Page 134 of Seduced By the Reckless Highlanders
“You monster! Put me down!” Minna yelled in laughing indignation as Gowan carried her upstairs. “I am only with child. I am not an invalid.”
“Ladies in your condition often become tired very quickly,” Gowan replied, not budging an inch. He twitched a mischievous grin at her and she began to beat his chest in mock rage with her closed fist. He took absolutely no notice. “Please don’t waste your energy,” he begged. “You’re going to hurt your hand.”
Minna said a word that no lady should ever say and he looked at her in mock disgust. “Minna! You will frighten the bairn!” he cried.
At that moment Minna realized that they were not going down to the dining room as she had thought, but were heading for the stairway to the battlements.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, frowning.
“It is Midsummer Day,” he replied tenderly. “And it’s dawn. I wanted to let you see our first midsummer sunrise together.”
Minna’s heart surged with love. “You remembered,” she whispered, smiling widely. “You remembered how much I wanted to see it.”
“Of course I did, Minna.” he murmured. “You are everything to me. You saved my life when I had no hope left. I would do anything for you.” His voice was soft with love.
“And you saved mine too, my hero!” she reminded him as she kissed the scar on his cheek.
“My lovely lass.” he whispered. He stopped in the middle of the stairs to bestow a tender kiss on her willing lips. “I wouldn’t want to live without you.”
Brown eyes gazed into blue for a moment, before he resumed his climb to the top of the stairs.
Minna could never remember being so happy. As Gowan set her down on the walkway around the turrets she leaned on his shoulder and looked out over the valley below. Faraway in the distance, the first glimmer of dawn peeped over the crests of the hills. The light was gray at first, then gradually a tinge of red began to seep into it, and slowly it bloomed into a huge red blossom before the first fiery rim of the sun edged over the horizon. They could not look at the sun itself, however, so they shaded their eyes with their hands and did the best they could as the sky brightened around them.
Gowan had brought some spiced ale with him and they sipped it as they gazed at the awesome spectacle before them.
“I doubt that too many people are privileged to stand as high as we can and watch this.” Minna murmured in awe.
“Next year we should bring the whole village.” Gowan said, laughing. “There is plenty of room.”
Minna looked around her. The square tower, and those around it, had miles of parapets for people to walk on, even though the one that had burnt down had never been rebuilt. She could imagine the awe and wonder in their faces as they gazed at the sunrise. Perhaps they could have a celebratory meal afterwards. It sounded like a wonderful way to welcome in the coming of summer.
“I want to celebrate with the tenants and villagers,” she told him. “God knows, they deserve a treat.”
“So do you,” Gowan remarked. “But first, it is time for you to face your biggest fear, if you can.”
She gulped. “You mean, going to the loch?” Her eyes were wide and fearful.
“Yes.” Gowan nodded. “I will go with you - there is nothing to worry about, my sweetheart. I will not let any harm come to you.”
Minna hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly and squared her shoulders. “You are right, Gowan. It is time I faced my fears. I know they are foolish, but they are very real to me. Perhaps if I went to the loch and faced them they would disappear.”
“I know they will,” he said tenderly, “and you will have peace. No more nightmares.” He kissed her forehead. “But you cannot face fears on an empty stomach, especially since there are two of you now. Come and eat, then we can banish those demons once and for all.”
After they had breakfast, they set out towards Loch Begg, but as soon as they came within a few yards of it, Minna began to tremble. This was the place where her life had almost been extinguished, and about which she still had nightmares. This harmless-looking body of water was a place which filled her with terror and haunted her dreams, although they had been fewer of late now that she was waking up in Gowan’s arms. He was her salvation, her lover, and now the father-to-be of her child. How could she live without him?
Gowan saw the apprehension in her face.
“Do you want to wait here for a while?” he asked.
“No.” Her voice was determined. “I should have done this a long time ago, Gowan. I have put it off because things have not been so terrible now that you are here, but I cannot spend my life avoiding this place forever. Just think - our children may want to play here.”
Gowan grinned. “Our children. I still cannot believe it.”
Minna took a deep breath and urged her horse forward, slowly at first, then faster until she reached the water’s edge, where she stopped and looked down at the wavelets lapping against the horse’s feet. Brownish weeds swayed and bent to the will of the water as it ebbed and flowed, and as she watched, tiny fish darted over and between a myriad of polished pebbles. It was beautiful but dangerous, as lovely things often were.
Presently, Gowan drew up beside her and reached over to take her hand. “How do you feel?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Minna answered. “Confused, I suppose. It looks so peaceful. How can something that looks like this -” Sheswept her arm out in front of her to indicate the vista of the loch. “Be so dangerous? It almost killed me.”
