The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (18 page)

             
“Ye can meet her at dinner.” Kirstin assured Vanora who smiled at them.



              Kirstin had gone to get her mother alone, since Lachlan had no interest to and felt that it was safe since Kirstin was only going so far. It seemed that Mrs. Croft was purposely awaiting Kirstin, as if suspecting she would come alone because without sparing a look in her direction, she had said, “My daughter, ye have come back for me.”

             
“Aye, Ma.” Kirstin replied, taking a seat next to her mother on the steps outside of a stranger’s small home. There was no rush to go back to Vanora and Lachlan, as the elderly lady was still cooking and demanded Kirstin to give her more time. Kirstin supposed that Vanora felt almost pressured to impress Mrs. Croft with her cooking,

It also seemed that
Vanora was taking on the role of a maternal figure in Kirstin’s life, and there was no doubt Alana would be the best of friends with Vanora if the time ever came that they met. Both of the elderly ladies were like a second mother to Kirstin.

             
“Do ye trust my judgment?” asked Mrs. Croft, bringing Kirstin out of her thoughts.

             
“Of course I do, Ma. Why would I no’ trust yer judgment?” Kirstin asked, but more so out of admiration for the parent who had raised her.

             
Mrs. Croft shook her head, “I fear there are a lot of reasons ye shouldna but I hope that it will all work out in the end.”

             
Puzzled, Kirstin asked, “What are ye speaking of?”

             
Her mother frowned down at her, “Ye wouldna understand now. Mayhap in time I will tell ye.”

             
“Very well then,” Kirstin said, “but I do trust yer judgment, Ma.”

             
Mrs. Croft smiled wryly and kissed her daughter on the top of her head, “Good.” Her voice was just below a whisper, but Kirstin heard her.

             
“Vanora is making dinner for us. Would ye care to join?” The young blonde changed topics to lighten the mood.

             
“Aye,” said Mrs. Croft, grinning down at her daughter, “for I am ravenous.”

             
As if mocking her mother, Kirstin said, “Good.”



              Dinner had gone fairly well, with the exception of bitter looks shared between Lachlan and Mrs. Croft. Vanora had talked cheerfully and loudly, as she was very excited for her new guests, and completely oblivious of the tension in the air. Kirstin was the same way, her attention being put on the old woman’s stories of her childhood and many lovers, while not noticing Lachlan and Mrs. Croft’s heated glares.

             
“The food was amazing.” Kirstin hummed as she said goodbye to her friend. Vanora took her in a hug and replied, “Anything you for ye, dear. Now,” she looked at her sternly in the eye, “If ye ever need anything, and I do mean anything, then ye come let me ken. Ye hear?”

             
“Aye, Vanora. I hear.” Kirstin was not only flattered, but also pleased that Vanora had cared so much for her. 

             
The old woman turned to Lachlan and Mrs. Croft and said, “Ye both better take care of this young lady.” Vanora’s tone was full of warning, which made Kirstin laugh and shake her head at the woman’s protectiveness over her. Surely Vanora meant no harm in her comment, but Kirstin did fear what would happen if any harm came to her from her mother or Lachlan. The thought was reckless, because she knew neither one of them would ever harm her intentionally.

             
“Farewell, Vanora. It was nice meeting ye.” Lachlan said, ignoring her words of caution. Mrs. Croft thanked Vanora, and then they were all on their way down the road.

             
Darkness had fallen over the once blue skies, making the night calm and dreary. Lachlan made sure that the horses were put in a nearby stable; especially since rain clouds were visible.

The gray rain clouds loomed over them as they walk
ed down the road. Closing the distance between Vanora’s home, and the Inn from where they would be staying, only then did it start to downpour. Kirstin and Mrs. Croft yelled out in frustration and began to hurry inside, as Lachlan chuckled lowly behind them. He took his time, despite the rain.

Only w
hen they had all made it into the Inn, had they began to observe its open room with a fireplace and a small table to where the innkeeper sat.

“What will it be for ye?” asked the man with russet colored hair and faded eyes.

“Three rooms.” Lachlan stated, and the man took hold of three keys and began walking.

“Follow me.” The man said, and they did just that. Kirstin looked at the wooden floors and various paintings that adorned the walls, but yet the inn had an antique look to it. A fine coat of dust lined the paintings, and the stone walls seemed to have a few cracks every here and there.

She had not realized that they stopped until she bumped face first into Lachlan. He steadied her just briefly, before the man opened a door, “This is one room, there are two more down this way.”

Lachlan outstretched his arm, motioning to Mrs. Croft. She did not hesitate to be the first to her room. After all, it was only chivalrous that a man let her.
Lachlan and Kirstin followed the innkeeper down the hall, taking note to the man’s limp that had worsened as they walked further.

“These are the two other rooms.” He explained, opening the first door.

Before the man could open the second door, Lachlan interrupted him, “Actually, two rooms will be ideal for our visit. I will pay for the third, but there will be no need in opening it.”

“Are ye sure, sir?” the innkeeper asked, appalled. Kirstin looked just as shocked as she stared at Lachlan, “Aye, I am sure.” He finished.
Kirstin would have retorted, if Lachlan hadn’t of pushed her into the opened room and shut the door so abruptly. 

“Now,” Lachlan said lowly, turning around to face
her, “No objections, for yer the one in trouble.”

Kirstin gulped, taking a step back “Trouble?”

“Aye,” He flashed a wide smirk, “Ye ran away and took my horse. Ye did no’ think I would let ye get away with such foolishness, did ye?”

“
Er,” Kirstin murmured in hesitance. She was terrified and because of her nerves, she felt that she could not move. Even as Lachlan closed the distance between them with two steps, she could not back away from him. He put a hand to her back and pulled her into him, observing how drenched each of them were from the rain.

Then he chuckled, “
Yer shivering and I canna tell if it is because yer cold or afraid.”

Kirstin smiled wryly up at him, “
’Tis because of both.”

“Then,” he smiled, “Go get changed into some dry clothes and we will finish this afterwards.”

She nodded in response. Then, she took the bag of fresh clothes that Vanora had given to her since she had not brought many on her journey down, and she began to undress. Lachlan respected her by turning around in the room and giving her space.

However, Kirstin did not know that he had removed some of his clothing
as well, until she turned around. Dressed in only a pair of tight breeches his skin glistened from the dampness of his wet clothes that he had discarded so easily.

Kirstin was left staring at his bronze skin, with multiple scars and distinct muscle that only defined him as a true man. His shoulders were large, his biceps even bigger, and his torso lean but toned. She swallowed hard, wondering how a human being could become perfectly sculpted.

Lachlan took note of her staring and took long strides towards Kirstin. He put a hand to her waist and felt the soft fabric of her chemise. Then he said, “Ye have stolen my heart, and I can only hope that I have stolen yers, too.”

Long lashes peered up at him, revealing two sterling blue eyes that he could never forget. They held so much emotion, and then she said, “Ye have no’ stolen my heart.” Instantly, Lachlan frowned as if fearing her words all along.

In the most sincere fashion, Kirstin stood on her toes and kissed his lips, “I have given it to ye.” She corrected him in the upmost fashion of seriousness and adoration. For the briefest of moments, Lachlan could not believe what he was hearing.

Kirstin had confessed her love for him.

Chapter Twenty-Two

              Lachlan held Kirstin in his arms that night as sleep took them into its own grasp. He held her delicately; almost as if he was afraid she would break under his sturdy arms.

             
There was a knock at their door at such a late hour that the couple had jolted awake.  It was so sudden and unexpected, but Lachlan instantly let go of Kirstin and stood up from the bed. He cautiously walked to the door and cracked it open. The light flowing through the cracked door was all that Kirstin could see, as Lachlan spoke in hushed tones with whoever was on the other side.

             
He shut it soon after, crumpling what seemed to be a letter in the palm of his hand and then tossing it aside in anger. Kirstin sat up then, and immediately asked, “Are ye all right?”

             
He did not answer her at first, and instead stood in the darkness as if deep in thought. As soon as Kirstin thought he had not heard her, he said, “We are taking a different route in the early morn’.”

             
Her eyebrows furrowed, “Why?”

             
“I canna tell ye.” He said, “I rather no’ worry ye, so donna ask anymore questions.”

             
Then he walked back to the bed and took Kirstin back into his arms, “I just want to enjoy ye in my arms for a while longer.”

             
Kirstin did not complain with his response, and if anything she inched closer to him. She took in his warms and buried her head into the crook of his shoulder, before falling back to sleep.

             
However, sleep evaded Lachlan.  All night, he lay with his precious woman in his arm while pondering many thoughts. When the time came in the early morning, just as the sun had been rising, only then did he finally wake Kirstin.

             
“My love,” he whispered against her cheek, “Ye must awake for we have much traveling to do.”

             
A long, drawn out moan escaped her lips and she said, “The birds have no’ even awaken, so why must we?”

             
“Because,” he repeated, “Unlike the birds who are already at their homes, we must go back to ours.”

             
“Nay,” Kirstin sluggishly retorted, “’Tis too early to get up.”

             
Lachlan was quiet for a long time and Kirstin even wondered if he had gone back to sleep. Her suspicions were answered when she felt two strong arms wrap around her middle and pick her up.

             
Lachlan cradled Kirstin, despite her harsh replies of making her get out of bed. He put her on the cold wooden floors, and with a kiss to her forehead, he left her there.

             
“’Tis no’ fair!” Kirstin explained, irritated by his actions.

             
He winked at her after putting his shirt back on, “’Tis more than fair.”

             
She groaned in frustration and stood up. Kirstin, now aggravated, took a dress from her bag and roughly put it on.

             
“I am so mad at ye.” She growled, and Lachlan could not help but laugh her.

             
“Even when yer mad,” he said, “Yer still gorgeous. In fact, I think it makes my heart beat all the much faster for ye.”

             
Kirstin blushed, but tried to hold her glare towards him. It was of no use when he kissed her on the lips once more, “Let us go awake that mother of yers.”

             
Kirstin followed Lachlan out of the room, and knocked on her mother’s door. When she could hear her mother bickering from the other side of the room about having to wake up so early, only then did Kirstin know it was going to be a long day.



              Mrs. Croft was in a sour mood during the trip back, only complaining about her sore limbs and the lack of breaks they had been taking. Lachlan responded in short replies, all the more explaining, “We must push on, for we are taking a longer route than the usual.”