Page 41 of When a Highlander Vows
After the minister’s final prayer, he led the small group out the castle doors and away from the castle, the breeze catching his robes as he led the way.
“Where are we goin’?” Caitlin asked, Lucas, her hand now fallen from his as she tried to keep a plaid about her shoulders in the breeze.
“Ye certainly daenae neglect to ask questions, Sunshine,” he said. “Ye will see.”
She said nothing else, this time not chastising him for the sudden nickname he’d given her. It warmed her heart, made her feel like she was something special. They walked in silence then for a few minutes, until the minister stopped, standing by a stone that stood in the last section of grass before long slope to the gravel and sand beach.
“And here we consider Seamus MacLennan to be laid to rest. It is the place where others may visit him to pay their respects and to pray. The Lord holds him in His hands now.”
Caitlin pushed through the small crowd to stand at the large stone, pressed down into the earth. She lifted her eyes to the sea, watching the blurred gray with all its primed passion and violence. The sea held her brother, but now she would have a place to come to him, to talk, to unburden her heart.
“Thank ye, Minister,” she said, turning to the young man. She held out a hand, and he clasped it.
“Ye are most welcome, Miss MacLennan. I am very sorry for the loss of yer brother. He was a good and kind man, and he gave Laird McDougall more comfort than he kenned.”
“Thank ye.” Caitlin offered the man a weak smile before he moved on, and slowly the others came to her to pay their respects.
Even Paige clasped her hand briefly and said, “Seamus was always kind to me,” with her eyes cast down.
“Thank ye, Paige.” Then, Rachel and Mary came, coming to hug her, and when she released them, she sighed.
“It is so good to see ye both. I dinnae think ye would get me message in time.”
“Och, the Laird sent his own men for us, Caitlin,” Rachel said, and Caitlin looked for him in the small crowd, finding him speaking to Archie quietly, not looking at her.
“He did?” she asked. “He dinnae say.”
“It was all a great surprise, ye see,” Mary said. “We came in late last night, but we were to hide in our chamber and nae tell ye anythin’.”
Caitlin could feel the tears rising again behind her eyes. She put a hand to her heart.
“It is a very good thing he has done,” she said. “I will thank him later.”
“Aye, so ye will.” Rachel looked at him and then back to Caitlin. “Perhaps it is nae the time to say such things, as we are thinkin’ of yer brother, but I had nay idea he was such a handsome brute. Mary told me of it, and I was disappointed I dinnae get the chance to see him meself when he came.”
Caitlin put a finger to her lips. “Rachel, he will hear ye,” she said, grasping her old companion’s arm. “But ye are right. Although it matters little.”
Mary took her other arm, and together, they walked back toward the castle, following the others. She remembered her desires to speak to her friends about men and what it was like to be with one of them, but like Rachel had said, the conversation didn’t seem right when they had just ‘laid’ Seamus to rest. As they neared the castle, she turned back, only able to see a blurry view, but she knew Seamus’ stone was there.
It felt like he was there with her, and that she wouldn’t have to work so hard to keep him in her mind. He would always reside there in her mind and heart. The castle was getting busy when they returned, guests approaching through the gates and into the hall.
Lottie chuckled when she saw Caitlin’s surprised face. “We kenned ye would be surprised, Lass,” she said, stepping close to Caitlin, Mary, and Rachel. “It is all for ye and Seamus. Ye must enjoy yerself.”
“But—” she began, stepping into the hall, amazed at the change that had taken hold of it while she had been away at the ceremony. “It is incredible, magnificent. Ye dinnae have to go to such trouble, Lottie. Ye daenae even ken me well yet.”
“Yet is the right word to use, dear Lass. Go, young girls, and get yerselves some refreshment. I will take care of our Guest of Honor,” she said cheerfully to Rachel and Mary who looked at one another and then scurried away to the tables high with food and drink.
“Lottie, really—” Caitlin was cut off again, and Lottie patted her hand as it grabbed Lottie’s arm.
“Please, ye must allow us to treat ye well, especially after all ye have been through. And I ken what a help ye have been to Sarah. Nor must ye think I have nae noticed how the servants rush to dae yer biddin’ because ye offer them a kind word instead of a gruff one, like me grandson.” Lottie’s eyes sparkled as she sought out Lucas. “It was all his idea, ye ken.”
“Nay, I dinnae ken. He thought of this?”
“Aye. Of course, there was goin’ to be a feast, always that, but he asked if we could make the focus that of Seamus, that we could also have a ceremony, give ye a place to commune with yer brother whenever ye wished.”
Caitlin felt a tear slide down her cheek, but she smiled. After the loss of her parents, she had never really experienced suchkindness and love aside from Seamus. This was thoughtfulness, true, endearing thoughtfulness.
“It was very kind of him. I dinnae expect it, I can assure ye.” Her eyes sought him in the crowd, and faintly, she could hear music starting up.
