Page 9 of Reviving Her Highland Spirit

It was infuriating. Maggie felt perfectly well. That was, until she had a nightmare, or somebody suggested she go for a ride again. Callum’s words had stuck in her head, his story of being placed up a tree until he’d conquered his fear of heights. It sounded terrifying, but it had worked, hadn’t it?

Maggie drew in a deep breath and smiled at her family.

“Aye. I thought I might try again today.”

“Can I come with ye?” Bonnie asked eagerly.

“No, I’d rather go alone.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Aunt Lyla said hesitantly. “You are nae riding alone.”

“I won’t be alone. One of the men who work in the stable has offered tae come with me.”

Sola brightened. “Oh, who? Abram? Niall?”

“Callum.”

Sola frowned. “I dinnae ken him. Is he a groom?”

“A stable boy.”

Sola and Aunt Lyla exchanged glances.

“I’m not sure a stable boy would have the expertise to help ye with this,” Aunt Lyla said hesitantly. “We’re not saying ye shouldn’t be able tae take who ye like, but perhaps one of the more experienced men…”

“Callum is a grown man, and he seems to know what he’s talking about,” Maggie said bluntly, taking her seat at the table and spooning out some porridge for herself. She had been tempted to skip breakfast, to get the business of riding over with as quickly as possible, and to make sure she had less time to panic and back out of the whole thing. But her stomach was rumbling and clenching, and Maggie didn’t want to risk passing out from hunger.

She might have known that Bonnie would want to come with her.

“I could come too,” Bonnie said, wheedling. “Ma, can’t I go with Maggie?”

Aunt Lyla smiled smoothly. “Have ye asked Maggie if ye can go with her?”

“Aye.”

“What did she say?”

Bonnie sagged. “She said no.”

“Then there is ye answer. Maggie is a grown woman, Bonnie, I cannot and will not order her around. Ye can go riding together some other time.”

Disappointed, Bonnie nodded obediently and went back to stirring her porridge, not eating any. Maggie felt sorry for her cousin.

“When I feel more comfortable about riding, ye and I will go out together,” she promised, reaching over to squeeze Bonnie’s hand. “Just not yet. I’m… I’m not ready yet, Bon.”

Bonnie bit her lip and nodded. “Ye will be careful, won’t ye, Maggie? I don’t want ye tae fall again.”

“God forbid,” Sola whispered under her breath, tapping discreetly on the wooden table in an attempt to ward off evil. The movement annoyed Maggie. She knew that her mother hadn’t always been so superstitious, and Maggie wondered what had happened to change her mind.

It wasn’t blind luck and Fate that would decide what happened to them. It was their own actions. Maggie hadn’t fallen from her horse because her mother hadn’t knocked on wood - she fell because she made a mistake.

Clearing her throat, Maggie rose from the table, leaving her bowl of porridge half-finished.

“I willnae be long.”

There was a murmured chorus of affirmations and wishes of good luck. Not allowing herself to think too much about it or change her mind, Maggie hurried out of the feasting room, heading for the stables.

* * *