Page 32 of When a Highlander Vows
“Good. I had the thought that perhaps we could turn the feast into both a welcome for her as well as a funeral feast for Seamus. Since we cannae recover his body, we cannae have a burial, but there could be a ceremony with a priest and then a feast afterward. What say ye?”
His grandmother looked at him as if he’d gone mad, and he worried that he’d been too eager to make Caitlin happy. That he’d overstepped and thought up a foolish plan that would only embarrass her.
“Lucas, what have ye done with me grandson?” she asked, a smile slowing creeping onto her features.
“What do ye mean?”
“I mean, the surly grandson who dinnae want anythin’ to dae with the lass besides offer her a home and give her to me as a companion. This is true kindness, Lad. I’m proud of ye.”
Lucas looked down at his food, never very comfortable when anyone gave him genuine praise. To himself, he was only flawed. And yet a little part of him sparked into life. A bit of pride.
“So, ye think we can do it? Is there time?”
“Aye,” Nan replied. “I will handle everythin’ to dae with the feast and the plannin’ inside the Castle. Ye must collect the priest, her friends from the village, of course, and make the preparations for the funeral. Ye have time for this?” she asked, and he knew she was testing him.
“Aye, the skirmish has been sorted for now, and Archie will continue training the men to be prepared for anythin’ new.” He still hadn’t discovered who the men were who’d tried to attack them, but he was glad that no others had waited on the lonely path for him on his way to the border a few days before. “I want to be here for the feast. I want to have a funeral for me best friend. It is nae entirely selfless, ye ken.”
“Och, posh, I ken what ye are tryin’ to dae, Lad, and ye cannae escape me bein’ proud of ye. I ken Caitlin will appreciate it. What I ken of her.”
Lucas started to eat, not saying anything back. He was thinking about the plans for the funeral. He would send his men in the early morning to bring back the women who helped Caitlin in the village, and he would go himself to the church in the valley and organize the preparations with the priest. He wanted to have it all done tomorrow so that when the feast came in two days’ time, it would be a very great surprise.
“Let me ask ye somethin’, Lad,” his grandmother began, but Lucas sighed.
“Go on then. I ken ye willnae stop even if I wanted ye to.”
“Of course nae. I’ve had me fill in life of holdin’ back. Me husband is dead now, so I may dae as I please. I want ye to tell me what happened that afternoon when ye rode out with Caitlin to the sea. I could only see the two of ye for a little while, and then ye were too far by the water for me to see anythin’.
Lucas’ fist tightened around his cup as his Nan spoke. “What dae ye mean what happened? Nothin’ happened. I was only daein’ what ye asked, nay forced, us to dae.”
She didn’t seem convinced. “Ye were gone quite a while, and when I saw her again later, she seemed a little flushed, unwilling to speak too much about it. She tried to avoid the subject for a time.”
“We rode, and we spoke, Nan. That is all. Ye must end this foolish matchmakin’ of yers. I am sure that while I was gone, she was happy. She felt free to dae what she pleased instead of fearin’ that she might be stuck with me in some uncomfortable situation again.” His light mood at the discussion of his plan for the funeral had now plummeted. “I daenae ken why ye wish to displease me so, Nan.”
“Never that, Lucas.” Her voice was soft and kind, and it made Lucas look at her. “I would never want ye to be unhappy, me lad. We have been through quite a bit, ye and I. But this is our chanceto be happy again. It is our time. Every enemy is now behind us. Gone. And I ken in the deep part of me heart that there is somethin’ special about this lass. Ye daenae have to believe me now, but trust me; ye will understand it soon enough. Ye will see it too.”
Lucas swallowed hard as he listened to his grandmother’s words. She began speaking of something else, but his mind was fixed on her words.
What if Nan, I have already seen it, and now I am afraid I will never unsee it?
Caitlin woke the next morning feeling warm and rested. She looked up at the canopy over her bed for a little while before she suddenly realized it was light outside. And yet she felt like she’d slept for hours upon hours. Swinging herself out of bed, she met Arla just coming in through the door with her buckets.
“Yer awake! Good. The Lady was worried ye might be ill and thought we should send for the healer. But ye’ve been busy the last few days, and ye’ve had a lot on yer mind, Lass. Leave her in bed, said I, and now, I come to ye in the mornin’ to help ye with yer ablutions.”
“Mornin’?” Caitlin stammered. “It is mornin’? My goodness, I must have slept for at least twelve hours.”
“Quite right about that. Clearly ye needed it. The sleep has brought a warmth to yer cheek and a sparkle to yer eye!” Arla patted her arm and lifted up the bucket she’d carried in. “I will bring more for a bath, and then we will get ye ready for the day, Lass.”
Arla busied herself with preparing the bath while Caitlin went to the window, shocked at how bright the day was already. But she did feel better. Lucas had been right to put her to bed, but she felt guilty not attending dinner.
“Was Lottie terribly upset that I wasnae at dinner?”
“Nae at all, Lass!” Arla said, heaving her second steaming bucket into the bath. “Ye mustnae worry about that. Ye are meant to be like family, and so ye can dae as ye please. Come, undress, and step into the bath afore it grows cold.”
She sprinkled rose petals into the water while Caitlin undressed. As she stepped in, the beautiful scent of roses reached her nose.
“Och, I dae hope that Paige willnae be upset about ye takin’ her rose petals.”
“Upset? Why should she be?” Arla asked with a puzzled look.
