Chapter Nine
When Alyssa was finished cleaning the cottage the next morning, she walked outside, finding the guard who was going to walk with her there. She didn’t smile or make eye contact, because she really didn’t want him trailing along behind her on her walk, despite what Kendrick wanted.
She walked to Bonnie’s cottage and told her she was going for a walk, and she would be missing her cooking lesson that morning. “I probably don’tneedcooking lessons every morning anymore. I’m figuring things out quickly. Could I still come by and visit most mornings?”
Bonnie nodded, looking excited at the prospect. “Anella and I would love it.”
Alyssa raised her hand and turned around walking toward the other end of the village. She still wanted to explore the woods and what was behind them. She had her sword strapped to her side, and she was ready to use it if anything happened. She was determined to pretend the guard wasn’t behind her. She carried a basket on her other side, hoping to find a few berries to pick along the way.
As she walked, she stared at the beauty of the highlands that surrounded her. Many of the flowers were dying off as summer was over and autumn was starting, but autumn was her favorite time of year.
She could see the trees had changed their hues, the gold, orange, and red of autumn perking her up as she continued to walk. She paid no attention to whether the guard was still behind her, and she tried not to think of him.
She stepped into the wooded area, which was mostly pine trees, but there were so many other colors that she didn’t mind too much. She found a tree stump and studied around it, smilingat how it had become entangled in another tree. This was nature at its finest, before plastic and paper polluted the entire world.
Alyssa paused to fill her basket with all the blackberries she could find. They would be delicious in a crumble, and she was sure she could figure out how to make one with the ingredients at hand. The more she walked, the freer she felt.
She went through the wooded area and beyond, making a huge loop all around the land and around the loch, ending up back on the same road she’d started on. There had been no dangers, and nothing that had frightened her. Surely, she’d be able to go alone now that she’d proven she would stay safe.
Putting her berries on the table, she headed over to the keep for lunch with her friends. It was nice she only had to cook one real meal a day. If she made oatcakes with supper, Kendrick happily ate them for breakfast the next morning.
Her spirits were lifted after the walk, but not as much as she’d hoped for, and she was certain it was because she was constantly thinking about the guard who was following her, no matter how she tried to pretend he didn’t exist.
She joined the others, and they had their first trial of pizza for lunch. It was a bacon cheeseburger pizza because Holli told them the idea of mutton on a pizza made her want to lose everything she’d eat for three months.
Alyssa and Heather both understood and agreed that bacon cheeseburger was a perfectly good pizza to have for their meal.
While they sewed that afternoon, Alyssa talked to her friends about how much she’d enjoyed her walk. “I went through the woods, and saw the beautiful fall colors, picked some berries, and came back and walked all the way around the lake. I had my sword with me, so I felt as if I was always safe.” She paused, frowning. “Well, I had my sword and a guard who was behindme the entire way. I’m certain if I looked outside, he’d be standing there, waiting to protect me from God knows what.”
Holli frowned. “I’m sorry you’re not as happy here as Heather and I are. Do you miss home?”
Alyssa shrugged. “I love the Highlands. Kendrick is everything I wanted in a man and even more. I already love him. What I miss is myfreedom. I want to be able to fall out of bed in the morning and go for a nice long walk, all around the village and beyond. There are miles between us and Campbell land. Why can’t I at least walk in that direction?”
Heather shook her head. “Though they are allies, there are men who may not be the type of nobleman you read about in novels. People are killed at times when leaving the village, though it hasn’t happened in a while. And there are animals that could hurt you as well.”
Alyssa sighed. “I thought Bryson went after all the animals we don’t want close to the village.”
Holli shrugged. “He does, but he doesn’t always hear about the animals until it’s too late. And at times, it’s hard to find the animals. Bryson and Kendrick were out looking for a wild dog when they found me.”
“But I can protect myself with my handy dandy sword!” Alyssa said, nodding toward the sword which she’d taken off and left lying on a large trunk across the room.
Heather frowned. “Alyssa, you’ve been training with a sword for ten days now. That’s not long enough to be adept, and you know it as well as I do.”
“I just hate feeling like a child who can’t go anywhere without a babysitter.”
“I don’t blame you,” Holli said, “but I’d rather you were alive with a babysitter than dead without one.”
Alyssa groaned. “Not you too! I’m good with this little sword of mine. I decapitated several pieces of grass earlier!”
“Did they put up a fight?” Heather asked, trying to lighten the mood, but Alyssa could tell her friends were still worried about her.
Alyssa worried about them as well. They were happy to live in the small area they’d been put into without being free to roam. She had no idea how they’d convinced themselves it was okay.
As they sewed, Alyssa did her best to keep the conversation light. There was no way she could tell her friends she planned to go for a long walk on her own the following morning. They may tell their husbands, and that would only cause problems. No, she’d rebel on her own.
“Do you know when you’re due?” Alyssa asked.
Holli shrugged. “Six months or so? I don’t know. Gavin is always kind of vague when I ask.”
