Page 48 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

A rran watched his men flee like frightened rabbits. He was left with no choice but to face the mighty Royce Campbell. He needed to keep his wits and think quickly. There had to be a way to make the warrior more vulnerable, giving him a better chance at defeating him.

Royce’s voice thundered with demand. “Where is Brianna?”

It was a quick decision for Arran, and one that could go in his favor or against him, but he made it with hopes that it would work to his advantage. “Brianna birthed your babe early this morning. She did not survive; the child barely clings to life. They lie together in the cottage.”

Royce stood silent, trying to comprehend the news.

Arran hoped his first thought would be to go to Brianna and the child. Then he could easily slip away before Royce’s men could reach him. He took a step aside as if offering Royce entrance to the cottage.

Fury raged in Royce’s eyes and he threw back his head and let out a tremendous roar that had the animals scurrying in the woods, the birds taking flight, and Ian and the men shivering.

Arran feared he misjudged the situation and attempted to convince Royce to go to her. “She called for you repeatedly, and even now I know she would wish you by her side. She loved you more than she could ever love me. And she begged that you see the child safe.”

His words worked the opposite of what he had hoped.

Royce grew enraged and drew his sword.

Arran held up his hands. “This will solve nothing.”

“A coward to the end, Arran?” Royce asked with a calm fury. “You think to take the woman I love from me and cause her death, and there will be no consequences? You are not only a coward, you are a fool.”

Arran did not care for this remark. “Who is the fool? Am I not the one who took her from the great Royce Campbell?”

Royce advanced on him slowly. “And are you not the one who is responsible for her death?”

Arran knew then there was no escaping him. He would have to fight, but he did not have to fight fair. He drew his sword. “You were the one who followed the wrong trail, so are you not the one responsible for her death? Did you not promise to keep her safe—and did you not fail her?”

His accusation pierced Royce’s heart, and he knew that when all was done, he would suffer as he had never suffered before, but right now at this moment he would make Arran suffer for all he had done to Brianna and for robbing him of her.

“I am about to rectify that,” Royce said and swung his sword.

Arran raised his sword to deflect the blow but was driven to the hard ground from the force of the powerful strike. The idea that he should be on the ground beneath any man infuriated him, and he lashed out, swinging his leg to catch Royce with a heavy blow to his knees.

Royce stumbled but righted himself quickly enough, giving Arran time to lurch to his feet and hold his weapon firmly in hand.

Metal clashed with metal, fists flew, blood poured, and the two men continued fighting. Arran was confident with his swordsmanship, though his strength was nowhere near equal to Royce’s. But he had no wish to die and no intentions of dying.

Royce gave thought to nothing but striking out at Arran, blow after blow after blow, and he was prepared for anything, not trusting Arran to fight fairly. Therefore, he was not surprised when in desperation Arran pulled a knife from his boot and lunged at his chest.

Royce grabbed for his hand, twisted the knife away from him, the end hitting him hard in the nose, and tossed it to the side. “You fight like a coward.”

“I fight wisely,” Arran said, wiping away the blood that spilled from his nose.

Royce raised his sword and edged him on with a wave of his hand. “Come on, then, and fight me like a man.”

Royce’s men and Ian had moved in closer and watched the fight with interest. Arran knew that he could not win; his only chance was to escape. He had grown tired, and Royce looked enraged with revenge, and that would provide him with the stamina to fight all day. He had to end this and quick.

Arran raised his sword and moved so that he was nearer to the woods and as their swords clashed, he maneuvered them closer and closer to the edge of the woods. His chance came when he fell to the ground, and Royce was about to lunge at his chest with his sword.

He grabbed a handful of dry dirt and threw it in Royce’s face, blinding him and giving himself enough time to attempt an escape. He ran straight for the woods with the speed of a frightened rabbit.

Royce cleared his eyes in seconds and followed him.

Arran was fast and Royce feared losing him. He stopped, raised his sword, and with two hands on the handle and all the force he could muster, he flung the sword at Arran.

Arran turned at that moment and with wide, horrified eyes, he watched the sword descend and pierce his chest. He fell on his back, hitting the hard ground and gasping for breath.

Royce reached him as his last breaths slipped away, and it was with a smile he said, “Brianna joins me.”

An agonizing roar echoed throughout the surrounding area, and Royce pulled his sword from Arran’s chest and rushed to the cottage. He stopped Ian from entering, handing him his sword.

“This is for me to do.”

Ian tensed. “My sister?”

Royce did not answer; he turned and entered the cottage alone.

The smell of blood stung his nostrils, and the scene in front of him tore at his heart.

How she must have suffered birthing the babe alone with no one to lend a helping hand, and here of all places.

Here, where they had shared so much love.

He tensed from the pain and desperately fought the tears that threatened. He would be strong—he had to be—if not for him, then for Brianna, for she had been strong.

He could tell she had worked hard giving birth and had fought to the very end. And he had not been there for her. The pain in his heart was like none he had ever felt, and he knew he would feel more before his time in the cottage was done.

He approached the bed, a sheet covering most of Brianna’s body.

She lay on her side in a protective huddle, and he could see why when he stood beside the bed.

A small bundle he first thought was a pillow lay beside her, her arm draped over it.

It was the babe wrapped in a blanket and lying there lifeless.

Brianna was pale and lifeless; not a move and not a sound.

A tear fell and he did not care. She had once told him that it was not a sign of weakness but strength to cry for the one you loved, and he loved Brianna like no other.

He leaned over, needing to touch her one more time, needing to feel her soft skin even if it would be cold to the touch. He needed very much to touch her again. He reached out and touched her face, and to his shock she stirred.

He was so startled he jumped back and with wide eyes watched as her eyes fluttered open slowly. He fell to his knees beside the bed, draping his arm over her arm that protected their child.

“Oh, Lord, Brianna, can you ever forgive me?”

It took a moment for her mind to clear and to recall recent events. She smiled when she thought of their daughter. She could not understand why Royce was upset. He had come to their rescue. She did not have to worry now, he had saved them and all would be well. So why was he upset?

At that moment the babe turned fussy and began to squirm and cry.

Royce was once again shocked senseless. He simply removed his arm and stared at the squirming little bundle that opened her mouth and let it be known that she wanted nourishment and she wanted it now.

Brianna smiled and laid a tender hand on Royce’s arm. “Your daughter Breda makes her wants known.”

“Daughter?” he asked, a smile spreading as he gazed at the squalling little girl. “She is beautiful like her mother.”

Relief suddenly ran over him, and he reached out to pull Brianna and his daughter into his arms. “Never again will I see either of you in harm’s way.”

Brianna gave Royce a slight shove so that she could settle the babe at her breast to feed.

“Let me help you,” Royce said, standing and holding out his hands, not knowing what to do but wanting to take care of them both.

“Sit,” she said with a gentle laugh.

“You need help.”

“Right now I need you beside me.” She patted the bed.

He sat and stared at the feeding babe and again felt the need to apologize. “I am so sorry that it took me so long to find you.”

“You came just in time. As soon as I rested I was going to attempt an escape to the woods, and there I intended to wait until you found us. I had no doubt you would find us.”

He shook his head, not believing what he heard. “You birthed a babe and planned to escape shortly afterward?”

“I had hoped to escape before the birth, but your daughter insisted on arriving early and upset my plans, so new plans were necessary.”

“You remained strong through this all.”

She reached for his hand. “I remained strong because of our love, and I knew our love would bring you to me as swiftly as possible. I waited patiently and prepared patiently. I love you, Royce Campbell, and I always will. And I thank you with all my heart for giving me such a lovely little girl.”

She wiped at the single tear that fell from his eye. “That tear means more to me than any words, for now I know the depth of your love for me.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I love you, Brianna, and I am so very grateful for your strength and courage, for you saved our daughter’s life.”

She laughed. “I am reluctant to tell you the names I called her at the time I was birthing her.”

Royce grew concerned. “You had a difficult birth?”

She shook her head. “It was long and tiresome, and I swore several times that I would have no more children.”

“If that is what you wish.” He was anxious to please her and ease any worries.

“Nay, it is not. I wish for many brothers and sisters for our little one.”

Royce grinned. “That is a relief.”

They both laughed and the joyous sound echoed through the cottage.

The door creaked open slowly, and Ian peeked in.

Royce waved him in. “I forgot you waited outside.”

“I was worried—” Ian stopped when he saw the tiny babe at Brianna’s breast. He hurried over.

“A daughter,” Royce announced proudly. “I have a daughter.”

There were handshakes, hugs, and kisses, and Royce was soon cleaning up the cottage while Ian went off with a few men to hunt for the evening meal. He then tended to Brianna, and when she was fresh from her washing, he settled her and his daughter to rest on clean sheets and blankets.

The two females napped, and Royce sat watching them. It gave him pleasure knowing they were safe and he was here with them.

Ian shared the evening meal with them, and when it was done, Royce stepped outside with him for a moment.

“Does she know of Arran?” Ian asked.

“Nay, I have not told her yet.”

“She has not asked?”

“Nay, she has not.”

Ian placed a hand on his shoulder. “Tell her and be done with it.”

Royce nodded and entered the cottage. His daughter was sound asleep tucked in her mother’s arm, and Brianna looked about ready to fall asleep.

“Come join us,” she offered. “It will feel good to sleep in your arms again.”

He shed his clothes and joined her beneath the covers, wrapping his arm over both of them.

They cuddled and kissed and Brianna said, ‘Tell me, Royce, I need to know.”

He knew she spoke of Arran, and he told her the truth. “I took his life.”

She sighed. “Then it is done and over.”

He did not wish her to feel guilt or sorrow for a man who caused his own demise. Arran was where he deserved to be, and he would trouble no one ever again.

“For him, aye, but for us it just begins. Will you marry me, Brianna, and spend the rest of your days with me?”

He smiled. “The choice is yours. It has always been yours.”

Her smile bordered on a soft laugh. “You have always given me choices, now I give you one. Aye, Royce, I wish to marry you. Do you wish to marry me?”

He wrinkled his brow. “I need to think about that.”

She poked him in the ribs.

He laughed. “Aye, I wish to marry you, and I wish for you to love me forever.”

She kissed his lips softly. “Your wish is granted.”