The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens Page B

"But, Mary Rose, it's no' yer friendship he wants."
    "I have a husband."
    "For the now."
    "Forever," I whispered. He stroked my hand and stared into space while I watched him in the flickering light from the fire. The last time, I thought, the last time you'll lie with him In bed and talk. "What if they'd killed you in the pass, Alex?"
    "Lass, what were my choices? We could have fought them, but I had twenty-two men and Robert had a hundred. We were hungry and weary and Robert's men went to bed with full bellies. If we fought them we'd lose. No matter how well we fought, eventually we'd lose and we'd all be dead or captured. I thought that if Robert would take me and let the rest go, then it was the only sensible choice."
    "So you turned back and let them decide to kill you or not?"
    He shook his head. "My horse was wearying. I knew if I faced Robert's men with my sword drawn they'd kill me on the spot. I felt I had to talk to Robert but I couldna get to where I'd planned, so I turned around to meet them."
    "And they attacked you?"
    He nodded. "One did. Robert was shouting at his men to stop but one man dinna listen. He came at me with a claymore and by then I had my own out. I killed him, but he'd knocked me off the horse and the rest jumped on me. I dinna remember anything else until I woke up in their camp."
    "Matthew thought you were dead."
    "Aye. Well, when that man came at me, so did I." He stroked his chin, fingering the stubble on it. "It might have been better if I was."
    "What happened in the camp?"
    "Robert and I talked and he told me his terms, which were for the most part the same as the letter, though he dinna write it. Malcolm did, ye ken, and Malcolm sent it with Robert not kenning of it. I agreed to the terms and then Robert said he'd take me here before going back for the trial. I dinna argue and here we are."
    "So you bartered your freedom for ours."
    He met my gaze solemnly. "Would it be better for Kilgannon to be in ruins, Mary Rose? I've been a dead man since Sherrifmuir, or at least a marked one. The English have no choice, lass. If they dinna punish the rebels, the movement will grow. If they chop off the head, eventually the body will stop fighting. All of us who joined will pay. I dinna ken how dearly. Do ye remember the Treason Act? I've no illusions. Nor should ye, lass. I'll no' be coming home again."
    How could he be so very matter-of-fact about it? Dear God I prayed, let me be as brave as he Is. "You are very direct, sir," I said, trying to keep my tone light.
    He looked at me for a long moment and then a smile played around the corners of his mouth. "Aye," he said, nodding. "I've told ye. It saves time." I was unable to speak as he leaned forward to kiss my shoulder. I pulled him down to me and kissed his mouth and we made love again, slowly and gently, lingering deliberately as though we had years, not moments left.
    It was dawn when I woke again. Alex stood at the window, looking across the glen. I wrapped my robe around me and went to him. He put an arm around me and kissed me, his voice husky. "I dinna deserve ye as a wife, lass, but I'm damned glad I had ye."
    "There's more than one way that can be interpreted," I said and felt the rumble of laughter in his chest as he held me tighter.
    "Then I mean all of them," he said and smiled.
    The door burst open then and the boys tumbled into the room and into their father's arms. By the time I was dressed and ready to go downstairs, they were laughing and punching each other. Ellen came to the door asking for instructions, and Alex looked at me over the boys' heads. "Go on down without me, lass," he said. "I have a few things to say to my sons. We'll be down soon." The boys looked at me, waiting to take their cue from my behaviour . I must be as brave as Alex, I thought. If lean be. I nodded and followed Ellen.
    The hall was crowded, so crowded that I stopped at the top of the stairs, taking in the scene. Most of the clan was here and watched me