“Not on my own, with Drust”, Willa said, and even she could hear the dreaminess in her voice. “But oh Maura, don’t worry. Nothing bad happened, I promise you.” She crossed her arms in exasperation. “And nothing particularly good, either.”
“Oh.Oh!” Maura’s eyes widened in understanding “Ye mean…”
“Yes!” She grabbed Maura’s hands in her own and squeezed them tight in her excitement. “I’ve never had such feelings for any man. Never in all my life. I think he’s theone! No, I know he is. I had a dream, before I came here, and there was a man that I… I helped, I think. Only he wasn’t injured in the dream, it was more as if he was sad, tormented by something bad that had happened. But then we were together, and he was happy again. Oh Maura, it was honestly the best dream I ever had. And you know that I don’t have dreams like that very often. Not like you do. With me it only happens once in a great while.”
“And the man in the dream, it was Drust?”
Willa nodded. “I didn’t know right away because I couldn’t see his face, in the dream, I mean. But he said the same thing to me just before you arrived that the man in the dream said, and right then I knew for certain they were one and the same, just as if it was a key that opened a lock in my mind. And Iknewhim.”
“Oh Willa!” Maura gave her a broad smile. “How verra romantic! What did he say?”
“He said ‘Stay away, Lass. My trouble is no’ yers to bear. Leave me be.’”
Maura’s grin faded and she looked a bit taken aback. “Oh… well…”
“And I don’t think I could even get the stubborn man to kiss me if I tried”, Willa continued. “He has completely closed himself off. He seems to have barricades around his heart that might be impossible to ever overcome, and yet I find myself wanting more than anything else to break through them.” She sighed. “Am I completely mad?”
Maura grinned at her, the wheels in her mind already turning. “Nay, no’ mad. If ye feel so strongly, it must surely be yer calling to help him, to heal him. A woman almost always kens these things, and they should no’ be ignored, no’ if ye are wise.”
She tapped her chin with one finger in thought. “Is there any sign he might no’ be so immune to yer charms as he pretends? I mean, after all, he’s a man and yer a beautiful woman. Have ye noticed if…um…he’s at all attracted? But then again, he’s badly injured, there may no’ be an obvious…”
“Oh, no, Maura. He’s able. That much I noticed.” She bit her bottom lip and blushed in spite of herself at the memory, well, memories, then lowered her voice and leaned closer. “I have this feeling… one I can’t rid myself of no matter how I try. I am so very drawn to Drust, that I think he is the one who is meant for me. I think… I think he might be mysoul mate,my other half. I can see no other reason for the way I feel, and how strongly and quickly.”
Maura smiled knowingly and reached for Willa’s hands, giving them a squeeze in return. She had found her own mate not so long ago, and she knew that when one of their kind found their mate it was no small thing.
“Then we must make a plan. And ye mustn’t give up. The verra best things in life are always the hardest fought to come by. Remember that always, even when ye feel that all is lost, it is usually no’.”
Maura sat back on the bench, once more tapping her finger against her chin as she always did when she was deep in thought.
“I think James plans to head west on the morrow, to speak with the clan chiefs there about what has happened, and perhaps appeal to them with the promise of future alliances. It’s a long shot, to be sure, but we must cast our net wide if we are to have any hope at all. I will insist on going with him.”
“Oh Maura, you don’t have to do that… you’ve only just returned…”
“Nonsense. Besides, I’d much rather be at my husband’s side rather than sitting here worrying about whether he’s safe. I would have stayed only to keep ye company. And…” She gave Willa her most wicked grin, “Ye will have more time alone with yer warrior.”
The very thought made Willa’s heart leap in her chest. “But what do Ido?”
Maura laughed. “Och lass, I’m sure yer instincts are already telling ye what todo. Follow them, and they willna lead ye wrong.”
“And if he continues to do his best to ignore me?”
“That in truth is a good sign. I think perhaps he is frightened of what ye make him feel, and so he fights to feel nothing at all. If he felt nothing for ye, he wouldna care. Fortunately, it is always a losing battle in the end. One yer own brother lost nay too long ago! He was much the same in the beginning. Strong men dinna like to admit a woman can have so much power over them. But we can, and we do. And we women love nothing better than to try to fix a broken man. Impossible as the creatures often are.”
“Tell me Maura. Tell me how the wedding was, and then tell me everything you know about men.”
And she did.
***
All too soon, Maura and James rode away again, with Willa waving from the doorway. There was little choice. Time was of the essence if they were to have their home back. Well, James and Maura’s home. Willa had never really had a real home, and Dunbroch held precious few good memories for her, nearly all of which were of her reunion with James. But to James, it was everything. Without Dunbroch, he was landless; a born leader with no people to lead. She wished fervently that there was more she could do to help, but if she left the protection of this valley, she would only become a liability that James could ill afford. If she were to be captured, he would waste valuable time and money tracking her down. She couldn’t risk doing that to him. Before he left, he told her of the plea he had sent to the Mac Coinnach chief for aid, but there were rumors the Bren Mac Coinnach was both newly wed, and had recently lost one of his brothers. It did not seem likely to Willa that help would be forthcoming from the Mac Coinnachs, and they had perhaps been their best chance.
Instead of giving into her frustration and screaming like she really wanted to, she turned to look at Drust, who was sitting at the table, absently pushing food around on his trencher with a knife. Though his hair fell forward to cover his face, she knew he was scowling. Was he unhappy to be left alone with her again? It wasn’t as if he had enjoyed her brother’s company any more than hers. He had spent the entire evening in his room, even though he could very well have sat at the table with everyone. James had spoken with him at length, but had come out of the room with a frown, knowing nothing more about their guest than when he’d gone in, and mumbling about ‘stubborn, ungrateful arses’.
“Would you like me to tie your hair back?” she asked. “I have some strips of leather in my…”
“No.”
All right, then.
