a few years. You may grow tired of me.”

“Never,” she said with conviction. “I will take joy in you waking by my side each morning and great pleasure in falling asleep in your arms every night.”

“I will remind you of these words one day.”

“You will not need to. I will cherish our time together and look forward to every moment I spend with you.”

He lifted her chin with a gentle finger so that their eyes could meet. “It is I who am blessed to have you.”

She smiled. “We will do well together. I am sure of it.”

“Aye, we will, for I am sure as well.”

They kissed, lingering for several moments, and then walked down the path and off into the woods, where they kissed and touched and wished they were back at the cottage.

After Royce was certain that she was feeling better, they returned to the horses.

Blair suggested that they could camp for the night if Brianna did not feel up to continuing the journey.

Brianna insisted that she wished to arrive home this evening, that she was anxious to see her family and have them meet Royce.

Blair nodded, looked to Royce, and ordered his men to mount their horses.

Several hours later, as dusk covered the land, they arrived at the clan Cameron keep.

As the horses approached the village surrounding the keep, Royce whispered in her ear, “Remember.”

CHAPTER17

The villagers called out greetings as the men entered, but they grew silent when their eyes fell on Royce. He was a stranger scarred by battle and owed respect. She had thought they would understand and be more accepting of him. They were not. Their stares were blatant and their whispers hushed. She felt a sad disappointment for him and herself.

Her brother would be different, Brianna was certain of that. He would greet Royce with the respect due a battle-scarred warrior.

The keep was of impressive size, though not overly large. It was well crafted and situated wisely for battle and protection. It loomed dark in the gathering gloom of night, though two huge torches mounted on either side of the large wooden doors lit the entrance.

Blair had ordered the men to return to their families before they reached the keep. Brianna was grateful, for then she would have the privacy of reuniting with her family and introducing Royce without anyone about. There would be time for all to learn of her impending marriage soon enough.

Royce helped her to dismount and assisted her up the few stone steps, Blair at her other side. The two men exchanged knowing glances before entering, but Brianna was too excited to notice.

“Ian!” she shouted upon entering the great hall and seeing her brother standing near the dais. She ran right into his arms.

He was a handsome man of formidable size and possessed a charm that empowered him. His reddish brown hair fell past his shoulders and his eyes were sometimes blue and sometimes green depending on his emotions. He stood several inches over six feet and was a skillful warrior and leader, and Brianna was proud of him.

He hugged her fiercely to him. “Thank the good Lord, I thought you were dead.”

She hugged him back, tears glistening in her eyes.

There was only the two of them, their mother and father having passed on.

“I am too stubborn,” she announced, kissing his cheek.

“Determined,” a familiar voice corrected.