Page 37 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“Nay, none. There are monks at the abbey, but none at the nunnery.”
Dermot nodded, the sudden urge to run away, hide his head, deny her suggestion to the world overpowering his thoughts. Perhaps it was best to leave Sheona here, to allow her time to think.
The prioress whispered, “Did something happen that might have precipitated this sudden awareness or sudden fear in her?”
“Nay, naught.” But then he thought, his face betraying his true feelings. He’d done it to her.
“What is it, Chief? I will keep your confidence.”
“I tried to force her to marry a neighbor …” His voice trailed off. “I’m sorry. I must take my leave. I will return within a sennight for my daughter.”
Dermot nodded to the prioress and left her office, hurrying down the path toward the dock. He had to get on that boat, no matter what. But he had to find Sheona first. The very thought of what the prioress suggested nearly ate his insides raw. He had to consult with his daughter about this issue.
“Sheona!” he yelled, catching her not far from one building.
His beautiful daughter turned to him. He approached, took both her hands in his, and nodded to Ilene, who stepped away to give them time alone.
“Sheona, you may stay. I’ll return in a sennight. And please know that I’ll not force you to marry Taskill. Or anyone. You decide what you wish to do.”
“My thanks, Da.”
“I love you, lassie. And I’m sorry.” He bent down and kissed her cheek, then ran to the shoreline, calling over his shoulder. “You’ll be safe here.” Why the hell had he said that? He didn’t want her to know that someone was after her. He always mucked things up. Where was Ailis?
He had to catch that boat.
Chapter Fifteen
Taskill
What the hell was wrong with him? What exactly did he want from Sheona?
Since when had these new feelings emerged?
“Can’t seem to make up your own mind, can you, fool?” Taskill muttered to himself. “You want to protect her, then you don’t care. You don’t want her for yourself, but you don’t want anyone else to have her. Which is it?”
He pulled his net in and found two nice-sized pollacks among the smaller fish and tossed both in the bucket. His insides were reacting to Clyde’s bold suggestion of pursuing the lass. He was certain that was all it was.
He didn’t love Sheona. The thought had never occurred to him before. It didn’t fit. They’d been friends forever. Playmates long ago. Jumped in the same lake, played warriors against the pirates on the coastline.
He recalled that day vividly. The weather finally had been warm enough to allow them to swim. He’d been paddling about in the sound with Sloan and Lennox. Sloan had said that Marta didn’t wish to swim anymore because of the fish. Eva had stayed home. And Sheona came running down the path in a new swimming outfit.
Sloan and Lennox jumped off the boulder into the water, bellowing about making the biggest splash, just as Sheona came along.
Taskill had been swimming when Sheona called his name, her voice bright with laughter as she always was back then. He turned, treading water, ready to splash her the moment she dove in—
And froze.
She stood on the bank, unlacing her overdress, the afternoon sun turning her damp hair to copper fire. When had she grown curves like that? When had the gangly girl he’d known since childhood become... this?
Heat flooded through him, swift and unwelcome.No. Not Sheona. Anyone but her.
“Are you coming in or not?” she called, oblivious.
He couldn’t answer. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t stop staring at the way her wet chemise clung—
“Sheona Rankin!” Her mother’s voice rang out like a thunderclap. “Get out of that water this instant! You’re too old for this foolishness.”
The joy drained from Sheona’s face. She looked at him, pleading silently for him to argue, to defend their tradition, to tell her mother she was wrong.
