Her Highland Defender Read Online Free PDF

in a skirmish on the border and finding another was not so easy—not with her broken body. Who would want a wife who could not perform her duties properly? Who could not even entertain him in bed? Danny had been understanding but he’d loved her deeply. She couldn’t expect a man who hardly knew her to accept her failings.
    However, she wasn’t sure she’d decline him if he tried again. If all went well, she would persuade him to stay for a while. So how then would she continue to hide her troubles? It was too dangerous for it to be known that the keep was under the control of a near blind woman.
    Ceana considered the disturbance last night. What if her mother’s behaviour had damaged her chances of persuading him to stay? As much as she loved her, she was becoming a handful. Her father had a calming influence over her, but these past months had brought on more sleepwalking and erratic behaviour.
    Releasing a weary sigh, she lifted the bucket and paused. She watched the figure walk across the mud toward the stables. There was no doubting it was him. Dark hair, tall, and he moved like a wolf. Stealthy, nimbly. Her vision might not be enough to make out the lines of Blane’s muscles that she knew were there but she saw enough to recognise the power in his body.
    Panic fluttered in her chest as he ducked into the stables and she dropped the bucket. Water splashed her side but there was no time. He was leaving them. He couldn’t go, he simply couldn’t. She needed him.
    Careful not to trip over her skirts, she hastened across the grass as fast as she dared. Ceana felt hard mud under her slippers and put out a hand once she reached the doorway of the stables. She curled it around the wooden frame and put her head in. Her vision dimmed and the world became close to a mystery again.
    “Blane?”
    “Over here.”
    She entered the stables and silently counted the wooden struts to where she knew his horse would be. “Oh.” Hard, muscled chest greeted her and she staggered back only to be grabbed and righted.
    “Forgive me.”
    She shook her head. “Nay, ‘twas my fault. I wasnae...” How could she explain?
    “I shouldnae have stepped out on ye like that.”
    “Yer leaving?”
    “Aye.” His voice was solemn. “I was going to search ye out to thank ye for yer hospitality first.”
    Ceana pressed her lips together. She couldn’t let him go so easily but begging for help went against everything she knew. With limited vision, it was too dangerous to depend on another. How easily she could be misled. But her people and her family were at stake here so her pride would have to suffer.
    “Ye could stay a few more days?” she suggested.  “Rest properly? Ye have travelled far.”
    “I cannae.” He released her arm and she felt the distance between them increase.
    “Surely a few days willnae hurt? There will always be more battles.” It seemed as though the fight with the English would never end sometimes. Mayhap it would, but only when all their men and boys were dead and the land was stripped bare.
    “I cannae stay, Ceana.”
    “I need ye to,” she blurted. “Pray stay.”
    “If this is about what happened—”
    “Nay!” She took a breath. “Nay, ‘tis not about that. We are alone here, Blane, and Englishmen have been spotted roaming the lands last time our men took a patrol. I fear greatly for our safety and I cannae ensure it on my own.”
    He released a depreciative laugh. “Ye cannae think I can protect ye?”
    Ceana put out a hand and found his arm not too far away. She rested her palm upon it, aware of the warm strength beneath his linen shirt. Even if she had seen nothing of him, this would have been proof enough of his strength and capability. These arms were warrior’s arms.
    “I do. I think yer the answer to our prayers, Blane.”
    “Forgive me, Ceana.” He eased away from her touch and moved past her.
    She heard the rattle of metal and squeak of leather then the movement of his horse. When