A person could easily detect the fear that Kirstin felt at that very moment, and the rage that Lachlan expressed. No doubt, anyone in Kirstin's situation would say something, scream, or perhaps even run away. Unfortunately, Kirstin did not have much time to react, if any time at all. Lachlan had reached for her arm, grabbing her roughly, and began to drag her away.
She clumsily followed, all the while tripping in the struggle to keep up with his long strides. He grit his teeth, but said nothing, as he pulled her behind him, back to his manor. His hand was tight against her upper arm, and by the roughness of his grasp, she knew that she was completely and utterly doomed.
It seemed like mere minutes before he had shoved her into his study. Lachlan had slammed the door shut before Kirstin even had the chance to compose herself. By the time Kirstin regained her balance and stood upright, she made no haste to turn around to face Lachlan. Her body was tense, stiff even, and her eyes were shut tight.
Lachlan took slow, heavy steps from behind her. He stopped when his chest was firmly pressed against her back. If at all possible, Kirstin tensed more.
His lips found her ear, which only made a shiver rake up and down her body. His hands had found her shoulders and he held her in place, "Ye have disobeyed me."
Kirstin swallowed hard at his statement. She swore she could feel him nibble her earlobe briefly, as if tasting her fear, and then with one swift movement Lachlan turned her around. He held her only inches away while his lips trailed down to her neck.
"What is yer excuse? Speak now or forevermore be punished for yer disloyalty." He threatened, his lips meeting the skin of her neck. His teeth grazed the sensitive spot there.
Kirstin opened her mouth only for no words to come out. She stuttered momentarily and then shut her mouth tightly. Lachlan smirked against her neck, only to bring his head back up to look at her face.
"Do ye have no excuse then?" he said lowly, and in almost a joking tone? One of his hands left her shoulder to take her chin between his fingers. He tilted her face up to his, "Open yer eyes, Kirstin."
She did, but slowly. Her vision cleared to see hard eyes and, a smile? Lachlan's hand let go of her chin and he used the back of it to caress her cheek.
"It seems," he said lowly, trying to control a soft chuckle, "That yer to be punished after all. Unless," his smile grew, "Ye speak now, but choose yer words wisely."
Being given the second chance to explain herself, Kirstin made sure not to waste it. She couldn't help but feel that this was all a game to Lachlan, even though he probably was somewhat upset with her.
"I left something in the field, last eve. I went in search of it." She said honestly. Lachlan nodded, dropping both hands to his side.
"And did ye find the item?" he asked sternly, but his smile did not fade.
"Nay, it was no' there." She answered.
"Mayhap," Lachlan began to walk towards his sleeping chambers, "I have what yer looking for."
Not knowing what exactly to do, Kirstin followed Lachlan after he disappeared into the other room. She barely got a glimpse of him opening a drawer from a side table, taking out the familiar leather-bound journal. She didn't know what caused her to gasp, if it was the fact that he had the item or perhaps the way he handed her the journal. He opened it to a specific entry, and upon handing it to her, his hand lightly brushed against her own.
"Read," Lachlan demanded, "Aloud."
A quizzical look took its place on her brow, and she gave him a questioning look. When Lachlan nodded for her to begin, Kirstin took a hesitant breath and began.
Several winters passed after my mother's death, and I found myself learning to read and write, learn the accounts, and take control over the land from which my father owned.
One day, when the flowers had bloomed and the skies had turned bluer, I received a letter. It was in this letter that revealed everything, from my father's death to the corruption between the Ruskin Clan. It was in this very letter, the mentioning of a family who had gone against their own clan to help another. And it was this letter in particular, that gave me answers to the questions I had found myself asking for a long time.
When Kirstin made to turn the page, something fell from the journal. It fluttered to the floor and in one swift movement Kirstin picked it up. Her brows furrowed as she held the piece of paper in her hand, no doubt comprehending that it was the letter mentioned before.
Looking up at Lachlan, she noticed that he was pacing back and forth as if he were nervous. He gave a curt nod to the letter, "Go on, read it."
She held the fragile sheet in her hand, opening it carefully as not to rip its edges. Scanning the lines briefly, she started from the beginning.
Laird Bateson,
We have been shunned and exiled from the Ruskin Clan, for Laird Ronan has discovered our disloyalty. He has spared us our lives, but only because he has fallen ill and is soon to be taken by death himself. His son, Graham, will soon become the laird, if he has no' already.
I fear that 'tis best I donna reveal to ye our exact whereabouts, for if our location gets into the wrong hands, one might want to seek revenge for our past decisions.
Mayhap, ye donna ken the full story. In which case, I will enlighten ye.
Laird Ronan had been given the idea that he could win a battle against yer clan. At the time, he had prepared his men for many moons to sabotage yer lands, and take yer will and rights as possession. Even after signing the peace treaty between the two clans, Laird Ronan had high hopes to go against it.
We did no' see it fair; especially after yer father had done so much to keep the peace. My family and I came after dark, the eve of the battle, to warn yer father. Though, it was no' much time yer father had to prepare for the attack, he held his ground firmly and did all that he could.
Without proper preparations, yer clan was still stronger than that of the Ruskin Clan. We heard the news much later, that yer clan had won but yer father had risked his life protecting his men.
The tension grew much too fast between the two clans, but no' much was done to secure the Ruskin Clan and prevent them from attacking again. Although they have failed to make another attack, we fear that 'tis only because of Laird Ronan's illness. We canna promise the stability of peace, for when Graham takes the role as laird, he will surely continue his father's intentions but with much more force.
Take this letter as a hint of warning. We advise ye to be cautious of Graham's actions, and be aware of the hardships he may stow upon ye. Donna trust him.
As for my family, we have taken our own precautions and now have a safe home away from the highlands that have caused us many troubles. Though, we have been stripped of any titles and wealth, my wife and daughter are protected, which is all I care about now. Mayhap, we will see ye again and if no', then we hope that all stays well.
Kirstin's eyes drifted a little further down the page to see the signature of whom had written the letter.
Payton Croft
She immediately dropped the letter as if it were harmful to the touch, taking in a sharp intake of air. It was signed by her father.
By now, Lachlan had stopped pacing to watch her reaction. Kirstin looked up at him with a fearful look, as the realizations hit her. There was only one astounding connection that she had made above all the others, and with Lachlan's intense gaze, she felt that she had no other option but to speak of it, "I was the babe."
Lachlan approached her with wary steps, "Aye."
It was evident that Kirstin was unsettled, her movements shaky and her stuttering constant, "I-I was the babe." She said once more.
She had not realized it, but Lachlan had closed the distance between them, kneeling down to one knee as he did so.
"Aye, yer the babe." He grasped one of her small hands in one of his much larger ones, "And I have never stopped loving ye. When I saw ye, that day in town, I remembered those eyes. Yer eyes. I ken no' why or how I had come upon ye, but only that I wouldna lose ye as I had once before. Yer parents recognized me, but knew that they had no' much of a choice but to give into my orders of ye coming here, as they had no' much money and knew that I had become the most feared and unforgiving highlander of the lands."
Lachlan stared up at her, losing himself in her bright blue orbs, before continuing, "There has no' been one day I have no' thought of ye. No' one day I have no' loved ye. Yer family has been much too kind, and I fear I have left them grieving for yer leaving, but mayhap I can return them a favor by giving ye a good home, and an even better family. Kirstin," Lachlan gave a light tug on her hand to emphasize his next words, "Would ye do the honor in becoming my wife?"
There was so much emotion in Lachlan's eyes and Kirstin wondered if this was all a dream. She did not know what to make of all this, her own emotions becoming just as intense and possibly overwhelming. She could not help what happened next as she searched Lachlan's face for an answer that she could not give.
Kirstin fainted.