Love Me Forever (33 page)

“You think Arran will come out of the
shadows when I am not with you?”

She nodded. “It is his way. These things he
did tonight are but diversion. Be sure that he has other plans, for
he intends to have his way.”

“Diversions to take me away from you.”

“Aye, then I am alone and vulnerable.”

“There are guards.”

“I know, but somehow he will find a way past
them.”

Royce shook his head. “Never.”

“You said the magic word.” She laughed
softly. “I once said never, and Arran showed me how wrong I
was.”

Royce tensed, hearing the hurt in her voice.
“This time I will show him that he is wrong.”

He hugged her to him, and she settled in his
arms after he reached to pull the blanket over them.

“I am glad that Moira will be here when you
give birth.”

“You attempt to change the subject and
divert my worried thoughts,” she said, snuggling her face against
his chest.

“Aye, I do but I am honest when I say that I
am glad Moira will be with you. I do not like to think of you in
pain.”

She laughed. “Birthing a babe is painful; it
cannot be helped.”

Royce grimaced. “I do not want you to
suffer.”

“You should have considered that before
making love to me.”

“You told me you could not bear a
child.”

Her hand went to her stomach. “I thought I
could not. Wed four years, I had expected to conceive a child, and
when the years passed and I produced no heir, Arran told me that I
was barren. I believed him.”

“He is the one—he is unable to father a
child.”

“Which probably infuriates him, for it makes
him appear less of a man.”

“He is less of a man,” Royce said.

She shivered and wrapped her arms tightly
around him.

“What suddenly troubles you?”

“The babe, I had not thought—” She stopped
as though fearful to speak her thoughts.

He suddenly realized what caused her fright.
“You think he would harm the babe?”

“If by chance he captured me and demanded
ransom, he would need to return me before coins exchange hands, but
that does not mean he would treat me well. And knowing I did not
conceive a child with him but did with you would infuriate him to
the point of rage. He might then strike out at me and purposely
cause me to lose the child.”

His hand instantly went to rest upon her
stomach. “No one will hurt the babe and no one will hurt you. Do
not worry.”

“For myself I do not, but how do I protect
the babe if necessary?”

“You will not need to.” He attempted to
reassure her. “You will remain safe here with me.”

She felt safe in his arms and wanted to
believe she would remain so, but she also realized that there was
the possibility that he could capture her.

Prepared.

Moira warned her to be prepared for any
possibility.

She was right, and tomorrow they would talk
and she would prepare.

Prepare for battle.

Royce did not let Brianna out his sight. The
next morning when they woke, he remained abed with her until she
was ready to rise, and together they went down to the great hall.
He had sent a message to Ian that he would be delayed and that
Brianna would be with him and could Moira come to keep her company
while they talked.

He had thought Arran dangerous, but after
last night and his discussion with Brianna he realized that the man
was far more dangerous than he had thought. Arran was actually
deranged.

There was a chill in the great hall, so a
fire had been lit, and Moira and Brianna sat at a table near the
fire. Royce and Ian sat at the dais, and six men were positioned
around the hall. No one could enter without being noticed.

Brianna and Moira talked in hushed voices,
not wishing anyone to hear their conversation. “I realize now that
I must prepare,” Brianna said. “If Arran should happen to succeed
in capturing me, I must be able to keep the babe safe from
harm.”

Moira frowned. “You are right. The only life
precious to Arran is his.”

“In his fury he lashes out, and I never had
any means to stop him.”

“So you surrendered to his brutality.”

“I did not know what else to do,” Brianna
said, “and after a while I acted accordingly; it became a
habit.”

Moira placed a comforting hand on her arm.
“Habits can be broken. It takes strength, and courage and you have
both.”

“I hope I do.”

“With all the protection that surrounds you,
you still fear Arran will succeed in abducting you?”

“Habit,” Brianna answered. “I am reacting
out of habit. He always had his way, so I assume he will do so
again.”

“Then if you wish to be prepared, do not act
out of habit. You have changed; you are no longer that young woman
he could dictate to. You gained your freedom and independence and
the strength to do as you must.”

“But he thinks of me as his wife, his
property, and I am, so how then can I be free?”

Moira squeezed her arm. “No one but you can
own your thoughts and many times our own thoughts can help set us
free. If you continue to think fearful, you will react fearful.
Think with courage and tenacity and you will demonstrate it. Arran
would not know how to respond to a woman of strength and
intelligence.”

“You are right. He feared you; I could see
it in his eyes.”

“Then he will fear you if you are to meet,
for you are much like me now.”

Brianna looked surprised. ‘Truly, you think
so?”

“Nay, I know so.”

“Then it must be so.” Brianna laughed and
Moira joined her.

Their husbands glanced their way.

“It is good Moira is here with her,” Royce
said, relieved to see his wife happy.

Ian nodded, staring at the two women. “Why
do you not seem pleased with their laughter?”

“They are plotting,” Ian said with a firm
nod. “I know my wife and she plots.”

“I have enough to be concerned about; now I
must worry about plotting women?”

“I would make it your top concern.”

Royce rubbed his forehead. “What could they
be plotting?”

Ian scratched his head and gave the question
thought.

“Knowing my wife and her independent nature,
I would say she is attempting to help my sister be ready in case
Arran should succeed in abducting her.”

Royce stared at him.

Ian nodded. “I know the feeling; Moira
leaves me speechless at times.”

“Arran will get nowhere near Brianna, and
even if he did, what could she do to protect herself? She is a mere
woman and with the burden of child.”

“I have no answer for you, though it might
be wise that she be prepared in case she is faced with the
situation. Warriors always prepare for battle. Why not
Brianna?”

“She is not strong enough to defend
herself.”

“Not physically, but we both know that a
battle is often fought with one’s wits.”

“This is difficult for me to comprehend,”
Royce said. “My thought is that I must protect Brianna.”

“And you do, but as in battle, being
prepared for the unexpected could mean the difference between
victory and defeat.”

“I have learned this well. That is why I am
always prepared, and I feel Brianna need not worry.”

“What would you do if Arran succeeded in
abducting her?” Ian asked.

“That will not happen.” Royce refused to
believe it even possible. He would protect her and keep her
safe.

“But if it did,” Ian insisted. “What
then?”

Royce was just as insistent. “It will not
happen.”

“You are as stubborn as my sister.”

“Determined,” Royce corrected with a laugh
and a slap to Ian’s back. “Besides, the women make plans. Though it
is not necessary, at least they enjoy themselves.”

Ian shook his head. “You have much to learn
about Brianna.”

“Do you not have much yet to learn about
Moira?”

Ian looked to his wife, her smile wide, her
cheeks flushed, and her dark, thick, long plaited hair. “I am
forever learning about her.”

“Then we will never be bored, will we?”

‘True enough.” Ian shifted his glance to his
sister. She looked radiant, her dark hair pinned up, her hands
resting protectively over her rounded stomach and her smile
precious.”My sister means much to me.”

“I know this.”

Ian was honest with Royce. “When Arran
returned, I would have much preferred to run a sword through him
for all the pain he had caused so many. Unfortunately that was not
possible.”

“Had you decided what you intended to do
with him?”

“It was only a matter of time before he did
something himself. His words of regret and forgiveness meant
nothing. He meant to charm and misdirect so that what he truly
planned was not suspected, and that would give him the freedom to
accomplish his true intentions.”

“Abducting Brianna,” Royce said, glancing at
his wife, who was deep in her own conversation with Moira. “But I
feel there is more to his intentions than just Brianna.”

“Brianna serves a purpose to Arran. She will
bring him a fat purse so that he may start over someplace else,
perhaps farther south or to the outer Isles. There is nothing left
for him here, and he is wise enough to know that. So once again he
uses Brianna for his own means.”

“Not this time.”

There was a conviction to his words that
could not be denied.

“We should not underestimate him,” Ian said.
“He is a troubled man and that can make him dangerous.”

“Far too dangerous, which means he will stop
at nothing to accomplish his goal.”

“I think him anxious and that could cause
him to make a mistake.”

“Aye, I agree his patience is running out,”
Royce said.

“Then he will make another move soon.”

“I do not doubt it, and I expect it will be
as foolish as his last attempts.”

Ian sat back in his chair. “There is nothing
to do then but to wait.”

To everyone’s surprise several weeks passed
and not a word was heard from Arran. The surrounding countryside
was quiet with a stranger passing through the village now and
again. Guards remained posted and watchful, but daily routine once
again became common, and soon many gave the threat of Arran not a
thought.

Moira and Ian began to miss their son, and
Brianna thought it unfair that they should remain when there was
nothing they could actually do to help the situation. It was nice
having them there, but their presence was not necessary.

“It is time for you to leave,” Brianna
announced one day over the morning meal.

Ian seemed surprised; Moira did not.

“I was thinking the same myself,” Moira
said. “I miss my son and all at the keep.”

“You are throwing us out?” Ian asked with a
laugh.

Brianna shook her head slowly. “I enjoy you
both here, but there is no reason for you to stay. Your son
probably misses you, and your life is there with him as mine is
here with Royce.” She reached for her husband’s hand where he sat
beside her at the long table.

“Brianna is right,” Royce said. “Go home to
your son and worry not. All will be fine.”

“I will return in two months’ time for the
birth,” Moira said.

Brianna rested a hand on her protruding
stomach. “I cannot believe that in such a short time the babe will
arrive. I am relieved to know that you will be here with me.

“I would not miss it, and I know if Anne is
well, she will insist on helping as well.”

“Since the decision of our departure appears
to have been made, we will leave early tomorrow morning,” Ian
said.

“I will have some of my men accompany you,”
Royce said.

“I have enough men, I do not think that will
be necessary.”

“I do,” Royce insisted, “at least until you
leave Campbell land.”

Ian knew it was senseless to argue. He
shrugged. “If you wish.”

“Come, Brianna,” Moira said, standing. “We
have this one day together to discuss final preparations for the
birthing, and then all will be ready upon my return.”

Royce helped Brianna out of the chair. Not
that she needed help, but he was an attentive man, and she had
grown accustomed to his attention. He did not follow the women,
though two guards did without any objection from Brianna.

“Are you certain that you do not require my
presence?”

Ian asked with the women gone. “I feel Arran
is playing a game.”

“Then he plays with the wrong man, and aye,
I am certain. You have spent enough time here. I have a force of
men well able to handle the situation.”

“If necessary, you will send for me?”

“Immediately,” Royce assured him and leaned
closer to Ian as if about to impart a secret. “Now tell me, what do
our women really discuss?”

Ian laughed. “You are finally learning.”

~ ~ ~

By late afternoons the weather had turned
stormy, and if it continued, Ian and Moira’s departure would be
postponed.

The two women along with Delia had decided
that the kitchen was the perfect place to spend a stormy afternoon.
Delia had joined them earlier to discuss the birthing preparations,
and then Brianna had suggested they all bake a fresh berry pie and
enjoy it.

They baked an extra one for the two guards
who stood silent by the two entrances of the kitchen and then
decided that their husbands would probably enjoy one, too.

They laughed and had much fun, and soon the
room began to fill with a delicious aroma, and the two guards
sniffed the scented air with appreciation.

They began to clean off the table they had
worked on and Delia grabbed a bucket to step outside and retrieve
fresh water from the rain barrel. Moira and Brianna continued
cleaning the table so that there would be room for them to sit and
enjoy the pie.