Free The Imposter by Jenna Stone

for dear
life.
     My eyes sprang
back open when Devon suddenly reined the horse to an abrupt stop.  My heart was
pounding and my breathing was ragged.  I was terrified.
    We were at the
edge of the forest.  Devon swung down from the horse with me in his arms and
pulled the saddle bag off the back of the horse.  He strode into the trees,
still carrying me.  His movements were rapid, his stride purposeful as he
walked deeper into the woods.  He swung me down, settling me onto my feet, and
tossed the saddle bag at my feet. My knees were weak.  Devon pried the plaid
from my fingers and settled it firmly around my shoulders, one hand resting on
each of my shoulders. 
    “I canna take ye
back with me, Kate.  Ye must take tae the heather.” His words were urgent as he
demanded my obedience by staring directly into my eyes.  “Doona move from this
place.  If ye hear people, hide in the brush.  Cover yerself with the plaid.  
There’s the rest of the food in the bag.  It should be enough tae keep ye for
awhile.   I’ll be back for ye, but I canna say when.  The keep may be under
attack.  Do ye understand me, lass?” he demanded.
    “No, take me with
you!” I pleaded, scared by the prospect of being abandoned.
    “I doona have time
tae argue with ye!  Yer stayin’ here, Kate.  It’s not safe back at the keep,”
he said, glaring down at me, green eyes impatient.
    “What if you don’t
come back?” I questioned, terrified about being left alone in the forest.
    “I’ll be back.  Doona
fash yerself,” he said, looking anxious to get back to the keep.  “I promise,”
he added for extra assurance.
    I crossed my arms
in defeat and exhaled slowly in an effort to slow the raging beat of my heart. 
“Hurry,” I added, looking up at him.
    He nodded at my
response.  His hand moved from my shoulder to the base of my neck.  He drew me
towards him and placed a quick, hard kiss on my lips.  I was stunned by the
unexpected kiss and by the smoldering look in his eyes.  Then he was gone.
    I leaned back
against the tree behind me.  The bark was rough and scratchy, even through the
plaid.  I tasted Devon on my lips.  His kiss stirred feelings of arousal that
were new and foreign.  I wanted to kiss him again.
    My knees quivered
and I allowed them to give out, sliding my back down the tree until I was
settled at its base.  I gathered the plaid around my shoulders and picked up
the saddle bag, hugging it to my chest.  I leaned forward and rested my head on
my bent knees.  I would not cry.  I would be strong.  I willed myself to
believe that Devon would come back for me.
    Hours passed
slowly and there were no more bells.  My mind raced with fear about what could
be happening at the keep.  I knew that it was serious because of the urgency
that I saw in Devon.  He was the war-chief and injured or not, I knew that his
role in protecting the Clan was a vital one.
    Why had he kissed
me?  Why was I so attracted to this man despite trying to keep him at a safe
distance?  The spark that I had felt at the touch of his lips to mine lingered
with me.  It was getting dark.  I would not be afraid.  I chanted this mantra
over and over again in my mind.  I gathered his plaid around me and listened to
the sounds of the forest as night overtook daylight.  He would come back for
me.
    My eyes flew open.
This was my chance to escape.

 
                                                                           
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
Six
     
    I heard a rustling
in the brush and instantly awoke.  Had I actually fallen asleep?  After hours
of traipsing around in the maze of the forest, I must have rested for a moment
and fallen asleep.  My heart thundered in my ears.  I had lost this precious
chance to escape.
    “Kate?” his voice
was calm, questioning, almost a whisper.
    I jumped up from
my hiding place in the bushes, and was