Part 64 (1/2)
”If you were fighting to save Meredith, how did she manage to elude you?”
Brice's smile grew.
”Your sister seems to have become a master of disguise.”
At the incredulous look on the faces of the two young women he added, ”She pretended to be a hunchbacked seamstress, and slipped past everyone.”
”Even you?” Megan asked.
”Aye. I confess I did not recognize her.”
”And now she is ahead of you again,” Brenna said thoughtfully.
”Not for long.” Brice strode to the door and peered at the darkened sky.
”Already the clouds are breaking to the west. Within the hour we will be once more on the road to Edinburgh.”
”Do you make haste because you love Meredith?” Megan asked boldly. '
”Or are you merely angry that a woman has bested you?”
Brice stood by the door, illuminated by a flash of lightning. At that moment he looked as fearsome as any barbarian.
”You have the right to know my feelings for your sister. And so I will tell you.” He turned toward the quiet, regal Brenna.
”Both of you.” In a voice that managed to be both tender and fierce he said,
”I love Meredith.”
”If you love her as you claim,” Megan demanded,” 'why did you not immediately return her to her home?”
”I did not trust Gareth MacKenzie. I feared for her safety here in the Lowlands.”
”And so you placed her in even more danger in your Highlands.”
”Sometimes, little one,” Brice said to Megan, ”we are asked to choose between the lesser of evils. I thought that by keeping Meredith with me in the Highlands, I could be close enough to always come to her aid.” He turned to study the progress of the storm. His face was ruggedly handsome in profile. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
”I.
have learned that I cannot always be beside the woman I love, to protect her from every harm. I pray the Fates are there to guide her hand and her sword.”
”You are a patient man,” Brenna said with quiet conviction.
”Nay.” Brice almost laughed at the thought.
”I am far from patient.
But I have had to learn a valuable lesson. When we love someone we are sometimes called upon to make terrible decisions. Decisions that cause pain for one while offering great rewards for the other.”
”I do not understand,” Megan said.