Page 68 of Love Me Forever

Hushed whispers raced around the circle of men, and Royce cast a quick eye around. Silence fell instantly.

“When I am done.” It was a demand he issued her, and she intended no part of it.

“Then hear me well now. I will have none of your men guard me. I wish to be alone and alone I shall be.” She turned to go.

“You shall have a guard.”

Her temper flared. “You cannot dictate to me.”

“Aye, I can and I will. You are mine and what is mine I keep safe.”

Her temper snapped. “You are not my husband and have no right.”

“I will be your husband and have the right.”

By now most of the camp had gathered nearby, and from the corner of her eye she caught her brother and Blair approaching.

She was tired of being dictated to, she was tired of always having her brother come to her defense, and she would not have it any longer.

“Keep your men from me,” she said with a controlled anger and turned and walked away.

“Brianna,” Royce called out.

She would not pay heed to him; she continued walking.

“Brianna!” He grew louder.

Her brother and Blair remained on the side, watching, and she grew annoyed when she saw that they were smiling. She grew more annoyed when she heard heavy footsteps behind her and knew that Royce was fast approaching.

She decided she had had enough. She wanted solitude and she would have it. All she needed to do was reach the woods nearby. Once amongst the dense woods, she would lose him, for she had played there as a child and knew every inch of the forest.

She picked up her pace, testing her legs and finding that they were strong and even seemed eager for a run. She took off with a laugh and a sense of freedom that thrilled her.

Her hood dropped away from her head, her cloak flew out around her and her dark hair burst free of the combs that confined the heavy strands. With the crisp winter air stinging her cheeks and feeling so very much alive, she was overwhelmed by the sensation that she was flying as free as a bird.

She heard Royce call out to her again, though his footsteps sounded at a distance, and she was pleased that she could run faster than him. She was not far from the edge of the woods, and soon the dense trees would conceal her and she would be free to do as she pleased.

The pain struck her suddenly, and she went down to the ground hard and fast, her head hitting the hard earth and dazing her so that she could do naught but lay helpless.

She heard the rushed footsteps, the raised voices, but could not make sense of them. She knew only that until the pain subsided and her head stopped spinning, she could not move.

Royce reached her first, though Ian and Blair came up behind him in mere moments.

“Brianna, are you all right?” Royce asked, dropping to his knees beside her. His hands instantly moved beneath her to lift her.

She screamed louder than she intended, for the slightest movement aggravated the pain. “Do not touch me.”

“Did she break a bone?” Ian asked with concern.

“I do not know,” Royce answered, fearful of touching her and causing her further suffering.

“Nay,” she assured them, her voice lower, though filled with discomfort.

“What happened?” Royce asked, feeling much too helpless.

“A sharp pain—” She could say no more, for the pain ran down her leg once again when she made the slightest effort to move. A tear trickled from her eye, this pain being more intense than the first.

“She needs to be off this cold ground,” Ian said, upset at seeing his sister’s tears.