Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Much later they lay wrapped in each others arms, Lachlan caressing her back.
“I can’t wait for my family to meet you. They will want to plan a big wedding feast and—”
Terese sat up, not minding that her breasts were bare and her rosy nipples still rigid from their lovemaking. “I’m not going home with you.”
He laughed. “I am your home as you are mine.”
She wanted to cry at the truth of his words. Instead she laughed. “Everagis is my home and always will be.”
Lachlan jolted up. “Stop this nonsense.”
She jumped out of bed and reached for her clothes. “It is not nonsense. Accept it and go home.”
He yanked the clothes from her hands. “You are my home.”
She grabbed the clothes from him and scooped the others off the floor. She needed to get dressed, cover her nakedness, for suddenly she felt much too vulnerable being naked in front of him.
She slipped them on fast and then faced him with a toss of her head. “No, I am not your home. Everagis is my home.”
Lachlan raked a frustrated hand through his long dark hair. “That’s not true and you know it. I love you and you love me.”
She shook her head and laughed. “That is what you believe.”
“It is the truth; you can’t deny it.”
“Go home, Lachlan. Go home and live your life.”
He grabbed hold of her arm as she turned to walk away and yanked her against him. “Tell me, damn it. Tell me you don’t love me. I want to hear you say it.”
She felt her heart break, the pain stabbing at her chest, trying to rob her breath, and she answered before she didn’t have a breath left in her. “I don’t love you. I never have.”
Lachlan released her so suddenly that she stumbled.
She decided to continue her attack, for she feared if she didn’t he would try to work his charm on her, and she was much too susceptible to it.
“You were enjoyable while it lasted, but now it’s time for you to leave. I don’t wish to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Lord, forgive me for such a blatant lie.
He stood naked with a look of shock and vulnerability that broke her heart even further.
“We had a good time. Take the memories and enjoy them.”
“I don’t believe you,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Don’t make this hard, Lachlan. Don’t make me say it again.”
“Say it,” he demanded. “Say it again.”
“I don’t love you,” she shouted, the pain so intense she thought she would die. “Go home. I don’t love you.”
She turned then and ran out of the cottage before he could stop her, and she didn’t stop. She ran into the woods and kept running and running wanting to outrun the pain, mindless of the branches scratching her arms or her destination, until finally out of breath, she stopped.
Terese dropped to the ground and wept, alone with her heartache.
“Terese.”
She turned to see Piper standing behind her almost as breathless as she was.
“I saw you and followed,” Piper said between breathes.
“I don’t know where I am,” Terese cried.
Piper leaned down and wrapped her arm around her. “That’s all right. I do. Come on I’ll take you home.”
Home. Did she truly know where it was anymore?
“Rowena could use your help,” Piper said.
“What’s wrong?” Terese asked, standing without help from Piper.
“A young woman large with child arrived at Everagis a couple of hours ago in labor. She’s having a rough time of it and Rowena fears losing her.”
Terese wiped at her tears. “Then we best help her.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Piper asked.
Terese shook her head and wiped away fresh tears. “No, I’m not. Let’s go. Duty always calls.”
Hester entered the room where the woman labored to birth her babe and addressed Terese. “Lachlan and his men are ready to leave. He asks for you. Would you rather I make an excuse?”
Terese stood. “I will not be a coward now that it is at the end.”
She bravely walked out of the common shelter with Hester by her side, Megan remaining with the woman. Rowena joined the two, though she and Hester stayed their steps when they drew close to Lachlan to let Terese have a moment with him.
“We thank you and your men for all you have done for us. We will be forever grateful,” she said to him and it hurt to see that he didn’t wear his usual charming smile because of her.
“Andrew and Evan will remain for now. No doubt you will see Sinclare warriors again. I will not be one of them,” Lachlan said, “though I will recommend that the church turn this land over to you and the others so that you may remain here at your home.”
That he should do that for her when she had been so cruel to him broke her heart all the more. “That is generous of you.”