Page 22 of When a Highlander Vows
Hopefully, when her time with Lucas was over, she could be left to herself, to do with her time as she wished. To grieve her brother in her own way.
“Are ye ready, Lass?” Lucas asked, wiping his mouth as he stood.
“Aye. I am ready. Good day to ye, Lottie,” Caitlin said.
“And to ye, Caitlin. Daenae go just yet. I will gather a proper plaid for ye. It will be a bit chilly when ye get close to the sea.”
Caitlin nodded, and together, she and Lucas waited for Lottie’s return. Instead of standing next to the sullen laird, she decided to walk the main hall a bit, to see the art that hung on the walls.
Moving toward the wall, she ran her hands along it to guide her way. The McDougall Coat of Arms hung on the wall, as well as swords, armor, and even a few portrait paintings. There were two large hearths to fill the large hall with heat, and the fire was banked in both, keeping it only a little warm in the light of the morning. Even though she could not see everything at once, she could feel the hugeness of the space.
“It must be a merry thing to have this filled with people, Lucas,” she said, turning back toward where he stood, facing one hearth, his hands behind his back.
“Merry is nae what I would describe it as, but aye, it is certainly loud and warm. The drink is flowin’, and the music is good.” Caitlin could hear the hint of a smile in his voice. “Nan loves a ball. She loves dancin’. Ye should see her. Even at her age. She always wants everyone to have a fine time.”
Caitlin smiled at that thought, and for a second, she thought of her mother, always loving when the village had a party in the center of town. The music was lively, and her mother would dance and dance, happiness sparkling in her eyes. It was one of the most wonderful sights that Caitlin had ever seen, and she kept it in her mind always.
“I would like to see that,” she said. “Me maither loved dancin’ as well. Although I cannae say that I have learned her skill, unfortunately.”
Something like a chuckle emerged from Lucas’ mouth, but she wasn’t close enough to see for herself. It warmed her heart.
Did I just make the cold, angry laird laugh?
“Here we are, me dear,” Lottie called as she emerged with a long, McDougall plaid in her arms. “It was made by me maither. Warm as sheepskin but light as a feather.”
Lottie wrapped it around Caitlin’s shoulders, and when Lottie’s hands touched her lovingly, wrapping the plaid tightly around her front, Caitlin yearned for her loving mother’s touch.
“Thank ye, Lottie.”
“Ye will have a wonderful time. I will see ye after and the two of us will have a bit of hot cider.” She winked at Caitlin. “Come, Lucas,” she said, hardly turning to him, “to the stables with ye two.”
There was no chuckling coming from him now as Lucas stiffly walked back toward her and offered her his arm.
Out in the cool morning air, Lucas looked up to the sun as Caitlin held tight to his arm. She said nothing as he led her from the castle gates to the stables around the side. Infuriated that his grandmother was trying yet again to matchmake them, even though he’d spoken to her last night, he kept his mouth firmly closed as well.
Could she not see that Caitlin was thoroughly embarrassed as well and wished to be left on her own?
“We daenae have to ride, Lucas, since I cannae ride on me own. I wouldnae want to be a burden to ye on one horse.”
“Ye act as though ye weigh as much as a boulder,” he muttered, his hands quickly remembering the feel of her thin waist as he lifted her to his horse with ease the day before.
“Nae, but I ken ye daenae wish to do this.”
He thought he heard sadness in her voice, but he ignored it. For being near blind, the woman had keen insight into the feelings of others.
Nay doubt another one of her magic tricks.
How could he make her realize that his problem was not her, but his damned feelings? He could not afford to get close to Caitlin. He wouldn’t. He vowed it.
Sighing with resignation, he said, “We must go, or Nan will be after us. The both of us. Sometimes I find it better to do just as she says, whenever she gets into one of these moods.”
Lucas didn’t look at her as he spoke, and she kept up with his quick pace as they got closer to the stables. It was a lovely morning, the clouds having not yet covered the sun. A breeze was in the air, moving over his face and, out of the corner of his eye, he could see it brushing a stray blonde lock of Caitlin’s hair to the side. But she was warm, covered in Lottie’s plaid, or so he hoped.
She will be even warmer, once she is tucked tightly against me on the horse.
He wondered if that was exactly why his grandmother suggested they ride, knowing that Caitlin would have to ride in front of him. He’d have to relive all the discomfort from the day before. Discomfort that had driven his body mad all through the night and now once again.
“Daniel, get me horse for us, and be quick about it, Lad.”
