Highland Trails of Love Read online

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2019 by Barbara Bard

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  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Be A Part of Barbara Bard’s Family

  Highlander’s Savior

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Highlander’s Captive

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  The Extended Epilogue

  Highlander’s Revenge

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  The Extended Epilogue

  Highlander’s Captive -A Preview

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Highlander’s Savior-A Preview

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Be A Part of Barbara Bard’s Family

  Also by Barbara Bard

  Highlander’s Savior

  Prologue

  They had been traveling for a while through these dark woods, as they were going to meet Lord Flynn, the man who Rosemary was betrothed to.

  George had suggested that they find a place to lay their head for the night as it was getting too dark to keep traveling. Sarah and Rosemary were talking about Rosemary’s betrothal when another wagon pulled up. Sarah immediately felt that something wasn’t right.

  The wagon was looking strange and suspicious, with men being held in cages and the men that guarded the wagon were cruel to them. Sarah tried to carry on the conversation, but Rosemary was already distracted. She couldn’t keep her eyes off the wagon.

  Rosemary had always been the curious one, always wanting to know everything. Rosemary started to walk towards the wagon, wanting to investigate what was happening and why everything appeared so strange.

  This was the last time Sarah saw her.

  Concerned for her safety, the driver, George told the soldiers that she was indeed Rosemary. Lord Flynn had no reason to doubt them because he had never seen her.

  He took the lie as the truth and now Sarah was saddled with the responsibility of imitating Rosemary. She would be getting married to Lord Flynn just as Rosemary should be. However, Sarah felt ashamed of pretending to be her friend, as she was nothing compared to the beauty and grace that Rosemary carried with her. Her confidence and composure was something that Sarah would never have.

  Sarah wished she was not in this position, but Lord Flynn could never know she was not his bride. He would banish her from the country, or worse, kill her.

  This was a job Sarah had no choice but to carry out and for fear for her life, she hoped she didn’t fail.

  Sarah had not heard anything about the incident since that night. The only information she had was the recount of the bandits who arrived in Lord Flynn’s house the night of her arrival.

  They had been attacked by some Scottish brutes. Sarah was afraid that her friend had been kidnapped by those Highlanders or, even worse, killed.

  Chapter 1

  Sarah slammed the door to her bedchamber, she was breathing hard and fast. She stood still and closed her eyes so she would not collapse. She didn’t know imitating Rosemary would be this difficult, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Being so close to Lord Flynn had set her nerves into a frenzy. It wouldn’t be long before he discovered she was a fraud.

  Moving towards the bed, she perched herself on the edge and placed her head in her hands. Soft sobs began to make her body shudder, and warm tears trickled along her palms.

  The whole situation was a mess, and because of her frayed emotions, she was not even able to enjoy the opulent home in which Lord Flynn lived. He was a man of great wealth and evidently had no problem showing it.

  Her chamber was filled with so much luxury and extravagant decoration. The bed had four posts and was ever so comfortable. She could have sworn she was sitting on the cloud. There were artworks hung up on all walls, and ornaments placed on a mantelpiece in front of a huge fire.

  It was as though she had been placed in a dream, but this was a dream she wished she could wake up from.

  She knew she had to escape, one way or another. This was not her life, she was ashamed of pretending to be Rosemary, as she did not consider herself worthy. She imagined the punishment that would be meted out to her when the truth came out.

  She would be lucky to just be banished, for she could be thrown into a dungeon and forgotten for the rest of her life. No matter how she looked at it, this wouldn’t end well for her.

  She was not sure what she expected Lord Flynn to be like, but there was something about him that made the hair on her skin stand on end. He had all the making of an English man and carried himself with dignity and pride, just as an English man should.

  However, there was something missing. He lacked the wholesome goodness she had hoped to
find. His eyes were cruel and his gaze felt as though he was peering into her soul.

  Damn George, and damn this whole mess!

  For the time being, she could pretend to be Rosemary, but the truth would soon come out. Rosemary's father, Charles Brambly, would quickly tell Lord Flynn that Sarah was an impostor. Unless Sarah could explain to him her situation.

  She would have to send him a letter to prepare him, for if he saw her, his reaction would surely leave the truth with nowhere to hide. But what then? Was she supposed to live her life as a lady, keeping this truth from Lord Flynn?

  A light knock at the door jolted her from her thought. She dried her eyes with a handkerchief and started to move towards the door to find out who it might be.

  However she might feel, the show should continue. She had come too far to give her true identity away. Whoever it was, she could not let them discover the truth about herself. But what if it was Lord Flynn?

  Her heart began to thump inside her chest as she curled her hand around the golden doorknob and twisted it, opening the door to reveal a shy-looking woman.

  She had delicate features, a slim build, and long curly brown hair. Her skin was clear as spring water. Her eyes were wide, and Sarah was envious of her beauty.

  Then again, she was envious of most other women's beauty as they were true ladies and she was just an impostor. Never could she compare with their soft skin, their lustrous hair, or the aura of self-confidence they possessed.

  “Rosemary, I'm so pleased to finally meet you! I'm Catherine, Harold's sister. I thought it only right that I introduce myself as I hope we can become good friends,” Catherine said with apparent excitement.

  “I must admit, at first I was a little jealous when Harold told me he was getting married and another lady would be coming to stay here.

  “I am used to being the only woman here, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is a good thing!

  “Finally, I would have a friend, someone who I can talk to about all the nice and girly things in life without them turning their noses up at me.

  “All Harold wants to talk about is war and horses and all those nasty things men take pleasure in,” she added with one breath.

  Catherine breezed past Sarah, moving about the room like a swan settling on a warm lake. She took a seat on one of the velvet-lined chairs and placed her hands in her lap.

  Sarah closed the door slowly, inhaling deeply as she composed herself. Picturing Rosemary in her mind, Sarah tried to become the picture of an English lady, rather than a common handmaid.

  “It's so lovely of you to come and welcome me. I am glad that you are here. To find another like me was more than I could ask,” Sarah said, returning to the bed.

  “Have you been crying, my dear?” Catherine asked, leaning forward a little, concern etched upon her face.

  Sarah turned her face away. Her hands darted to her eyes, trying to cover the reddened lids.

  “I... yes, I have. You must think it so silly of me,” Sarah said, seeing no use in denying it.

  “Not at all. On the contrary, it is quite understandable. I imagine that if I were in your position I would be much the same. I suppose it is strange since you have not come too far from home, but it is still a new environment, and you are away from everything you have known. Then there was all that commotion with those terrible bandits as well,” Catherine said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “It has been a trying time. Thank you for understanding. I am excited to be here, of course, but as you say it is quite different from what I have known. I had to leave my home and father, of course.”

  “That must have been very difficult for you. I did ask Harold about you and he said that it was just you and your father? I am so sorry to hear about your mother.”

  “Thank you, although it was years ago now.”

  “And do not be too fretful. It will not be too long until the wedding, and then you will be able to see your father again. I imagine that the two of you became quite close after your mother died?”

  “We did indeed. There was just the two of us, we cried and consoled ourselves. We only had each other. He tried to do everything to lift the cloak of sadness from our house. We tried to celebrate her memory, instead of losing ourselves in a gloomy mood but things will never be the same again.”

  “I suppose that is all one can do. I am sorry to say that I cannot offer much in the way of understanding this conversation as I have neither lost a parent or enjoyed a close relationship with either of them.”

  “You haven't?”

  Catherine shook her head and sighed. “Father is always off on one escapade or the other, looking to raise the prestige of the family. Mother was more concerned with her tea parties than anything else. Harold and I were mostly left to our own devices when we were younger, and now that Harold is getting married he will have his own family. I am not sure where that leaves me.”

  “You shall always have a place here, of that I am sure,” Sarah said quickly.

  “Thank you so much. That does mean a lot to me,” Catherine said, her face brightening. “Although I am quite sure that in time I will be promised to a duke in London. Father has always told me I shall not marry below my station, and that he will work on finding the best match for me.”

  “That sounds rather exciting.”

  “Hardly,” Catherine said, a sly look in her eyes, “Father simply wants the best marriage for the family. Knowing him I shall be passed off to some feeble duke who probably drools and cannot even walk without aid. At least you have been given to a man in his prime.”

  “Lord Flynn is an impressive specimen. I do consider myself fortunate to be getting married to him. Perhaps you could tell me more about him? My father was often quick to tell me about Lord Flynn's virtues. There were times when I think he viewed Lord Flynn as a younger version of himself. You are in a much better position to tell me about him, I would be pleased if you could give me a more personal view.”

  “Ah, where to start with my brother,” Catherine said, tilting her head back. She took a few moments to look around the room, pressing her lips together as she contemplated the question. “Well, if you want complete honesty he was a terror growing up. He would chase and pester me all day long. I think he wanted a brother and tried to turn me into one,” Catherine tittered with laughter.

  Sarah gasped. “Was it really that bad?”

  “Oh I am just playing; it was just the typical thing that siblings go through.”

  “I do not know about that. I was an only child. I suppose that is why I had such a close relationship with my parents. We did not have anyone else growing up. The only friend I had was my handmaid.”

  “Oh, how awful for you! It must have been challenging to be friends with someone below your station. I am sure they wouldn't have been able to understand the nuances of our lives. Well, you have me now, and the handmaidens can be left to do their job.”

  “Yes, indeed,” Sarah said, holding her tongue. She had always been a good friend to Rosemary, and the two of them had had lots of things in common.

  “Anyway, to continue with the evaluation of my brother, he is charming as I'm sure you've been able to tell by now. He's good at hunting, at cards, at riding. Sometimes I think he would be better suited to living in the wild rather than in a house such as this. He is a passionate man, and sometimes this can lead to rather intense moods, but one just has to learn how to handle him.”

  “And how would I go about doing something like that?”

  “I will tell you when I learn,” Catherine laughed again. “The only person who has been able to control him completely is father. All Harold really wants to do is make him proud.”

  “I hope I learn how to please him; I want to be a good wife to your brother.”

  “Don’t worry, I am sure you will make a good wife and a very beautiful bride. Harold wants to make it a wedding nobody will ever forget. You are going to be center for attention, nobody would be able to
take their eyes off you.”

  “That sounds rather daunting. I am used to a quiet life. I attended a few balls with Father, but we mostly kept to ourselves. We enjoyed a peaceful life. I often enjoyed sitting at my window, looking at the wide green hills, wondering about the world outside.”

  “You may not find the time to do that here. Harold does enjoy his parties, and as his wife you will be expected to be at his side at all times. Harold inherited my father's ambition. The two of them want to become powerful men in the realm. All his life Father has worked to rise closer to the king, hoping one day that a member of our dynasty shall take their place in the royal family, and perhaps even sit on the throne themselves.”

  “A lofty ambition. I cannot say I ever thought of anything like that. I fear my world has been so small.”

  “It has gotten bigger now, and it will be wonderful! The times ahead are going to be glorious, and I am so glad that we will be sisters-in-law. We shall have so much fun until the wedding.”

  “We shall,” Sarah said.

  Talking with Catherine made her feel quite at ease, even though it was painful to lie to her the entire time. Sarah had wanted to close herself off from most of the people in the palace just so she would have to lie to as few people as possible. It was going to be difficult enough to bear the shame of having deceived Lord Flynn, but now she would have to betray Catherine's confidence as well.