Page 82 of Healing the Highland Sinner
“Are ye all right?” she asked.
“I’ll live,” he replied. “Thanks tae ye.”
Her cheeks flushed and she looked away for a moment, her heart swelling ten sizes too big for her chest as she realized it was over. She had saved the man she loved, and she was out from beneath Sinclair’s thumb. Forever.
“’Tis really over,” she whispered.
“Almost,” he replied. “We still need tae get out of here. And we need tae dae it quickly because it smells like this place is on fire.”
“Who attacked?” she asked.
A crooked grin touched his lips. “I’m goin’ tae put me money on Ciar. The man never daes follow orders all that well.”
She hadn’t considered the possibility that Ciar might have disobeyed her and rallied Laird Gunn and his men to his side to launch an attack on Sinclair’s stronghold. But it made sense.
“Come. We must be away,” Ellair said.
“Aye.”
She moved to help him, but he waved her off. “Nay. Help yer braither instead. I’ll be all right on me own.”
She nodded and moved to help Blaine to his feet. As they both moved to the door that led to the outside, Rosalind looked back at the body of Hugh Sinclair. She had done that. She had killed him. She had personally ended his control over her, her brother, and the Highlands. His reign of terror and oppression was over.
As they stepped into the cool night air, the smell of smoke was strong and the flickering orange glow from the burning building reflected off the tress all around. As Ellair had thought, Ciar strode over to them, bloodied and bruised, but otherwise unharmed. He had a couple of men come take Blaine to tend to his wounds before he embraced Rosalind gently. He looked down at her for a moment, relief washing over his features, then he turned and gripped Ellair’s forearm in the traditional warrior’s grip.
“Ye did it,” Ciar said. “Ye saved her.”
Ellair shook his head. “Nay. She saved me.”
Her cheeks flushed and a smile filled with pride crossed her lips. Ciar stood between them, one of his massive hands on each of their shoulders, and a wide smile on his face. He nodded.
“It sounds like there’s a story here tae tell,” he said.
“Aye. I believe there is,” Ellair said. “But first I’d like tae stop bleedin’.”
“I think we can help with that,” Ciar said. “Laird Gunn brought some of his most capable surgeons along.”
“How did ye convince him tae come?” Rosalind asked.
“I simply didnae give the man a choice. He’s very agreeable, I must say.”
They listened to the sound of the battle around them waning as Gunn’s men cleaned up the remaining Sinclair loyalists. Rosalind turned and looked at the men beside her and once again, her heart swelled up and she was overcome by such a wave of emotion, she had trouble speaking. As if sensing a sudden shift in their moods, Ciar looked down at them, favoring Rosalind with a fond, almost fatherly, smile.
“I’m goin’ tae go get me last few licks in,” he said. “Excuse me.”
As the big man trotted off, Rosalind turned to Ellair. Something had shifted inside of her. The anger and resentment she’d held for his deception had melted away, replaced by the feeling of love and affection she’d had for him all along. The fire cast alternating shadow and light on the hard angles of his face, making him look equal parts tougher and softer in turn. It somehow made him even more handsome and Rosalind felt her breath catch in her throat.
And as she stared at him, a profound realization settled over her. She took a moment to think about what it meant. And as she turned it over in her mind again and again, she realized she knew and that she was not only fine with it, she wanted it with the whole of her being.
“I’m done with this life,” she said.
Ellair smiled. “Aye?”
She nodded. “Aye. There’s naethin’ more fer me in it now that I’ve got me braither back.”
“Sounds like a wise decision.”
“I hope so,” she replied. “I dinnae ken where I’ll find an occupation that pays as well or gives me as much freedom as me former one did.
