ForNever

She dropped down next to him innocently and laughed exuberantly, causing the corners of Jayden's mouth to lift. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them as her eyes fixed on the setting sun. Jayden followed her gaze.

Kieran sat down next to her. Without looking, she reached for his hand and twined her fingers through his.

Later, after the sunset, Kieran was leaning against a tree trunk and she was standing flirtatiously close to him. He was filled with immediate joy and dread when she proclaimed her choice. The first thought that rushed through his mind though was the distance back to her home. He should have let his morals and principles fly away on the wind. He should have taken her into his arms there and then, and he should have kissed her without the restraints of proper conduct. He should have told her how much he loved her. He should have known they could never outrun the shadows.

Kieran stops the horse and cart when they reach the cottage.

Jayden takes her lifeless body gently into his arms. He folds his arms tenderly around her shoulders and under her knees, and as he cradles her against his chest, he jumps off from the wagon. He walks around toward Kieran and then together they walk to the door.

Kieran knocks softly and the chatter from inside the cottage stops abruptly.

They hear footsteps drag across the stone floor and then the wooden door creaks open.

" Who goes there?" A deep voice asks.

Kieran steps back when he recognizes the gruff voice of Mr. O'Halloran. He does not know what to expect from him when he sees his daughter's lifeless body in the arms of Jayden.

Jayden replies brusquely, "It is I, Jayden. Son of Fitzgerald."

" Jayden my boy, step inside. If you are looking for Heather, she left with Kieran to watch the sunset." Then he sees her, and worriedly he reaches for her. "What happened? Mary come here quickly," he calls across his shoulder with urgency.

There is a commotion deeper within the cottage and then his wife comes rushing toward the door. Clara, her younger sister, follows closely behind her mother.

Immediately when her eyes settle on her daughter, she starts moaning, "What happened? What happened?"

Mr. O'Halloran turns abruptly and walks back into the cottage, while Jayden follows him, dragging Mrs. O'Halloran and Clara with him. They move around him and cling to him in panic and fear, moaning incessantly, "What happened? What happened?"

Mr. O'Halloran swoops the empty wooden bowls and cutlery off the table with one swoop of his large hand and says softly, "Put her here."