Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal Read Online Free

not expected a kiss, although she supposed that she should have. Nor had she expected his tongue to seek a way past her closed lips. As she drew back, Tavish slipped his palm behind her head and resisted. By reflex, she gasped.
    “You’re to wed me. Now gie us a kiss.” His eyes burned as claimed her lips with a devouring kiss. There was no escaping his mouth or his serpentine tongue.
    “Tavish.” She pressed her palms to his chest and pulled away.
    He released her but appeared bewildered, yet not too much to stare at her mouth. “You’re so very bonnie. You hardly can blame a lad for wanting to kiss his sweetheart before he goes off to war.”
    She discreetly wiped his kiss from her lips with her fingers. “It is not quite war that you’re going to, Tavish.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Take a care, my love, lest you sound like a harpy.”
    Now indignant, Jenny looked up, her lips parted in protest.
    To her surprise, Tavish’s mouth spread to a grin. “You’ve a bit of fire in you, girl. I like that.” His hungry eyes bore through her as he leaned down to kiss her.
    Jenny started to turn, but he took her jaw in his hands.
    “Tavish…” She tried to hold him at bay, but he was strong and insistent. “I pray you, grant me some time.”
    He released her with scorn. “Time for what, Jenny?”
    “I barely know you.” She wanted to weep or vomit but managed to do neither. “I’ve only just found out we’re to be married.”
    “You’ll have your time after I’m gone. Until then, I’ll have a proper kiss.” And he took it.
     
    *
     
    The next morning, Tavish rode off with the handful of men who had stayed behind with him. Jenny donned a brave face and wondered. How long would it be before Duncan found out? A few days? A week? What did it matter? He would find out. When he did, he would be certain that she had betrayed him.

 
     
     
Chapter 3
     
    August 1680
     
    Jenny had had more than a year to prepare for this day. Yet there were times when it seemed like her betrothal to Tavish was just a bad dream. While Duncan and Tavish were away fighting for the king against Covenanters, the days had slipped by with no change. No one knew when the men would return, if at all. The pain of such thinking drove her to set plans for the future aside. She had never intended to go through with the wedding, and yet she had spent more than a year making plans with her parents. All the while, she yearned for Duncan. She had broken his heart, and hers with it. But their love was still true. They would find their way back together. After that, Duncan would know what to do. Until then, the wedding plans remained in place. As the months passed, it seemed less and less real, until Jenny found it easy to set thoughts of marriage aside.
    Then the men came home. Word spread quickly as everyone gathered to welcome them. Most of the soldiers would stop here for a meal, a dram, and some rest, before continuing on to their homes, so a growing crowd of nearby families was ready to greet their loved ones. In its midst, Jenny stood, and she watched their arrival with anxious eyes.
    From beside her, came a voice. “Hello, Jenny.”
    She had not wished to remember the voice, but she did. “Tavish.” She turned, sure she had managed to hide her disappointment, but a fleeting light in his eyes proved her wrong. “I dinnae see you,” she said, forcing a smile. How would she have noticed him? She had been watching for Duncan.
    They talked of the journey, the weather–anything but what was really on their minds. Her parents joined them and took over the conversation, which eased Jenny’s discomfort. Tavish would stay at their house for the night, before riding on to his home.
    Jenny spied Duncan’s friend, Alex, and excused herself to go to him. He stood out from a crowd, not for his beauty. He was almost too rugged to be handsome. But his quiet presence compelled those about him to take notice, for he had a strength that was as much mind