Highland Blessings (15 page)

“M’lord!”

Her voice caused him to stop.

She shielded her eyes from the blaring sun. “Who will take care of Sim? His grief is still so strong.”

“Finella will care for him.” He watched her with a guarded expression, as if assessing her every thought.

“’Tis not the same. What I mean is …” Words failed her. She didn’t want to insinuate Finella was incapable of caring for Sim. After all, Finella had cared for her when she first arrived. Akira knew Finella would care for Sim’s physical needs, but what about his emotional needs? Grief could be such a terrible thing to overcome, especially for one so young. He had seemed so depressed as he watched them leave.

“Have ye appointed yerself as Sim’s caretaker?” A smile curved Bryce’s lips, obviously pleased by her concern. “Is it possible ye’ve come to care for a MacPhearson?”

He made her sound like an enemy to herself. Akira needed time to adjust to the changes in her life and wouldn’t be coaxed before she was ready. She sent a challenging gaze in his direction.

“Sim cannot help what family he was born into.”

Bryce stared at her and then chuckled with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “My sweet, I would have ye remember that neither could I. Wear yer new name with pride. For we MacPhearsons could not help the faults of those before us, but we are to blame for what we do today.”

He rode away, leaving her no chance to reply.

Hours later they stopped riding. Balloch stood before Akira, smiling up at her with crooked and stained teeth. For all his brawn and unappealing looks, Balloch seemed to have a gentle nature about him. At the moment, he appeared to recognize her discomfort.

“I’ll carry ye, m’lady.”

She stifled another yawn, shaking her head with a wave of her other hand. Poor Balloch had endured her ceaseless chatter throughout the day, and when Bryce announced they would make camp for the night, Balloch hadn’t missed her weary yawns. He dismounted and hustled over to her before she could even consider sliding from her mount.

“Nay, don’t protest. It does me good every now and then to have a comely lass like yerself in my arms,” he teased, lifting her as if she were fragile and could possibly crumble in his large, awkward hands.

“I didn’t know ye could be so chivalric, Balloch,” she said with a fond smile, clasping her arms about his neck.

“Usually, he isn’t.” Bryce appeared with a raised eyebrow in Balloch’s direction.

Balloch seemed startled as if Bryce were scolding him like a child. Akira watched the two men with interest.

“Balloch was being chivalric,” Akira informed her new husband.

“I’m sure he was,” Bryce mumbled, stepping forward and holding out his arms. “Balloch, I need ye to oversee the men as they prepare camp. I’ll take Akira.”

Balloch practically dumped her into Bryce’s arms, despite her protests. Her husband did not set her down as she expected. Instead, his arms tightened around her, and he called for Ahern. The stallion obeyed at once. Bryce started to lift her up onto his back when Akira clutched his arm and refused to let go.

“I prefer to walk.”

“What’s wrong?” Bryce paused, looking at her quizzically.

“I’ve been riding all day, and I’d like to walk a bit to stretch my legs.”

“Nonsense, I was going to take ye to the river to wash up before we eat, and I know ye wouldn’t want to walk that distance.”

He started to place her on Ahern’s back again when her arms flew around his neck and she again refused.

“Don’t put me back on another beastly animal until the morrow,” she hissed in his ear.

“As ye wish.”

He set her down and her numb legs hit the ground. She grabbed for Bryce and managed to seize his arm just as he turned from her.

“Don’t leave … please.”

Akira tried to take a step forward on a wobbly leg and almost lost her balance. She rarely rode astride an animal, but in order to keep up with their pace she had chosen to do so. Now she wished she had ridden side-saddle.

Understanding dawned on Bryce, and he reached for her elbow as she took another step toward the river.

“How shall I punish ye for not resting as ye should have?” His strained tone almost sounded like a growl.

“I believe I’m being punished quite enough at the moment,” Akira grudgingly pointed out.

She stumbled, and he reached out to steady her. “Ye fool woman—”

“I believe Balloch certainly has more chivalry than my new husband,” Akira interrupted. “He at least would have carried me out of sight so no one would be the wiser, but nay, ye have to let me waddle out of camp like a sore duck.”

Bryce chuckled, trying hard to suppress the grin spreading across his face. “Ye deserve it.”

Maybe she did, but he could at least be more understanding. “I didn’t want to slow ye down. Not so long ago I could ride a horse as many hours as ye and never suffer a sore muscle, but within the year Mither took it into her head that it was time I rode like a lady.”

“Yer too stubborn and full of pride for a female.” He bent and swung her up into his arms.

At the water’s edge, Akira bent her knees and dipped her hands in the cool water. She leaned forward with the intention of splashing cool water on her face, but Bryce jerked her back so hard she could barely catch her breath. She gasped and turned to see him gripping her skirt by the waist.

“Bryce, what are ye thinking?”

“Not again.” He breathed heavy. “I won’t let ye fall in again.”

“Bryce, ye’ve got to let go. Yer hurting me.”

“Not this time, Akira. I won’t be so foolish again. I’ve learned my lesson.” Bryce still clutched her skirt from behind.

“I promise I won’t fall in again. Now let go.” She leaned forward. He jerked her back. Akira twisted out of his grasp and slapped his hands away. He caught hold of her. “Let go.” She tugged on her skirt. “Bryce, ye’re holding me so tight, I canna even reach the water.”

He must have realized she spoke the truth, for he loosened his hold.

She stepped forward, and he moved with her. Akira started to bend her knees again, but Bryce jerked her back. She landed on her backside. Akira clutched her stomach to catch her breath. Bryce leaned over to help her, but Akira shoved him away. His foot slid and his knees bent into her back as he fought to maintain his balance.

“I’m not in danger of suffocating from the river; rather ’twould be from ye.” Suddenly, the whole situation seemed humorous and she laughed. “Since I’ve met ye, how many times have ye nearly killed me?”

Bryce frowned as he settled his hands on his hips. “I’ve done naught of the sort,” he said. “If anything, I’ve tried to save ye from further mishaps.” A fierce determination glittered in his smoky eyes as he took her hand in his. “Lass, ye’re my wife. ’Tis my duty to protect ye.”

She stared at him. “I’ve always been able to protect myself. I had my da and brothers, but I never needed their protection. Now, however, I find myself in great need of protection.”

He sighed heavily. “Lass, I would protect ye with my life. I spoke my vows before God and the vicar and other witnesses. I will honor my words.”

“And how would I know what ye’ve pledged to me?” Akira demanded in an accusing voice that stabbed the air around them with tension. “Since I wasn’t there to witness my—”

Akira broke off, her voice breaking in raw bitterness. “That’s twice now I’ve been cheated of my own wedding.” She wrapped her arms around her middle.

Bryce avoided her gaze and rose to his feet, turning from her. “If ye recall, I asked ye to wed me willingly.”

Akira rose, standing behind him. “If ye’d only given me a wee bit of time I might have considered it!” She took a deep breath, determined to make him understand her point of view. “Do ye think I’ve enjoyed our clans feuding and shedding the blood of innocents? I needed some time to know ye.”

Akira’s chin trembled, but she forced the emotion back, hoping he wouldn’t turn around and see her momentary weakness.

Bryce looked up at the sky, beginning to darken into dusk. “Akira, there wasn’t more time. We needed to bring Gregor’s body home for burial, and I could not bring ye back to yer family unless we were wed. The risk would have been too great.” He folded his arms over his chest and looked down at the ground. “The risk is still great. I pray yer father will honor the betrothal and not demand an annulment.” He sighed. “I know I don’t deserve yer loyalty and there hasn’t been sufficient time to earn yer trust and win ye over.” He paused, as if uncertain if he should continue. He poked at the dirt with the toe of his boot. “I fear I may be in danger of losing ye to yer family again.”

Akira closed her eyes.
Lord, is it too soon to hope that he might care?
Akira’s heart ached with confusion and hope. She had to face the fact that her father had made his choice by not coming for her. Did it matter that Bryce wanted her to keep a promise to prevent war? Theirs wouldn’t exactly be a love match. She had been willing to marry Gregor, and she didn’t love him either. Bryce wasn’t the evil barbarian she once thought. Beneath his fierce exterior beat the heart of a gentle man who cared for and loved his people. She even enjoyed his company when they weren’t arguing, and she couldn’t deny that she had some feelings for him. Proxy wedding or not, by law she and Bryce were wed, and she owed her loyalty to her husband.

Akira rubbed her eyebrows and blinked as she straightened her shoulders. She approached him from behind, laying a hand upon his shoulder. “I’ve been taught to hate ye and to never, ever trust a MacPhearson, but now ye’re my husband, and I am a MacPhearson. Although I wasn’t given the consideration to pledge my own vows, I willingly give them to ye now.”

For a moment Bryce didn’t move and she waited, giving him time to consider her offer of trust, a sacrifice she wasn’t certain she should give. Aware of the heat emanating from him, Akira wondered if she were losing her mind. Something about his presence drew her to him like the undercurrent of the sea.

After a few more moments, Bryce turned to her. His dark gaze assessed her intently. “What are ye saying, lass?”

Her heart pounded rapidly against her ribcage. She swallowed, knowing the importance of her next words.
Lord, help me,
she thought.
Help me to keep this pledge I give him and help him not to take advantage of me.

“While I soon return home to the family that I was born into, I return as a MacPhearson and as yer wife. I’ll not betray my MacKenzie family, but my loyalty belongs to ye. I give it willingly and with the trust that ye’ll honor me as yer wife.”

“Do ye truly mean it, lass? Are ye really giving me yer pledge of these promised blessings?” Bryce asked hopefully.

Akira nodded. “Aye. I won’t lie to ye. I feel that my father betrayed me when he chose to protect the clan over his own daughter.” She paused, giving herself a moment to control her rising emotions. Admitting her feelings aloud sliced her wounded heart even deeper. “If ye truly want me, I am yers with one simple request.”

“Aye?” He eyed her cautiously.

“Give me time to know ye better before we consummate our union.” Akira felt her nails digging into her palms as she waited for an answer.

“And in return ye give me yer loyalty?”

“Aye.” She nodded.

“How much time do ye need, lass?”

Akira shrugged and looked away to avoid his gaze. “I know not the length of time. I’ll just know in my spirit.” She pointed to her chest.

Suspicion rose in his gray eyes. “How do I know ye won’t change yer mind and go against me once yer anger with yer father subsides?”

She linked her hands in front of her. “I’ve naught to give ye but my word. We’re both highlanders and ye know how important a highlander’s word is to any man or woman.” Her insides shook, but she squared her shoulders and boldly met his eyes. “I give ye the honor of my word as a highlander and a Christian.”

His gaze traveled over her face and searched her eyes. He reached out and gently touched her lashes with his finger, letting the moisture of a tear soak his skin. She caught her breath, and his gaze slipped to her mouth as his lips lowered to hers. At first Akira stood like a statue, afraid to move, and then his warmth melted her defenses. She leaned into him.

He pulled back, staring at her with blazing eyes. Akira now understood the look smoldering in his eyes. While it could never be a substitute for true love, perhaps with God’s help and in time, it could be a beginning. Holy matrimony would be a lifetime commitment, and she had no wish to be with someone who didn’t love her. Akira had no choice but to trust in God for something more to develop between them.