Highlander’s Gypsy Lass (Highlander's 0f Clan Macgregor Book 1)

by Kenna Kendrick

  Chapter Four

  Evie slept late the next morning, and as she rolled over and rubbed her eyes, the events of the previous day came flooding into her mind, like the gushing stream into which she had fallen. The thought made her shiver, and she pulled the blankets up around her, watching, as Caitlin’s mother stirred a pan of porridge hung above the fire.

  “Oh, so ye are awake,” Caitlin said as she entered the croft a few moments later.

  “Aye,” Caitlin said, yawning and rolling over once more.

  “The rain has stopped, and Rory’s cloak has dried in the wind outside. I hung it out for ye on the tree. See, all dried. Though I didnae recognize the clasp on it, surely that is nae Rory’s?” Caitlin said, holding out Hamish’s cloak.

  Evie had been too cold the day before to even look at the clasp on the cloak. But she sat up, as Evie passed it to her, a wave of horror running through her. The clasp was cast in the crest of the MacBrydes, though in the dim light of the croft, it was somewhat hard to tell. Evie had seen that crest on several occasions, though it seemed that Caitlin had not recognized it.

  “I shall give it back to him. Perhaps he was given it by someone, I am nae my brother’s keeper now, am I?” Evie said, folding the cloak up tightly, so the clasp was not visible.

  “I just thought it strange, that is all,” Caitlin replied, as her mother passed her a bowl of porridge.

  “Evie was lucky she had the cloak with her, else she may well have frozen to death after fallin’ into that dreadful stream. Ye tell yer father that now he is Laird he should have a bridge built across it. The number of times I have nearly slipped into it on my way to Kirklinton, even at its shallowest point, ‘Tis still a treacherous crossin’ and make nay mistake,” Caitlin’s mother said.

  Evie nodded but made no reply. She knew Caitlin was looking at her strangely, and she wondered if indeed she had recognized the clasp, perhaps suspecting Rory of some intrigue or deceit. Caitlin would be no friend to anyone who cavorted with the MacBrydes, not after the death of her father at their hands.

  “I should be getting’ home, they shall worry about me,” Evie said, once she had finished her breakfast.

  Her clothes had dried now, and she felt warm once more as she pulled them on and wrapped Hamish’s cloak around her.

  “I shall walk with ye as far as the stream and see ye across,” Caitlin said, and Evie nodded.

  She would be grateful for the company, wondering if perhaps Hamish MacBryde might once again be watching from the heathers above. In the bright light of day, a day on which the clouds were replaced by sunshine and the whole landscape looked as though it were freshly laundered, the heathers sparkling in the sun, she felt foolish for having been scared of her rescuer. If he had wished to do her harm, then why had he rescued her? She had been rude to him, hostile even when his only intention had appeared honorable. A wave of guilt ran through her, and she tried to dismiss the thought as she took Caitlin’s arm, and the two of them set off across the heathers.

  “Tis a beautiful day,” Caitlin said, taking in a deep breath.

  “Aye, and I am lucky to see it,” Evie replied, sighing.

  “Ye are. Few fall into a torrent such as that and come out alive. I didnae know ye were such a swimmer. When we were bairns, ye were always so timid down at the pool in the forest glade. I remember yer brothers once divin’ into rescue ye when the water became too deep,” Caitlin replied.

  “I have learned since then,” Evie said, feeling Caitlin’s eyes upon her.

  “Ye must have learned well,” Caitlin said, and Evie nodded.

  “Aye, well, all that matters is I am here now, and thanks to ye and yer mother, I am warm and rested,” Evie replied.

  They could see clearly towards the Armstrong castle now and across to what had once been her parent’s croft, a small building which had once belonged to her great grandparents. Or so her mother had always told her.

  “Ye miss it, daenae ye?” Caitlin said, pointing out across the heathers.

  “ only a few miles, but it may as well be the end of the world. I was so happy there and now at Kirklinton things seem so different, even after just a few days. That was why I wanted to come and see ye and yer mother, I want things to be just as they used to be,” Evie replied.

  “And they can be. Ye and I will always be friends, Evie. Even when yer father marries ye off,” Caitlin replied, laughing as Evie scowled.

  “I will nae be married off to anyone, Caitlin. And ye are a fine one to talk, the way ye play my poor brother a merry dance. Why will ye nae marry him? He is in love with ye, and he would dae anythin’ for ye,” Evie replied.

  Caitlin smiled and shook her head.

  “I cannae love someone just because they love me, Evie. I wouldnae be true to myself if I did so now, would I?” Caitlin said.

  “I suppose nae, but ye will break his heart if ye find another man,” Evie replied.

  Caitlin looked out across the heathers and moorland, which stretched endlessly before them and laughed.

  “I daenae see a stream of men comin’ towards me, dae ye? I fear I shall never find a man to marry, perhaps yer brother will have to dae after all,” she replied.

  They had arrived at the stream now, about half a mile further down from where Evie had tried to cross the day before. It was still in flood, though the worst of the torrent had subsided, and there were exposed rocks over which Evie could pick a path to the other side.

  “Thank ye for walkin’ with me, Caitlin,” Evie said, turning to embrace her friend.

  “Are ye sure ye daenae need me to hold yer hand as ye cross, Evie?” she said, laughing.

  “I would push ye in, and ye can see how cold ‘Tis in there,” Evie replied, and she smiled at Caitlin before stepping onto the first rock.

  It was slippery, and she made her way precariously across, turning to wave to Caitlin from the other side.

  “Daenae be a stranger to us,” Caitlin called.

  “I will nae and be sure to visit us at Kirklinton very soon,” Evie called back.

  She turned and made her way up the bank and onto the moorland beyond. The sky was bright blue, with wisps of white cloud trailing across it. She could see her father’s castle, the banner of the Elliotts fluttering in the distance and down below that which had once belonged to the Armstrong’s, and which she had once called home. There were just a few miles between the two, but to Evie, the difference was insurmountable. She wondered how her father must now feel, faced with the grave responsibility of being Laird over the Elliotts and how her dear mother must also feel, mistress of the castle in which she had grown up, her own father now gone.

  As Evie walked across the moorlands, she occasionally paused, contemplating what had occurred on the previous afternoon. She could not rid herself of the image of Hamish MacBryde. His face was etched permanently in her mind. A pang of guilt ran through her again at the thought of how terribly rude she had been. She had hardly thanked him, and she had certainly not been polite. She looked down at the crest on the clasp of the cloak and deciding it was best to not arrive home with it about her person she took it off and hid it in the hollow of a tree. The path forked there, with one way leading to the village of Lochrutton and the other to the castle at Kirklinton.

  I should return the cloak, she thought to herself, looking around her lest anyone might see. But the moors were wild and lonely, and there was no sign of anyone, even her father and brothers who the day before had been so busy at their labors. She walked slowly on, a breeze playing across the moorland and causing her to shiver, despite the warmth of the day. As the gates of the castle came into view, she could see horses in the stable yard, and her Godfather mounted on his old stead, Buckler. As she neared, he turned and looked at her, shaking his head at her and climbing down from the horse.

  “I was just comin’ to look for ye. Where have ye been? Yer father and brothers have ridden to the Armstrong castle in search of ye,” Sweeney said.

  “I have only been
gone a night. There was … an accident; I stayed with Caitlin and her mother. I didnae think anyone would mind, I have done it before,” Evie said.

  “Accident? What accident?” he said, looking at her with concern.

  “I … I fell into the stream, just above the castle. I am all right, but I was soaked through and cold. Caitlin’s mother insisted I remain there for the night and get warm,” Evie replied.

  “That stream is treacherous, did ye nae cross at the ford like any sensible person? Sweeney said, shaking his head.

  “The ford was flooded, I … I made my way upstream and thought I had found a safe place to cross, but I slipped and fell. I swam to the side, but I was so cold; I couldnae have walked back home that day,” she replied, hoping her story sounded convincing.

  “The stream is treacherous further upstream. Ye could have been carried over the falls at Kinclaig Rock. We would have been fishin’ yer body out then, lass. But there are other dangers too ye know, the borders are nae safe for ye. We thought perhaps someone had taken ye or was holdin’ ye,” Sweeney replied.

  “I am quite capable of lookin’ after myself. I daenae need ye and father always watchin’ my back,” Evie replied.

  “Aye, but things are different now. The enemy is encircling us once more, and there are threats on all sides. Ye cannae just wander off any more like that. Ye are nae livin’ at the Armstrong’s castle now, Evie. Ye are the daughter of the Laird, and with that comes some responsibility. Ye told yer mother ye would be back, and when ye didnae arrive, we grew worried for ye,” Sweeney replied.

  “Well, I am here now so ye can call off yer search parties, I am nae a child anymore,” Evie said, angry with her Godmother for his mollycoddling.

  “Then daenae act like one. Go on, get yerself inside, yer mother is worried. I will tell yer father and brothers to call off the search when they get back. He will nae be pleased with ye though, Evie. I assure ye of that,” Sweeney said and shaking his head, he wandered off towards the stables.

  Evie scowled at him. She did not need her Godfather to tell her to be careful, though; of course, he was right to do so, and the thought of Hamish MacBryde flashed across her mind.

  But she had been in no danger from him, despite what her parents might say to the contrary, had she? He had been nothing but friendly and the more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt at having run away without so much as a further thank you and there and then she resolved to see Hamish again, whatever it took

  Do you want to read more?

  To read more, click on the link below!

  https://www.kennakendrick.com/flj5

  Never miss a thing

  If you truly want to follow all my releases and see what others had to say about my books, you may…

  Thank you

  I want to personally thank you for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to share with you, my passion for writing, through my stories.

  As a FREE GIFT, I am giving you a link to my first novel. It has more than 100 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5

  It is called “Stealing the Highland Bride”, and you can get it for FREE.

  Please note that this story is only available for YOU as a subscriber and hasn't been published anywhere else.

  Please click on the cover to download the book

  About the Author

  Kenna Kendrick is an American based author of Historical Scottish Romance living in Austin Texas with her husband and three children. Her more than 25-year-old experience as an English Teacher has brought her close to the literary world, growing her love for fictional stories.

  Her love for literature was also strong because of her father John who used to write crime-stories. While she tried following on her father's footsteps, a trip to Scotland sealed the deal for as she fell in love with the Celtic myths and the bleak Highlands.

  * * *

  Note from Kenna

  If you want to know when my next book will come out, please subscribe to my newsletter and get my first book for free, and you will always be the first to know about my newest Scottish novel.

  Thank you, your friend Kenna ❤️

  * * *

  If you want to keep in touch…

  Tap to Follow me on BookBub

  Also, you can follow me on Social Media: