“I can’t damn well go back unless you return with me!” He hauled off his boots, tossed them where she’d left her slippers then bounded across the marsh after her, his belted sword swaying at his side. “There’s a storm on the way. Can’t you see it’s closing in?”
Thunder rumbled out at sea and gray clouds above bubbled ominously. “I see the storm just fine.”
With her determination strong, she continued to splash through the muddy water, steam curling and rising into the air. He was so close behind, catching up quick.
The wind whistled and whipped her hair about her shoulders as she stumbled free of the marsh and raced along the pebbly stream bank. Thick grass swayed on the other side of the river, all green and lush. She scrambled over the slick boulders and standing on the highest one, breathed deep. This was no idle river, but white water rushing downstream through it from high in the forested hills above. The water flowed around thick gray rocks and streamed around the bend ahead, nature at its most chaotic, the water both a gift and a danger she respected.
She unlaced the front of her corseted gown, shoved the fabric down over her sark and tossed it back onto the dry river bank. She desired a swim, not a drowning, and this river ran for another furlong or two before it gushed into the cove. She’d ride the rapids downstream.
“Don’t you dare jump!” Finlay bounded out of the marsh and nabbed her rumpled gown. With the velvet in hand, he flapped it in the air. “Get back here now.”
“The water is cold and exactly what I need. You’re no’ to worry about me. I’m a competent swimmer, very competent.” She tucked her sark’s ivory hem between her legs and dove. The current shot her to the surface and a rush of water dumped over her head then swelled and sent her bobbing downstream.
A fierce roar echoed. A bear’s roar.
She kicked, speeding herself along. Over and over, she was volleyed about and she gulped air holding the heady promise of rain. Thunder boomed all around and lightning slashed the skies, the great spears of gold and white a form of fire she completely adored.
“Woman, when I get ahold of you, you’re going to be in the worst kind of trouble.” Finlay kicked strongly through the white water toward her.
Goodness. What would it take to get away from him? Ahead, the river twisted into a narrower stream as it met the swirling rush of the incoming tide at the edge of the cove. She grabbed a decent breath then got dumped into the sea. As quickly as she could, she swam toward the white sand beach that curved in a glorious sweep before a jagged rock wall. Exploring the hidden caverns within the cliffs had enthralled her as a child. She adored this place, and always would.
She dragged herself onto the sandy shore and crawled toward the cavern’s entrance. So close. Another few feet and she’d be out of his sight and safe again.
“Got you.” Finlay scooped her off the ground, water sluicing to his feet, his chest bare and his tan rawhide trews riding low on his hips. “What the hell was that all about? A mad dash through the forest and then deciding you had to risk your life and limb for a swim?”
“I risked naught and you didnae need to follow me. I told you so, repeatedly. You shouldnae be here.”
“Where you are is where I need to be.” Confusion lit his gaze before he tipped his head toward the entrance. Lightning crackled overhead and the waves pounded into shore. “At least we’ll be able to seek shelter out of the rage of the storm here. That tunnel must lead somewhere.”
“It leads to an underground cavern. There’s a cold pool within. That’s where I need to swim in order to cool my fire.”
“You’re already drenched, and you feel cold, not hot at all. I believe you’ve doused any fire that arose earlier just fine.” He strode through the opening as the wind rushed around them. With a purposeful step, he carried her down the darkened, precariously wet tunnel carved of stone, leapt from the end of the passageway and landed with a soft thump on the grainy white sand a few feet below. Water lapped onto a small curved beach surrounded by massive black rocks.
“This place is incredible. I had no idea this was here.” His stunned gaze moved upward to the craggy ceiling where a thin shaft vented skyward and allowed a trickle of light to beam through the tiny cavity and wash over the pool’s darkened surface.
“There’s another pool on the other side of that ledge, farther along the tunnel. It holds hot water while this one is cold. My parents and Julia always swam in the heated one while I favored the cold pool.”
“Where are your parents now?” He set her on her feet, kept one finger under her chin as he looked into her eyes.
“They were slaughtered by the MacKenzie a couple of years ago.” Her grief rose, as it always did when speaking of her parents.