The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (14 page)

Lachlan stilled for a long time, not saying anything and debating her words within his own mind. She was right. Why would he ever question such a thing? He promised himself he would never deny their destiny again. It was as if Heaven paired them together, it was as if they were bonded by soul. From the way they complimented each other’s differences to the way Kirstin fit so perfectly in his arms, they were just meant to be.

“I can see it now.” Lachlan said, “But I still canna blame ye for yer father’s death. ‘Tis my fault for all of the unfortunate occurrences.”

Kirstin peered up at him with a slight smile, “and I canna blame ye, either, despite what ye may think.”

“Then mayhap, neither one of us is at fault.” He whispered, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

“Mayhap.” Kirstin agreed, but she could not ignore the guilty feeling in the back of her consciousness.

              Lachlan began rocking her as they listened to the breeze and felt it touch their skin with a cooling sensation. Only then, did Kirstin speak up again, “What has become of my mother?”

             
She had not realized that Lachlan had closed his eyes until he opened them to gaze into her bright ones, “Yer mother is safe.” He had assured her, and then continued, “She is staying with a friend. I believe she is with a Mr. and Mrs. Lester?”

             
“Aye, they are Davie Lester’s parents.” Kirstin confirmed, remembering the snickering red haired boy who had been the cause of Kirstin running into Lachlan in the first place.

             
“Can I visit her?” Kirstin asked, “She needs me at a time like this.”

             
Lachlan gave her a look of pity when he answered, “I fear ‘tis too dangerous for ye. Mayhap after all of this is over. She is safe now and that is what matters most.”

             
“But, Lachlan!” Kirstin cried, tugging onto his shirt with one of her hands, “She needs me, and I need her.”

             
Lachlan shushed her by bending down and kissing her sweet lips, “Let us talk about this in the morrow. Yer tired and there has been much that has happened within the past several hours. Mayhap, dinner and a bath?”

             
Kirstin deliberately knew he was changing the topic, but she would not give up her argument. Though, dinner and a bath did sound heavenly and perhaps it would help her to calm away her tears and sorrowful thoughts.

             
“Aye,” she agreed finally.

             
A look of approval crossed his face, and for the first time that day he smiled. Lachlan stood, with her still in his arms, and began walking towards the manor. Kirstin rested her head against his shoulder, her breath tickling the side of his neck.

             
When they got closer to the manor, Lachlan ignored the looks from his men who were still sparring in the fields behind the stables. Only when they entered the foyer, did various spices and meats assault their noses. The one scent that made Kirstin’s belly growl the loudest was the smell of Alana’s fresh baked bread.

             
Lachlan set her down on her feet and together they walked to the dining hall, where he helped her into a seat next to his at the end of the far side of the table.

             
They ate together in peace, until Roderick came in and began sharing comical looks between the two that suggested he knew something they did not. Roderick had his ways of knowing things, and to Kirstin he was much too wise for a man so young. Though, Roderick was also the happier and friendlier person at the manor, and possibly of the whole clan. Not once, had Kirstin experienced his side of anger but this made her fear the day she would see him mad all the much more.

             
She supposed he was trying to lighten the mood between Lachlan and Kirstin, most likely already knowing the dreadful news that had been delivered only mere hours before.

             
Lachlan and Kirstin finished their meal before Roderick, and a few other men whom had joined them. They had left the dining halls right before the men began getting drunk and boisterous off of ale. As they left though, a select few of the men gave their condolences. There was no doubt word had already spread like wild fire. When the couple had finally left, Kirstin had choked on a sob but no tears fells. That did not stop Lachlan from noticing her tear-stained cheeks and pale face.

             
“How about that bath?” he suggested, trying to get her mind off of her father. Kirstin nodded her head solemnly, and tried to smile but Lachlan recognized the fakeness of it.

             
He put a hand to her back and guided her to his chambers, but not before telling a servant to get some of his men to bring a tub and some warm water to fill it. It surprisingly took only a short amount of time for them to make a bath in the center of his sleeping chambers. Kirstin looked between Lachlan and the tub before he commented, “I am willing to help ye bathe but if yer no’ comfortable with the my offering, then I will make leave.”

             
Kirstin’s face became rosy, and she directed her gaze to the floor all the while fiddling with the fabric of her dress, “I,” she stuttered, “I donna ken.”

             
Lachlan did not show much emotion as he responded, “Very well then, I will make my leave.”  But as he came closer to her he stated, “Ye must ken that on the night of our matrimony, I will do more than just look at ye from afar.” And with that, he bent down and stole a kiss from her lips. Just when Kirstin thought he would pull away, he brought her closer to him and gently ran his hands down her sides causing shivers to erupt from her small body.

             
“I suggest,” he said, bringing his lips back to hers, “that ye stop pushing yerself away from me so often, and start enjoying my touch. For there is a lot more to come.”

Before Kirstin could retort, he stole her lips once more and she could have whined when he let go of her. As he walked to the door, he turned around one last time to look at her. Lachlan saw the look of desire Kirstin had on her face just as much as he had on his. Then, he left.



             
After a long hour of soaking in the water that had become cool to the touch, Kirstin got out of the tub and dried off. She slipped on a white nightgown that a servant had brought for her during her bath, and then went to look for Lachlan once more.

             
She found him right outside his chambers, in the darkened hallway that was only lit by the moon’s bright beams through the lone window at the end of the hall. He was talking to no other than his squire. They had been speaking in hushed tones.

             
“Mayhap, her mother is no’ safe from Graham? Mayhap, Kirstin should go see to her?” Roderick asked in haste.

             
“I donna ken, but I willna have Kirstin traveling so far, with Graham as laird of the Ruskin Clan. His infatuation with her must end, and no’ by having her for himself.” Even though Lachlan’s back was turned to her, Kirstin could hear the anger in his voice and was sure that he was more than frustrated.

             
“Then,” Roderick began, “what do ye suppose us do?”

             
A long, drawn out sigh escaped Lachlan’s lips and he answered, “Keep her safe here, and make an attack soon on the Ruskin Clan. Yer well aware of their nuisance by killing our men and cattle, tainting my land, and now trying to steal my betrothed, so there is no doubt that they are planning an attack soon, too. We must act fast.”

             
“And her mother?” Roderick pressed once more.

             
A deafening silence overcame them. Finally, Lachlan said, “Fate will decide her future. I am sure the town will do what they can to keep her safe, but if Graham makes an attack on her then I donna ken if there will be any stopping him.”

             
Kirstin stepped out of the doorway then and stood behind Lachlan. She was sure Lachlan saw the shocked look on Roderick’s face, and he must have assumed that Kirstin was listening. Any doubt he may have had was confirmed when she spoke, “Ye canna bring her here, then?” Kirstin asked, angered by his careless responses.

             
He turned around to face her and gave her a look of pity, just as he had in the field, “And risk more lives? ‘Tis practically a miracle Farrel and Bradan made it there and back alive. I canna risk more of my men for the life of one woman who has better a chance hiding in the Lester’s home than making more than a days trip to mine.”

             
“Then send many of yer men! She is my mother!” Kirstin argued.

             
Lachlan shook his head solemnly, “If I did that then there wouldna be so many here to protect my land, and more importantly, ye.”

             
The tears began to fall again when Kirstin realized that his answer would not change. She stormed past him and made haste to her own chambers, to where she locked the door shut. Lachlan did not bother Kirstin, even though she knew he felt bad about his decision and in a way, there was nothing he could do about it.

             
Kirstin hated the fact that they were in such a helpless situation but her anger fueled her to believe otherwise.

             
Much too soon, she had made her own plan. Kirstin would go back to her town, to her mother, and alone. She would leave when the moon was high in the sky.



              Graham sat amidst his men in a grand room made of stone, and a great fireplace against the nearest wall.  At least a dozen men dressed in furs and other fabrics, with dirks at their sides and weaponry in their hands, stood before him. One man in particular, with hair the color of the sun, and eyes as crystal blue as the sky, stepped forward, “The deed has been done. His life has been taken and the plan is intact.”

             
“Very good, Neil.” Said Graham, “As my squire ye have done well, and shall be rewarded once the plan has succeeded.”

             
A smile of hope and triumph crossed the man’s face, “Aye.” He agreed.             

             
Graham raised his cup to the crowd, “To many achievements, and to my future bride!” he roared out, followed by the yells of agreement and the raising of more cups.

Chapter Eighteen

             
The night sang with the winds, taking moments to breathe before sighing another breeze. The clouds were low, gray, and disconsolate as each one settled further apart in the endless sky. Everything about the calm and dreary scenery seemed almost ordinary, except for a single bright light that seemed to cast off the morbid sight. Her hair was as blonde as the sun, shining a path through the darkness. With haste, she made her way to the stables with a single pack crossed around the heavy cloak she wore. The pack itself only held a bare minimum amount of food and money for a week’s journey.

             
Kirstin looked back to the manor multiple times, and casted wary glances all around her. Not once, was there a sign of someone following her and with the reassurance of her isolated situation, she finished the distance to the stables.

Choosing a horse with the endurance to make the long journey home to her mother was a conflict in itself. She did not know any of the horses except for one, who held more stamina than any horse she had ever come across. Without wanting to regret her choice in a horse that may not be able to tolerate the distance, she chose Lachlan’s. For it was Lachlan’s horse that had made the trip to her small town and back, with Lachlan and herself riding on it’s strong back one way. She held no doubt that he would be able to carry her with such speed to the residence of the Lester’s.

She confronted the horse, whose name she had learned to be Jack, and it looked as if he was almost expecting her. Jack was awake within the late hour, and was watching her curiously.

Being a farmer’s daughter, it was not hard for Kirstin to prepare and mount the horse. Though, it was nerve wracking as she did so. Often times, Kirstin would continue to look over her shoulder, wondering when Lachlan would show up, but he did not.

Not once had anyone crossed her path, even when she guided Jack out from the stables and tugged on the reins, making him eagerly gallop down the much too familiar road with her riding atop.

At last, she was on her way to her mother but Kirstin could only imagine Lachlan’s reaction when he awoke.