by Wylie, Diane
“No, I needed a change.”
“Ah, well ye look verra nice.”
Now she turned to regard him. “Would ye like me to cut yer hair for ye? The English wear shorter hair, aye? I believe Mrs. Grainger has a pair of shears.”
“Do we have time? I’d like to shave too. I noticed that Reverend Grainger is clean shaven. Perhaps he will have a sharp blade I can use.”
Boyd glanced up at them, and Derek handed over Isobel’s sack. “Aye, there’s time, but be quick aboot it.”
“Thank ye, sir.”
“Not ‘sir’, call me Boyd.” Isobel’s father gave a hint of a smile.
Perhaps Derek was not the unwelcome outcast he thought himself to be.
Derek waited outside until Isobel came out bearing a brush, shears, a wickedly sharp-looking knife, a bowl, soap, and a cloth. He followed her to the same rock he’d been sitting on earlier.
“Sit please, while I do this … and dinna worry, I’ve not cut my brothers’ throats, nor Da’s yet.”
* * *
When Derek sat on the rock again and tilted his head back to smile up at her, Isobel nearly burst into tears. She wanted to kiss him again and again and again. She wanted it so badly her heart hurt. She knew Derek was a good man. Why is it so terrible that he has English blood and some English ways? It makes no difference to me. I love him. I want him for my own.
Giving him a faint smile in return, she nudged his head level and took the brush to his long, tangled, wavy brown locks.
“So, I suppose ye’ll be going back to soldiering when we get to Dunnottar.”
“Yes, I’ve no choice, Belle. If I dinna go back, I can be shot or hanged for a deserter.”
With a viscous yank, Isobel pulled the brush through a stubborn tangle of hair.
“Ouch!”
His hand went to the back of his head. She batted it away and picked up the scissors.
“Hold still.”
“Are ye sure that you’re not too … uh … excited to do this?”
Snip.
“No, I’m verra calm and collected. Nae worries, Derek.”
Snip.
“What will you do when we get to Dunnottar, Belle? I, um, assume you will be traveling back with your family?”
Snip.
“Aye, my loyalty is to my family. We are falconers, and Da will find work for us somewhere. Our birds will go with us wherever we venture. Latharna is loyal and true. She willna leave me.”
Now he wrapped strong fingers around her wrist to stop her and twisted to gaze up at her again. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Leaving you?”
Pulling against his grip, she tried to free her arm. “You said it yourself, the English will hang ye if ye dinna return. So aye, Derek, ye must.”
He released her and settled back in position on the rock. She picked up a strand of his long hair and snipped it to shoulder length, as was the English style.
“I know this may be too much to ask of you, Belle,” Derek spoke in a soft, gentle voice, “but if you care to wait for me, I plan to resign my commission and go back to the farm my grandparents left me on the Isle of Skye. I would ask you to be my wife, if your father will allow it.”
Snip. Snip. Snip.
Isobel’s thoughts tumbled over each other like a pile of happy puppies. On one hand, she welcomed the idea of marrying this delicious man. She could make love to him whenever she wanted, if they were to marry. On the other hand, what about her dreams?
“Would I keep my falcon, and could I still train birds?” She stopped cutting to step in front of him so she could see his face. He wasn’t toying with her, right?
He wasn’t.
When he tipped his head to look up at her from his seat on the rock, it was as if she could see their future in his soft brown eyes. Derek Sinclair loves me. Truly.
In her mind’s eye, she saw him coming in from the field with Scottish mud on his boots. Their children would cry out with delight at their father’s enthusiastic greeting. She would walk out to meet him from their own mews where she would teach Derek and her children about the art of falconry. They would never go hungry between the crops and the hunting.
“Are ye almost done with Sinclair, Belle? Da wants to be on our way.” Fin burst her daydreams into pieces.
“Give us a few more minutes, please.” Isobel glanced up at her tall, red-haired brother. He surprised her by giving her a wink and a smile. She nodded. Her heart lifted. Fin seemed to have relented on his opinion of Derek.
With a few more snips of the scissors, Derek’s haircut was complete. She brushed it back and gathered it at the nape of his neck with a bit of twine.
Shaving him without cutting his skin called for a steady hand, so she had to avoid meeting his eyes to get the job done. The passion she saw in those windows to his soul made her knees weak and her breath come quicker. She kept her gaze on his whiskered cheeks and chin.
* * *
The sight of this woman from his vantage point below her made Derek’s blood run hot and straight to his manhood. She was bent at the waist and leaning over to shave him, giving him an up-close view right down her décolletage.
With effort, he schooled his features to bland disinterest when he wanted to touch the creamy softness right in front of him. The urge to lick his lips at the sight grew strong, but he fought it. A sideways glance told him that all three Graham men were keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
He kept his hands on his lap.
“There, all clean now. Yer skin is as smooth as a newborn babe’s bottom.” Isobel straightened and backed up a step to study her handiwork.
Derek rubbed his chin. She was right. “Thank you, Belle. ’Twill not last, though. By nightfall, I will be bristling with whiskers again.”
A musical laugh bubbled out of her. “Men are a hairy lot, true enough.”
Unfortunately, his personal time with Isobel was short-lived. With Derek helping, they soon had their meager belongings stashed in the little cart, hitched up Roger, and made ready to leave.
Derek was lifting William into the cart when he caught sight of a brief exchange between Boyd Graham and the good reverend as they came together at the door to the house. Reverend Grainger pressed a wax-sealed letter into Boyd’s hand as Derek watched. Boyd quickly stashed the letter inside his coat, and then both men turned and walked toward the rest of the family who were gathered around Roger and the cart. Derek hastily concentrated on William.
“All set then, Willie?”
“Aye. Will ye be riding with me, Derek?”
The endearing expression on the young boy’s face made Derek want to say yes, but he didn’t. “Not this time, laddie. Roger doesna need to pull me when I can walk now. I’ll be nearby, if ye need me.”
Having said their goodbyes to the Graingers, the Graham family set off to return to Dunnottar Castle with their two horses and a donkey cart. The family’s falcons had all been released to the air to follow or not, as the birds desired. Derek glanced skyward from time to time as they walked, but he rarely caught sight of the falcons.
For the entire first day, it seemed to Derek that the family had conspired to keep him away from Isobel. She and Catriona rode the horses for a few hours. Each time Derek positioned himself beside Isobel, someone would call her away or beckon to him and pull him from her side.
When she walked, the same thing happened. Finally, Fin had the audacity to drive his horse right between them and forced them apart.
“All right! I give up! Someone please tell me when I am permitted to speak to Belle,” Derek protested as he quickly jumped away from the horse’s hooves.
As annoyed as he was, it turned out that Isobel was even more upset.
She stopped dead in the middle of the road, hands on her hips, and forced them to either stop or move around her.
“Mo chreach! I dinna ken what you think will happen if I speak to Derek. My soul willna be cursed for all eternity, nor will I be led astray by his English ways. The mor
e ye keep us apart, the more I’d like to be with him. So stop this nonsense! We are both grown adults and can decide for ourselves when we wish to talk and when we do not.”
Mumbled apologies and protests of innocence followed.
“Good. Now, let us be on our way in a more pleasant fashion.”
Having said her peace, Isobel stepped around Fin’s mount and walked right up to Derek. To his delight, she took his arm and held tight. Then, with her chin up, she led him forward.
“Are they following us?”
Derek glanced back. “Aye.”
She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. “’Tis a good thing. I’ve nay idea which is the way to Dunnottar.”
He couldn’t help it. First a little smirk, then a chuckle, then full-fledged hoots of laughter shook his belly. “I do love ye, Isobel Graham,” he whispered in her ear between chuckles.
She smiled and turned her face toward the sun.
Chapter 18
July 1652
Lowlands Scotland
Dunnottar Castle
A steady summer rain dripped off the leaves of the trees and created rivulets of water between the rocks and clumps of hardy grass. Isobel shivered and pulled her cloak on over her clothes. Summer never got very warm here in the lowlands of Scotland. She had long ago given up wearing a skirt on this journey home. It tangled up between her legs and made walking that much more challenging.
“There’s nothing more to be done until tomorrow, Belle.” Derek’s arms wrapped around her from behind and he put his cheek against hers as they surveyed the ruined cottage.
All of them had worked to clear the burned debris from inside the still-standing rock walls of Catriona’s childhood home. During their many discussions on the road back to Dunnottar, it had been decided that they would move into the undamaged kitchen that belonged to Catriona and work to rebuild her family home while they waited for Derek to do his part in getting William back to his parents.
“Aye, but ’tis crowded inside that small place.” Isobel stroked his exposed forearms with her palms. “Why are ye not cold in just yer shirtsleeves?” She felt him shrug.
“Just used to it, I suppose.”
“I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m not used to this cold.” She pressed her body against his warmth.
He shrugged again. “Maybe ’tis the reason men are hairier than women; keeps us warm so we can keep you warm.”
Isobel glanced down at his forearms with their relatively light covering of hair. “Nay, it’s your hot blood coursing through your body that keeps you warm.”
He kissed her cheek and chuckled. “Likely that’s true.”
“You’d best release me. Da has been tolerating more and more between us, but I dinna like to test him further.”
A chuckle rumbled through him before he opened his arms, and she stepped away and turned to face him.
“This will be my last few hours with you and your family before I go inside Dunnottar.”
A crease appeared between his dark brows, but she kept her hands to herself rather than try to smooth his worry away.
“I’ve faith in ye, Derek Sinclair. Ye will be bringing us those uniforms before they ken what happened.”
“Absolutely.” He glanced around the clearing. “If you’ll excuse me for a bit, I’d like to speak to your Da to get an idea of Dunnottar’s layout and where they might place the most guards.”
Although she could answer that question just as well as her father and brothers, she sensed that he really wanted to speak to Da.
“Da and Fin went to construct a temporary mews for the falcons. I think they are behind the kitchen. They mean to use the back wall of the kitchen for one wall of the bird shelter.”
He nodded and she watched him walk away, pick up his coat and slip it on, and then move on hunched against the wetness, which had slowed to a cold drizzle.
With a sigh, Isobel turned back to stare at the cottage ruined by the soldiers. The English army seemed an unpredictable lot. Would they welcome Derek’s return to the ranks or execute him as a deserter? Her life would be as black as the scorched timbers without him.
* * *
Sleep eluded Derek. He sat up. The entire Graham family and William lay snoring loudly side by side on the kitchen floor, like so many long rolls on a bakery pan.
A small sliver of moonlight came in through the window, which was opened to allow some air to cool the many bodies. Derek’s gaze followed that moonbeam to where it fell across Belle’s lovely face. A strand of red hair had fallen across her cheek as she lay on her side sound asleep. The day had been full of hard work, and they all slept like the dead … all but him.
Despite the company of these people, Derek felt alone. No one could go with him now to face his destiny. From his position near the door, the first to die should someone dangerous enter, he could only see Belle; he could not reach her. Next to him, Fin snorted in his sleep and rolled over. To Fin’s left, Boyd slept flat on his back. Rabbie and Catriona were curled together with William close to Cat. Next, the farthest from the door, and the farthest from him, lay Iosbel.
Derek decided to leave for Dunnottar now.
After lifting his confiscated English redcoat from the peg that also held a much-used apron, Derek bent and picked up his boots.
He took one last look at the slumbering Graham falconers, the people who had save his life … twice. Then he silently blew a kiss to an oblivious Isobel. Farewell, mo leanan. Be safe, my Belle.
* * *
Derek had been gone for three weeks, and Isobel couldn’t abide the wait any longer.
Much had transpired since he left like a thief in the night with no word of farewell. Catriona’s cottage had been rebuilt by Fin, Boyd, Rabbie, and Isobel, with some help from little William. Catriona had been instructed to refrain from any strenuous work from the moment her husband found out that she was carrying his child.
They had all moved into the cottage, which had been subdivided into three bedrooms and a common area. Rabbie and Catriona had their own room. Fin and Boyd shared a room, and Isobel shared a room with William. For now, they slept on the floor, but soon they would have wooden beds and furniture, thanks to the trees in Dunnottar woods.
“I’m going out to hunt for fledglings today, now that we have a mews to house more birds.” Isobel announced to the family at breakfast.
“Alone, Belle? I willna allow that.” Boyd responded between bites of the fine bread Catriona baked fresh every day.
“Rabbie canna go with me, he needs to stay close to Catriona. I’ll be fine alone.” Belle struggled to keep her anger under control. Her brothers could go out alone, but she could not.
“I’ll go out with ye, Belle. Can ye do without me for a day, Da?” Fin grinned at her.
Boyd’s gaze flicked from one son to the next and back again. Then his blue eyes landed on Isobel.
Can he see into my head? Did he guess at my plan to go into Dunnottar and look for Derek? Did Fin guess?
“Aye, I can. Belle, you may hunt for fledglings if Fin goes with ye.”
Isobel sighed. Sometimes she hated the restrictions placed on women. “Thank ye, Da.”
“What’s this? No thank ye for your loving brother?” Fin jabbed her in the side with his elbow.
“Thank ye, Finlay.” Isobel knew that her brother wasn’t fond of anyone using his full first name.
He gave her a slanted look. “On the other hand, perhaps I willna go with ye afterall …”
“Thank ye, Fin.”
“Much better.” He turned to their father. “I’ll look after her, Da.”
Isobel began to clear away the bowls and remnants from breakfast, bringing them to the wash bucket where Catriona washed them in hot, soapy water.
“Are you going to look for Derek?” Catriona whispered without raising her head from her task.
“How did ye ken?” Isobel kept her head down too and spoke softly. The men were occupied on the opposite side of the room and pa
id no attention.
“’Tis what I would do too. Be careful, Belle.”
They exchanged quick smiles and fell silent for a moment as Catriona washed and Isobel dried the precious pewter dishes they had purchased at Crathes Castle.
“Are ye scairt about the baby?” Isobel glanced at her sister-in-law’s midsection, which showed no evidence of a baby.
“A bit. I’ve never done this before.”
“Well, I’d hope not.”
They both giggled like schoolgirls.
“By the time the baby comes, I hope we can get a midwife from Dunnottar to help ye, Cat.”
Catriona’s green eyes showed her anxiety all too clearly. “I’ve no doubt that I willna be alone.” She covered Isobel’s hand with hers. “I’ve a braw sister to help me as well.”
“Aye, I’ve no experience save watching a dog we had once give birth. It didna look verra pleasant for her.”
“Probably not, but the dog survived. Aye?”
“Och, aye. Rabbie’s dog Hamish was one of her pups. She lived a good long life, and Bree was a verra guid mother too. Just as ye will be, Cat.”
“I pray you are right.”
“Of course she’s right, Cat.” Rabbie came up behind Catriona and wrapped his arms around her waist then buried his face between her neck and shoulder. “You’ll be an excellent mother.”
Isobel shook out her cloth and laid it out to dry on the table. “I’ll be leaving now. Where is Fin?”
“He went to gather up the falconry hoods, fledgling cage, and bait meat.” Rabbie’s voice was muffled by his wife’s shoulder. She giggled and put a hand on her husband’s dark head.
Isobel headed for the door without looking back at the happy couple. Envy and sadness made her heart hurt, and she resolved to keep these emotions to herself. Besides making her feel as though she was being petty, she didn’t want them to think her self-centered as well.
Heading to her room, Isobel picked up a bundle she had prepared and went back out. Casting her glance around the room, she saw everyone was occupied and scurried to the door. She wanted no questions.
