The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (15 page)



Turmoil. The manor was in utter chaos as servants ran from one room to the next
, often times bumping into each other and then going around to search for the missing girl once more. Things were falling, breaking, and shattering as a booming voice rose above the hushed whispers of them all, “Where is she? Where is Kirstin?” and then much louder, “Alana!”

The old woman internally groaned before retreating her place in the kitchen and approaching the foyer to where Lachlan, furious and distraught, waited for her with hard eyes. His heavy gaze found her, scrutinizing her as his chin tensed and relaxed multiple times. His arms flexed, making him look burly when he breathed heavily.

“Ye did no’ go to into town with her this morn’?” If Alana thought Lachlan’s gaze was frightening, his voice was even more so with its low rumble that reverberated through the open room.

“Nay, Laird Bateson
, for I thought she was with you. Though, Roderick said that yer horse has gone missing.”” She responded with confidence, but still timidly at the same time. She had never seen the laird this conflicted in her entire life! She feared the most likely outcomes, if Kirstin was not to show up in the next hour.

Something crossed Lachlan’s face, as if realizing something that had occurred not too long ago. With this new epiphany, he once more yelled, “Roderick!”

The squire entered in a rush, almost tripping over his own two feet “Aye?” he asked, standing tall to confront his laird.

“I ken it was Kirstin who took my horse, and I ken where she may have gone. Spare me a fortnight, and I shall return with my betrothed. Until then,” He glanced between Alana and R
oderick, “Take care of the estate.”

There was no arguing when given demands by a laird, and so the two of them nodded and s
imultaneously answered, “Aye, Laird Bateson.”

Lachlan brusquely turned around and hurried from the room.



             
It was just at the break of dawn when Kirstin began rubbing her eyes wearily. She was growing tiresome of the never-ending boulders, hills, and knee high grass that made up the highlands. Many times, Kirstin had to get off of Jack and guide him through streams and rocky terrain.

             
Now, she sat atop of the black beast and hummed lightly as a method of keeping herself awake. Her joints throbbed, and the humid air stuck to her skin. Nevertheless, she pushed forward with the thought of her distressed mother who needed Kirstin’s caring comfort.

Another hour went by before she finally did doze off momentarily, straying off the path. She was awoken by a chuckling noise, and only when she opened her eyes did she realize that it really was a man chuckling.

“I’ve never seen such a sight.” He teased her, giving Kirstin enough time to take in his appearance. The man with golden hair was tall, but not thin. His arms were toned, his skin calloused and coated with a thin layer of dirt, and surprisingly enough he was handsome in a rugged kind of way. His hair was cropped shorter than most men, ending at his ears in a flurry of waves. Something about him seemed familiar, but Kirstin could not decide if it was his comical attitude towards her or the large dirk at his side.

By now, Jack had stopped and studied the man just as Kirstin had been doing. The blond haired man approached them and held a hand up to Jack, as if asking permission to pet him. With hesitant hostility, Jack let the man awkwardly touch his muzzle, before pulling away. The man laughed, “
Yer horse doesna take kindly to strangers.” His statement was more of an observance, and Kirstin watched him again. Finally she said, “What do ye call yerself?”

He flashed a dazzling smile to her, “Neil, and
yer name?”

She raised her head and answered proudly, “Kirstin.”

“Well,” Neil drawled out, “It seems that yer lost, Kirstin, for I have no’ seen ye on this side of the land before.”

In panic, Kirstin remembered that she had fallen asleep and looked around her surroundings. She did not recognize anything around her and figured she had gotten off track, “Aye. I am lost.” The man chuckled again, and she perceived him to be sociable enough, almost friendly by the way he was reacting to her foolishness.

“Mayhap, I can help ye get to where yer going?” Neil offered, “Tell me. Where is it yer going?” He seemed very interested when he asked this question, and it threw Kirstin off guard.

Kirstin looked around her surroundings cautiously, wondering if she should tell him. Then Neil said once more, “Ye can trust me.”

Kirstin hesitated before answering him, “I am going home. “Tis a town east of Muirkirk
.”

“Ah,” Neil exclaimed with a playful smile, “
’Tis a long way from here.”

“Aye, ‘tis a long way.” Kirstin agreed wholeheartedly.

“What brings ye all the way up here, then? In the highlands, that is.” Neil asked almost too curiously again.

Kirstin shrugged and laughed lightly, “
’Tis a long story, mayhap for another time.”

Neil reached out to Jack and tried to pet him again but the horse snorted and took a step back, “He really
doesna like ye.” Kirstin observed, but assured herself that Jack did not like a lot of people. It was practically a miracle Jack even let her ride him.

“Nay.” Neil responded, grinning up at Kirstin once more, “Now, shall we get ye back home?”

Kirstin grinned back at him “Please.”

She let him take the reins and then Neil guided Jack out from the wooded area. It did not take long before they were back on the road, making Kirstin beam down at Neil, “I thank ye.”

He mocked bow, “Anything for a lady.”

Kirstin laughed, “I am no’ a lady.”

Neil met her gaze with a serious look, one that told her he knew something that she did not, “No’ yet, but ye will be soon.” This caused a shiver to run down her spine. Did Neil know Lachlan? Did he know she was Lachlan’s betrothed? Or was he referring to something else?

Before she had the chance to retort, Neil winked and disappeared into the woods.

“Wait!” Kirstin cried out, but to no avail. He did not come back.



              Neil had gone back to the Ruskin estate and had found Graham in his chambers drinking ale and writing away at his desk.

             
“Laird Ruskin.” Neil nodded, as he was given permission to enter the room.

             
Graham did not look up and instead asked, “What is it, Neil?”

             
“I have word on Kirstin’s whereabouts.” He responded, taking a sluggish seat across from Graham. Neil came off as arrogant as he made himself comfortable in Graham’s chair, but he had every right because he had something that Graham wanted.

             
Graham looked up to him with an expectant look, “Aye?”

             
“Aye,” Neil assured him, dully looking at his calloused hand as he twirled a coin between his fingers, “She is returning home, and I dare say that Lachlan kens no’ of her whereabouts.”

             
Graham dropped his quill and looked at him seriously, “Yer no’ jesting?”

             
“Nay.” Neil confirmed.

             
The laird stood up abruptly from his chair and began to pace, “Lachlan will go after the girl. Mayhap we can ambush them on the way back? Ye ken, kill two birds with one stone?”

             
Neil looked devious as he agreed proudly, “Aye, I ken.”

             
“Good, now ready my men, for we must prepare ourselves for a battle.” Almost as if talking to himself, Graham murmured with a self-satisfying grin on his face,  “A battle that Laird Bateson won’t win.”

Chapter Nineteen

             
It was midweek before Kirstin came across a larger town than the few she had passed. She held only a few coins in her pack, but it was enough to buy some bread and a small slice of salted meat. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she was parched. 

             
There were few tables in the town’s market, full of goods and products, but this is not what interested her. It was a bakery that was perched behind all of the tables, between two taller buildings.

             
Kirstin tied Jack up to a post, where there was plenty of green grass for him to graze on. She patted his back once before entering the bakery. Smells of fresh baked bread and sweets fled her way, and for an instant she pondered if Alana had been baking the bread until she recognized the foolishness of the thought.

             
“Good afternoon.” Came a voice from around the corner. A frail woman, with graying hair and a faded smile approached Kirstin. “Have ye been traveling?”

             
“Aye, I have.”

             
“How is it a woman so young is traveling alone?” the woman asked, appalled.

             
“Mayhap,” Kirstin smiled, “’tis because I am no’ ordinary.”

             
“Oh,” exclaimed the old woman, “I do hate ordinary.”

             
Kirstin took a liking to the elderly woman, who provided her with free bread and something to drink. The woman had introduced herself as Vanora and instantly liked Kirstin for her innocence and sweet nature; “Ye remind me of myself in the day.” Vanora had said kindly.

             
“How so?” questioned Kirstin, who was taking breaks to talk between eating her bread. The two women had seated themselves at a wooden table with two benches. They sat across from each other as they made small talk, “Yer pure.” Answered Vanora.

             
Kirstin blushed from the compliment, “’Tis that obvious?”

             
Vanora nodded, “Donna take it badly, child. For it is rare to find such purity in a woman of such youth and beauty.”

             
If anything, Kirstin’s blush deepened causing Vanora to laugh loudly. She threw her hands up in the air as she laughed, “Oh, child! Ye have me in a fit. Surely, there is someone who has reddened yer cheeks more than I?”

             
Kirstin swallowed the last bit of bread, “Aye,” she answered, her voice becoming quiet and distant, “ Laird Lachlan of the Bateson Clan.”

             
“Oh!” Vanora squeaked, “And he has treated ye well? I have only heard harsh things about that man.”

             
“He is quite kind.” Kirstin drawled, her voice becoming a murmur, “Ye just need to be around him to ken why he acts the way he does. He has been through a lot.”

             
“It sounds to me that yer in love.” Vanora smiled knowingly, putting her arms on the table and leaning forward, “I dare say ye have given him yer heart. Has he given ye his?”

             
Kirstin seemed to think about him, because her gaze became blurry and her tone was detached as if remembering something about him, “He has.” And then a smile overcame her, and such happiness erupted from her core. Kirstin could barely believe what she was about to say next, “I do love him.”

             
Vanora beamed, “I figured as much! Tell ye what,” she said leaning forward once more, “ye can stay here tonight and sleep in one of the spare rooms I have upstairs, if ye promise to me that ye will bring him here one day so that I can meet the fearless Laird Bateson for myself. How about it?”

             
Kirstin beamed back at her, “Aye, ‘tis a plan.”



             
Vanora had been kind enough to send a stables boy to fetch Jack some fresh hay, and Jack whinnied in response to it being placed in front of him. Kirstin settled in a warm bed and by morning, she was off on her great journey once more.

             
It only took another half day of traveling until Kirstin arrived at her hometown, and both Jack and Kirstin marveled at how it had not changed one bit. Women were being courted in the streets, young children ran about laughing, and a small market was outside between the many buildings there. It was almost all too surreal because Kirstin thought she would only see the main streets of her town in dreams. Never had she thought she would return.

             
Familiar eyes recognized her, and many people gave their greetings with odd looks. Surely the town was just as baffled by her arrival as she was, for gossip would have spread like wild fire after Lachlan took her away. Not one person would be oblivious to her departure and the reason why, but they just did not know the real reason as to why he took her away. Lachlan loved her, but they would never understand that because Lachlan appeared to be a person who could not love.