Read Online The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens - Free Book Online Page A

the wall. From behind me there was a stir of excitement as someone shouted the MacGannon war cry. Alex's head snapped up at that and a crooked smile flitted across his face. He raised his hands in the air and I stifled a gasp as I saw they were bound together and then realized his feet were tied as well under the horse's belly. The soldiers stopped with Robert at a distance and let Alex come on alone. He stopped before me. Angus grabbed the horse's bridle and I met Alex's blue, blue eyes for the first time in months, an expression in them that I could not read. I smiled at him and spoke in a clear voice that carried to the soldiers.
    "Welcome home, my love," I said and Alex's face crumpled. He drew a deep breath as he struggled to regain control. No one stopped them as Angus and Matthew undid his bonds and Alex slid to the ground and into my embrace. I could hear Angus sheathing his sword. Mfrand I clung to each other as the wind strengthened. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against his shoulder. He laid his cheek on the top of my head and I tightened my arms around his waist, much leaner than before. He was holding himself up, I suspected, only through the force of his will.
    "Thank ye for that, lass," he whispered. "Thank ye. I dinna ken if ye would welcome me home." I pulled back and caressed his uninjured cheek, tears streaming down my cheeks.
    "Oh, Alex, my love, my love, how could you think that? I love you. I will always love you. All these months, all I wanted was you home, and now, thank God, you're here."
    He nodded, his eyes filling with tears that he blinked back. "Thank ye for that, lass," he said again and glanced at the soldiers waiting behind us, then at Angus and Matthew. He spoke to the three of us. "Robert Campbell and his men are here to take me to Edinburgh. I have only today and tonight. We leave in the morning." At my wail he tightened his arm around me. "Dinna cry, Mary Rose, dinna cry. I have no choice. I'll go with them on the morrow and then Robert will come back to take ye and the boys to yer family, lass. He has said he'll see ye there safely. I'm assuming that the boys are tucked away somewhere." Angus nodded.
    "No," I said. "No! Alex, tell me this is not true! You cannot go with him." I glanced at Robert, motionless on his horse, and then back at Alex. "Alex, do not leave me again! Tell me you'll stay! Let Angus do whatever it takes to keep you here. You don't have to go. We can—" He interrupted me with a gentle finger on my lips, his tone weary.
    "Hush, lass, hush. I canna stay. I have given my word." He wrapped his arms around me and held me to him, whispering that he loved me. The wind rose and the men around us shifted, but they all waited while he tried to explain it to me. I heard only that he was leaving and I sobbed in his arms, remembering my barter with God. One night, I'd begged. Just one night. His arm tightened around me, but at last he turned to Angus. "I have given my word that my conduct will be proper and that Kilgannon willna rise to free me. Tell me it will be kept."
    Angus looked at his cousin without expression. "It doesna have to be. We could take them, Alex."
    Alex's eyes flashed anger but his voice was calm. "Aye, and then the others would come and burn us out and rape the land and the women. I willna have it here and ye ken it well, we've discussed it enough times. It's my decision, Angus." Their eyes met and I felt Alex's heart pounding.
    At last Angus nodded. "It will be as ye say, Alex."
    "Thank ye," Alex said and added something in Gaelic that made Angus's face brighten. I stepped back as they embraced. Then Alex hugged Matthew and turned to the others behind us, greeting them before facing the men on the
    terraces and walls. He raised his arms and his voice as the clansmen roared at him. "I thank ye for yer welcome," Alex shouted. He gestured to Robert. "This is Major Robert Campbell. His men are my escort and I ask that ye welcome them to our home. I will be