LOCH MORAR, SCOTLAND
The Past
The following morning, a knock sounded at the front of the castle. Halfway down the stairs, Paige froze in mid-step. She didn’t know whether to answer it, or run back up the way she had just come.
Then her good sense kicked in and she decided that if it was someone coming to do something foul to her or Gavin, they most certainly would not be knocking.
Hastening her step, she made her way to the front door. “Who is there?”
“Och, lass, it’s raining out here.”
A wave of profound relief poured over her. Paige unbolted the door, ripped it open and flung herself into the arms of the four strapping Highlanders she had come to love in such a short time.
Callum was the one to take the brunt of her body against his own and stumbled backward by the force.
Luckily, Muir was behind, and kept them both in upright positions.
“Och lass, are ye going ta let us in?” Alec grumbled, swiping rain off his face so he could see.
Paige finally, albeit, reluctantly, loosened her hold on Callum. “Of course. Sorry,” she said, moving back into the hall so they could come inside.
Once everyone was in the hall, Paige shut the door and brought the bolt back home. “I didn’t think you were coming back,” she rushed to say, hugging each one in turn.
Callum, Muir, Alec and Graham gave her curious looks as they took in her dishevelled appearance.
There were dark circles under her eyes and her clothes looked rather dirty, more so, then their own were, which was strange to them considering they were the ones out in the elements for days on end.
“Och, lass,” Muir said. “What happened ta ye?”
“Oh, I…uh, have been busy.” Embarrassed by her appearance, Paige smoothed her hand over her messy hair but she could tell by the looks that they were giving her that it did not really help.
“Doing what? Rolling in the mud?” Callum asked taking in my mud splattered gown.
Muir elbowed him. “Ye do no look that bad.”
She looked down at her gown, which had several spots of mud on the front from Elvis jumping on her earlier.
“Where is our laird?” Alec asked.
“He’s upstairs,” she said absently, while trying to brush the dried bits of dirt off her gown.
“Is he no better, then?” Graham asked.
I looked up. “He is awake.”
“Och, so he is better?”
“I didn’t say that,” she muttered under her breath.
“Eh, I can no hear ye,” Alec said, holding his hand to his ear.
Paige let out a lengthy sigh. “He is fine. He just doesn’t remember too much from what happened before.”
“Does he remember who we are?” This time it was Callum who spoke.
“Oh, he remembers just fine who you all are,” she said. “He just doesn’t remember me very well.”
“He does no remember ye?” Muir asked, his brows creasing.
“Well…he does, a bit, but not how he felt about me.”
“Och, sorry ta hear that, lass,’ Graham said.
Paige took another breath. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
The men gave each other looks, none looking too convinced by her lie. “Sit down and rest a bit while I get you all some ale.”
Before they could answer, Paige turned and fled the room.
♦
The straw poked Clarion and made his legs itch. He would have scratched them, if the Highlanders did not tie his hands up and hook them to the wall of the stable.
Getting here was not a pleasant journey but at least he had finally made it to his destination. Tired of standing, he sat down on the floor and leaned back against the wall, thankful they had given the rope enough slack to do so. The horses made noises, swinging their tales to keep the flies at bay while munching down straw that was piled in the stalls on the floor.
The rain had started again halfway here, and Clarion was once again drenched to the bone. But at least he had some kind of shelter from the storm even though it stunk like horse manure.
Closing his eyes, he tried to figure out his next move and wondered briefly if the lass, the one he had seen in his dreams was really residing within the castle walls, and if she was, would she remember him? And would he remember her? He thought he might, but there was no telling what would happen until he saw her in person.
Thoughts of the lass from his dreams brought an uncomfortable rigidness to his loins. Closing his eyes, he let his mind take him to where he was won’t to go of late…right back into her arms.
♦
Once Paige got the ale and several cups, she headed back out into the main hall. All the men were chattering away before she entered the room, but once she stepped inside, they suddenly went silent.
Trying to be upbeat, she carried the ale over and set it on the table. Each of the men took a cup and she filled each of them.
When she sat down, Paige grabbed a cup for herself and filled it to the brim. Taking a sip of her ale, she made a face and set the cup back down on the table.
Alec turned his attention to the lass. “Does he remember what happened to Morgan and the others?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“How did he take the news, lass?” Graham asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Callum was the one to pipe in this time. “How can ye no know that?”
Muir kicked him under the table.
“Och, Muir, it was jes a question,” Callum grumbled.
“Let the lass have her say and then ye can ask her questions.”
Callum gave her a contrite look. “Sorry, lass.”
“No. It’s not your fault. It’s just a long story and….”
“We have time, lass,” Alec said gently.
“Well, you see…” Paige began, and then filled them in on all that transpired since they had left.
An hour later, and a few more cups of ale drank by each of them, Paige finished her story and said, “He is not quite the same as he was before.” On a more upbeat note, she added, “But now that you all are here, I am sure he will remember.”
Muir let out a lengthy sigh, settling back in his chair. “He tried ta kill ye?”
“Well, yes…but…”
“Twice?” Callum added with wide eyes.
“Yes, but…” she started.
“Och, he must have a fever,” Graham interrupted.
“Aye, a fever,” Alec said, but they both had doubtful looks on their faces.
Muir cut Callum a knowing look but neither said anything more.
It was Graham who spoke this time, “Is he truly upstairs, lass?”
Paige did a double take. “Of course, he is. Where else would he be?”
All the men gave each other another strange looks, which she was sure wasn’t good. “I didn’t hurt him,” she defended. “He was the one that tried to kill me, remember?”
“Aye, we believe ye, lass,” Alec said but then added, “but we do also know ye have a temper.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Did ye kill him?” Callum asked once he swallowed past the lump in his throat.
“No. I did not kill him. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself.” Paige stood from the table making the chair legs scrape across the floor. She was so mad, but at the same time she could understand where they were coming from because it was odd that their laird did not come to greet them.
Alec looked at Graham, who looked at Muir and then Muir looked at Callum. When Callum did not move, Muir finally stood. “I will go and check on our laird.”
“Good,” she said a little harshly. “And you will see he is alive and well.”
“O’ course he is,” Muir placated.
Paige caught his eyes shifting to the side, which from experience, she knew he was lying.
Muir made his way across the hall and climbed the stairs.
Callum rubbed his belly. “Do ye have any food prepared?”
“No.” She suddenly felt like crying. She had been hoping all this time for them to come back and now that they were, she wasn’t so sure she even wanted them here anymore. “I can try to make you something.”
“Nay.” Callum shook his head adamantly back and forth remembering too well how bad her food was. “We have some food left from our journey. Is that no right, Alec?”
“Aye, we do, but it is out in the stables.”
Paige waited for one of them to say they were going to get it but when no one did, she offered, “I will go and get it.”
“It’s still raining, lass,” Graham said, but didn’t make a move to go and get it himself.
“I am no mended fully,” Callum added when all eyes settled on him.
“I am no hungry,” Alec said.
“I said that I would go.” Glad for an excuse to be alone for a while, Paige started towards the door and opened it.
The moment she stepped outside, sheets of wet rain sliced against her. “Be back soon,” she tossed over her shoulder, slamming the door shut behind her. Once the door was closed, she swiped the rain off her face, and lifting her skirts, she headed out towards the stables.
The wind had picked up and the tree in the middle of the courtyard was practically bending over on itself. Paige avoided it and made her way through potholes filled with water. She was drenched through by the time she made it to the barn.
Teeth chattering from the cold, she opened the door and stepped inside the dim structure. Not wanting the animals to get spooked from the thunder and lightning, she closed the door and waited a beat while her eyes adjusted to the dimness in the room.
The stables as she well knew were not overly bright inside anyway, but now with the rain, and night fast approaching, it was even more difficult to see where she was going.
Stumbling forward, Paige held out her hands to guide her through the dark.
“How in the hell am I supposed to find their damn bags!” she grumbled, garnering a tale swish and a whinny from one of the horses housed in stalls lining the sides of the stable.