Page 55 of To Win a Highlander’s Heart

“I did not know about her until a short while ago. Had I known, I would have told you.” Orrick smiled. “Let’s return to the English encampment. By now John, Graeme, Alastair, and Tormod must have drawn that battle to a close as we have here.”

Isolde raised a brow. “My brother came to help fight the English?”

Orrick nodded. “There are many things we both need additional details about, such as Aria’s mysterious appearance and your brother’s change of heart. Though let us hear the full story amongst the safety of our clans. Agreed?”

Isolde’s lips curved. “Agreed. Before we go, I need to thank you, Aria, for saving my life. Without your arrows, I would have joined Lieutenant Collins on the rocks below.”

Aria’s gaze passed between Isolde and Orrick. “It was a team effort. I stopped you from falling momentarily, but Orrick halted the plummet to your death.”

“I am forever beholden to you both, to be alive at this moment. I was so certain—” Isolde’s voice cracked and tears sprang to her eyes.

“I’m going to gather the lieutenant’s horse.” Aria stepped back before turning away, giving Isolde and him some privacy.

“You came for me,” Isolde said, her voice stronger now.

“I would have fought dragons for you.”

She wiped away her tears. “Does this mean . . .”

“I fought my way out of Scorrybreac and through the English encampment to find you, and I will fight every day moving forward if that’s what I have to do to keep you safe.” He clasped her hands in his. “You once said that I would be able to fight again if the cause was just.”

She nodded.

“I would like to add that I can also fight if it means protecting my family from harm.” He pulled her into an embrace. For a moment, they simply stood, wrapped in each other’s arms. Orrick buried his face in her hair, breathed in her scent—blackcurrants and roses—before he slowly eased back.

“I wish I could hold you in my arms all day, but we must return and sort through the aftermath of our battle with the English. There could be grave consequences for the Scots, especially now that Lieutenant Collins is dead.”

“Whatever happens, we can face it together.” Isolde accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her to where Aria was already mounted and waiting. At his horse, Orrick unfastened the bow he had brought from Scorrybreac and the quiver he had retrieved from Lieutenant Collins’s tent and gave them to her. “These belong with you.”

“Thank you. I had given up hope of ever seeing my bow again.” Her smile warmed him clear to his toes.

Orrick helped Isolde onto Phoenix’s back before he swung up onto the Englishman’s horse. One crisis had been avoided. What other challenges they would face before the day was through would be revealed to them all very soon. Of that, Orrick was certain.

Chapter Twenty

A shimmer of sunshine broke through the clouds above Isolde, Orrick, and Aria as they rode back to the English encampment. Isolde drew in an easy breath, consoled by the sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below the cliffs and the wind as it whispered across the land before them. They were comforting sounds—heralding the return to normalcy even though she doubted things in her life would ever be ordinary again. After having absolutely nothing, she would never take for granted the clothes on her back, the food at the table, or the company she kept. They were all priceless treasures she would now enjoy because of Orrick MacLeod.

As the miles passed, Isolde reflected on the past ten days since Orrick had found her in the wilderness. So much had changed in her life and in herself during that time. She was no longer isolated and alone. The wound in her arm had improved greatly. And she’d proven to herself she still retained her skill with a bow. Her wants and desires had changed as well. At one time, all she had wanted was to battle. But she’d learned that it was the calm moments—the times between the battles—that truly made life worth living.

She wanted to be a sister to her brother and an aunt to his family again, if they would allow it. More importantly, she wanted to be a wife, a lover, a friend to her future husband. To fill their lives with joy and children and adventure that had nothing to do with fighting. Yet, she also understood that battling had its place, especially in these uncertain times. Everyone—male or female—should know ways to defend not only themselves, but also those they loved, should the need ever arise.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Isolde, Orrick, and Aria approached the English encampment. The site was strangely quiet as they approached. Orrick must have sensed something was off as well because he drew his sword. Isolde and Aria both strung their bows. It wasn’t until they passed several tents that they finally saw Alastair and Tormod near a cluster of English soldiers guarded by Graeme and the MacLeod warriors. The Englishmen were bound at the wrists and tied in pairs as they sat upon the ground.

At the sight of the riders, all eyes turned their direction. Alastair separated himself from the men and came towards them. “I see you were successful in your rescue of Isolde,” Alastair said, greeting her with a welcoming smile. “We are all very relieved to see you safe, my lady.” He paused, then asked, “Where is Lieutenant Collins?”

“He’s dead. He fell over a cliff and to his death,” Isolde said from atop Orrick’s horse.

“What happened here?” Orrick asked, sliding down from the Englishman’s horse before helping Isolde down. She was grateful for the assistance, since all the fight earlier had left her suddenly drained of her strength. As though sensing her need for a moment of stability before he let go, Orrick’s arm slipped about her waist.

Alastair’s features sobered. “The English are defeated. Only three and twenty of the original company of men remain alive. John and the Nicolson warriors are gathering the dead. We must see them to their final reward before we head back to Dunvegan with our prisoners.”

“We cannot free the Englishmen, can we?” Orrick asked.

Alastair shook his head. “If we release them, they would only return to England and bring back many more troops that we Scots are not ready to confront. We need time to gather weapons and prepare for an all-out war with England. These men will not be missed in their homeland for a while. That affords us time we desperately need.”

“Where will you put the prisoners? Dunvegan is growing crowded after taking in so many villagers who have fallen victim to clan attacks as of late.”

Alastair’s gaze passed between Isolde and Orrick. “Am I correct in assuming there is something developing between you two? The kiss I witnessed the other day suggested that you clearly care for each other.”