Surrender Read Online Free PDF

likely, on
the morrow's dawn, he will still be abed. With you beside him." She
laughed when Elyne's eyes widened and Ada straightened as if
someone had shot an arrow into her nether cheeks. "My brother may
believe in ghosts and crones curses, but I am not so
dim-witted."
    "Yet ye never told?"
    "Nay. Those men were not suitable for you.
This one gives me a different feeling."
    "Aye. With me, also." She went on when her
aunt tilted her head at her. "When he stares at me, I am so fearful
I have chill bumps and strange sensations low in...my body." She
flushed not wanting to describe that exact spot. "'Tis a very
strange feeling. Not rightly tremors. More like a heartbeat where
there is no heart?"
    "You are sure 'tis fear?" Joneta's smile
seemed to hold a secret.
    "Truly, it is."
    She frowned when Ada snickered. Wanting to
turn her aunt's attention from the Highlander, Elyne murmured and
ruffled the fur on the dog's back as she put him on the floor.
    "That must be the most ugsome dog in all of
Scotland, Lass." Lady Joneta shook her head in wonder at the
creature
    "Ye think he is ugsome?" Elyne frowned and
studied him. "He is such a happy lad that I ne'er thought him less
than, um, plain?"
    "Hah! He is beyond plain, Lovey. Everything
about him is at odds from his ears to his paws. His front legs are
firm and straight but barrel staves must have formed his rear."
    Ada helped Elyne change into a sleeping
garment, and as her head cleared the warm cotton smock, Elyne
reached up to shove her tousled hair out of the way and studied the
dog. As he scampered over to grab hold of a carelessly dropped
ribbon, she looked at him from the rear. Seeing all four legs at
once, she chuckled.
    "For truth, they do. When my brother rescued
him from Baron Rupert's forest, he thought perchance the evil man
had caused him injury as a small pup."
    The dog happily wagged his scrawny tail and
raced back to grab the toe of Elyne's leather shoe. He pulled and
tugged then growled and shook his head so fiercely he near upset
her balance. She hopped up on the side of the bed to take them
off.
    "Um. We canna keep calling him
dog
.
What think ye of Matin for his name?" Seeing their questioning
expression, she explained, "The priest was singing the psalms for
Matins when Ranald rode into the bailey with the wee, scrawny dog
in his arms."
    "Huh! Too much dignity in the name for the
likes of him," Lady Joneta said.
    As soon as Elyne untied the lacings around
her ankle, he yanked the shoe from her foot and ran around with it
in his mouth, happily growling and beating it against the
floor.
    "Foolish dog. Ye'll ruin my best shoes."
    Elyne started to hop down to retrieve them,
but Ada grabbed the shoes from the dog and set them atop the
bedside table out of his reach.
    "Ye had best take him to the stable for the
rest of the night, Ada. He is in sad need of a bath."
    Ada nodded and scooped the dog up in her
arms. While Ada's back was turned from Lady Joneta, she quickly
whispered. "I'll see to our guest. Mayhap a warning will be enough
to send him on his way at midnight."
    "Come, Lovey. Into bed with you. First light
will be here afore you know it." Lady Joneta kissed Elyne's
forehead and she and Ada quietly left the room.
    Elyne's loving aunt had acted as mother to
her brothers and her when their own had died of fever many years
before. Elyne did not know what she would do without her. Had she
not resisted her other suitors, she would be married to one of the
simpletons now and be living near Raptor Castle. At least she would
be able to see her family and friends within a day's ride. But the
Highlands? Once she left, would she ever see them again?
    'Twas not likely.
    There was but one way to insure the
Highlander left Raptor and sped back from whence he came. She knew
now why she awakened beneath the tree with a handful of
herbs—because she would need them if Ada's warning didn't work.
    She waited until there was utter silence in
the keep. Reaching out, she grabbed her