Chapter 12

She felt his kiss all the way to her toes and the way they curled within her mildly damp slippers. Evie's hands had loosened on the bow she held, but she felt almost engulfed within Connor's embrace as she felt his lips moved across hers, plundering and exploring until air swept between them once more as he pulled away. A satisfied sensation flooded the Highlander's skin as he saw the dazed look Evie wore, a sign that he had done well, and that he wasn't the only one affected by the attraction simmering between them.

Careful to make sure she was steady before he let her go, Connor pushed past the thick vegetation to retrieve the game they had shot down, reaching to take Evie's hand before leading the silent redhead to the waiting horse. "Is anything wrong, lass?"

While nothing was wrong per say, the sense of guilt in the girl was beginning to balloon the more she spent time with him. Oh don't get her wrong, Evie had fully intended of telling Connor of the plans her father had for her, that she was allowed 3 months and no more, and after that she was to return to the wedding between her and Fabian in London. But for Connor, all he knew was that she had finally been granted her heart's deepest desires in visiting the Highlands, to see where her mother grew up. He expected her to be happy, so when he saw the rather stricken look Evie wore, he dropped the hand he held quickly, assuming that it was he who had done something wrong.

"I am too bold my lady, I should not have-"

"No, Connor! It wasn't any fault of yours. I just-"

"Am I right in saying that you care for me as well then, lass?" Connor's voice was hesitant as he asked that, for the captain had  never bared his heart to anyone before this. Leaving whores and prostitutes in bed when the sun rose was easy enough, but Connor knew he wouldn't ever be able to just leave Evie Verrick so callously with no word given.

The girl fidgeted, a sign he knew by now that signified she was hiding something. Securing the game to the saddle quickly, the dark-haired captain whirled to grasp the girl by her shoulders, peering into her uncertain green eyes with a frown. "Evie-" Whatever he wanted to say however, was swallowed when Evie was the one who launched at him, latching her arms around him and planting her lips on him. Caught off guard, Connor automatically caught her by her waist, frozen in her chaste kiss where she pulled back before he had a chance to even respond.

"I have 3 months in the Highlands, Captain. Show me your home please." It was an endearing request, how could he say no? The thing was, Connor thought as he helped her on his horse, and held her tightly to him as they rode back, he didn't think he was going to let her return to her home.

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Travelling with the Highlanders were a different experience altogether. Evie had travelled with her father to Bath once on a holiday, and had spent most of the time in a carriage cooped up and bored to death with only Amelia for company. And while they were the best of friends, spending all day with anyone at all would drive Evie up the wall.

But on horseback, occasionally stopping to water them, with the sun on her face and the wind in her hair, all of it invigorated the girl. It made Connor's heart catch each time he saw her flushed cheeks, rosy and bright which danced as her emerald irises did. With each day that passed, the captain grew more and more certain that despite his laird's warnings, he was not capable of resisting the attraction between him and the Lady Evelyn Verrick, like a magnetic force that pulled them both together.

Not that Hammond was much help ever since they left the castle, to be honest. Fussy and short tempered, his new attitude surprised even the captain himself, who had practically grew up with his young laird.

"What do you think's the matter with him?" Fabian whispered to Evie one day as they helped to set up camp, well versed in it by now. Caught by surprise at her companions whisper, she jumped when she realized how close Fabian was, looking over to a dour-faced Hammond and frowned. "I'm not entirely sure myself... Should I talk to him?"

"There is nae need." Connor interrupted, his large form somehow managing to wedge his way between Evie and Fabian, a scowl tossed at the English lord before it gentled as he turned his gaze to Evie.  "Hammond has an ailment he can only cure with time."

"Oh, what is it? Mayhaps I can ease his pain a little. Mother has taught me of herbs and medicinal plants which can be used."

"With time, bacail." Connor repeated, grinning at the scowl Fabian wore at his usage of his pet name for Evie. Connor was beginning to dislike the English lord's presence more and more, and it only escalated as he pushed his way forward to forcefully stand between him and a rather confused looking Evie, to glare at Connor, unafraid of the imposing height and size the Highlander was as compared to him. "We are managing quite well here ourselves, Captain Gilroy. Thank you."

"I did not come to speak to you, Sassenach." the captain bit out, all but shoving Fabian out of the way before addressing Evie. "Care to ride? Tis another day, another lesson on archery." It had become a game of sorts for them, to hunt for the nights meat, and for Connor to provide a lesson on archery that occasionally branched into a few stolen kisses. Evie's flush when he mentioned archery however, was enough to put Fabian on his guard. The duke's heir pushed quickly pass Connor to nudge Evie out of the way, glaring at the captain. "It is not proper for Lady Evelyn to dissapear with you so often each night captain. I must ask that you cease immediately."

"Has anyone ever bothered asking me what I want?" Evie's sudden mutinous tone grounded the little skirmish that was beginning to brew to a halt, as two sets of male eyes turned to her in surprise. By then, the girl was wearing a look of stubborn anger on her face, throwing one last glare in at the two males for good measure before she stalked over to her horse to grab the bow and quiver of arrows strapped there. "I'll go and practice myself, there is no need for anyone to follow me." Before any of the men could say a thing, she had darted off.

Leaving the two males to exchange hard glares with each other.

"You're a stifling lot, you English are. Keeping your women tied up with many rules, keeping your sons tied up with many rules as well. Do you guys have rules on how to eat as well?" Fabian scowled at the insinuation. "It is done to protect society, to protect our ladies. It is unthinkable if they were to wander alone and something happened to them."

"True." Connor conceded. He didn't know what would happen if anything happened to Evie, and it had been because he had been careless in caring for her safety. He bit his lip, considering the meaning of why exactly he felt like dying when the idea of Evie's death was brought up, when an earth-rendering scream pierced the sky. Everything fell silent for the briefest of seconds, and then Connor bolted up as he pinpointed where the sound had came from.

"Evie!"

Without wasting a moment, and with barely another look at Fabian, Connor took off with his heart in his throat, unable to forget the sharp pierce of her voice through the air. Inwardly, he cursed himself and how he would never be able to forgive himself if anything were to happen to her. How could he let his male ego rule, and choose to argue with that fop of a lord while Evie went into the woods herself? All Highlanders knew the uncharted woods were dangerous, and anything outside of MacKenzie  lands were uncharted to Connor.

Bursting into the brush, his eyes immediately searched wildly around for the wild, red hair he now associated so dearly with. "Evie!" his voice called wildly out, not even caring about the scratches he was giving himself as he pushed past the thick bushes to find her. "Connor!" It was a relief to the Highlander to hear her voice, relieved that she was at least able to still call out. Swinging in the direction of her voice,he scowled when he turned to his back and saw Fabian Rothesay hot on his heels. "Do you even know how to navigate the woods, Sassenach?" he hissed out, unhappy at what a hindrance the London dandy was.

In return, Fabian scowled darkly and held out a short sword. "We have our ways. Now where is she?"

Without bothering to deign Fabian with a reply, Connor took off in the direction he had heard her, calling out again. "Evie! Are you hurt?"

"No! Just rather bruised. Come get me out of here, Connor! I fell into a hole of some sort and- Hurry! There's a snake!"

His heart leapt to his throat again, hurriedly chopping past offending branches to make her way to her, grateful that her voice seemed to get closer as they walked. "What color is the beast?"

"Green, bright green. No markings."

"Dinna worry, tis probably just a harmless garden snake. Just dinna touch it." Connor soothed, scowling when Fabian jumped in. "We're coming to get you Evie, don't worry!"

"I told her as much, now would ya shut yer trap so I can figure oot where she is?" Really, there had been no need to snap at the lord, for Connor already knew roughly by then, where Evie was. Fabian was just grating on his nerves, so right now any reason would fly for him to reprimand the guy.

Turning and simply not bothering if he kept up or not, the warrior plunged his way past the dense vegetation, breathing a sigh of relief when they finally chanced upon a clearing and he spotted the red head stuck in a hole that rose up above her. Coming to its edge, he couldn't help but grin at how disgruntled she looked. "You're looking comfortable down there, should you stay?"

"Connor Gilroy, now is not the time. Get me out of here now!"

He laughed at her impatient tone, that familiar vivacious persona of Evie he knew so well coming back from the shy lamb he had kissed. Getting down on his hands and knees, the male reached a hand out just as Fabian burst through the brush. Not caring about the other though, he grasped Evie's offered hand, and gently told her to jump as he pulled, catching her just by the waist. Pulling her closer, perhaps a little closer then was necessary, Connor proceeded to lean backwards, eventually ending up with the girl sprawled on his chest as he toppled backwards, laughing as her red locks fanned across his face.

Evie fell with a thud on his chest, the jarring might of the fall distracting her but for a few seconds before she realized how exactly she was sprawled on his chest. Her legs were nestled between his, her hands askew all over him, stomach right over where his waist and groin was.

The moment that realization dawned on her, Evie had never moved faster in shooting up, almost kneeing his groin as she scrambled to stand up, and would probably have fallen back in the hole had Fabian not suddenly appeared next to her to steady her as Connor got up himself, dusting his back from the twigs and dirt before raising an amused brow at the girl. "How did you end up in there?"

"I was tracking a rabbit, and didn't realize this hole was here."

"What is this hole doing here anyway? Barbaric country. See why your father wouldn't let you here, Evie?"

Connor's eyes flashed at the insinuation to his land, but to his surprise, Evie jumped to his rescue by giving a glare at her friend. "Tis not barbaric, but simply my own carelessness, Fabian, now do leave off."

"I cannot leave off, he entrusted you to my care. How am I supposed to convince him I'm capable of taking care of you after marriage if I can't even care for you now?"

The word marriage suddenly caught the Highlander off guard, and his eyes immediately swivelled to Evie, who had flushed the second Fabian had brought the topic up, clearly averting Connor's eyes as she scowled at Fabian. Before the girl could get a word in edgewise however, Connor had menacingly narrowed his eyes, stalking up to the blond male and shoving him. His actions drew Fabian up to his full height, but Connor was rarely intimidated. Instead, he growled his question out, clearly offensive now. "What right do you have to claim the lady's hand in marriage?"

"The right granted to me since I spoke to her father? It was why Lord Verrick allowed me to escort her here."

"That's-"

"Is that true, Evie?" this time, Connor turned to confront the girl. She had been on the verge of rebutting Fabian's statement that there was no right to be have over her, but the Highlander's menacing tone drew her up short, suddenly feeling caved in as he glared at her through his dark, and now glitteringly dangerous gaze. "Er..."

"Answer me."

"Yes and no." she started, and quickly barrelled on before he could say anything. "I agreed that I would do whatever he tells me once I returned. It was the only way he would let me come with you to the Highlands!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you're promised!"

"We are not. No one's ever asked me, when it's my hand in marriage!" Evie protested, to which Fabian quickly added "I will remedy that with a proposal immediately."

"No one said I'll agree!" Evie protested. She scowled at Fabian, who wore a rather confused look now. Connor on the other hand, was not amused at all. His gaze switched between the two he now stood with, but when Evie's voice finally screeched her protest, he raised his arms with a resounding "Enough!".

The tone of the voice itself was enough to warn the two used to London's more placate tone, their eyes immediately swivelling to a very irate looking Connor. "Lady Evelyn, you will no longer wander away from the campsite unless one of us are escorting you." He almost growled out his instructions, avoiding her gaze as much as Evie tried to catch his, and instead turned to Fabian. "And you, keep your hands to yourself. Just because you have spoken to his father, whatever the lady denies, you do not take."

"What do you take me for, a scoundrel? Of course I wouldn't!" Fabian protested, and that much Evie had to admit, he wouldn't. Fabian had been brought up with integrity and the diction of London society. He wouldn't overcross boundaries.

But Connor didn't care. At this rate, he was convinced every England dog was a scoundrel who couldn't be trusted. He sneaked a look at Evie, her red hair askew and green eyes sparkling with the frustration she directed at Fabian. She was glorious. But that didn't mean she didn't lie. Steeling his heart, he scowled and picked up the fallen bow and his dropped sword. "Follow me, or you can get lost in the forest and I won't come and find you."

Without caring if they came with him, Connor started stalking back to the campsite, strides large in an effort to get rid of his irate anger. Why he was angry? He knew why, but he wasn't so sure if he wanted to identify it.