Page 76 of When a Highlander Vows
“Isuppose it will always be thus, Lottie,” Caitlin said at breakfast as she and her companion sat together, enjoying the morning meal.
“Aye, but it is more of late. I am worried there is some problem,” Lottie said, but soon the lines of concern on her expression cleared, and she said, “I hope ye had a good evenin’, Lass.”
“Och, Lottie, ye must nae say such things. Ye will make me blush,” she added, looking down at her food as her cheeks burned.
“Ye forget that I was once a young woman with averyhealthy appetite.” When Caitlin looked up, the old woman winked, and she blushed all over again. “But what I would like to hear is that me grandson has made ye an offer of marriage.”
“He must have time, Lottie,” Caitlin said. “He asked for me to be patient as he learns to share his heart.”
That seemed to soothe her old friend, and she smiled, “Och, that is a good lad. At least he has told ye somethin’. For action is very good, and I can see his love in the way he treats ye, and how he has gifted ye, but he has never been very good with words.”
Caitlin remembered the way he’d spoken to her in his study after he gave her the gift. Words that had made her heart swell with love.
“He is far better than I ever expected.”
When Lottie’s eyes opened wide, Caitlin hurried to say, “With words, I mean!”
Lottie’s laughter filled the hall, and Caitlin sighed. She would never be able to not embarrass herself. Of that she was certain. But after Lucas left so hastily that morning, she was more concerned about his safety. Tucked away in her quiet village, she had never heard tell of so many skirmishes along the clan borders. Or of all the things a laird might be called away to deal with.
“Will he be all right, Lottie?” she asked, her voice now soft and quiet.
Loss had been the mark of her whole existence. Now that she had found love again, a true, real, and strong love, she worried what it would do to her to lose it. The darkness would swallow her up, and nothing would bring her back again. The realization scared her to her core. The love she felt for Lucas was now asstrong as death, and having him leave again so soon after they’d made their revelations to one another made her fearful.
“Aye, Lass, he will be all right,” Lottie said kindly. “It would take a great many things to topple me grandson. If he is good at words, as ye say, then ye ken he is far better at fightin’, the thing he has been workin’ on and bred for his entire life.”
Caitlin let out a breath, soothed but just for the moment. She wouldn’t feel totally better until Lucas was back in her arms again. She and Lottie ate, and they were just about to go on their morning walk, when Archie rushed in through the gates calling for them to be closed. The look of strain in his eyes as he rushed toward them made Caitlin’s heart speed up.
“Archie, what is it?” she asked, hoping there was not already bad news.
“Dinnae ken yet. But the two of ye must go to the main hall with Sarah and Colin and Paige. Men are ridin’ toward us. Cannae see the colors.” He hurried them inside and then rushed off to find his wife.
Outside the doors, Caitlin could hear the gathering of soldiers to guard them, and she put a hand to her chest. She had left her spectacles upstairs, not yet used to wearing them, and the blurry world around her was now only fraught with terror. Lottie hurried to the window and squinted.
“Shite, ‘tis that bloody idiot.”
“Who?” Caitlin said, rushing to her side, trying to peer out as well.
“Jack Webster, Laird of the MacGregor Clan. Foolish man.”
“But why? Why would he come now? Why would he ride to us when our laird has gone away?” Caitlin was afraid, but Lottie was angry.
“Daenae worry, Lass. Lucas will handle it all.” She patted Caitlin’s arm, but Caitlin wasn’t reassured.
The look in Archie’s eyes, though, when he pushed them inside the main hall had been anything but calm. Sarah and Paige entered, Colin in front of them, and they rushed to hug Caitlin and Lottie. Caitlin leaned down to hug Colin as well.
“What have ye heard?” she asked Sarah as Paige walked Lottie to a seat to keep her from the window.
Sarah rubbed a hand over her large belly. The day would come any day now when she was ready to give birth, and Caitlin prayed it was not that day.
“It is Laird MacGregor, come to stake his claim over the Castle. He is speaking to Archie now, claiming that he will siege this castle until Lucas gives him what he wants.”
“But Lucas is nae here.”
“Aye, so he hopes that it will fall easier,” Sarah said, looking worried. “And when Lucas comes back, they can ambush him and take him down. Then the Castle will be free for the taking.”
Caitlin felt faint, but she had to be strong for the others. “Come and sit down, Sarah. All will be well. I ken it.”
She helped Sarah to a seat, and Colin followed along, coming to comfort his mother. Caitlin sat as well, and she thought about Lucas. Tears welled in her eyes when they heard the first sounds of fighting outside. Was this the end? After all that wonderful happiness, Lucas was going to be taken away from her?
