Page 35 of Highlander’s Dangerous Love

The clang of the hammer on the anvil echoed through the small blacksmith shop, a rhythmic beat that matched the pounding of Colin's heart. He had to find a way to make things right, to protect Gemma and clear his family's name. But even as he worked, his mind kept drifting back to Gemma. Did she still love him? Would she understand why he couldn't be with her until he made things right? Colin longed to hold her in his arms again, to feel her soft touch and hear her laughter.

He swung the hammer harder, his muscles straining with the effort. His mind was in turmoil, his heart torn between his love for Gemma and his sense of duty to his family. He knew that he had to make a choice, but he couldn't do it alone.

As the heat from the forge engulfed him, Colin knew that he had to find a way to talk to Bryce and come up with a plan. He couldn't let Gemma slip away, not when she was the only thing that mattered to him. He would do whatever it took to clear his family's name and win her heart back. She’d been angry when he left, and it was justified. Did she care that he was gone? Would she still love him, after everything that had happened?

With trembling hands,Gemma opened the door and slipped into the darkness of the secret tunnel. The stone walls were damp and cold, and she had to hold her skirts up to avoid tripping on the uneven ground. Everyone at the Gordon house had gone to bed hours ago, and she’d waited until they were sound asleep to carry out this mission. She’d readied herself a bag the night before, with a change of clothes, a map, a knife, some food, a waterskin, and a lantern. This was the most insane thing she’d ever done, but really…she was quite excited to start. Finally, she was taking her life into her own hands. With one last look at the study, she took a deep breath and closed the door behind her.

The lantern and trail of purple crocuses were her only guiding light there. Her heart thudded in her ears. She did not hear anything in the tunnel, not even a mouse, but it was part of that silence that was so eerie. As long as she didn’t see anyone else, that was fine in her book. It seemed to go on forever, and Gemma felt as though she had been walking for hours. She was cold and hungry, and her feet ached from walking on the hard ground. She thought of Colin, how odd he’d been, and about Bryce’s sudden changes in moods. Their stories contradicted each other. This world did not value women as it did men, no matter how many excuses it made, so she knew she needed to do it herself.

Finally, Gemma saw a glimmer of light in the distance. She quickened her pace, her heart beating faster with every step. As she emerged from the tunnel, she found herself in the woods. The trees were tall and dark, their branches reaching up to the sky like fingers. The air was thick with the scent of pine and moss. Gemma looked around, searching for the patch of crocuses she’d found a few nights ago.

“There ye are,” she whispered to no one in particular. She looked up at the castle in the distance. There was a warm glow emanating from some of the windows, no doubt from spare candles or fire in hearths. Mindful that her own lantern was showing, she drew her cloak around it, lest one of the guards on the upper wall of the keep see it in the distance. And then, she made her way into the woods.

The ground was soft and spongy underfoot, and she had to tread carefully to avoid slipping. As she walked, Gemma noticed the sounds of the forest around her. The rustling of leaves in the wind, the chirping of birds in the trees, and the soft gurgle of a nearby stream. She felt a sense of peace and freedom that she had never experienced before, not even on the beach with Colin. This time was all for her, only for her.

As far as mysterious journeys went, Gemma thought this one was relatively easy. Sure, she wished for the comfort of a bed instead of solid ground, but if that was the tradeoff, that was fine. She stayed close to the main road but not directly on it. A single woman like herself would be a target for all sorts of unsavory creatures. Highwaymen might take one look at her and decide she was an easy catch. Colin had taught her the basics of survival in the forest when they were teens.

Gemma had always liked the forest. Everyone said it was dangerous, but she had felt nothing but peace in there since she was a child.

It was difficult to pick her way through the dark, but thankfully she had her lantern with her, and could see just ahead. That was all she needed. When she felt she could walk no longer, she stopped and made herself a small shelter of twigs and leaves. Then she took out the blanket from her pack and laid it on the ground. Her shawl and wool petticoats would serve as a blanket for the night.

The next morning, Gemma thought it the most magical sight she’d ever seen. Through the canopy of leaves and branches, shafts of sunlight danced and flickered, casting a golden glow over the forest floor below. The ground was carpeted with a rich tapestry of leaves, ferns, and wildflowers, each one vying for attention and claiming its place in the natural order of things. Beams of light filtered through the foliage, dappling the forest floor with a thousand points of light and shadow.

As the day wore on, the forest took on a life of its own, as creatures great and small emerged from their hidden lairs to forage and hunt. Birds flitted from tree to tree, their wings a blur of motion as they darted and weaved through the branches. Squirrels scampered along the ground, their bushy tails twitching as they searched for nuts and seeds to store for the long winter ahead. Gemma laughed to herself as she watched two of them fight over an acorn.

“Here, lads,” she said, breaking off a chunk of cheese and a bit of bread, setting it down on the forest floor for them. It took a moment, but one of the squirrels skittered forward, nose out, sniffing. Gemma waited with bated breath, until the small creature snatched the items away and scampered up the tree. She smiled and waved, as if she knew the creature personally.

“There’s more where that came from,” she said up into the canopy of foliage.

In the evening, the forest took on a new kind of magic. The light grew softer, the shadows longer, and the colors more vivid as the world was painted in shades of gold and crimson. The air was filled with the scent of pine and earth. Quite honestly, it made her long for her simpler childhood days. And then her mind summoned one such day.

Gemma had never ventured so deep into the woods before. The Scottish Highlands were known for their breathtaking natural beauty, but also for their treacherous and unpredictable terrain. However, with Colin by her side, Gemma felt like she could conquer anything. As they walked, Colin pointed out different plants and berries, explaining which were safe to eat and which were poisonous. Gemma listened intently, fascinated by his knowledge. She couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her friend.

She watched as Colin crouched down, examining the ground with a keen eye.

“Look here,” he said, pointing to a set of tracks. “This is the trail of a red deer. ‘Tis a big animal, but if we’re lucky, we might be able tae catch a glimpse of it.”

They moved from the thick, towering pines to a clearing where the sun was able to filter through the leaves. Colin continued to point out various grasses and bushes, and told her how they could be used to build shelter or treat wounds.

Further on, Colin showed her how to start a fire without a match, and how to build a shelter from branches and leaves. Gemma was amazed at how simple it all seemed when Colin explained it to her. She had always thought that surviving in the woods was something only the toughest and most experienced people could do. But Colin made it seem like anyone could do it with the right knowledge and skills.

As the sun began to set, they settled down near a stream to rest. She started a fire, albeit with a little help from Colin, and watched as the flames danced and flickered in the darkness. She felt a sense of peace wash over her as she listened to the soothing sound of the water rushing by.

Colin pulled out some bread and cheese from his bag, and they ate together in silence. She looked at him — red hair, freckles, the beginnings of muscles starting to show under his shirt. He was growing into a man. And she a woman. They would not be able to spend so much time together for much longer, not when their adult duties would take precedence.

As she packed up with a sigh, Colin turned to her with a warm smile, his dimples reminding her of the toothy grin he wore as a boy.

“We’ll come back here someday,” he said. “And we’ll learn even more about the woods together.”

They never did, sadly. Colin’s duties in the guard consumed much of his life. And Gemma’s mother only seemed to think of her future marriage. That was when she started sending Gemma to the castle to help regularly, so that she might be noticed by a good family.

She sighed and built herself a shelter in the way Colin had taught her so many years ago. It was risky, traveling by herself, so she kept her knife in hand if anyone snuck up on her during the night.

Strangely, it was the best sleep she’d ever had.