Page 48 of The Highlander's Inconvenient Wife
“Oh, my God,” Joan gasped and raised her hands to her mouth as Edwin clung to the side of the open door, his body flailing in the wind as the carriage took a sharp turn around a bend that overlooked a very steep cliff.
Hurriedly reaching for Joan, Jasper gripped her hand and pulled her to his side of the carriage where she’d be out of harm’s way. He quickly shifted over her and placed her squarely behind his back as Edwin gained a hold on the carriage again with his foot, managing to swing his body back into the compartment.
“I bet you thought you got the best of me,” Edwin snarled with a manic look in his eyes as the corners of his mouth tilted into a crazed smiled that reflected the madness within. “People always think they’ve gotten the best of us, but we always manage to grow stronger and come out on top again!” His deranged laughter filled their ears as Joan clung to Jasper’s arm in panic.
“Who are ye talking about?!” Jasper tried his best to yell over the sound of the carriage wheel scraping against stone. It was evident by the way the carriage was leaning to the side that MacAdair was having a hard time keeping the horses straight.
A very steep fall was visible just beyond the swinging door that was making it hard to hear. It was only by the light of the full moon that Jasper could see just how far the fall was to the bottom of the cliff.
“My family!” Edwin yelled as he stopped laughing and glared at them both. “We always win in the end, no matter whom we have to remove to get there! I always protect the family’s reputation!”
“Jasper, look out!” Joan cried as Edwin lunged forward with a dagger in his hand once again that he had suddenly pulled from his boot.
Having anticipated that his opponent would attack again, Jasper lifted his leg with his hands griping both seats on either side for support and kicked with all his might against Edwin’s chest.
A sudden look of shock spread over his face as Edwin went flying out of the carriage, his arms flailing in the air as he fought to grip anything that he could. Time seemed to pass in slow motion as he began to fall down, down, down, and down until his body disappeared into the void below, darkness closing around his form like a blanket.
* * *
Joan felt her blood turn to ice as she watched the man who had almost forced her into marriage disappear over the edge of a cliff. Her heart seemed to stop as Jasper crawled forward and shut the door in one smooth motion.
The carriage was steadily beginning to slow as he came back and took her into his arms, embracing her tightly as he buried his face in her hair.
“Joan,” he moaned in anguish as if it caused him pain, “I was so worried that I had lost ye forever. I would have killed anyone that stood in me way.”
Feeling the life slowly seep back into her body, Joan placed her arms around him and returned his hug. “I thought I would never see you again.” She felt tears falling down her cheeks as relief flooded her chest. “I was willing to sacrifice my own life and die if it meant I could see you again one last time.” Her voice caught in her throat as she cried, releasing all the tension that had built up in her body.
Drawing back slightly, Jasper placed his hands on either side of her face. “I would never just leave ye, an’ ye never have to sacrifice anythin’ ever again,” he said almost breathlessly. “Ye can be assured of that. I would follow ye over the side of that cliff if it meant I could have ye back.” He used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
Joan could no longer resist the urge to kiss his lips as she flung her body into his and placed her mouth over his, kissing him with all the longing and passion she felt in her soul.
Placing his hands in the small of her back, Jasper parted her lips with his own, kissing her deeply as the carriage slowed even further. The slowing motion did little to temper their passions as they as he searched the inside of her warm mouth with his tongue.
Her breathing quickened as a soft moan escaped her lips at the feel of his hands on her waist. Their bodies moved together along with the carriage as he pulled her onto his lap, placing her legs on either side of his body as she straddled his hips.
The carriage slowed to a stop right before Jasper brought his hands up to chest, cupping her breasts and making their way down to her thighs.
“Wait,” she whispered as she placed her finger against his lips and looked to the side. The carriage curtains had closed in the speed of the chase, barring their view to the outside world. “I think I hear horses,” she said quietly while straining to listen.
“But the horses have stopped,” he looked at her with a confused frown.
“Not the carriage horses, silly.” She shook her head at him. “Other horses.”
Jasper cocked his head to the side as he too strained to listen.
It wasn’t long before they felt the carriage jolt as MacAdair lowered himself to the ground with a dull thud.
“How did ye gain on us so fast?” They heard the laird call to someone else in the distance as they sound of hooves came to a stop not too far from the carriage.
Joan looked at Jasper with a shocked smile when she heard Darragh answer him in the distance.
“It wasnae hard to follow yer tracks,” he shouted before their steps drew nearer. “The whole of Scotland heard the commotion ye were makin’ with that carriage. Where did ye learn to ride?”
“Avery and Darragh are here?” she asked Jasper quietly with her hands on his shoulders as she shifted slightly closer and strained to hear.
“Aye, the whole of Scotland is lookin’ for ye,” Jasper whispered back before turning his head to kiss her hand. He didn’t stop there as he took her hand in his and kissed her wrist before moving up to her palm.
“Are they all right?” Joan heard Avery calling out as they neared the carriage.
