“What happened?” Bruce asked.
“She came out of the cave and tried to get the key.”
“And? Don’t keep us waiting. What happened next?”
“Gavin hid above the cave and used the knife to slice through the rocks above the entrance. They crumbled at once, crushing her underneath.”
Tanya beamed. “I knew you could do it. Heather Frazer, you’ve saved us all.”
“He helped,” Heather replied, nodding toward Gavin. “A little bit, I guess. Mostly me though.” She stuck her tongue out at Gavin as he mock scowled back at her.
“Tell them the other thing,” Gavin said. “Or do you want to keep it secret?”
“You tell them. You’re the laird.”
“What is it?” Tanya asked. “What happened?”
“We’re getting married,” they said at once.
The entire clan seemed to hear. An enormous cheer went up around the courtyard. Heather felt a hand slapping her shoulder and turned to find Mungo Frazer smiling at her.
“So you’re marrying this old fool then?” he asked.
“Hey,” Gavin replied. “I may be a fool but I’m not that old. Not disappointed I didn’t pick Catherine or Amelia?”
“Good God, no. They both hate you.” He turned to Heather. “I hear you’re a Frazer. I’m not sure I’ve seen you before. Are you from my castle? Or somewhere more distant?”
“A bit more distant,” she replied, seeing Gavin trying not to laugh behind Mungo.
“So we’re family. Frazers and MacGregors united. This calls for a celebration. A feast must be had!”
“Any excuse to eat my food,” Gavin replied.
“Are you saying I’m fat?”
“Not at all, I’m just saying I can’t see the keep behind you.”
“Why, that’s just like a MacGregor.”
They all laughed as Gavin said, “Come on, let’s go see what’s left in the kitchens.”
The feast went on long into the night. Heather lost all track of time. One course followed another, all of them accompanied by copious quantities of wine and ale. It felt as if every member of the two clans congratulated her personally on the engagement. She tried to remember their names but there were just too many of them.
Gavin went around the room, talking to one group of people after another. She watched him, unable to stop smiling. She had never felt so happy. They’d gone from a morning where she was certain she would die to a night where all was well with the world. There was only one thing she felt sorry about.
She slipped the key into her hand, looking down at it and thinking hard.
“I know what you’re pondering,” a woman’s voice said behind her. She looked up to see Tanya slipping into the chair next to hers. “Now is not the time.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“You were wondering about going back. Is there someone you wish to speak to?”
Heather nodded. “Is that not possible?”
“I was lucky. I didn’t leave anyone behind I wanted to see again. Tell me it’s not a boyfriend though. That could get messy.”
Heather laughed. “Nothing like that. It’s just a friend of mine. She’ll probably be wondering what happened to me.”
