Highlander’s Secret

by Adams, Alisa

  He turned and looked at Iona again, smiling. "I have not embraced my sister yet," he said, holding his arms out. Iona walked into them without hesitation, and felt her brother's arms closing around her. He was strong and well-muscled, not as tall as Gregor, but a big man nevertheless.

  "William, I know I am going to love you," she said, kissing him deliberately on his scarred cheek

  "And I you," he gave her hand to Gregor, "I feel a wedding in the air," he remarked, raising his eyebrows in an unspoken question.

  Gregor and Iona laughed.

  "As far as we are concerned," Gregor informed him, eyes twinkling, "the wedding has already taken place."

  "Time to say goodbye!" Iona said grimly, dragging him away, "I think you gave him a little too much information."

  "It's only because I am so happy," Gregor replied, kissing her neck, "and soon you shall bear my name, then hopefully my children."

  They thanked the Burns family, then took their leave without further delay. Donalda had given them a generous quantity of silver for their hospitality, but it was a bittersweet parting. Gavin had become fond of Elisha, and Sheena would miss her cheerful presence, but somehow Gavin knew that they would be together again soon.

  They kept up a fair pace and got to the convent in the early evening. When Columba went up to the gate he was greeted by Sister Susanna, whose sweet smile lit up her face as soon as she saw him.

  "Father Columba!" she cried.

  "Sister Susanna," he replied, "you are the one person in the world whom I can rely on to always be happy to see me!"

  The nun was about to say something when Andie came from behind, shot past them and out of the gate without greeting anyone. Iona dismounted and Andie almost knocked her over in her haste to embrace her friend. "Tell me you are not married!" She stepped back and looked into Iona's eyes.

  "Not yet," Iona answered, "although Gregor and I hope to be by the end of today."

  Everyone's eyes swiveled in Columba's direction.

  "You are asking me to perform the service?" He pointed to his chest. "Now? This minute?"

  "Yes!" They nodded in unison.

  Columba pretended to be amazed, then he laughed. "Sister Susanna," he asked, "may we borrow the use of your chapel? I have two young people who need it desperately."

  "Of course!" The nun laughed happily, "I will go and make it ready."

  "Then it would be my honor," he replied, "but first, Gregor, you will need some other clothes. You cannot be married in a monk's habit!"

  Gregor looked nonplussed. "I never thought to bring any," he said, "I did not expect this journey to end in marriage."

  Sister Susanna looked at Gregor doubtfully. "I am sure we can find something for you," she replied and frowned. "Although you are rather big."

  Cameron stepped in. He was about an inch shorter than Gregor in height, but their body structure was very similar. "You can borrow one of my kilts and a shirt," he said, then frowned. "There is only one problem."

  "What?" Iona and Gregor chorused.

  "You will have to wear the McCallum tartan," Cameron said gravely, trying to keep the laughter out of his voice. "Is the wedding still on?"

  "What do you think, sweetheart?" Gregor looked at Iona with a mischievous smile on his face. "Should we go ahead?

  "Hmm…" Iona thought for a moment, then her face brightened. "You could do it in honor of the bride."

  "I would be happy to," Gregor's voice was husky and his eyes were full of love as he looked down at her.

  Columba gave a little cough. "Excuse me, Mistress McCallum, Laird Carmichael the Younger, may we adjourn to the chapel - after everyone is properly attired, of course?"

  The men, who were not allowed in the convent proper, had to go to the men's hospital to change, and the ladies went to the communal washroom to perform their ablutions. Iona was trembling with excitement as she washed and combed her hair. Andie had a little perfumed oil that she dabbed behind Iona’s ears.

  Iona took Andie’s hands. “Andie, you said you would marry Cameron if he asked you.”

  “He has not asked me,” she replied simply.

  Iona gave her an exasperated glance. “Why do you not ask him then?” She answered as if she was talking to a toddler. They looked at each other for a moment, then Iona shook her head, sighed, and made her way to the church.

  At last everyone was ready. The church was very simply decorated, with a small altar, a crucifix on the wall above it, and a statue of the Virgin Mary on a plinth beside it. The windows were not decorated, not even made of glass. They were covered in linen blinds thick enough to keep the cold and rain out, but not decorative. There was a candle stand at the back of the church where anyone could light a candle and send a prayer, with the smoke, up to heaven.

  The altar was a simple wooden table covered in white cloths with a candle at each end. It gave the impression of cleanliness and purity, and Iona felt a surge of pure joy in her heart as she looked at it, then at Gregor.

  "Do you remember our vows?" He smiled at her, running his fingertips down the soft skin of her cheeks.

  "Not word for word," she replied, "but I think I can do a fair approximation!"

  "I think I can just about remember mine." Gregor laughed.

  Just then, they noticed Andie and Cameron in conversation with Columba. "I think I know what they are asking," Iona said delightedly, “Andie said she would marry him—I think she is going to do it.”

  31

  Two Marriages

  Cameron was praying at the front of the church when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Andie standing over him looking at him with an anxious expression in her eyes. "Andie?" He frowned. "What is it?" She looked down at her hands which she was twisting nervously together. Cameron put his own hand over them to stay them, then stood up.

  Andie lifted her gaze to his. "I will marry you if you wish, Cameron. I do not know if I love you, but I know that I can be a good wife to you and that you will look after me. Is that acceptable to you?"

  Cameron looked down at her and shook his head in disbelief. Mistaking it for a refusal, Andie turned away, but he caught her arm and pulled her back to embrace her. “It is acceptable," he whispered, "more than acceptable. It is the answer to my prayers. Let us talk to Father Columba."

  Columba agreed to marry both couples in a double ceremony. "I am overjoyed," he said with satisfaction, "I love to marry young people."

  Iona went up to her friend and hugged her. "Are you being married today too?" She asked excitedly, "tell me you are!"

  "I am—we are." Andie's face was happy, if not radiant, but Cameron looked as though he had just been given the greatest gift he had ever received. Iona hugged them both.

  "I could not imagine a better union," she cried, and her voice was joyful, "my brother and my best friend. I am so happy!"

  "We must make haste," Columba reminded them. They took their places at the altar, then Columba blessed them and began the service.

  "Almighty God," he said, smiling, "today I ask you to bless the marriage of Iona and Gregor, Andrina and Cameron. They wish to solemnize today the union of their lives as friends, lovers and, if it is your will, parents. Gregor and Iona, will you make your vows?

  Gregor went first. He took Iona's hand and looked deeply into her eyes as he spoke.

  "I, Gregor Carmichael, vow to love you, and look after you, Iona McCallum, for the rest of my life, however long or short it may be. If we are blessed with children, God willing, I vow to be the best, most loving father I can be. If needs be I will die for you, Iona, and for our family. I love you, my darling Iona, with my body, my heart, and my soul."

  Then it was Iona's turn. "I, Iona McCallum, vow to love you and look after you till my dying breath, Gregor Carmichael. I will bear your children and love them every day and in every way I can, because they will be yours, and you are the man that I love with all my heart. I promise to love you with my body, and be faithful to you always, keeping myself on
ly for you. I love you, my sweetheart."

  Then it was Andie and Cameron's turn. They had had no more than five minutes to prepare, so their vows were shorter and a little hesitant, but they achieved the same result. At the end of the day they were man and wife.

  Cameron took Andie's hands in his. "I, Cameron McCallum, vow to look after you, Andrina Henderson, be faithful to you, and protect you from all harm, even if it causes my death. If we are given the gift of children, I will be at their sides to help and love them always. I love you, Andie."

  Andie was trembling with nerves and her voice quivered as she spoke. "I, Andrina Henderson, take you, Cameron McCallum, as my husband. I vow to love and honor you with my body and soul, and to be faithful to you as long as I live. Should we have children, I will love and protect them for the rest of my life."

  There was no 'I love you' at the end, but Cameron was content. It would come.

  Columba blessed them again. "And now that you are husbands and wives, you may kiss," he said, opening his arms and smiling at them.

  Andie had never kissed Cameron before. Indeed, she had never really kissed anyone, so when his lips met hers in a first soft caress she had no idea how to respond. Cameron did not force himself on her. He knew that it was sudden, new and unfamiliar to her. He wanted to win her trust and love and knew that the best way was with tenderness. After he kissed her mouth softly, he kissed her forehead and felt her relax.

  Columba gave Holy Communion to the small congregation and announced the end of the service. "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord," he said joyfully.

  Donalda could not stop smiling. She was free. Iona, Cameron, William and Elisha were free, and now her daughter and son were married to the spouses they loved. It may have been the worst day of Baron Laughlin's life, but it had been the best day of hers. She felt like crying with happiness.

  After a bite to eat, they set off again, hoping to cover some distance before dusk began to fall. At this time of the year the sky began to darken in late afternoon, but they knew that by midwinter the daylight would last for only a few hours. It might not be December, but it was freezing anyway, and sleeping under the stars would be their very last option. Presently, they saw a square dark shape looming against the twilit landscape.

  "Is that a barn?" Auguste asked.

  "Looks like it," Gregor replied. "Let us go and see. Maybe we can stop for the night there."

  "It looks like a shepherd's hut," Columba said, "and if it is it may have a fireplace inside. I will go ahead and make sure."

  He cantered away, and William turned to Auguste, who was riding with Elisha.

  "A fine man," he commented.

  "None better," Auguste replied, "are you comfortable, Mistress?" This last question was addressed to Elisha, whose head was nodding with weariness.

  "Aye son," she replied, yawning, "jist a wee bit tired."

  "Shall I tell you what is going to happen now?" Auguste put his arms around her. "We are going to go into that barn or hut, make a fire, eat something pleasant from our supplies, then wrap ourselves in our cozy blankets and go to sleep. And if you are not warm enough one of us will wrap our arms around you till morning. And do you know what you will be doing while we are preparing the food and lighting the fire?"

  "Naw, son, tell me," she asked.

  "Rien, nothing!" he replied. "you will sit with your feet close to the warm fire and do absolutely nothing at all. Rien du tout! How does that sound?"

  "Like heaven," she replied, laughing.

  "My dear Elisha," Donalda said, "when we get back to Beglin - and we will - you will retire and keep me company. No more work for you, I promise."

  Elisha's tired old face smiled at her. "Aye, mistress, I should like that."

  When Columba came back he was smiling. "A shepherd's hut," he said happily, "no fireplace, but plenty of peat stacked inside so we can make a nice big blaze outside."

  There were whoops of delight from the entire party, but when they reached the shelter they realized how small it was. Dismayed, Iona said, "if we all manage to lie down here it is going to be a very tight fit!" Indeed, it was. With four small ladies and six big men, floor space was going to be at a premium.

  “The ladies will sleep inside and the men outside, of course,” William stated firmly. It was taken for granted, and no-one argued about it.

  The fire was soon alight. Peat does not burn with a bright flame, but it makes up for it with plenty of pungent smoke. However, they were warm and dry, and there was enough bread, cheese, fruit and dried meat to feed an army. They were all hungry, and fell upon the food with great gusto.

  After she popped the last piece of bread into her mouth, Andie stretched and yawned. "I cannot keep my eyes open any longer," she said, rubbing them with the heels of her hands.

  Cameron looked at his wife longingly. Here, in this cramped little space among all these people, albeit people he loved, he and Andie would have no chance to be alone. This is our wedding night, he thought sadly, and we are spending it on the straw-covered floor of a shepherd's hut. He sighed. He would try to be patient. Andie was so close, but so far away.

  The men decided to take turns at keeping watch, since there was no guarantee that Hector Laughlin would not send his soldiers after them, even though it would have been a very stupid course of action to take.

  William kept Craig bound hand and foot, untying him only to relieve himself and eat. He kept his eyes on him all the time, and the combination of his captivity, and that scarred face staring at him reduced Craig to a state of terror, which was just how William wanted it.

  "Would you really kill him?" Auguste asked him. It worried him that someone in their camp should be a cold-blooded murderer, but in the next sentence William confirmed that he was just that.

  "I would slit his throat at the slightest provocation." His tone was heavy and vicious, and he gazed at his father with sheer malice in his eyes. "He has treated his daughter like a commodity and he has treated mother and me like rubbish. So yes, not only would I kill him, but I would smile while I was doing it."

  Looking into William's eyes, Auguste realized that he meant it. He had never seen such hatred before. "Don't worry, Auguste," William patted his hand, "I won't do him a bit of harm unless he tries to hurt me or one of you." Saying this, he took the scarf with which he had been threatening Craig and gagged him with it, then he pushed him over onto his side and draped a blanket over him.

  "I grudge you even the heat from this fire," he hissed, "but I do not want you to die while you are still useful to us."

  Craig looked up at him with terrified eyes, and Auguste decided that he could stand it no longer. "Leave him to sleep, William," he urged, "he can do nothing to us while he is trussed up, and go to sleep yourself, my friend. I will take the first watch."

  William acquiesced and lay down on the ground beside Craig, whose eyes never left him for a second. Eventually he fell asleep, but his hand was still clutching his dagger.

  32

  More of the McClures

  Despite his fear, Craig managed a couple of hours of rest. He had looked into his son's face and knew that William's murderous intent was real. He supposed William thought deserved it, after all, he had forcibly ripped him away from his mother and ruined any chance he had ever had of leading a normal family life. He had also taken away from his eldest son the chance to inherit the estate, and even marry and raise a family of his own, all because of a blemish.

  However, it was not in Craig's nature to blame himself for anything, so in this case he blamed God for his son's disfigurement. It was God's fault, and Craig had reacted the way a kind father should. He had tucked him away in a sheltered place where no-one could laugh at him. The fact that he had pretended that his son did not exist was neither here nor there. It concerned him not the slightest bit.

  Auguste wondered how it would feel to sleep next to a man who wanted to murder you at the slightest opportunity. Auguste was not a violent man, even though he could
protect himself if needs be. He could, of course, ride away any time he wanted, but he knew that the little party needed all the help and protection they could get. Besides, it went against his moral code and his natural instincts to abandon women to danger.

  He sighed and stayed awake till he judged it was time to wake Cameron, whose turn it was next. He was exhausted, and although he was sleeping on hard stony ground and not in a warm bed with Alexa, he went to sleep at once, but not before whispering goodnight to her.

  William had taken the last watch, and when Craig woke up it was to see the gleaming, malicious eyes of his son looking straight into his. His hands and feet were numb, he could not speak, and his bladder was bursting. William untied him, keeping the dagger where he could easily reach it if he needed to. He hauled his father to his feet, steadying him, since he was about to collapse onto the grass.

  "Sleep well?" he asked, his voice loaded with sarcasm.

  "Yes," his father croaked, not wanting to give William the satisfaction of seeing his discomfort.

  "There is a stream behind the hut," his son informed him. "I will come with you while you wash." Having said this, he half-walked, half-dragged his father around the building and stood over him while he made his ablutions.

  "Are you enjoying this?" Craig asked bitterly.

  William considered the question for a moment. "Not enjoying it, but it does give me satisfaction knowing that you are enduring just a little of the pain you made me suffer." With that, he dragged his father back to the fireside again.

  Cameron looked lovingly at Andie as she helped prepare their morning porridge and laughed with the other ladies, happy to be reunited with her friends again. True to his word, Auguste had not allowed Elisha to lift a finger, although she did sit and delegate from the sidelines. Her old face looked contented. She had reached the last few years of her life, but Donalda, she was sure, would make them comfortable and secure.