Helene glanced into the clearest mirror she’d ever seen. She could hardly believe what a sight she was. No wonder Zeke had stared at her so. She turned on the hot water and watched as it poured from the spout. It began to steam and she thought it might be too hot, so she did as Zeke had instructed her and turned on the cold as well. A triumphant smile lit her face as she realized she’d made the water the perfect temperature. She washed her face and hands and dried them on the cloth he’d given her. Now she needed to fix her hair.
She picked up a brush she found near the sink. At least she thought it was a brush. It was most unusual looking, but she tried it and it was helping to get the knots from her hair along with the occasional twig or leaf. She couldn’t stop looking in the mirror. What a wondrous thing. She could see that she looked much better now. Smiling to herself, she went to find Zeke.
“Wow! You clean up nice.” He seemed pleased with her transformation.
“Thank ye.”
“So, Edna said you’d been through a rough time.”
He was staring at her. Helene self-consciously touched her hair. “Aye. I have.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“Nae. ’Tis fine. It may help to share it with ye.” Helene told Zeke about it all. About Dougall, his proposal, the ordeal at Castle Treun and her escape, which ultimately brought her to San Francisco.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that. You’re a strong woman, Helene.”
Shewasstrong when she needed to be, and having Zeke bring it to her attention reminded her that it was true. Yes, she was strong. She could handle anything that came her way. She’d survived this whole ordeal and although she was still sad about what had happened with Dougall, she knew she could make a new life for herself. A confident smile crossed her face as she gazed up at Zeke. “Yer right. I am strong.”
Chapter 11
The sightof Castle Treun was exactly what Dougall was hoping to see when they left camp early that morning. It wasn’t the same feeling he got when he returned to Breaghacraig, but it was the place he’d given much thought to over the last several days. He was returning home, but not to stay. He’d made up his mind that after reporting in to his father on the findings of their many days’ journey, which he now realized was completely unnecessary, he would get Helene and their things and head back to his real home, Breaghacraig. He didn’t want to be here. His father didn’t need him here for anything other than marrying Greer Matheson and Dougall already told him he wouldn’t be doing that.
A gray overcast sky threatened rain and caused the buildings of the castle to appear dull and drab, suiting Dougall’s feelings about the place. He could never live here. Servants and others from the clan scurried about the outer courtyard heading to and from their various duties with hardly a sound. It was eerily quiet. Only the occasional sounds of the blacksmith’s hammer broke the silence. Dougall’s mind turned back to Helene. Had Brenna seen to it that she was well? He took a deep breath, quelling the anxiety that had begun to manifest in his gut. His father would stop at nothing to see that he married Greer. Dougall could only hope that it wouldn’t involve harming his love.
As they approached the gates of the inner courtyard, Dougall’s heart sang at the thought of seeing Helene again. He pushed his fear aside and urged his horse to move more quickly. His love waited for him inside the walls of this castle. She hadn’t been out of his thoughts for even a moment while he’d been away. His love for her was greater than anything he’d ever felt before and he didn’t intend to waste one more moment away from her.
“What’s yer plan?” Logan asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“I’m leaving.” Dougall answered. He’d gained a sense of trust again with Logan. They’d spoken much while on patrol and he now understood that Logan, as well as the others, had all acted out of fear of Laird MacRae. None of them wished to be the focus of his wrath and he could forgive them for that.
“Yer Da will be angry.”
“Aye. He will. No matter, I’ll nae stay. I intend to marry Helene.” Dougall dismounted and gazed up at Logan, who wore a worried expression.
“Ye’ll be banished.” Logan hopped down from his horse to stand beside Dougall.
“I dinnae care. There’s nary a thing here fer me I’m sorry to say.” There really wasn’t. It hadn’t taken much for him to come to that realization.
“I’m coming with ye then. I realized how much I missed Breaghacraig all these years. This is nae me home. Yer father is nae the man I wish to serve.” Logan appeared hopeful that Dougall would agree to allow him to come along.
“Yer welcome to join us. I ken Cormac and Cailin will be most pleased to have ye back, as will Robert.” It would be good to get Logan out of here. Out of the constant worry of doing something to disappoint the Laird. And it would be good to have his old friend back with him. It was beneficial that he’d had the chance to spend the last week with him. It reminded Dougall that they had once been the very best of friends and hopefully could be again.
The two men smiled warmly at each other as Dougall handed him the reins to Broch.
“Take care of me horse. I willnae be long.”
“I’ll get Helene’s mount as well,” Logan offered.
“Aye. Thank ye.”
Dougall walked away from Logan with a look of confidence that he didn’t necessarily feel. His father was not going to take this well, but he’d made up his mind.
Entering the Great Hall, he couldn’t say he was surprised to see Greer Matheson, her sister Gillian and his brother Fingall all seated around the fire. He’d been warned they would be here. He steeled himself as Greer stood and immediately came to his side.
“Dougall! I havenae seen ye since we were bairns. Ye’ve grown to be quite a handsome man.” She placed a dainty hand upon his chest. “I’m pleased I’ll be yer wife.”
He barely remembered her. She was a lovely lass to look at, but he loved Helene and he intended to marry her, not Greer. He removed her hand from his chest. She wasn’t going to like this, but it had to be said. “I’m afraid I cannae be yer husband, Greer. Me heart belongs to another.”
