Her Highland Secret: Steamy Historical Scottish Romance

by Fiona Faris

  The day went on, and Lucas and his kiss from the night before still danced in the back of her mind, but Fergus had left early for Glenrich, and there were plenty of chores around the farm that needed doing. She led the sheep out of pasture, helped gather fresh eggs from the few hens that Fergus and Sarah kept. She went to the well and filled the water buckets for the main farm house and the barn. She hadn’t ever worked as hard. It was enough to keep her confusing emotions at bay, at least for a time. And she found she rather liked having tired muscles from a good days’s work. Ella wondered if Gwen ever felt as tired after a day of being with her and Amelia. Were the sisters as much work as chores on a farm? She hoped not, but suspected they were.

  Look at yourself, working yourself to the bone, thinking so hard on a man who could never have feelings for you, she thought, as she came around from the far side of the barn where she had been gathering more wild herbs to dry and store for the winter. Planning for a winter and not knowin’ where you’ll be. She looked at the plants in her hand and decided she shouldn’t be so hard on herself, after all it never hurt to be prepared.

  Sarah would be expecting Fergus any moment and no doubt he would be hungry after his long day away. She saw the familiar outline of Lucas as he slowly made his way from the barn to the house. She felt her breath catch. Looking at him without him knowing she could take her time to watch his strong body as it moved. His arms and legs darkened by weeks out of doors on the road held their muscular shape. Even though they had not been worked due to his injury, she was in awe of how they still held a sturdy strength that took her breath away.

  Suddenly aware of how dreadful she must have looked from her day of work, she wanted to wash a bit before heading back to the house. Tucking her haul of plants into her apron, she walked around to the water well. She could at least clean up a tad before heading back into the house to wait with Sarah and Lucas to hear of Fergus’s adventures into the village.

  The cool of the deep well water chilled her face and hands sending a shiver down her spine. How she longed for the luxury of a bath. A nice warm bath with the rose scented soaps she and Amelia had found in that small shop in London. Letting out a small sigh. She closed her eyes, remembering the sounds and smells of her regular bath.

  The sound of approaching hooves snapped her out of her daydream, catching her attention. Looking up toward the line of trees that bordered the farm to the north, she saw a man on an unfamiliar horse racing toward the farmhouse with speed that seemed to scream urgency. Whoever was coming this way was the bearer of bad news. Her heartbeat quickened as she surveyed her surroundings, looking for any place to hide before the horseman saw her.

  Chapter Eleven

  The sound of the approaching horse made Lucas stop at the threshold of the farmhouse. As he turned to see what danger came toward them, he wished he had carried his sword. He may not be at his best physical shape, but an enemy would not know that. He felt naked without his blade. His eye caught Ella frozen in place by the well, her eyes also on the rider and he instantly knew she was terrified. There was no place for her to safely take cover, and he knew she feared the worst. He started to make his way toward her. He may not have had his blade but he would put himself between her and any danger that approached.

  In the end of the day light it took him a moment, but as the rider drew nearer he recognized the man riding at lightning speed toward them was Fergus. He was surprised to see him on top of a horse riding like he was four and thirty, instead of twice that age. Lucas wondered what could have the man in such a reckless state.

  Waving his hands so Fergus would take notice, Lucas shouted, “Och, Fergus! Fergus! Slow down!”

  As if released from a trance the older man slowed his horse to a trot as Lucas made his way closer to the well and Ella, seeing her relax at knowing it was Fergus who approached. She took a step closer to him, still not trusting her own eyes. Their intruder was friend and not foe, he knew she wanted to have the closeness of his protection for the extra moment it took her brain to catch up to what was happening. It made him feel stronger that he currently was. Whether he could or not, she believed he could protect her.

  “Fergus, what has ye racin’ through the field like the devil heself is after ya?” Lucas asked, taking the reins of the horse and helping the old man dismount. Fergus shushed the tired animal into relaxing, and took Lucas’s hand in greeting. He noticed Sarah now rushing from the house toward them, no doubt coming to see what all the noise and commotion was about.

  “First,” Fergus said taking another breath and patting the side of the horse as he turned to face his wife. “I bought us this braw animal. He is a good beastie, an' we need him. Sae don’t be angry at me, hen.”

  “I’m nae mad at ye, but why are ye rushin' in half crazed husband?” she said.

  “You just about scared all of us to death!” Ella said. Lucas smiled, the lass finally found her breath.

  “I’m sorry lass, let us gae inside,” he said looking around as if he were afraid someone could be listening from the fields. Lucas didn’t like the look in the old man’s eyes. “I’m scared half tae death meself an' I need tae tell ye what I learned in Glenrich,” he finished. Lucas knew whatever it was, it wasn’t good. He placed a protective arm around Ella, turning her with Sarah back toward the farmhouse. She leaned into him and he felt her tension give way. She was afraid of whatever had Fergus in such a state. So was he. He wished for a trencher of strong drink, he knew whatever Fergus had learned would change everything.

  “So they are looking for any Jacobite who fought in Dunkeld?” Ella asked leaning closer to Lucas as Fergus told them all what he had heard in the village that afternoon.

  “Aye, Nae only 'at, but a woman. She was betrothed tae th' commander an' he thinks she has been kidnapped. He is vowin' tae hang any Jacobite brought tae him. An' anyone suspected of helpin' keep ‘em hid will meet their end in a dungeon. ‘Tis why I bought the beastie, I wanted tae get back as soon as I could,” Fergus said. Sarah held his hand. Ella could see the fear in her face. “As we speak th’ dobber has soldiers all over the countryside.”

  Evans, she knew it was Evans. Her plan had worked, only a bit too well. Now how many men would die because she had foolishly tried to escape? Fergus and Sarah were so kind, she had repaid that kindness by bringing this danger to their doorstep. She knew this day would come but she had hoped to have a little bit more time. She had to leave. If the soldiers came here, there was no telling what would happen. If she stayed, they were all in danger.

  “We have tae leave ye both,” Lucas finally said, squeezing Ella’s hand. “I will take th' lass wi' me tae my family. If we keep tae th' forest, we could be at Cadney Keep in three days’s time. My family will welcome ye lass, an' once this settles down ye will hae safe passage anywhere ye wish tae go,” he said, looking from Fergus to her.

  Ella looked at him in shock. He wanted to take her with him? Only yesterday she was trying to think of way to ask him that very question and now in a time of great danger he was offering it up, but then only to release her once they were safe. He didn’t want to be with her but cared for her enough to get her to safety. She knew she should be grateful, but she was also hurt. He was right, of course, but it still bothered her.

  “Lucas is right,” she said. “We have to leave you. It isn’t safe.”

  “Lass, we cannae protect ye, as much as we wish we could,” Fergus said sweetly. “I’ll only ask ye once, and ye dinnae hae to answer, but are ye the lass they be lookin’ fur?”

  “Aye,” was all she could say before bursting into tears. Sarah hugged her tight.

  “Dinnae fash yerself lass, we knew ye tae be lyin’ when we took ye in,” she said. “We only thought whatever ye be runnin’ from must not hae been yer fault, we saw the goodness in ye.”

  “And now I’ve put you all in danger,” she sobbed.

  “Shh, shh, now, lass,” Sarah said, rubbing Ella’s back, giving her the mother’s love she so desperately missed.<
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  “Lucas, ye gotta gae tae the barn, put out the fire and make it look like in wasnae lived in. Sarah’ll pack ye some rations. There is nae moon, so it’ll make passage safer fur ye both,” Fergus said as he ushered them out of the house. Pausing for just a moment he put his hand on Ella’s back. “Lass, we’ve come tae luv ye like a daughter, dinnae fsah yerself over a small tale, yer character is godly.”

  Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. How would she ever repay these kind people for the love they had shown her?

  Lucas and Ella got to work breaking down the sleeping pallets. Ella folding the plaids and fashioning a type of carrying bag. She gently placed the meats and cheeses that Sarah had given them for their journey in the folds of the bag, hanging it from a hook, so that it looked like it had been sitting in the old barn, untouched for years. She then moved quickly and without complaint to douse the embers of the hearth fire and remove all of the cooking tools from the barn, placing them instead inside the small adjacent storage shed. They would look to anyone else like abandoned tools.

  He was impressed by Ella’s intelligence and bravery. Although she had been destroyed upon hearing the news Fergus brought back from the village, she worked through her fear and tears. Giving up would have been more than easy for her. He knew leaving the farm was the smartest option, and convincing her had been easy. She only allowed herself the briefest of moment to think on it before setting right to work. He admired her for that. It couldn’t have been easy, all that she had gone through, and Lucas was becoming aware that he didn’t even know the half of it.

  He had figured out early in their conversation with Fergus and Sarah, that Ella was the woman the commander was searching for. Men were to be hanged on his orders if she was not found. But that reflected more on the character of the commander than it did Ella. Even still, Lucas’s head reeled with this new information. Ella was betrothed to the same man who murdered his father. He needed to hear her say it, confirm to him that the commander of the English garrison at Dunkeld was her betrothed. She had already admitted it to Fergus, and he knew it was cruel to make her say the words again, but he needed to know more about the man who killed his father, and he wanted her to help him. The more he knew the better the position he would be in when he took his revenge. As much as he didn’t want to ask her to relive her time in the commander’s acquaintance, she would have no choice.

  “It’s been such a place of refuge, here, our barn,” she said cutting the silence with her sigh.

  “Aye, lass, that ‘tis how I think of it as well, our barn,” he replied, crossing the room to take her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb in and around her soft palm. “Ella, tell me about the man who is looking for you, lass.”

  “Lucas I promise I will tell you everything, but it isn’t the right time. We don’t know if his soldiers are headed this way or not, and we can’t put Fergus and Sarah in any more danger. We have to leave.”

  He knew she was right, but he couldn’t push down the anger that was threatening to break the surface. His need for answers was too great. He wanted to see the commander dead and now he had two reasons that the bastard should meet his end by Lucas’s own hand. But he also knew as sure as Ella did that the man would not stop looking for her, he would hang all of the men in Scotland if that was what it would come to. He agreed that he didn’t wish to see Fergus or Sarah meet an ill fate. His need for answers would have to wait until their journey got underway.

  “Lucas, do you hear that?” Ella asked him, her eyes large with concern.

  He heard it, more hooves. This time it was more than just one horse. Lucas cursed.

  “Soldiers, lass,” he said looking for a place where they could find cover. “We hae tae hide.”

  “Hide?” she asked, her voice elevated. Lucas didn’t like that she was afraid but knew that English soldiers finding them together in the barn would not have a good ending for either of them. “What about Fergus? Sarah?”

  “Dinnae fash yerself about them. They ken how tae handle th' sassenach by now. It is us to fash yerself about. If we tuck ourselves intae th' hay toward th' back of th' barn we may hae a chance,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Let's hope yer commander's soldiers are as lazy, as he is deadly.”

  He moved with Ella toward the back of the barn. They quickly constructed a small shelter of sorts using a couple of the stronger bales, and Lucas used piles of loose straw to make the space look loose and mounded. Covering Ella as thoroughly as possible before lying next to her. Her breaths came quick and ragged, as he covered the last bit of the entrance with straw. He tried to give her a reassuring smile motioning with his hand that they should stay completely silent. He couldn’t hear the horses any longer. But he knew that didn’t mean the soldiers had gone. He did what he could to keep his breath slow and even, holding tight to Ella’s hand underneath the hay. He only hoped Fergus could keep the soldiers busy and away from the barn.

  The familiar creek of the barn door opening caused Lucas to hold his breath. He could tell by the look in Ella’s eyes she had done the same.

  “Are you sure there is nothing in here that we need to see old man?” the soldier’s tone sarcastic and bitter.

  “Now Stewart, what cause would the kind gentleman have to lie to us?” Another soldier, Lucas knew this must be the leader of the group. His tone belied the kindness of his words. There was a violence underneath them that Lucas found threatening. He hoped Fergus heard it as well.

  “Och, aye sir, I tauld ye an' I meant it. Jist th' restin' place fur th' beastie of a horse. Might hae a slight stink tae it, but naethin' hidden– see fur yerselves,” Fergus said. Lucas let out a slow breath. He was impressed by the ease he heard in his old friend’s voice.

  “Don’t you worry, Scot, we will,” Stewart said, trying to mimic the sinister tone of his superior’s voice, and Lucas thought failing miserably.

  “Shut it Stewart!” A third voice chimed in. This one sounded lighter and younger than the other two. Lucas thought possibly too eager to prove himself, and that could be dangerous.

  “You shut it Smith,” the leader said. “Mr. Cameron, in the name of the crown, we will be searching the barn, just to be sure. We aren’t accusing you of any wrong doing you understand.”

  “Och, dae what cha need tae dae,” Fergus replied, dismissive.

  “Very well, you may leave us and return to the house. Don’t stray too far, mind you, we may have questions that need answering,” the leader said again.

  He hated that he couldn’t use words to coordinate with Ella, he only had their bond to rely on, but it would have to do. He reached for the hilt of his sword, trying to keep Ella calm with only the look in his eyes.

  So there were three of them, Lucas thought, Stewart, young Smith, and a higher ranking officer in command. I’m nae in good enough shape tae take all three, unless they give us no choice. She revealed a small dirk in the folds of her dress, and he could’ve kissed her. Even though her hands shook as she revealed the knife to him, Lucas knew she would be ready if the need arose. She would not go down without a fight. Good lass.

  At the moment the soldiers were still at the entrance to the barn, but should they come to the rear and see through their hideaway, they had to be ready to spring into action. The element of surprise was their best chance at survival.

  Chapter Twelve

  “The little bitch is nowhere near here, Peters,” the one called Smith said speaking to the leader. Ella could now tell the difference in the three soldiers voices. Smith was by far her least favorite. He whined his words, as if he was a petulant child being dragged along on a family outing.

  “You’re probably right. If I were a fine English lady being forced to marry a man like that bastard Evans, I would have run to the finest house in all of Edinburgh and begged for shelter. Spreading my legs for any noble Scot who would take me under his protection.”

  The roar of their laughter caused Ella to temporarily forget her fear as rage took over. How dare they discuss her as
if she were some common bar wench? Lucas gripped her hand tightly and shook his head, as if telling her no good would come of her outrage. He was right of course, but she had been treated as property since she set foot in Carlisle Castle and she was sick of it. Why did men feel like it was their right to own women?

  “A’right, let’s search this blasted backwater barn and get on. The sooner we deliver the woman, the sooner we get a hot bath, a warm meal, and the bonus money the commander promised. Then you two idiots can see how a woman spreads her legs for you.” Once again it was Peters who was taking control.

  “I can’t imagine two feeble old fools savvy enough to hide a criminal or a woman in this ragged barn,” Smith said. Ella could hear them moving the wood from the broken pallets, around as they drew closer to where she and Lucas were hiding.