Free The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens Page B

a coward, and no MacGannon is a coward." His voice was gruff and he raised a fist. "We're brave! MacGannons are brave!"
    "Brave!" Two small voices echoed him hollowly. I turned away, my hand at my throat. He would not even try to escape. And he was teaching his sons to live by the same code. I felt sick.
    "And we don't run away," Alex said. "Never."
    "Never," said Ian, and Jamie echoed him.
    Alex's voice was normal again. "Even if ye are afraid. Especially if ye are afraid."
    "Are ye afraid, Da?" Jamie asked.
    "Aye, Jamie, of course I am, but I gave my word and I will go. Now, promise me to be good for yer mother and do as she says."
    "We will, Da," Jamie said.
    Ian threw himself in his father's arms. "Don't go, Da! Can't we go somewhere where they canna find you?"
    Alex patted his back and kissed his hair. "Aye, I could, Ian, but I won't. I gave my pledge. I must go with them." He slapped his thighs. "And now, my laddies, ye must come with me while I tell the people what will happen. When I leave I willna be laird anymore and they must ken that."
    "What will happen?"
    "I dinna ken. The English will decide what happens to Kilgannon. Y e and yer brother will go to Mar y's family."
    "We have to leave too?" Ian cried. "Can we no' go with ye?" "No," Alex said. "I wish ye could. Or, I wish I could go with ye. But we canna go together. Now go, lads, and change yer clothes and meet me downstairs. We must be clean when we talk to everyone. Go on with ye now. I'll be with ye shortly."
    With a glance at me they started for the door. Halfway there Ian turned. "Da, do ye really have to go?" he asked, his voice wavering. Alex nodded. "Aye, Ian. I wish it were not so, but I do." "And we have to leave too?" "Aye, but ye'll be most brave, aye?" Ian nodded solemnly and left us, his brother behind him. We were alone.
     
     
    W E STOOD APART, STARINC AT THE CLOSED DOOR. Alex moved to it and locked it while I tried to master my emotions. I could not decide if I was sad or angry or just numb, but when Alex came to stand in front of me I opened my arms and he stepped into them. When he kissed me my reserve melted and I half-sobbed, half-moaned, running my hands along his cheeks and through his hair. "Alex," I said, as my fingers explored his shoulders and neck. He laced one hand through my hair and held my mouth to his while the other held me tight against him.
    "My lips aren't bruised," he said when we paused. I laughed breathlessly, remembering when I had said that to him. So long ago.
    "Alex," I said, but he bent to kiss me again and I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of him against my mouth. And my hips.
    "Mary Rose," he whispered. "Mary Rose, how I’ ve missed ye."
    "And I you, my love," I said, pulling his shirt loose from his belt. He flinched when I tugged at the material, and I paused, the linen still in my hand. "That hurts, doesn't it?"
    He nodded. "It doesna matter. I'm just battered a bit, but all the parts work, as I'll show ye." He reached for me again but I stepped back, my hand on his un-bruised cheek.
    "The last thing I would do is hurt you more. We'll wait."
    He shook his head. "We havena time to wait. Come to me."
    "Alex," I began, but he shook his head again.
    "Make love to me, Mary Rose," he said quietly. "Now. And later. And later again. Make love to me, Mary."
    I did then, pulling his shirt free the rest of the way and undoing the belt he'd just buckled. His kilt fell to the floor and his shirt followed it and he stood before me, bruises and new scars livid against his skin. With a sob I ran my fingers lightly over his ribs and then kissed each shoulder, then his chest, and when he pulled me to him I kissed his mouth while I caressed his back. He undid my lacings with the ease born of practice, and within moments I stood naked before him as well. I closed my eyes and leaned against him, running my fingers along the length of him and feeling his response. "Alex," I breathed. "You are perfection."
    He laughed in his throat