Entrusted to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy #2) - Donna Fletcher Page 0,8
her, a tingle of sorts that rippled over her flesh and down inside her, settling deep, wrapping around her, hugging her, making her feel wanted and cared for—for the first time in her life. She wanted to sob, knowing this would be the one and only time she felt this wonderful sensation and she wished she had never let him touch her. It had been easier not knowing his touch, not knowing what she missed. Now that she knew, she would forever ache for it.
“What’s wrong, Purity?” he asked. “Have I hurt you?”
Her head snapped up, not realizing it had drooped in sorrow. If he only knew what he had made her feel, but why would he care? He had never cared for her and he never would.
She offered an easy enough excuse. “The day has worn on me.”
He nodded and asked, “Would you truly have sent me away with no news of Raven?”
“I have no news of her to share with you,” she said, which was a partial truth. “I will gladly share what I know, but it will be of no help to you.”
“Tell me anyway,” he said as he finished cleansing the wound.
Purity went back to the day of the attack on the Clan MacKinnon, the day that Arran’s brother Royden and Oria were to wed. A day that had changed all their lives forever.
“Raven and I had gone to the woods before the wedding ceremony was to start. I was upset because my da was sending me to the convent, to protect me or so he said. We heard the screams.” They still echoed in her head to this day. “Raven was ready to jump in and help, not so me. I was so afraid that I couldn’t move. Raven told me to stay where I was and keep safe and off she went. But after a short while, I realized I had to help. I came across Raven trying to drag your da away from the battle. He was wounded badly and I thought for sure he’d die. We dragged him into the woods. She ordered me to stay with him and she went and got the women and bairns who had made it inside the keep to follow her into the woods. She insisted that we all leave and get your da to the witch so she could save him.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think the witch could save him, but she did. Raven told me if she could join us she would, but we were not to wait for her or look for her. I didn’t see her again until about a year later and only for a short time. She told me she couldn’t stay that people were still searching for her, wanting to force her to marry a man who would then become Chieftain of the Clan MacKinnon and possess all the clan’s land and holdings. She couldn’t chance staying in one place or jeopardizing the safety of others with her presence. She also warned me that if I was found, I could be forced to wed a stranger as well and the Clan Macara would then be claimed by him. She told me she would be in touch when she could.”
Purity offered no more, fearing she might say too much and she had given her word to Raven and intended to keep it.
“When last did you hear from her?” he asked.
“Only one time and not recently,” she said truthfully, since after that one time she hadn’t heard directly from Raven. It had been through messages.
“I promised to keep her safe. I won’t rest until I keep my word,” Arran said, wrapping a clean cloth around Purity’s arm and ripping it to knot and keep it in place.
“Your da has returned home,” Purity said, feeling it best not to speak any more about Raven.
“I know, Royden sent me a message. The witch returned with him.”
Purity looked to the cottage as she nodded. “This is Wren’s cottage. She offered it to me when she went home with your da. They fell in love.”
“So Royden’s message stated,” he said as if the news meant nothing to him.
His fingers had slipped down along her arm to rest just above her wrist, squeezing the flesh lightly. She didn’t think he even knew he did it and she hoped he wouldn’t stop. She wanted to linger in his touch that felt more intimate to her than he would ever know.