“Aye. I can hardly wait,” Helene gushed.
She’d become good friends with this lovely lass who’d come all the way from twenty-first century San Francisco to marry Cailin MacBayne, Laird MacKenzie’s brother-in-law. They confided in each other about their hopes, dreams and their men.
“I know what you mean. I hate it when Cailin has to be away. Thank goodness that doesn’t happen too often.” Ashley rose and walked to her bed where little Emma lay sound asleep. She adjusted the fur throw covering the babe, taking a moment to gaze lovingly on her before returning to her seat.
Helene loved the way Ashley’s face changed when she looked at her daughter. She’d been such a nervous mother at first. Everyone at the castle had been concerned. None more so than her husband, but over the past month she’d begun to relax. Gone was the anxious expression that seemed to be permanently on her pretty face, now replaced by a more placid and serene look.
Emma was a wee beauty. On the many occasions she’d helped care for Emma, Helene felt the yearning for marriage and bairns of her own. Dougall hadn’t yet asked her to marry him, but she knew he would. Their relationship had blossomed and she knew he loved her. He told her so every day they were together. The fact that it would happen didn’t make it any less of a dream for her. Helene took a moment to stand at the window in hopes she would see Dougall riding up to the castle with his men, but she was disappointed when he was nowhere in sight. She continued to gaze off into the distance, thinking about the man she loved.
Dougall caught her eye the very first time she saw him. When he entered a room, the air seemed to disappear. Without making a sound, it was obvious to everyone he was there, but his six foot four well-muscled frame was all hers. The unmarried women of the clan envied her. She knew because they told her so many, many times. She loved the feel of him when he held her close. He was as solid as the stone walls of Breaghacraig. His hair was dark blonde with glints of gold when the sun shone upon it. She loved to run her fingers through the curls that framed his handsome face and gaze into his eyes of the bluest blue. Helene could be lost in them for hours. A pleasant yearning made its way from her womanly center to her belly where those butterflies were at work once again as she pictured him shirtless and glistening in the sun while he practiced with his men on the field. Oh, he was a beautiful man, but he was also kind, caring and responsible. She knew that marrying Dougall was what she wanted more than anything.
“Where’d you go to, Helene?” Ashley had returned to her seat and was gazing at her with a knowing smile on her face. “As if I didn’t know.”
Helene moved away from the window to return to Ashley’s side. The fire blazing in the hearth warmed the room and cast a golden glow across the floor to the bed where brocaded curtains stood guard over wee Emma from their posts on each corner. “I was just thinking about Dougall. Do ye think he’ll ask me to marry him soon?” Helene examined Ashley’s hair and finding one errant braid, pinned it in place and then stood back to admire her work.
“I know he will,” Ashley assured her.
“How do ye ken?” Helene thought Ashley might know something that she didn’t. “Did he say something to Cailin?”
“No, and if he did Cailin hasn’t said anything to me about it. I just think it’s time.” Ashley stood and Helene helped her into her dress.
“Hmmm… He has been gone so much of late. Mayhap now that he’ll be here at home without any duties dragging him away he’ll ask. I hope so.”
“He will. I have no doubt.”
Helene smiled warmly at her friend, but even though she, too, thought it was time, she’d been having a strange premonition that she couldn’t shake—something was coming that would get in the way of their happiness.
“Lookwho I found wandering MacKenzie lands while I was out on patrol.” Dougall called to Cailin and Cormac who were busy practicing with their men.
“Is that who I think it is?” Cormac asked. Not waiting for confirmation, he bear hugged Logan, lifting him off of the ground.
“Logan MacPhail!” Cailin joined in, wrapping his arms around his brother and Logan. “Welcome back!”
“Are ye here to stay?” Cormac asked.
“Nay. I must return home with this one.” He nodded his head in Dougall’s direction.
“What?” Cailin seemed surprised by this announcement.
“Aye. Me father has asked that I return immediately with Logan. I must gather me things and leave in the morning.” Dougall hated delivering this news to the brothers. He no more wanted to go than they wanted him to.
“Do ye need the men to accompany ye?” Cormac asked.
“Nay. ’Tis just a visit with me father. I’ll find out what he wishes of me and I’ll return as quickly as I can.”
“What if he wishes ye to stay?”
“I’m hoping ’tis nae the case, but if so I’ll send word back.”
Cailin and Cormac exchanged seemingly knowing glances before turning back to Dougall. Cailin wrapped an arm around his shoulders and guided him towards the castle, while Cormac walked along beside Logan making small talk as they went.
Dougall stopped Cailin in mid stride with a hand to his arm. “I must speak with Helene before she hears of this from someone else.”
“Me lips are sealed,” Cailin said.
Wrapped in Dougall’s arms, his warm breath carressing her face, Helene was at peace. She’d missed him from the moment he’d left to go on patrol. Now he was back and she felt whole again.
“I missed you,” Dougall whispered.
