Page 2 of When a Highlander Vows
She enjoyed smiling, laughing, and trying to look at the world in a happy light, but it was difficult when faced with such sadness around her. Her own grief and sadness were difficult enough but to hear of others as well made it all seem so hopeless.
She sat in the small main room while Rachel walked off to make tea. Sliding a book into her lap, Caitlin began to read. It was one of her many pleasures, since her eyesight was still quite good when something was near her face. She twisted a strand of bright blonde hair around her finger as she got lost in the book. A little while later, she heard Rachel returning to the room.
“Tea is ready. I have laid out a few of the baked goods from the market, and—”
A sharp knock at the door made them both gasp. Rachel turned around, and Caitlin squinted at the door.
“I wonder who that could be?” she asked. “We daenae often get visitors.”
Rachel hurried to the door, opening it with slight trepidation. Caitlin sat tall and pushed the long plait of blonde hair behindher back. She tried not to squint her light-brown eyes too much at their visitor.
“Miss Caitlin MacLennan? Sister of Seamus MacLennan?” a man’s voice said from the doorway.
“Aye, I am she.”
“I have come with a message, Miss,” he replied, and then by the way he paused, Caitlin noted that he seemed uncomfortable.
“Do come in and have a seat, Sir,” she said, motioning in front of her.
“Nay, thank ye, Miss, but I will come in.” He walked in, and Caitlin could hear by the sound of his boots that the leather was worn, as if he’d walked a long way.
Soon, he was standing before her, and she could see him more clearly. He was young but looked a bit weathered, and his dark hair was ruffled. A leather hat was in his hands, and he folded it over and over between his fingers.
Rachel waited nearby; her eyes wide with curiosity. It was strange for Caitlin to ever receivemalevisitors, especially when her brother was away.
“How may I help ye, Sir?”
“I am sorry, Miss, to be the one that is here before ye with a duty to dispatch. But I am a sailor, and I sailed many times with yer merchant brother, Seamus MacLennan.”
“Och,” Caitlin smiled. “Rachel, he sailed with Seamus! Sir, please tell me everything ye ken about yer adventures. Seamus never tells me very much. Would ye like tea?”
“Nay,” he shook his head and took a long breath.
“Ale, perhaps, to calm ye and refresh ye after yer journey?” she suggested, wondering why he seemed so uncomfortable.
Her lack of good eyesight had embarrassed her for years, especially when people would act awkwardly in front of her because of it. He nodded, and Rachel left. Caitlin could hear the rattle of clay pots in the kitchen.
“Tell me, what is yer news of me brother?”
Caitlin waited with a smile, even though a little tingle of dread began to grow in her belly.
Something is wrong.
She did her best to keep the dark thought at bay. Thankfully, Rachel returned hastily with the ale, and the man drank back his glass in one swift movement before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
He started speaking quickly, getting everything out in one breath. “I am sorry to tell ye, Lass, but our ship sank as we were returnin’ from France.” He swallowed again and sounded breathless. “Yer brother died, Lass. Only a handful of us were able to survive. I am the one charged with informin’ the families.”
He glanced down at his glass wistfully, while Caitlin’s ears rang.
Seamus. Dead. Nay, that cannae be. Me brother is more alive than anyone. More vibrant, full of life. Death doesnae…make sense.
She couldn’t remember what happened in the next few minutes. There were mumbled voices, the movement of footsteps, and the shutting of a door, but Caitlin was in her own head. She was alone now in the world. Quite alone. And even though Rachel picked up her hand and leaned in to embrace her, Caitlin could feel a chasm of grief stretching open inside her.
2
One Week Later
Lucas Murdoch, the Laird of McDougall, was dispatching an unpleasant duty. He stood in front of a small house on a hill just outside the village. His own castle was in view, yet it was very far away. It had taken a few hours for him to arrive at this place, and as he waited outside the door, he looked to it.
