Nineteen
A few days later, they were sitting by the fire having consumed their nightly meal.
“What d’ye think is happening?”
James shrugged motioning her to sit in front of him. He encircled her waist with his arms as they did nearly every night since arriving.
“I would imagine Da is attempting to discover who’s giving aid to Kerr. He will make an additional attempt to reason with the bastard before hell and war befalls the Highland clans.”
She looked back at him, and her eyes reflected guilt. He moved her more fully towards him so that she could look into his eyes.
“Mayhap we shouldna have married. Mayhap ‘twas nay wise or good.”
He kissed her lips.
“Mo stòr, in one manner or another, ye would’ve been my wife. The only manner ye wouldna have been my wife, is if ye had refused.”
He looked at her, all sense of humor and ease gone from his features, replaced by a fierce determination lighting his yellow gaze.
“Ye agreed, and to me, ‘tis all that is of import. If anyone attempts to take ye from me, and Kerr has threatened by words and impending action,” he paused, framing her face, “killing him and his men would be the least of their fears.”
She exhaled as he kissed her forehead.
“Marrying ye was the easiest and best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve nay regrets, and tell ye fully without doubt, that I never will.”
She reached up and rested a palm on his cheek. They kissed slowly at first and grew more impassioned.
“I would like to…”
She let her words fall away as she stared at him.
“Are ye certain?”
“I love ye. I want to know ye in every manner.”
“Aye, lass. But only if ye can. Only do so because ye want to.”
She nodded and whispered. “I do.”
He kissed her as he slowly lowered her onto her back. He cautiously hovered over, not fully applying his weight over her. Katie noticed the care he was taking and smiled.
“Thank ye. I’m well, though.”
He lowered his body but only some. He weighed three times her weight and he would crush her.
Katie nuzzled his cheek and he moved his head to kiss her. Slowly, their kiss grew more impassioned. James planted his hands on either side of her head and Katie opened her eyes.
He felt the difference in her immediately. She was no longer soft and pliable. She’d stiffened her body and her eyes shone with a mixture of hesitance and fear.
James tore himself away from her and sat on his heels, panting.
When he saw her tears, that completed the jab through his heart, her distress serving as the knife.
“I apologize.”
Her words were wavering, and her lips trembled.
James sat and motioned her to him. She quickly went to him and he enveloped her, kissing her head.
“I’m so angry!” Her voice shook. “It’s not fair! I just want to be with my husband. They’ve taken too much from me.”
Katie’s breathing became erratic. She couldn’t calm herself. James grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart.
“Ye feel that, lass?”
She nodded.
“Breathe with me.”
He slowly breathed in and out, and she mirrored his inhalations and exhalations.
“Feel my heart?”
She nodded again.
“It beats for ye, mo stòr. Always and forever. This is but a pebble in the path of our lives together that stretches far ahead. We will overcome this, and we shall do so together. There isna a hurry. I’ll always be here with ye.”
Her hands rose to the side of his head and weaved into the hair that was secured at his neck. She rested her forehead on his chin as she focused on her breathing. James passed his hand over her head and through her hair. Slowly, her breathing calmed, and she looked up at him.
“Ye are a wonder, my heart.” Her thumb caressed his cheek. “Ye’ve the patience of a saint. Ye are so tender with me.”
He laughed. “Me? Patient? Only with ye, my love.”
She ran her nose along his chin and rested her head on his chest.
“Yer beating heart calms me. ‘Tis the most beautiful sound appreciated by my ears.”
They sat in silence, content simply to be in the other’s presence. Once they grew sleepy, they settled down together in each other’s arms.
Katie fell asleep listening to the sound of the heart of the man who loved her.