Surviving Scotland by Kristin Vayden Page A

loch. The verra one ye pushed me inta, now that I think of it.”
    “Ye knave.”
    “Aye, donna ye ferget it.”
    I chuckled, imagining the scene play out in my head, yet wishing I could remember it.
    “Ye did slap me afterward, but ‘twas worth it.”
    “Well, I didn’t slap ye this time.”
    “Wouldna have stopped me, Elle.”
    Ioan’s voice dropped to a whisper, and he leaned forward to touch my lips with a whisper of a kiss.
    “ Tha gaol agam ort . I love ye, Elle. An’ I always have. There has never been another in me heart. Ye need ta know that.” I closed my eyes, drinking in his words and memorizing the sound of his voice, the feel of his embrace, and the whisper of his breathing as he rested his forehead against mine.
    “I love ye too, Ioan,” I whispered the words, not trusting my voice with the depth of emotion that phrase carried from my heart. Ioan held me tightly, each of us savoring the moment of love known.
    “Ioan?” I spoke after a moment. There was one question I needed to have answered.
    “Elle?”
    Ioan’s voice was calm. He kissed my forehead and leaned back to see me eye to eye.
    “If ye loved me, if I was the only one in yer heart, why then did ye keep yerself away from me fer so long?”
    Ioan’s expression fell slightly and he closed his eyes.
    “‘Tis a complicated answer, lass.”
    “‘Tis an important one,” I countered back.
    Ioan glanced around and then led me to a large boulder. He sat and I moved to sit by him, but he reached over and pulled me onto his lap. I giggled and impulsively kissed his mouth with a light touch.
    “Ye’ve no’ been in me arms nearly enough. Ye best get used ta it now. I’ve finally got ye, Elle, I donna plan on lettin’ ye go.”
    “‘Tis the best idea ye’ve had in a while,” I teased as I leaned into his embrace.
    Ioan took a deep breath. His hand reached up and teased a wisp of my hair that had escaped from its bindings.
    “‘Tis like thick silk.” he murmured to himself. After a moment he heaved a heavy sigh. “Ye must promise me ye willna spout off ta yer uncle after we speak, Elle.”
    I turned to see his face, curious as to what my uncle had to do with Ioan’s behavior.
    “Elle, your word.” There was no leniency in Ioan’s gaze.
    I nodded.
    “Yer uncle loves ye ta a fault lass. Remember that.” Ioan shifted and turned my body so that I was once again relaxing against him. His deep voice vibrated against my back as he spoke. “‘Twas when we were quite young still, yer uncle noticed my… affection… toward ye. I was but a lad, fosterin’ with yer family. He discouraged me from spendin’ time with ye, but I couldna seem to help meself. Ye were like sunshine everywhere ye went, an’ ye reacted so beautifully to my teasin’. I could always count on a reaction. ‘Twas a wondrous thing for a lad.”
    I smacked his arm. He chuckled and continued.
    “When I dinna stay away from ye like yer uncle had suggested, he took a bolder approach. Ye see, since he dinna have his own children, ye were — are — the heir. One day ye would marry a man that would likely take his place as the laird. While I come from a strong clan, my family dinna have the… money yer uncle needed.”
    “Money?”
    I was angry and struggled to turn and question Ioan further, but his strong arms held me tightly.
    “Donna fash yerself, lass. I told ye ta—”
    “I know, I know.”
    Ioan’s chuckle shook my body as well since I was leaning against him, and against my will I found myself smiling.
    “Yer uncle wanted — wants — more for ye than what I can offer ye, Elle. I want more for ye than I can offer ye. I donna have lands or a title. I’m no’ even fully Scottish; me grandmither was Welsh.”
    “Welsh?”
    “I tell ye I donna have anythin’ to me name, and ye are worried about me grandmither? For some reason I’m no’ surprised.”
    I felt Ioan shake his head and I glanced back at him.
    “So me uncle told ye ta stay away from me