Page 10 of Tess and the Highlander
She was fast. He caught up to the stubborncreature again halfway down the dark stairs. Before he could grabher by the elbow, she turned sharply to him, her hands out to holdhim off.
“Do not come after me,” she snappedimpatiently. “I told you, I have to go outside.”
“But why? I have already offered…”
“Look, I was brought up with theunderstanding that there are some things people must do forthemselves. Do I need to say any more?”
Suddenly, Colin felt like a complete idiot.“Ah. You could have explained this to me before...”
She shook her head and hurried down beforehe could finish what he was saying.
“Youarecoming back, aren’tyou?”
Colin noticed that in her rush she didn’teven stop to grab her cloak from the bottom of the stairs beforegoing out. He didn’t move, though, wondering if this had been all aruse and the headstrong woman was running across the island thisvery minute. Not that he would stop her forcibly if she wasdetermined to go…er, hide. But it would be nice to know hishonorable conduct was somehow appreciated. It wasn’t too much toask her to trust him until this storm was over, was it? He wasstill waging this silent argument with himself when the dooropened, and she blew in amidst the wind and rain.
Her steps were much lighter. Her attitudemuch less tense. She climbed up couple of steps toward him but thenstopped.
“I guess ‘twould be better if we started allover again.”
She continued to study him as if she wastrying to make up her mind about whether it was really safe to comeup the stairs, or not.
“My name is Colin Macpherson,” he announced.“You found me yourself yesterday on the rocks.”
He realized that her gaze was focused on thedirk that he had once again put back in its sheath at his belt. Heunderstood her fear. She went down a step when his hand went toit.
“You can have this, if it makes you feel anybetter.” Even in the darkness of the stairwell, he could see herwatching his every movement as he took out the weapon and held thehandle in her direction. “I will be appreciative though, if youpromise to not use it on me.”
Colin waited patiently while she studied himsome more. “I will also be grateful if you decided to spare myclothes, as well. I know they are not in very fine shape, but theyare all I have here and, considering the weather...”
Finally, she climbed up and hesitantlyreached for the preferred weapon.
“Will I be safe?” he pressed in a lightertone, hoping to ease her nervousness.
After she gave him a quick nod, Colinstarted backing up the steps. He couldn’t understand it, butsomehow winning her trust really mattered.
“I see you have a very interestingcollection ofthingsupstairs.”
She tucked the weapon in a pocket of thedress and started climbing up, too.
“In case you are interested in adding mydirk to your miscellany…” As he backed into the large chamber, thesound of crunching shells drew a curse from his lips. “By thedevil…”
“This is better.” She was biting her lips to hide asmile.
“Whatis better?”
“Saying what you think and feel, instead ofplaying these games with words.”
“Games with words?”
She shrugged. “I know what you were tryingto do. But I am not afraid of you.”
Colin extended his hand at her. “Then can Ihave my dagger back?”
“Nay, you cannot.” She went around him andwalked toward the fire.
He turned, managing to crush more shells.“Why, in the name of St. Andrew, MUST you keep these bloody…?”
“Colin Macpherson.” She glanced over hershoulder at him and actually smiled. “A little restraint is good,too.”
