Page 18 of Surrendering to her Highland Captor
“That does nae have to be ye. We could send?—”
“It does have to be me,” Sorcha interrupted Aila.
Sorcha felt the same heart splitting pain that was written over Aila’s face at the prospect of their family of three being separated so quickly, with no promise of a reuniting. But Sorcha would never be able to live with herself if Taryn was sent to face the Baron alone.
“I said she could go on patrol alone. I did nae offer to go with her. I could have checked on her sooner. I simply did nae wish to brave the cold again. And it is that selfishness that has us in this mess. So I will go after her.”
“Are ye certain?”
The seriousness in Lachlan’s tone had Sorcha consider it all again, but she came up with the same answer.
“Aye. As a lass on my own, I will be able to sneak around much faster than anyone else. They will nae suspect me.”
“What if ye are caught? I will go with ye.”
“Ye cannae,” Sorcha shook her head. “Yer duty is here. The children will need someone to stay. Ye must protect yer clan. I will see to Taryn. Who kens? Perhaps this will be a wasted trip and ye will find her before I do. Ye two could be working to secure more allies throughout the Highlands. We will need them if the Baron does have her.”
“Ye are right,” Lachlan agreed.
He poured them all fresh glasses of whiskey and downed his quickly. Sorcha left hers untouched. She was going to need a clear head for the journey ahead. It was bound to be a long one, no matter what she told Aila.
“There is nothing for me to do here but wait and worry,” Sorcha continued. “And I have never been good at either. We allhave a part to play in getting Taryn back home safe. This is my part. I am happy to play it.”
Between the deep crease in between her eyebrows and the way she had frayed the string on her gown, it was clear that Aila did not like Sorcha’s plan. But to Sorcha’s relief, Aila stopped protesting it.
“I will only allow this to happen,” Lachlan told her, once more using the tone of a practiced Laird. “If ye take these with ye.”
He reached for his belt and pulled off a leather pouch. Judging by its weight and the clicking it made when it moved, Sorcha guessed it was filled with coins. He slid it to her and then reached for the long dagger he carried on his other hip. In her hands, it looked more like a sword than a dagger. She nodded her thanks, grateful to have both, though she would have made the journey without either.
“I will say my goodbyes here. I must fetch some things from my room, and then I’ll see the children once more. I cannae afford to waste any more time.”
Aila darted from behind the table they had been standing around and wrapped Sorcha in a tight embrace. Sorcha returned it just as fiercely.
“Be careful,” Aila whispered tearfully. “I cannae loose ye too.”
“Ye have nae lost either of us. But I will be,” Sorcha promised. “I will be back just as soon as I have Taryn.”
When they separated, Lachlan swallowed her up in his large frame. His affection was that of a brother and just as valuable.
“Be safe. Come back to us.”
Lachlan’s words, given more like an order than the words of a worried loved one, echoed in her ears as Sorcha left the castle an hour later, alone and determined.
