A Knight For Her Highland Heart (Scottish Highlander Romance) Read online

  “We hae been waiting for ye,” he said. “We are practicing the bow.”

  Gavina nodded as she set about polishing the metal of her sword. “Aye. I will be there momentarily.”

  Finlay took a step closer and saw that Gavina was crafting a blade much smaller than the usual standard of a broadsword. “What are ye crafting?” he asked.

  Gavina showcased the blade. “A better sword, mair suited tae me size.” She handed over the blade, Finlay admiring the work as he looked it over.

  “It is a fine blade,” he said. “It will suit ye well.”

  Gavina sighed. “I worry, Finlay. I worry about that Christian man and the pact with Lord Torstein.”

  “As am I. But we maist set about putting an end tae this conflict.”

  She shook her head. “I am nae sure that such an ending can be reached.”

  Finlay sat on the stool beside her. “Ye are troubled, Gavina. That is mair than obvious.”

  “I just hae a bad feeling. That is all.”

  He smiled. “Ye are much like yer sister. Ye always hae been.”

  “I just dinnae trust this pact. I fear the worst.”

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. “All will be well. And should conflict arise—there is naw better person to fight by my side.”

  Moments later, Isla entered. “Finlay,” she said. “I think the time has come tae inform the village of what is aboot tae transpire.”

  He nodded. “Aye. Perhaps ye are right. Summon the villagers and bring them tae our cottage.”

  Minutes later, the entirety of the village was gathered outside Isla and Finlay’s home, attentive gazes on their faces as Isla went about speaking.

  “My fellow Highlanders,” she said, “it is important that we tell ye about what is occurring at this point in time. As many of ye ken, we hae held an alliance with the Sassenach leader Lord Torstein. This pact, this peace that has allowed us tae dwell in this land, has been kept a secret from the Sassenach king and his countrymen. According to Lord Torstein, the time has come tae meet with him and a Sassenach knight by the name of Sir Jessup tae negotiate a permanent truce.

  “Tonight, Finlay and Gavina will be riding tae a nearby village tae discuss the terms…Me friens…Me family…The time has come tae stop hiding. The time has come tae negotiate our peace. Offer yer prayers tae them. Support them in their time of need. This is a turning point fer us all.”

  With that, the crowd dispersed, and Isla made a beeline to Gavina and pulled her off to the side.

  “Sister,” she said, “I want ye tae be cautious. I want ye tae keep a close eye on Finlay.”

  “Aye, sister,” Gavina said. “But he has proven himself time and time again tae be a competent warrior.”

  “And a competent warrior he is. But he has grown older, as dae I. Ye are the youthful one in our clan noo. Ye will be the one who one days leads our people, so the time is noo tae demonstrate yer ability tae lead. Listen to Finlay. Heed his words. Keep a close eye and make sure that naw harm comes tae him.”

  The two embraced and held each other for a long moment. Moments later, Finlay approached and smiled fondly at the members of his family.

  “Is all well?” he inquired.

  “Aye,” Isla said. “All is well.”

  “Gavina,” Finlay said, “meet me in the stables. We maist make sure we pick suitable rides fer the journey.”

  Gavina, feeling a new sense of responsibility, nodded dutifully. “Aye, me lord.”

  “Father!” young Eamon called out, rushing up to Finlay and hooking his arms around his leg. “Can I gae with ye tae the stables?”

  “Of course, me son. But remember—dinnae pull on the horses tail again like that last time. Understand?”

  A nod. “Aye, father. I will nae.”

  Finlay and Eamon headed for the stables as Gavina and Isla headed for the inside of the cottage. “I am curious,” Isla said.

  “Aboot what?” Gavina asked.

  “Yer thoughts on that knight, the man called Christian.”

  Gavina felt her heart flutter, though she was unsure as to why. “He is a man, a man like any other. Why dae ye ask?”

  “Because I see glimpses of the past playing out in front of me.”

  “What dae ye mean?”

  “That man Christian, he reminds me of Finlay in many ways. It is funny. I feel as if life repeats certain patterns. The way in which—”

  “Father!” Eamon shouted.

  Isla and Gavina turned their heads to face the source of the commotion. When they laid eyes on what Eamon was shouting about, their hearts felt as if they had sunk into their stomachs—it was Finlay, faced down and unmoving, his skin pale and body limp and appearing to be without life as the entirety of the village then rushed to his side.

  Finlay was propped up on his cot, his skin still milky white and eyes fluttering. He was alive—but it was more than certain that some kind of illness had befallen him.

  Marra, the village’s medicine practitioner, whispered several things to Finlay as she made him consume a few ointments. She then walked up to Gavina and Isla, the two of them standing in the corner with nervous and terror-stricken expressions stretched across their faces.

  “What is it?” Isla asked. “What has happened tae him?”

  Marra lowered her voice. “It is heart, I believe. I think it has taken on tae much strain.”

  Isla felt herself on the verge of tears. But she held her composure as she always did, forever maintaining her role as the leader of the Baird clan.

  “Will he survive?” she inquired.

  Marra nodded. “He needs tae rest,” she said. “But he will live. He cannae ride, nor can he fight. Only a respite will offer him the proper reprieve that is needed fer him to make it through.”

  “Gavina,” Finlay called out wearily from his bed. “Come…Come here…”

  Gavina timidly approached Finlay’s bedside, her emotions on edge from seeing a man she had come to revere being on the cusp of death. She noted his pale skin and his fragile demeanor. She had never seen Finlay in such a state before. It troubled her so—but like her sister Isla, she held her composure and held her head high.

  “Yes, me lord,” she said.

  Finlay reached out and grabbed her hand, the quality of his embrace much like that of an older man who was years older than Finlay was.

  “I cannae ride with ye,” he said. “I regret it so.”

  She shook her head. “Dinnae dwell on such thoughts,” she said. “Ye need yer rest.”

  He tried to sit up, Isla stepping in and pressing a hand tenderly against his broad chest. “Dinnae rise, me love. Dinnae move.”

  He shook his head. “I cannae believe that this has occurred, especially during such a time as this.”

  “We shall figure it out. Perhaps if enough time passes—”

  Finlay waved her off. “Naw…Naw, I will not be well enough tae ride tonight. We maist follow through with the meeting with Lord Torstein. We maist make these negotiations.” He turned an eye on Gavina and nodded. “The time has come,” he said. “Ye maist be the one that takes up the mantle.”

  “Me lord?” Gavina said with strain in her voice.

  “The time has come,” he said, “fer ye tae lead the Bairdsmen. I ken that ye are capable. I ken that ye hae much tae learn, but like all things in life, the time tae stand up and take responsibility arises at the maist inconvenient of moments.”

  Gavina shook her head. “Ye said so yerself that I am nae ready.”

  “It is nae that ye are nae ready. I hae taught ye all I can, but the clan requires ye tae stand up and face Lord Jessup. Take me steed. Ride tonight. Meet with Lord Torstein and finish this once and fer all.”

  The tears began welling in Gavina’s eyes. “Please, Finlay,” she said. “Ye were right. I am nae ready—”

  Finlay squeezed her arm. “Stop,” he said. “There is naw point in dwelling any further on the matter. Gather yer men, gather yer weapons and horses, and set out fer
the journey tonight tae meet with Lord Torstein.”

  Gavina nodded. “I will, me lord,” she promised. “I will.”

  A sniffle came from the corner of the room. Isla and Gavina turned to see Eamon and Rose waiting with heads bowed in the corner and concerned looks on their faces.

  “Come,” Finlay said, motioning them over. “Come, me children.” Eamon and Rose flocked to Finlay’s side and embraced their father. “We maist preserve their futures,” Finlay said. “This is why we fight.”

  Gavina nodded. “Aye,” she said. “Aye…”

  “Gae,” Finlay said. “Dinnae waste any mair time tending tae me. I will survive. I will pull through—but only if ye dae what needs tae be done.”

  Gavina nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes as she stood up and jutted her chin with a proud inflection in her voice. “I will dae what needs tae be done, me lord.”

  He nodded. “Then enough talk…Gae.”

  With that, Isla hugged her sister, bid her farewell, and Gavina then left to join the Bairdsmen. They were waiting outside the cottage, all of them eager to hear of Finlay’s condition.

  “Is he well?” Tessa asked.

  Gavina nodded. “He will be fine,” she said. “But he will nae ride with us. We will ride tonight. We will set about securing our peace.”

  She drew a breath, put her emotions aside, and recalled the lessons that had been imparted to her by her elders.

  “Prepare yerselves. Gather yer horses and weapons and prepare tae ride. Lachlan—ye will escort me tae the meeting with Sir Jessup. The rest of ye will be on lookout once we arrive at the meeting. We shall make our clan proud.”

  Nods and ayes were exchanged among the group as they stood tall and proud and readied themselves for the journey that lay ahead.

  “Ready yerselves,” Gavina said. “Fer these next few days will define the rest of our lives.

  Chapter 6

  Gavina had taken her time saddling her horse, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the journey that lay ahead. She had served as the leader of the Bairdsmen for some time, but up until the moment Finlay had suffered the bout with his heart, it had not felt as real as it did in this moment. When he relayed to her all the words he had spoken at his bed side, it cemented the notion that she was the one who was now in charge.

  “Gavina,” Isla called out behind her, Gavina turning around and forcing a smile.

  “Yes, sister,” Gavina said.

  Isla held up a satchel filled to the brim with provisions. “Fer the ride,” she said. “Make sure ye sparse it oot accordingly.”

  Gavina took the satchel but said nothing as she secured it to her horse.

  “Are ye all right?” Isla asked.

  Gavina nodded. “I just worry that I hae packed enough supplies fer the ride.”

  “Ye hae.”

  “Are ye sure? Because I—”

  Isla rested a hand on her sister’s back and said nothing—the touch alone was enough to make her calm down. “Talk tae me,” Isla said. “Tell me what troubles ye.”

  Gavina turned and faced her sister, her bottom lip quivering. “I am worried,” she said, keeping her voice low for sake of the other Bairdsmen who were preparing their own horses just a few feet away. “I hae never done this before. I hae never led the clan in such a fashion.”

  “Ye ken this day would come.”

  A nod. “I ken…just nae as soon as I would hae anticipated.”

  “It never is. But like Finlay said—there is naw better person tae be leading these men and women.”

  Gavina looked at the Bairdsmen—Ava, Lachlan, Tessa, and Glenn—all of them clad in the black leather and woolen coats that signified that they were the elite warriors of the clan. Their heads were high. Their chests were puffed—they were ready to do whatever Gavina’s bidding was.

  “Is it nae foolish,” she asked Isla, tae be taking all of them with me? The orders from Lord Torstein—”

  Isla held up her hand. “We hae tae be prepared fer any possible scenario that will play oot. We cannae trust the Sassenach, so it is important tae stay one step ahead of them at all times.”

  A nod. “I will coordinate with them tae make sure it appears that only myself and Lachlan are at this meeting. I will make sure that the rest of the Bairdsmen lay in wait in case the worst may pass.”

  Isla pressed her forehead against her sister’s, the two of them smiling and sharing the brief moment of reprieve. “Ye will dae well…I ken ye will.”

  They hugged, Gavina then turning and resting her gaze on Eamon and Rose, both of them seated on the stoop outside the entrance to Isla and Finlay’s cottage. “Come,” she said. “Bid yer aunt farewell.”

  Eamon and Rose approached with timid expressions and heads hung low. Gavina got down on one knee and looked them both in the eyes with an assuring and loving gaze. “Listen tae me,” she said. “All is well. Yer father is stronger than ye can imagine. He will mend in due time.”

  Eamon stifled his tears. “I am scared, Gavina.”

  She held his head in her hands. “There is naw reason tae fret. These are the moments in life that test us, that makes us stronger.”

  “When will ye return?” Rose inquired.

  “Soon, me little one. Quite soon.”

  “Bring us something from yer journey?”

  Gavina laughed. “Of course, me dear. Of course.” She hugged them both and stood back, looking at her niece and nephew with a proud glint in her eye as Lachlan approached her from the rear.

  “Gavina,” Lachlan said. “Our rides are prepared. We are ready tae ride.”

  Gavina nodded, looking at her riders who stood at attention and awaited to receive her orders.

  “Gae,” Isla whispered. “Lead yer men.”

  Gavina took a step forward and drew a breath, ready to address her warriors. “The time has come,” she said. “And we will nae return until we hae secured our peace. This is the moment that we hae waited fer our entire lives. The lives of all the men, women, and children in this clan depend on us noo. Yer diligence, yer strength, and yer resolve are what will win this fight. I am depending on all of ye…Dinnae let me down.”

  Nods. Ayes. Smiles of confirmation. After addressing her warriors, Gavina held her sister one final time, mounted her horse, and set her sights on the horizon beyond the village. “Come!” she shouted. “We ride!”

  The collective group known as the Bairdsmen moved in a huddled hustle across the terrain, Gavina holding her gaze steady on the Highlands beyond the village as Isla watched after her with both a proud and terrified look in her eyes.

  Inside her home, Finlay smiled as he heard the collective hoof beats of the Bairdsmen, nodding his head wearily as he rested and whispered: “Make us proud, Gavina…”

  The Bairdsmen had been riding for a little over an hour before the pace was slowed by order of Gavina. Traversing through a thick and rich sprawl of greenery, the grey mist and clouds of the Scottish Highlands began to accumulate overhead and whispered at the possibility of rain.

  Ava, snuggling up alongside Gavina as she rode, was showcasing a surreptitious smile. After a few moments, Gavina finally mustered the courage to ask: “What is it?”

  Ava shrugged. “I am just thinking,” she said.

  “About what?”

  “That knight that rode into our village. What was his name?”

  Gavina knew—but she didn’t want to say. “I cannae remember.”

  Ava laughed. “I am naw cuddie. I saw the way ye two were looking at one another.”

  Gavina rolled her eyes. “He is good-looking. So what?”

  Ava pointed. “Ah! See? I ken it.”

  “Ken what?”

  “That ye like him?”

  Gavina inched her horse a couple feet away from Ava. “Will ye be talking like this the entire ride?”

  Ava shrugged. “Perhaps.”

  “Why maist ye be so insufferable?”

  “Because it keeps ye on yer toes. And I am yer frien and ye
enjoy the torture.”

  Gavina smirked. “Never change, Ava.”

  “I dinnae plan tae.”

  “And to answer yer other question—naw. I dinnae like him.”