Part 42 (1/2)

”I beg your pardon, Lochlan MacAllister, you are not my lord and master!”

Nora watched as Catarina started for the door, and Lochlan caught her arm in his hand. ”Would you listen to me?”

Catarina childishly covered her ears with her hands and hummed. Loudly.

Lochlan appeared ready to throttle her.

”What are they fighting over now?” she asked her mother.

Her mother shrugged. ”They have done nothing but argue since they met. Poor Catarina can't stand him.”

As Catarina stormed outside with Lochlan trailing after her, Nora's father and Ryan came in.

Ryan appeared completely recovered from his wound.

”Is Ewan better?” Ryan asked.

Nora nodded. She still didn't want to speak to the ogre.

”Nora,” her father said. ”Ryan and I have come to an understanding. If Ewan makes an offer for your hand, Ryan will stand aside.”

Unexpected joy filled her.

Until she thought better of it.

”And if Ewan doesn't?” she asked.

Ryan wagged his brows at her. ”You're mine, Nora. To have and to hold until death we do part.”

As Ryan spoke those words, she saw Ewan coming into the hall. He paused and looked at them darkly.

If she lived out eternity, Nora would never forget the look on his face as he heard Ryan's declaration.

She wanted to curse at his timing.

”Ewan?” she asked. ”What are you doing up?”

He didn't speak. He just turned about and started back for the stairs.

Nora rushed to his side.

Ewan handed her the embroidery cloth she'd left in his room. ”I thought you might have need of it,” he said simply, his voice and eyes empty.

”Let me help you back to bed.”

He curled his lips at her. ”I don't need any help. Go back to your betrothed.”

”Ewan,” she said insistently, ”Ryan has agreed to release me if you want me.”

He glanced back at Ryan.

”It's true,” Ryan said as he joined them. ”I will not stand between the two of you.”

Ewan wanted to laugh at those haunting words.

Fate was indeed mocking him.

Instead, he heard the sound of his mother's shocked gasp as she came into the room and heard words that were almost identical to the ones Kieran had once said in this very same hall.

Take her, Ewan, if she'll have the likes of you. I willna stand between the two of you. But know that if you leave with her, I will never again call you brother.

He wondered if Ryan was as sincere as Kieran had been when Kieran had spoken those words to him.

Or would Ryan ride home, gather his men, and then start the feud he'd promised?

In his mind's eye, Ewan saw the death and destruction that had reigned over the MacAllister lands as they fought with the MacDouglases.

Wincing from the pain of the memory of then and the reality of now, he turned away from the face of the only woman he would ever really love.

”She belongs with you, Ryan. I have no need of a wife.”

Nora felt as if Ewan had slapped her. Nothing had ever hurt her more than his cold announcement.

”I was wrong about you, Ewan MacAllister,” she said, her voice breaking on his name. ”You are heartless and mean.”

With a dignity she didn't feel, she lifted her chin and returned to her parents. ”I wish to leave.”

”Now?” her father asked.

”Aye. I'll go with you or on my own, but I willna stay in this place another instant.”

Ewan couldn't breathe as he heard her words.

She was leaving him.

You told her to go.

Aye, he had. It was kinder this way.

Why then did he feel as if his stomach and heart were being shredded?

Fight for her, d.a.m.n you, fight!

But he didn't have it in him. He couldn't let his clan be torn apart.

Nora's parents said a quick and embarra.s.sed goodbye to his mother while Nora stalked from the hall without even glancing back at him.

So be it.