Page 45 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

Bruce wouldn’t look at her, and this made her furious. Was this how much their friendship meant to him? He had paid her little regard since they had argued on the road to Falkirk, but this was paying her poorly for the risks she had taken in helping him since his escape from Bass Rock. Elspeth felt cheated and hard done by.

“I suppose I should make my way back to Blair Atholl as well,” she said. Despite its bad memories, she missed home and could leverage enough influence on Domnhall to gain a cottage for herself. Maybe her original dream was indeed her destiny. And would a destiny like that be so bad?

If she hadn’t met Bruce and fallen in love with him it would have been a joyful one. Now that she knew the pangs and aches of love and how it felt to be in the presence of her beloved it would be impossible for her to find the simple joys she had envisioned in her cottage where she practiced healing.

“Why would ye go?” Laird Labert stopped and looked back at her with concern. “Yer more than welcome to stay on. Bruce leaving does nae rescind yer invitation to stay.”

“I didnae mean it that way,” Elspeth reassured him, taking his arm, and leading him toward the stairs. “I feel I owe Domnhall an explanation. I have avoided that confrontation long enough.”

“Domnhall willnae be too hard on ye.” Laird Labert patted her hand. “All Scots have a sense of adventure, and ye were just exercising yers.”

“Be that as it may, I think I should like to go back home.”

“Unless ye want to continue on with me.”

Elspeth stopped in her tracks. She turned to make sure she had heard Bruce correctly. He wasn’t looking at her at all. Gaze fixed studiously on his boots, he spread his hands and shrugged. “It’s obvious I cannae be trusted to stay out of trouble,” he said, indicating the new cut on his palm. “I could use yer help on the rest of my journey.”

Part of her was reeling with shock, and another part wondered if Bruce had hit his head or was being possessed by a kind angel. Her predominant reaction was the leaping of her heart and the quickening of her breath as happiness filled her up to the brim.

“Aye!” she said, grinning like a fool. She schooled her face into less jubilant lines. “I would like that very much?”

“And what of home and Domnhall?” Laird Labert asked, a queer smile playing on his lips as he passed knowing looks between Bruce and Elspeth. “What of yer overdue confrontation?”

Elspeth smiled demurely. “I find I’m nae done with my adventure ye, Laird Labert.”

Laird Labert sighed. “I suppose I cannae hold ye back against yer will. The boys will be disappointed, but I cannae say I blame ye for wanting to get away. They are my children and I love them dearly, but I must come to terms with the fact that a love-match is nae in their fate.” He bent a little and spoke in her ear. “I cannae say the same for ye, lass.”

She gasped and looked up at him sharply. He was smiling down at her, the kindly eyes full of encouragement and approval.

“Go have yer adventure, lass,” he said, patting her hand again. “Bruce is a man worthy of yer hand.”

“Thank ye,” she whispered back. “Thank ye for everything, Laird Labert.”

“Yer always welcome back,” he said. “Stay safe, and if anything happens ye will always find help at Balquhidder.”

Elspeth felt the warmth of his words and knew she could count on him. It was a blessing that her trust in him had not been betrayed. She hugged the old man, the only she could think to express her love of him. He encased her in his arms and kissed her forehead, a fatherly gesture that made her happier still.

Then Laird Labert let her go, and she was free to turn to Bruce who still refused to look at her but seemed pleased by her response. Elspeth didn’t look too deeply into his reasons for asking her to go along with him. For now, she was happy to take his explanation at face value.

And even though part of her warned her to be careful not to hurt her heart again on the journey, she found that what she had said to Laird Labert was true – she wasn’t yet done with adventure, seeing new places, and testing her mettle.

After a very long time she looked forward to tomorrow.