Page 25 of Highlander's Escaped Prisoner
Bryce had stopped breathing. He had stretched himself out against the wall and placed the mattress in front of himself. When he felt the pressure of Logan’s hand against it, he tensed, closed his eyes, and began to pray as he had never prayed in his life before.
“Do you know how foolish you look?” He heard a note of panic in Nessa’s voice and hoped that Logan could not hear it too. Once again, he imagined himself putting his hands around Logan Crosbie’s throat and squeezing until his eyes popped out.
“I can see nothing,” Logan grunted, sounding disappointed, as though he had looked forward to having Nessa disgraced.
Bryce’s stomach soured with disgust and anger. He could hear that the voice was only inches away, and he prepared himself, tensing his muscles to spring out to attack Crosbie. The swine was so close…
Abruptly, Logan pulled away and stood up. Bryce wanted to let out a huge sigh of relief, but he could do nothing, merely close his eyes and send up a silent prayer of thanks.
Logan stood up and gazed into Nessa’s eyes contritely. “I am sorry,” he said quietly, looking ashamed. “I should never have said or thought those things. My only excuse is that I am so much in love with you that I become jealous sometimes, and you deserve better. Forgive me, Nessa, please.”
“You must trust the one you marry,” she answered, glaring at him. “Forgive you? I think that might take a while, Logan. You obviously think I am lying.”
Logan frowned again. Although he had apologized, his face was still full of suspicion. “We must leave,” he said suddenly. “Your father is beside himself with worry about you.”
“I must eat first.” Nessa’s voice was firm. “You may wish to faint with hunger, but I do not. You may go ahead and tell my father I am safe if you wish.” She picked up her bag and walked out, leaving him to hurry after her.
When Nessa went into the dining room, there were a few other diners already there, and she smiled at them as she passed them. Logan scowled sulkily before he sat down.
“Excuse me for a moment,” she said politely, then walked across to Jack. Logan watched her closely, but it was obvious that she was asking him for directions to the privy, and he relaxed.
“Master Donaldson.” Nessa smiled at the publican, and he returned it.
“Good mornin’ mistress,” he said cheerily. “Fine day, eh?”
“It always is!” Nessa laughed. “I have a favor to ask of you, Mr. Donaldson. I would appreciate it if you would not mention my husband to that man at the table. I cannot tell you why, but I would prefer it that way. I would really appreciate it.” She dropped a half crown into his hand.
“As ye wish, mistress,” he said, smiling happily.
A few moments later, Nessa came back to the table and sat down, but she found herself under close scrutiny during the entire meal. Logan had obviously sensed that she had not been telling the truth and was looking for ways to prise it out of her.
“You did not know that he had escaped then?” Logan asked suspiciously.
“And how should I have known that?” Her voice was scathing. “I was thirteen years old when he was convicted. He probably does not even know my name, and I doubt that he would come looking for me. You are seeing what you want to see, Logan.”
Logan studied her perfect face for a while. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, with her heart-shaped face, shining fair hair, and huge blue eyes. He remembered kissing her plump lips, and his body hardened at the thought of doing so again. To distract himself, he took his eyes off her and gave his attention back to the gray, tasteless stuff he was eating.
“Porridge is my least favorite food,” he said, grimacing. “The sooner we are back, the better.”
“How is my father?” she asked anxiously.
“Worried to death,” he replied. “He has been searching since you left, Nessa. We must go back at once. It would be cruel not to.”
She nodded and dropped her gaze from his. “You are right, of course. I cannot allow him to suffer any longer.” She was thinking furiously as she spoke, her mind jumping from one possibility to another. What if she simply ran out, mounted Jo, and rode away? Although Logan rode a powerful warhorse, Jo was faster than any other horse she knew and could easily outrun him. She could lose herself in the nearby woods and wait until he gave up the chase, but that could take hours, and in themeantime, what would Bryce do?
As well as that, she had to find some way of letting her father know that she was well without giving Bryce away. She had a feeling that Logan did not believe her account of her time with the healer; his eyes had been following her every move with suspicion every time she stood up. She could not flee without a plan. Simply riding into the distance might get her away from Logan, but it would not stop him from pursuing her, and she would be unable to stop looking over her shoulder. Damn.
“Are you going to eat that or stir it with your spoon all morning?” Logan asked suddenly, pointing at her porridge. “You were miles away. What were you dreaming about?”
Nessa was an expert at thinking on her feet. “Well, if you must know, Maudie is having a new dress made for me,” she replied casually. “We bought some pale blue silk from the merchant a few weeks ago, and I think it will be suitable for the McGregors’ ceilidh in a few weeks.” It was a lie, and they both knew it, but there was no way of refuting it, so Logan did not comment.
There was silence for a few moments, then they both jerked their heads up as they heard the frantic neighing of horses from the stables.
Jack Donaldson looked puzzled for a second or two, then he dashed outside, and they heard him shrieking frantically before he burst through the door. His florid face was even redder than it usually was, and his arms were waving like a windmill while he hopped from foot to foot in panic.
“The horses!” he screamed. “The horses are gettin’ away! Help! Help!”
Logan leaped up from his chair and rushed to the door, with Nessa right behind him. A dozen horses were milling around, neighing, kicking, and bumping into each other, but a few had already run into the nearby woods.
