The Highlander's Runaway Bride
A pact…A bride…A secret never to be told!When Eva MacKay learns that her father has bartered her off to a warrior from a neighbouring clan she has no choice but to run away, taking her dark secrets with her. Freedom is now within her grasp!Dutiful highlander Rob Mackintosh tracks down his runaway bride – only to be stunned by the fireworks that erupt between them. For behind Eva’s timid smile lies a headstrong beauty – and Rob knows that, no matter what, this marriage is going to be full of surprises!A Highland FeudingRival clans, forbidden love
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Rob laid the things aside and shook his head, watching her sleep there.
What kind of woman would run away when given the news of her impending marriage? Especially a marriage that would hold benefits for both families involved?
She shifted on the furs and mumbled some words in her sleep. Though he could blame some of her restlessness in sleep on her illness and fever, she never seemed to be at peace when she slept. She called out names, mostly just one, throughout the time when sleep claimed her.
Something was wrong here. Very wrong.
If she did not know him, or the Mackintoshes, then they could not be the reason for her refusal to accept the marriage. Yet she had done the unthinkable and left the safety and protection of her fatherâs keep to avoid it. Was it just maidenly fear or something more?
Though clearly fear was not something that seemed to rule her life if she was brave enough to do what sheâd done â¦
I knew halfway through writing Stolen by the Highlander that Rob Mackintosh would have his story told next. He was quite vocal, and rather loud, and ⦠ahem ⦠insistent about it, really. So it did not surprise me when I wrote the epilogue and he told me how to set up his book!
Rob has become used to people wanting to use his influence with his friend and chieftain Brodie since their clan triumphed over treachery. So the fact that someone doesnât want him is a shock to him.
Eva has her own problems, which have come from youthful follies and falling in love with the wrong man. She is certain that Rob is not the right man and now is not the right time. So she runs away for many reasons.
Two proud people who fall in love in spite of themselves. Sigh ⦠I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Next? Well, since the feuding between the clans Mackintosh and Cameron lasted more than three hundred years, Iâve got lots of ideas and stories planned.
Happy reading!
PS Iâve wanted to use the name Eva for a heroine ever since seeing the film WALL-E. There is a Gaelic form, but it would have had you all tripping over it every time you saw it on the page. So I compromised and used Evaâbut, FYI, the original form is âAoifeâ pronounced âEe-faâ or âEe-vaâ ⦠So it worked for me!
TERRI BRISBIN is wife to one, mother of three, and dental hygienist to hundreds when not living the life of a glamorous romance author. She was born, raised, and is still living in the southern New Jersey suburbs. Terriâs love of history led her to write time-travel romances and historical romances set in Scotland and England.
This story is dedicated to friends and writing brainstormers extraordinaire Jen Wagner Schmidt and Lyn Wagner.
I began this story knowing only that the bride would be kidnapped on her wedding day and little else. With their pointed and relentless questions I ended up with an entire story plotted out. And I will always be grateful for their help!
Contents
Scourie, northwest Scotland
Eva MacKay was utterly in love.
The exhaustion and pain and fear of the last days faded as she stroked her finger down the soft cheek of the baby lying on her chest. The perfect rosebud mouth pursed and the tip of a tiny pink tongue could be seen. And when the wee bairnâs eyes opened and seemed to meet her own gaze, Eva was lost.
She leaned down and kissed the babeâs forehead, whispering soft words against the damp skin. Through the hours of labouring to give birth, Eva could only think of the man who should be at her side. He would never see his daughter. Never see their daughter. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over as she whispered his name to their child. The babe squirmed a bit and closed her eyes then, drifting to sleep. Eva then whispered the name theyâd chosen if a daughter was born to them.
Mairead.
Eva moved her closer, tucking the blanket tighter around the little body and holding her close. The only way out of this would be to throw herself on her fatherâs questionable mercy and beg to be allowed to keep the bairn. Yet, from her motherâs cold response so far, she knew she would have no allies for her argument.
Her body needed rest now before she could make her plans. She ached deep inside, both from the birthâs trauma and her broken heart. The babe sighed and Eva closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the little oneâs warmth. Drifting off to sleep, Eva woke when someone lifted the bairn away.
âWhat are you doing?â she asked the unfamiliar woman.
The woman said nothing. She simply wrapped the blanket around Evaâs babe and began to leave.
