20
Six months later…
Heather sat on the edge of her seat, wincing. “You’re going to pull my hair out if you keep yanking it like that.”
Behind her Tanya scoffed. “Och, quit complaining. You want to look beautiful don’t you?”
“Are you saying I don’t already?”
“Of course you do. There. Done.”
Heather looked in the mirror in front of her. Made of polished steel, the image was blurry and indistinct but it gave her some idea of how she looked. “Thank you,” she said. “Seems a bit pointless when it’ll be hidden inside the coif though.”
“Only for the ceremony. Gavin will get to see it afterward. That and a fair bit more of you.”
Heather felt herself blushing. “Thanks for that.”
She’d been preparing all morning. In the six months since they’d arrived back at the castle all anyone had been talking about was the upcoming wedding.
It had been timed to coincide with Mayday celebrations. The clan had been counting down the days for weeks. As each day passed Heather had become increasingly nervous, worried something would come along to spoil things. Life couldn’t possibly remain this good for this long.
She ended most days with Gavin in her room. He had remained the perfect gentleman. Not once had he attempted to climb into her bed, though there were several occasions when she wished he would.
He sat with his back to the bedroom door, sleeping the same way he had when she’d first arrived in the Middle Ages, each time saying it was for a single night only. Having him there made her feel safe even though the danger had long passed.
A church had been founded on the site of the battle between the highlanders and the outlaws. Another year and it would be finished. The walls were only a couple of feet high but already pilgrims were visiting. More people visited the cave where the old crone had been killed.
Her exposed foot had crumbled to dust within weeks of her death. The ground surrounding her remained barren, nothing growing there at all. Even the birds avoided the area. The archbishop had come up from Edinburgh to bless the ground on behalf of the clan. He stayed long enough to bless the upcoming union of Gavin and Heather before returning to the city.
Gavin split his time between MacGregor Castle and Frazer Castle. Whenever he was away Heather’s whole body ached with loss, yearning with all her might for his return, praying nothing would happen to him while he was away.
He always came back, of course, kissing her as if he’d been away for months. She smiled at the thought of it.
“You look happy,” Tanya said.
“I am,” she replied. “If only Donna could be here.”
“About that,” Tanya said. “I did have a wedding gift for you but I wondered if you’d like to have it now.”
“What is it?”
“Watch.” Tanya crossed to the door and closed it, sliding a key into the lock.
“What are you doing?” Heather asked.
“This,” she replied, pulling the door open.
Heather gasped as she looked into Donna’s living room. Donna was standing on the other side. “Heather,” she said, stepping forward and smiling. “It’s good to see you.”
Tanya closed the door again. “I’ll leave you two to catch up.”
She slipped out the door. Donna ran over and hugged Heather. “Tell me all about it!” she said.
“You don’t seem surprised to see me.”
“Tanya came last night, asked me if I wanted to see you. Explained what happened.”
“And you believed her?”
