Page 53 of When a Highlander Vows
Archie spun the tankard in his hand, a wicked gleam in his eye. “Aye, but I have never kenned ye, Lad, to dae something ye daenae wish to dae.”
Lucas narrowed his gaze at his friend, giving Archie his best scowl. But while many a man had been cowed by such a look in years past, Archie had become immune to it years ago.
“What does that mean?”
Laughing under his breath, Archie said, “It means that ye danced with her twice, and the second time ye dinnae have to. It means that nay matter how angry ye were at what yer grandmaither tried to dae, ye still did it. While normally, ye might nae have done.” Shrugging, Archie took a swig. “That is what I mean.”
“Well, keep yer bloody opinions to yerself,” he grumbled, anxious for the food to arrive.
Grinning, Archie nodded. “Fine then, but I dae have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Why did ye spend the night in the lass’ chamber if nothin’ is happenin’ between ye?”
For the first time in he wasn’t sure when, Lucas had been completely caught off guard by one of his men. When his mouth fell open, and no words came out, Archie burst into loud, annoying laughter.
27
“How in God’s name did ye ken about that?” Lucas asked finally, once his words returned to him, and Archie had finished wiping the tears of mirth from his face.
“Sarah. She saw ye leave with Caitlin on yer arm, and it was noted ye dinnae return. I also went to yer chamber this morn to deliver the message about the skirmishes that had come in at dawn and found ye werenae there. And werenae anywhere else either.”
“What of it?” The food arrived, and he fell onto it, filling his mouth so that he didn’t have to answer any of Archie’s probing questions right away.
“Come now, Lad,” Archie said. “We are old friends, even if ye are me laird. Will ye nae tell me what happened? I can see there is somethin’ different with Caitlin and between the two of ye. Why hide it? She is a lovely lass.”
“Aye, that is the problem,” Lucas said harshly, stuffing another bit of bread into his mouth and chewing as he stared into the flames.
The memory of the cold rain on his skin had faded as he and his friend sat warm and dry. He thought of Caitlin’s request for him to stay, how her hands had clung to him so tightly, he’d never wanted to leave.
“She is too good. Too pure.” Darting his eyes back to Archie’s, he said, “Ye remember me faither. Heart as dark as sin it was. Gave me maither, me, and me Nan nothin’ but grief and pain.”
He remembered the feel of Caitlin’s fingers on his bare back, wondering how and why she’d said naught about the scars she’d certainly found there.
“She deserves more than me, Lad. I made a vow I wouldnae marry and taint others with whatever evil blood runs in me veins.” After that, he took another bite, his heart crying out for him to do more than this.
Archie sighed, and he shook his head. “I cannae claim to ken what it is like to have such a faither, but I dae ken this. Ye are nae him.”
Lucas looked away while Archie continued, “Ye think ye are some beast because ye scowl and grumble, but that is all ye dae. Ye fight for who ye love; ye keep yer grandmaither in comfort and peace, as well as the rest of us. Ye protect yer clan, and ye have just given shelter to a young lass who is now alone in theworld. Yer heart is pure, Lucas, whatever else ye might think. Ye have never raised yer hand to a woman in violence, either. Caitlin is a good woman, and goodness shines out from her eyes. Perhaps she could help ye bring back that happiness ye lost a long time ago.”
“A happiness I never had, Archie,” Lucas said suddenly, his chest aching a bit.
He was never one to enjoy conversations of a personal nature, and this was certainly one of those. It made his skin itch, and his heart patter away with nerves. But Archie’s opinion was one to be respected, if not fully listened to.
“Think on it, Lucas. If she feels as ye dae, then perhaps there is a chance at a new life. Yer faither, maither, and grandfaither are all dead. There is nay longer anyone left to hurt ye or to hold ye back.”
Lucas tapped at the top of his tankard, thinking for a few seconds. “I think ye’d better go and find us good lodgin’, Lad.”
Archie hesitated, but eventually he stood and patted Lucas on the shoulder. “Aye, I shall.”
As his friend walked away, Lucas knew there was still someone who could hurt him and hold him back.
Meself.
The next day when Caitlin emerged from the castle with Fallows for her morning walk, she spotted a young man waving to her and coming her way. She stopped and knelt down to brush a hand over Fallow’s ears, hoping the dog would alert her if the man was dangerous or not. But Fallows stood comfortably close to her, enjoying his extra pat that morning.
“Caitlin,” a familiar voice said, and when the man got closer, she could see it was Bram from the bakery.
