One Man's Love: Book One of The Highland Lords by Karen Ranney

Author:Karen Ranney [Ranney, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, General, Historical, Love stories; American, Historical fiction; American, Scotland
ISBN: 9780380813001
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2001-03-15T05:00:00+00:00

His smile revealed even teeth made even brighter against the contrast of the black leather. She leaned forward and touched the mask gently.

“Is this still necessary?” she asked. “I’ll not divulge your identity.”

His hand covered hers, held there until she could feel the warmth of his skin through his glove.

“Rebellion is compelling,” she said. “Or should I confess that?”

“Did tonight meet your expectations, then?”

“I admit there were moments when I was terrified,” she said, tipping her head back and studying the sky. Already the eastern horizon was growing light in preparation for dawn.

“But…?”

“I felt powerful,” she said, looking at the approaching shoreline. “As if I had some control over what would happen to me.”

“The definition of freedom,” he said quietly, stowing the oars in the bottom of the boat. “What Scotland has lost.”

She shook her head. “There’s a difference,” she said, obviously surprising him, “in the freedom of a country and the freedom of one person.”

He studied her intently. “How so?” he finally asked.

“If a man fights for his country’s freedom,” she said, thinking aloud, “it’s for an idea. A notion. Scotland’s freedom from England wouldn’t have changed my life. But if a man struggles for his own freedom, it’s a personal thing. The way he lives his life. Whether he chooses to be a carpenter or a smith, a fisherman or a farmer.”

He stood, helped her from the boat, and walked with her to the cave opening, still not speaking.

“If you were free, Leitis,” he said finally, lighting the lantern, “what would your life be like?”

The flickering light seemed to grant life to the portrait of Ionis’s love above them. Leitis looked down at the smooth cave floor and spoke what was in her heart. But then, she realized with a start, she always had, with this man.

“I would not be here, for one,” she said abruptly, glancing at the stairs to her left. “I would not be the colonel’s prisoner.”

“Does he treat you well?”

She looked at him, unwittingly amused. “As well as any jailer,” she said. “His aide says my accommodations are luxurious and I should feel myself privileged. But I cannot walk where I will, nor do what I wish.”

“What would that be?”

She walked to the cave entrance, looked out at the sparkling water. The loch was never silent, splashing and rolling with its current.

“What would that be?” she repeated, mulling over the question. “I’m not a famous personage,” she said quietly. “Nor have I ever wished to be. My family was important to me and I miss them every day. So I would wish for a family, first. I want a simple life, perhaps. And I would wish for a small and cozy place to live, and friends.”

“A modest set of wishes,” he said kindly.

“And you, Raven?” she asked, glancing at him. “What would you wish for?”

“To kiss a woman in moonlight,” he said.

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