The Highlander's Vow (Loch Moigh #4)

by Barbara Longley

  “Once you’re settled in, I’ll take you to visit some of the hot springs in the area. I’m sure one of my sisters will have a swimsuit you can borrow.”

  “A swimsuit?” All that came to mind at his words were suits of armor, and surely that could not be what he meant.

  He chuckled. “You’ll see.”

  “Hmm, you say the same for much of what we discuss.”

  “And so you will.” He glanced at her. “Thank you, Sky.”

  She sent him a questioning look. “For what?”

  “For choosing to keep me company the entire trip.” He grinned. “It’s been nice, and I’ve enjoyed listening to you figure out the road signs along the way.”

  “You are most welcome.” His words gladdened her. Mayhap they could be friends after all.

  Soon they left the village of Warm Springs behind and continued along a narrow, twisting road through the mountains. Struan turned onto yet another road, this one wending its way down into a valley. “We’re almost home,” he said, his tone tinged with pride.

  “Oh my.” Sky surveyed their surroundings. “’Tis quite lovely.” They were surrounded by magnificent vistas in every direction: thick woods and rolling mountains, with slopes covered in verdant greenery. The valley itself boasted such rich and fertile land, she could only stare in wonder.

  “This is Gordon Hollow. Gene’s family has lived on this land since the early eighteen hundreds. Somehow his ancestors managed to hold on to the family farm all these years, despite the Civil War, the Great Depression and all manner of hardships and upheavals.”

  Her heart wrenched. “I wonder if my kin still hold Moigh Hall after all these centuries.”

  “Moigh Hall would be nothing but a ruin now, lass. Very few castles from our era are still standing, much less owned by their clans or lairds.” He studied her for a moment. “If you wish, we can also search for information about your kin while we’re on the Internet.”

  “Is that what you did, Struan?” she asked. “Did you search this thing you call the Internet to see what became of your kin?”

  Struan’s jaw tightened, and his distress was obvious, even without her abilities. He nodded, but said naught.

  “I’m sorry. I did no’ mean to bring up unpleasant memories. Mayhap ’twould be best if I dinna look for answers about what became of my family, aye? ’Tis quite disheartening and confusing to think that all the people I love are long gone, though I was with them less than a se’nnight ago.” She frowned. “And they are living their lives in the past at this very moment.”

  His Adam’s apple moved. He cleared his throat and pointed. “There’s Gene and Marjorie’s house, and you can see mine a short distance down on the opposite side of the street. That other house, the one set well back from Gene’s and surrounded by all the outbuildings, belongs to Ethan and his wife. They have a little boy who’s about four months old now. My sister Lindsay just graduated from college, and she’s home now.” He turned to her. “You’ll like Lindsay. You two are close in age. My other sister, Courtney, is married and she and her husband, John, live in Lexington. They visit often, so you’ll meet them soon.”

  Sky nodded, taking it all in. Such valuable land! The Gordons must be very wealthy indeed. “The kine are so very different in appearance from ours,” she said, surveying the herd grazing peacefully alongside a burn. Hadn’t Struan mentioned the burn, saying that it ran through their entire valley? “They’re no’ shaggy at all. Are the winters less harsh here than in our highlands?”

  “Aye. Not nearly so brutal. The temperature rarely goes below freezing.”

  Gene and Marjorie pulled their truck into the short road leading to their home, while Michael continued on to the place Struan had indicated as his dwelling. He turned onto the narrow lane, and Struan followed, continuing to one of the three buildings near his neat cottage.

  “Your stables?”

  “Yep. Besides the two destriers, we have other horses we keep for riding the trails hereabouts, and for going after stray cattle. The horses board here, since Ethan’s barn is full to capacity with the dairy cattle. Do you enjoy riding?”

  “Very much.” Sky scanned the buildings, settling upon a structure made of stone with a roof of some kind of metal. An attractive sign affixed above the wide double doors caught her eye. “Sutherland Forge,” she read aloud. “Your smithy?” She couldn’t help but pick up on the pride emanating from him.

  “It is. I have one full-time employee, and I also take on paid apprentices who wish to learn the trade.”

  “Is an employee like a serf?”

  “Not at all.” He stopped the truck and turned off the engine. “Andrew works for a good wage, and he owes me nothing. I’m not his overlord, only his boss.”

  “Humph. Is no’ a boss like a lord?”

  He chuckled. “It’s hard to explain. Andrew has chosen to work with me, and it doesn’t have anything to do with being a tenant on my land or anything else.”

  Michael rapped on her window, just as Struan’s phone rang. Sky had become accustomed to the sound. The Gordons used their phones to communicate whilst on the road. Another marvel, yet she had a vague recollection of seeing the like before when her cousin Robley and Erin were at Moigh Hall. Erin had shown them pictures on hers after she and Robley arrived from the future.

  She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door. “You must be glad to be home, Michael.”

  “I am, but I like traveling for the fairs. It’s fun, and I have a bunch of friends around my age who do the same with their folks.” Michael held out his hand and helped her step down from the truck. “You can take a look around while Struan and I take care of the horses.”

  “That was Ma,” Struan said. “She wants us at their house for dinner in half an hour. I guess Lindsay has prepared a feast for our return.” He winked at her. “And to welcome the newest time-traveler into our midst.”

  “She kens about me already?”

  “Yep.” Struan held up his phone. “Ma keeps in touch with all of us on a daily basis. After supper, if you’re not too tired, we’ll start our search for Connor McGladrey.” He turned to Michael. “Let’s get the horses taken care of so we can get going. I’m starving.”

  Sky left them to wander around as Struan and Michael unloaded the destriers and led them to the stable. She slipped her feet out of her sandals to feel the land beneath her feet. The grass was the greenest and softest she’d ever beheld. The sun nearing the tops of the western ridges cast golden streaks of light over the peaks. Truly this place was beautiful and so tranquil.

  She inhaled deeply. The air was redolent with the sweet scent of grass, pine and clover. The occasional lowing of the Gordons’ kine and the sounds of birds as they called to their mates, exhorting them to return to their nests for the evening, cast a sense of peaceful well-being over the land.

  She stopped walking to stare into the deep shadows of the forest behind Struan’s cottage. No enemies lurked in those cool depths, nor did any rival clan hide behind the hills. There were no reavers awaiting nightfall to steal the Gordons’ kine or burn their fields. No clan feuds or political intrigues marred the serenity of this place and time. She shouldn’t be envious of these good people, but she was, and greatly so.

  “Sky.”

  “Och.” She jumped, her heart pounding at the sound of Struan’s voice. “I did no’ hear you approach.”

  “You were deep in thought, and I didn’t wish to intrude. It’s time for supper. Would you like to walk, or would you prefer we take the truck to Gene’s?”

  “Let’s walk. ’Twould be good to stretch my legs.” Slipping her feet back into her sandals, she searched the toft surrounding Struan’s cottage. “Where is Michael?”

  “He went on ahead.” Struan reached for her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Come, my lady. Supper awaits, and Lindsay is an amazing cook.”

  “The Gordons dinna keep a cook?” She frowned. “They seem wealthy enough, I trow.”


  He chuckled. “That’s not how things work today, and Lindsay just finished culinary college. She’s what we call a chef, someone who cooks as their profession. My sister wants to start her own restaurant eventually, but for now, she works at a nearby resort. We get a lot of tourists here because of the hot springs.”

  She nodded, and her stomach rumbled. It had been quite some time since their midday meal. “There is so much to learn.”

  Struan patted her hand. “Aye, that there is.”

  They continued on to Gene and Marjorie’s abode in companionable silence. Sky savored the moment, feeling close to her new friend, feeling safe. The gathering twilight combined with the surrounding peaks to cast shadows upon the road. One minute they were bathed in sunlight, and the next they walked in the coolness of dusk. It seemed the very air was filled with magic. “This is a special place,” she murmured.

  “It is,” he said with a smile. “Three Gordon brothers came to the United States from Scotland at the turn of the century, hoping to make a better life for themselves. The Jacobite uprising had pretty much decimated the clans in Scotland, and those who remained lived in abject poverty.”

  “Jacobite uprising?” Sky frowned. “I ken naught of such an uprising.”

  “You wouldn’t. The Stewarts lost the throne, and Scotland was ruled by the English. The uprising occurred in the mid-seventeen hundreds, and the Gordon brothers came to this land as lads in 1790.”

  “Ah.”

  “Each of the brothers worked hard in the growing cities hereabouts, and they lived like paupers until they had the funds to purchase land. Once they each owned their adjoining parcels, they swore to always keep it in the family. Eventually their land merged into one large farm, and the bulk of it now belongs to Gene. There are more Gordons, descendants of the three brothers in the area, who also own tracts of the original property.”

  “You are very fortunate to live here, Struan.” She averted her gaze, not wanting him to glimpse the envy she felt so keenly.

  “What were you thinking about a moment ago, Sky? You seemed to be searching the forest for something.”

  “Aye.” She huffed out a breath. “I was searching the shadows for reavers from a rival clan intending to steal the Gordons’ kine, and me without my dirk.”

  Struan laughed, and she joined him. “’Tis all so very different. I remember when I went to court for the first time. The very air was fetid with strife and intrigue. I could scarce draw a breath.” She surveyed their surroundings. “The sense of peace, the very goodness of this place is quite foreign to me. As much as I love my home, we’re always fending off one enemy or another. If rival clans or brigands aren’t harrying our borders, they’re harassing the borders of our neighbors and allies, and my clan is called to offer aid. When my foster brother inherited his title, his clan had been under attack for a decade from a neighboring clan, the MacKenzies, whose laird was determined to destroy the MacConnells for the sole purpose of stealing their holdings.”

  “Aye.” Struan patted her hand. “You’ve no idea how long it took me to trust my surroundings. I too searched the shadows for enemies. You’ll get used to the peace.”

  Would she? Not likely. She wouldn’t be here long enough to get used to anything.

  “Here we are.” Struan opened the front door to the Gordons’ home and ushered her inside. Unfamiliar delicious smells filled the hall. “Oh yeah. Italian.” Struan put his hands on Sky’s shoulders and guided her toward the sound of voices and the wonderful smells. “You’re going to enjoy this.”

  “There you two are,” Marjorie cried. She hurried toward them and took Sky’s wrist to tug her forward. “Lindsay, Ethan, Carol, this is Sky Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the earl of Fife, come to us from 1443. Sky, this is the rest of the family.” Marjorie left Sky to lift the rosy-cheeked, chubby bairn perched upon Carol’s hip. “And this is our first grandson. His name is Gene, after his granddad, of course.” She bounced the bairn in her arms, eliciting a grin from the wee lad.

  Sky’s face heated from all the attention turned her way. “I’m pleased to meet all of you.” Ethan was tall and lanky like his da. He had thick brown hair, brown eyes and an angular face. His wife, Carol, a fair-haired lass with wide gray eyes, was tall and lanky like her husband. Lindsay more closely resembled Marjorie, who was rounded and diminutive. “It smells wonderful in here,” Sky said, sniffing the air.

  They were in a large room that served as the kitchen on one half, with an adjacent dining hall. A cozy hearth took up the end of the great room, though no fire burned at present. A large, rough-hewn table with benches on either side had already been set for the meal.

  “I hope you’re hungry, Sky,” Lindsay said. “I made lasagna Bolognese, a Caesar salad with homemade dressing, and of course, my famous roasted garlic and rosemary bread.”

  “I understood naught but the words rosemary, bread and garlic,” Sky said. “I am starving, and Struan tells me you are a chef, which I take to mean a most excellent cook. ’Tis certain this will be a meal to be remembered.”

  A flurry of activity, accompanied by good-hearted banter and teasing, went on around her as the Gordons put food on the table and took their places. Michael patted the bench beside him, and Sky suffered a pang of longing for her brothers. They oft gestured to her in the very same manner. She took her place beside him, and Lindsay sat on her other side.

  “Your hair is so thick and gorgeous.” Lindsay filled Sky’s bowl with the greens she called a Caesar salad. “Without a hair dryer, it must’ve taken forever to dry after you washed it.”

  “Aye, though in the winter, sitting near the hearth helps.”

  “Ever thought about cutting it?” Carol asked. “I’m a beautician. I have a shop in the back of our house, and lots of the locals come to me for haircuts and colors.”

  “Colors?” Sky shook her head. “I’m no’ familiar with the word beautician.” A basket came her way, and the wonderful fragrance of garlic and rosemary wafted up to her. Neatly sliced bread filled the basket. She took a piece and found it was filled with bits of roasted garlic and herbs. Her mouth watered.

  “Sure. I can turn your hair any color you want it to be.” Carol grinned. “Even blue.”

  “Blue?” Sky blinked. “Why would anyone do such a thing?”

  Carol laughed. “You’d be surprised.”

  “Here.” Lindsay placed a dollop of butter on a small plate. “I imagine our place settings are unfamiliar to you.”

  “Nay. Marjorie took me to a restaurant my first full day here, and she taught me how everything is used. I’ve had several meals since.” She buttered her piece of bread and took a taste. “Mmm.” ’Twas so fine and savory, she wanted to stuff the entire thing into her mouth at once. ’Twould be impolite for certes. She chewed and swallowed. “Truly, ’tis the very best bread I have ever tasted in my entire life,” she gushed.

  “I like her,” Lindsay said with a laugh. “Let’s keep her.”

  “You haven’t heard her story yet,” Struan said.

  His sympathetic gaze met and held hers, and her pulse quickened. “Let us no’ speak of it now. No’ whilst we have such a wonderful feast laid out before us.”

  “That’s right,” Ethan agreed. “She hasn’t even tasted the lasagna yet.”

  Michael placed a serving of lasagna upon her plate. Sky inhaled the wonderful scent and cut a piece with the edge of her fork. “It smells so good.” She looked up to find she once again had an audience. Their faces were so expectant she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “I made it as unsalted as I possibly could. I remember how it was for Struan when he first arrived.”

  Sky took a taste, and delicious flavors burst in her mouth. “Mmm, mmm.” Her eyes went wide. Never had she tasted anything so divine. “You are truly gifted, Lindsay,” she muttered, taking another bite. “You must teach me how to make this, so that when I return to my home, I can share it with my kin.”

  “I don’t think you have the tomatoes to
make the sauce.”

  “Och, can I no’ bring seeds back with me?” She peered around the table. “My cousin’s wife brought us apple seeds from your era, and she taught us how to improve our orchards by grafting.”

  That prompted a lively discussion about changing history and the like, and Sky only half listened. She gobbled her meal until she could hold no more. Och, would they think her a glutton? Her cheeks heating, she stacked her dishes and pushed them away. The men got up and began to clear the table.

  “Michael, I’ll finish clearing the table and load the dishwasher,” Struan said. “Go get your laptop so we can find Connor McGladrey for Sky.”

  “OK,” Michael said, setting his pile of dishes on the counter.

  Michael left, and Gene turned to her. “Go ahead and tell the others your story while Struan and I clean up. I know they’re eager to hear the tale.”

  “If it pleases you,” she said, gauging the interest of those remaining at the table.

  “We’re dying to hear what happened,” Lindsay assured her.

  “All right then.” Sky took a sip of her wine before sharing her tale of woe.

  Michael slipped back into the room before she’d finished, and he carried a slender rectangular object in his hands. Sky’s curiosity piqued, she rushed through the rest of the story, ending with how she’d landed in a fresh pile of dung in the midst of Struan’s jousting match. Anticipation sent her heart racing. “That is the laptop?”

  “Yep.” He slid back into his place beside her and opened the laptop to reveal rows of letters, numbers and unfamiliar symbols. He touched one, and the thing chimed and came to life.

  “What does this laptop do?”

  “Well . . . that’s not an easy question to answer.” Michael frowned. “Right now we’re going to do a Google search.” He glanced at her. “What can you tell me about the McGladreys?”

  “They live in the realm of Minnesota in a place with a name that has to do with apples.” She straightened, pleased that she remembered so much. “Connor McGladrey owns what my cousin Robley called a fencing club there. They teach swordplay.”