Page 35 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“I think we have everythin’,” Anthony said, making sure his bonnet was secure before taking a seat at reigns. Only a single horse was needed for today.
The cart jostled when Sebastian hopped in and took a seat near the front. Anthony gave a short tug of the reins, and they made their way out of the courtyard, underneath the portcullis.
They turned onto the heavily wooded road that led to the McLean’s homestead, and soon Anthony brought the large horse to a halt and jumped from the cart. Sebastian followed suit, pulling the baskets of arrows onto his back.
Anthony grabbed their bows and together they walked to the front door. He didn’t know what to expect or who would answer the door; the last time he was here, he and Celestia had a rather awkward parting. And he regretted that he hadn’t just kissed her once more before he left.
Maybe this time? But no, no, he was not here for her. He was here solely to teach the twins.
Before he could even knock, the door was being pulled open. Thankfully, it was Hugo with his shirt untucked and his dark ash blonde hair askew. Hugo’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull when he saw the bows and arrows. “Are ye here to teach us?”
Anthony nodded. Sebastian chuckled next to him and said, “We are!”
“Fantastic!” Hugo said, opening the door wider and beckoning them in. “I’ll go and get Chester; he’s just getting dressed now.” He nearly ran down the hallway, then halted and turned back. “Ye can wait out back for us. I’ll let—” And he lowered his voice a whisper, “—Celestia ken yer here if I can find her.”
Anthony and Sebastian exchanged a look.
“Aye, go and do that, lad. We’ll hurry out back now,” Anthony said jovially.
They cut through the house and into the back, seeing the horses grazing in the expansive paddock. Just beyond, Anthony could see a footpath leading into the woods beyond the property. That would be a great place to start.
He nudged Sebastian and they made their way closer to the edge of the woods, cutting between the paddock and the corral that kept the singular goat and a few pigs.
Sebastian nudged him and nodded his head forward. “Look.”
Coming from the woods were Celestia and her younger sister Auralia, carrying baskets full of white and yellow flowers. He could see the recognition in Celestia’s face from this distance.
“Good mornin’!” Sebastian called to them, raising his hand in a big waving salute.
Celestia and Auralia stopped just before them and both echoed Sebastian’s greeting. Celestia eyed the baskets of arrows peeking out from behind Sebastian and then latched her eyes onto Anthony.
She trailed her green eyes slowly down him, from his eyes to his mouth and finally to his hands, where he held onto the two large bows. “Makin’ good on yer promise finally.”
He tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I always keep my promises.”
She arched a brow. “And where are my brothers?”
“They were just gettin’ dressed when we got here,” he told her, keeping his face as neutral as hers.
There was an awkward moment of silence with just the slight wind rustling the leaves, and then Sebastian said, “A few days too early to be pickin’ Beltane flowers, is it nae?” He motioned to their baskets.
“Oh, nay,” Auralia told them. “We’ve always started this early for as long as I can remember. And they stay well enough in our cellar until we need them.”
Celestia smiled at her sister. “We’re makin’ flower wreaths for the festival. Our mother taught us when we were young, and we’ve kept up the tradition ever since.”
“Flower wreaths, really?” Sebastian wondered.
Auralia nodded enthusiastically. “People love buyin’ them for their cattle and goats. The young lasses love them too.”
“Some of the young lads too,” Celestia added with a grin.
It was the first time in a while that Celestia looked happy in his presence, and it warmed him to his bones.
“It’s good to see ye in good spirits,” Anthony said, hoping it came off more as a general compliment, but he was unable to take his eyes off her.
“Speakin’ of spirits,” Sebastian said, tilting his head toward Anthony. “Anthony’s told me how ye’ve become somethin’ of a whisky merchant, takin’ over yer faither’s business.”
Celestia’s joyful expression faltered, the smile gone from her eyes. “Aye, my faither’s been teachin’ me.”
