Part 26 (1/2)

”d.a.m.n you, Ewan. You know nothing of what you speak. She was meant for me and no other. She has said it to me a thousand times.”

”Listen to me, d.a.m.nyou . She told me herself that she has no feelings for you.”

”Liar!” Kieran had backhanded him for those words.

Ewan had reached to attack, and Lochlan and Braden had come between them, forcing them apart.

”Why are you upsetting him, Ewan?” Lochlan had demanded as he shook him forcefully.

”She loves me.” The words had leaped out of his mouth before he could stop them.

All three of his brothers had laughed. The sound had echoed painfully in his heart.

How dare they scorn him for it. Was it so impossible to believe a woman could desire him?

”You?” Kieran had shaken his head as he continued to laugh. ”Now I know you jest.”

Ewan had never wanted to hurt his brothers before, but he wanted to then. He was tired of being pushed aside by all of them. Discounted. Mocked. ”Why is that so hard for you to believe?”

It had been Kieran's final words to him that had set everything into motion.

”Look at yourself, Ewan. You're gangly and sullen. What few women you've had, I had to pay them to take you, and all you did then was talk to them instead of make use of theircharms . The day will never come when a woman would have you over me. What couldyou ever offer a woman?”

”I know the answer to this one,” Braden had chimed in. ”A lifetime of brooding silence and evil glares.”

Then Braden had clapped Kieran on the back and the two of them had left the hall, all the while laughing at him.

Ewan had stood frozen, unable to breathe from the cruelty of their words.

”Iknow not what to do with that lad, Aisleen. He will never be what his brothers are ...”

”They didn't mean that as it sounded,” Lochlan had said after Kieran and Braden had left. ”I'm sure Isobail is fond of you. In your own way, you are-”

”Silence, Lochlan,” he'd snarled. ”Bother me no more with your socalled comfort. I'm tired of all of you recounting my faults to me. I'm not as handsome as Braden, or as charming as Kieran, and I lack your intelligence. Believe me, I know well my shortcomings. Every last one of them.”

Those comparisons had been branded into his heart from the hour of his birth.

Though he loved his brothers, he was well aware of where he fell in everyone's esteem.

Even Sin had mocked him when he offered to help him and Braden rescue Lochlan from the clan.

There was nothing he could do that his brothers couldn't do better.

Only Nora had never compared him to them.

Of course, she had yet to meet his brothers...

Would she care for him if they were around? Or would she be like Isobail and abandon him the first chance she got?

He didn't know for sure. But in the back of his mind was the thought that if she did, it would be the blow that destroyed him. He could take anything except her ridicule.

Viktor stopped the wagon on the outskirts of a small town. Catarina reined her horse to a stop as Lysander, Pagan and Bavel dismounted.

Catarina joined Lysander as he pulled open the door to the wagon, and they found Ewan and Nora sound asleep in the back.

Nora was lying against his chest, and he had one brawny arm slung protectively over her.

”Ahhh,” Catarina said, happy to see them so entwined.

”Am I supposed to allow them to lie like that?” Lysander asked. ”I'm thinking I might get a sword to my middle for it should her father ever learn of this.”

”I'll take one to your backside if you don't leave them be,” Cat said. ”I think they make a beautiful couple.”

”I knew she was too quiet,” Viktor said. ”I should have known she'd be fast asleep.”

”Well, rouse them,” Bavel added. ”I'm hungry enough to eat my boots.”

”I'm awake,” Ewan said gruffly. ”Who could sleep with the four of you yapping like herd of puppies?”

Ewan gently shook Nora awake.

She blinked open her eyes, then smiled at him.

In spite of his best intentions, he smiled back.

”Where are we?” she asked as she realized the wagon was no longer moving.

”I'm not sure,” Viktor said. ”We've come up to a small village. I thought we might buy ourselves a nice supper and mayhap find a comfortable bed for the night.”

Nora stifled a yawn as she scooted out of the wagon.

Ewan came out behind her and forgot that he was supposed to be injured. The minute he took a step, Nora clucked her tongue teasingly at him.

”For shame, my lord, feigning injuries and playing on my poor good nature. And to think I was worried over you.”

Ewan scratched his chin and sheepishly averted his gaze.

Pagan laughed at them as he walked past.

Nora playfully patted Ewan's arm, then stood up on her tiptoes to give him a sisterly kiss on his cheek.

”Not that you asked it, but I forgive you.”

They took a few minutes to freshen their appearances. Ewan took Nora's hand and led them into the town.

He paused long enough to ask if there was a pub, and they were directed to the largest cottage in the village.

The gypsies were eerily quiet as they walked along behind them.