Page 8 of A Highlander Bound by Oath
"Don't try anything funny…" she warned as a breeze picked up and blew the short strands of her hair through her eyes.
CHAPTER FOUR
Owen stared into her beautiful green eyes as she held the dagger to his throat. He couldn't help but notice how breathtakingly beautiful this woman was, with her emerald eyes and fair complexion. Her blonde hair was cut short and hung in uneven layers around her face. Even with the dirt and foliage in her hair, she was more beautiful than any woman he'd ever seen.
She pressed her knee between his thighs as she bore down on him, making him feel things that weren't appropriate at the present moment. He was a monk. He was being robbed. He had a dirk near his throat. How, for Heaven's sake, could he feel even a tiny bit aroused? And yet he was a man… Life at the monastery had deprived him of the finer pleasures in life; a woman's touch was one of those things.
"I said don't move!" she hissed again in her beautiful voice when he reached for her knee, hoping to divert some of the pressure she was placing on his groin.
"All right, all right…" Owen raised his hands again in surrender. He glanced to the side, noticing the bug on her shoulder. "Ye have something on yer cloak," he said as calmly as he could.
Her eyes widened in fear as she stared down at him. "What is it?" her voice lowered to a panic.
"It's a beetle; keep still, and I'll flick it away." He reached up slowly and watched as she shut her eyes. Taking his chance, he quickly gripped the hand holding the knife and flipped her over, pressing her wrists into the earth as he held her steady. The knife flew across the forest floor and landed in a pile of leaves.
"Hey!" she cried out and squirmed beneath his weight but quickly stopped when she realized that he had the upper hand.
Owen brought his face a little closer to hers as he spoke. "Dae ye nae ken that it's nae a good idea tae attack a servant of God? People often think we are weak, but quite the contrary, lass, we are underestimated. As ye can see," he said almost triumphantly.
"You are no servant of God," she grimaced as she tried to break free again. His fingers held her wrists firmly to the ground. She was slight and small beneath his bulk.
"Who are ye, and why are ye so close to the monastery grounds?" Owen growled in her ear when she wouldn't stop moving. "Yer in nae place to insult me right now, lass. So, best ye nae question whether I'm a servant of God or nae."
"It's none of your concern," she countered. "And what are you doing in the forest at this hour?”
"Choose yer words wisely, lass," he fought back the heat growing in his loins.God, this woman is beautiful, and feisty at that. Get a grip, Owen. What do ye think yer doing?Lustful thoughts raced through his mind."Now, tell me yer name and who ye are 'afore I use that tiny blade of yours against ye."
"My name is Charlotte," she glared at him after hissing through her teeth. "But that's all I'm going to tell you."
Owen suddenly froze as his mind wandered back to the towering flames. People screamed and shouted in the back of his mind as the flames licked at his clothes. Shaking his head, he tried to focus on the present. "Well, Charlotte, how much did ye hear of the conversation with me friend?"
"I highly doubt that he was your friend," she spat. "But more than enough to tell the rest of the monks at Lanercost that you aren't really a monk."
"That's a bold assumption tae make." Owen's anger bubbled to the surface as he stared down at her. The last thing he needed right now was for someone else to know of the sins of his past. Letting her go could spell disaster for him, but he didn't want any more blood on his hands. He would have to think of a way to keep her quiet.
"If you don't help me, I'll make trouble for you. I doubt the rest of the monks will be pleased to know that one of their brothers is involved in nefarious dealings."
"Nefarious dealings…" he blinked at her use of higher English. She definitely wasn't part of the lower class. "I dinnae have any money tae give ye lass; ye saw the last of the money I gave tae that man." Owen searched her eyes and saw the desperation that swam in the depths of her being. "I can help ye with anything else, anything but giving ye money," he tried to reason with her. Having her talk to anyone at the monastery would cause more problems for him than he'd like. His uncle would not have a leg to stand on in his defense if he knew about any of his past.
"Can you let go of me for a start?" she wriggled her wrists and glanced down at his body firmly pressed against hers. "I can barely breath."
"Dae ye promise to nae dae anything funny?" he looked at the dagger to the side. "We can talk calmly about what ye need if you dinnae dae anything else."
"What good would killing you do for me? It's not like you have any money I can take. And where would I run to? I'm in the middle of a forest that I hardly know." Her eyes widened in shock when she realized she'd let something slip.
He nodded and slowly released his grip on her hands, letting her sit up on the ground. Moving back onto his haunches, he clasped his hands in front of him and stared at her. "Dae ye want to tell me why yer out here in the woods?" he looked around."In the middle of the night tae boot. And attacking a man when ye obviously have nae clue how tae do it?" He marveled at the way her lashes brushed her cheeks when she closed her eyes and sighed.
"How do you know I'm not a robber? I could earn my living by hiding in the bushes and jumping out at people," Charlotte challenged, narrowing her eyes and scratching at the itchy red patches on her skin.
"Ye are nae brave enough to be out here on yer own, lass. Ye dinnae have the right stuff required tae be a hardened criminal. Firstly, ye closed yer eyes because of a bug, for Heaven's sake." Owen looked at the bushes around them and back to the itchy red patches on her skin before giving her a mischievous smile. "And yer hiding place for one disnae speak of a seasoned thief."
"I was brave enough to attack you," she defended herself, placing her hands behind her on the ground. "The hiding place was purely an accident; I had no other choice at the time. And even if it wasn't, I think it says a lot about a lady willing to hide in nettles." She suddenly screamed and jumped to her feet when a baby spider crawled over her hand.
Owen rolled his eyes and suppressed his laughter. This beauty was a walking disaster. "I take me words back; yer as hard a criminal as I've ever seen," he liked the way she pouted slightly with her full lips when he made fun of her. She was cheeky and fierce, with just a hint of vulnerability.
"Spiders are different. I'm sure there are many grown men who are scared of them."
He thought of Brother Thomas as he considered her words. "That's beside the point, lass. Why are ye out here in the forest all by yerself?"
