The Rebel Read Free Page B

it.”
    Alex nodded. “Did your brother deliver this information?”
    She glanced up. “How should I know?”
    “So you are telling me that you knew nothing of it.” He slid her a look, encouraging her to nod in agreement.
    “Of course I knew nothing. I stole this uniform off his back after he was killed.”
    “But why did you do that, lass?” the tall one asked. “Did you mean to do some spying on your own?”
    “Of course not,” she retorted. “I only wanted to fight.”
    He scowled at her. “That’s a strange hankerin’ for a woman. How can we be sure you’re telling the truth?”
    “She is,” Alex insisted. “I told you I interrogated her already, and I am willing to stake my life on it. She’s not a spy.”
    Elizabeth’s eyes locked on his, and though she did not understand why he was defending her, she was grateful for it.
    He turned his attention back to the other clansmen. “Lower your guns now lads, and fill your bellies. Tomorrow you’ll ride to Perth and find out what Mar intends to do next.”
    Reluctantly, they released the hammers on their weapons and moved closer to the fire.
    “What about the woman?” the short one quietly asked. “What will you do with her tonight?”
    Alex’s green eyes roamed over her figure, and her heart hammered wildly against her ribcage.
    “I haven’t decided yet,” he replied.
    o0o
    The flickering light from a single candle infused the room with a warm, golden glow while Elizabeth pulled the covers up to her chin.
    “Sleep well, lass,” Alex said, as he came to stand over the bed. “I’ll not let any harm come to you on this night.”
    She could hear the others on the opposite side of the curtain, speaking in low tones while they ate their supper.
    “Why are you being so kind to me?” she whispered. “After what happened between us this morning…”
    He sat down on the edge of the bed. “We met on a battlefield, on opposite sides of a war. I cannot fault you for fighting against me. I fought hard against you in return.”
    She laid her hand on her bruised cheek. “You certainly did.”
    He regarded her for a long, quiet moment while her thoughts grew heavy in her mind. “I’m sorry that I hurt you,” he said. “I would take it back if I could.”
    “Because I’m a woman?”
    “Among other things.”
    “Such as?”
    The candlelight reflected in his eyes like tiny sparks of fire. “I believe you have suffered enough, lass.”
    She thought of her brother suddenly, and how she had tried to talk him out of signing up to fight in this war, but she had not been able to persuade him. So she had followed him instead.
    “You are remembering your brother,” Alex whispered.
    “Yes. How did you know?”
    “I can see it in your eyes.”
    A strange, beguiling comfort settled over her, thanks to this Highlander’s reassuring presence.
    Perhaps it was his intuition and his clear insight into her grief. Or perhaps it was his strength as a warrior, for she believed, with every breath in her body, that he would protect her tonight.
    “Sometimes I feel as if the world has come to an end.” She studied the strong contours of his face and the line of his shoulders beneath the tartan. “Do you understand? Have you ever lost someone?”
    “Aye, I have. A brother, like yours. He was too young to fight, but he was stubborn and insisted on following me, so I let him. I thought I could protect him, but since then, I have come to realize that God has his own plans. All we can do is keep living the life we are meant to live, and push through the pain.”
    Elizabeth considered the wisdom in his words. “It takes courage to do that.”
    “Aye, and you are very brave. You proved that this morning, so I am confident you will survive this.”
    Elizabeth shifted on the bed. “But I have no family except for my uncle, and he is a stranger to me. I am alone.”
    “I predict that will soon change,” he said. “One day, you will meet a good man, marry him, make