Page 53 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
For a long moment, Keane sat there and gazed at her as she slept. Now awake, and feeling more like himself, his mind began considering what had actually occurred. But it didn’t make any sense.
“I dinnae understand,” Keane breathed. “She had a chance tae leave. Had she let them kill me, she would have been free.”
“Aye,” Alisdair sighed, “that thought has passed through me mind on several occasions over the last few days. After what we’ve put her through, it still confuses me why she didnae tak’the opportunity tae escape. With so few men, they werenae there tae battle. It was clearly a rescue mission.”
Elsie had saved him. There was no doubt about that. The wound he had sustained had weakened him considerably. Had she not intervened, that soldier would have overpowered him. She had had a choice, and instead of freedom, she had chosen to save his life. That consideration shook him to the core.
“Maybe she sees something in ye that ye dinnae,” Alisdair said, cocking an eyebrow. “The man I’ve kent all me life.”
Keane heaved a sigh as he thought about Alisdair’s words. Between his friend’s gentle pressing, and what Elsie had done for him, he found himself facing the darkness that had taken hold of him since his father’s death.
“I have been a fool, Alisdair,” he said, dropping his chin to his chest. “A stupid, angry fool. All the while, I have kent that me actions wouldnae be what me faither would want fer me. If he were still here, he would have told me tae put an end tae it all but I chose tae ignore those thoughts. Instead, I have let this darkness infect me very soul.”
“It isnae too late, Keane,” Alisdair said, with not an ounce of judgement in his tone.
“I can hardly undae what I have done,” Keane hissed, now feeling angry at himself.
Alisdair shrugged. “Perhaps, but there are other ways tae mak’ this right.”
“How?” Keane whispered. Elsie had been through enough. He did not want to wake her from her needed rest.
Alisdair considered that question for a moment, his eyes lowered in contemplation. After a minute, he looked at Keane. “Ye could speak tae Elsie. Ask her if she wants tae return tae her family. Annul the marriage if that is her desire.”
Keane felt surprised by his own reaction, for he found himself shaking his head in disagreement. While Alisdair’s suggestion was fair and right, Keane realized that he didn’t want to give her the option.
“I dinnae want her tae leave,” he blurted. “I ken me quest fer revenge has come at a high cost, but…”
He could feel the walls he had built around himself beginning to crack as the words tumbled from his lips.
“But, ye have feelings fer her,” Alisdair said, finishing his sentence.
He knew it, but admitting it out loud was a different matter.
Alisdair smiled and shook his head. “Ye’re going tae have tae be honest with yersel’ at some point, me friend. Ye dinnae have tae admit it tae me, but ye need tae admit it tae yersel’.”
Yes. He was. But not right now.
Pushing down what he knew to be true, he said, “Anymore word o’ Gunn’s men? I can only imagine the men we fought we’re nae here alone.”
Alisdair hitched his eyebrows, taken off guard with the sudden subject change. But he went along with it, and shook his head. “Nae one else has been spotted since. I’ve had extra scouts roaming the area. But listen, there’ll be plenty o’ time fer ye tae worry about all that when ye’re back on yer feet. Fer now, I just need ye tae heal.”
It was an hour or so later when Farlan arrived, and with all the conversation, Elsie stirred from her chair.
“I’ve told ye a hundred times,” the old man said, as she stretched and yawned. “Ye need tae go and get some sleep.”
Upon seeing Keane sitting up, she jumped from the chair and approached the bed. “Ye’re awake,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement. “How dae ye feel?”
“Like I’ve been stabbed.” He smirked at her and she tutted. “I’m fine, Elsie. Farlan is right. Ye’ve nay more need tae worry. Ye should go and get some rest.”
“I’ll leave this cottage only when ye dae,” she replied, her eyes set on his.
“Told ye,” Alisdair said. “Stubborn.”
“Would ye prefer I be stubborn, or nae care at all?” she countered.
The three men shared glances, but none of them had an answer for that. In one simple sentence, the lass has silenced them all.
“Exactly,” she said with a little nod of her head, satisfied that her point had been proven.
