Highland Trails of Love

by Barbara Bard

  Now she did not care that all the Highlanders were looking at her. She ran through the camp, shouting Rosemary's name at the top of her voice. The thought of seeing Rosemary again lightened her heart and made her feel as though this place wasn't so alien and harsh after all. She saw herself making this place her home as long as she was with Rosemary.

  What Drew said earlier had wounded her, but he'd made up for it and she hoped that she could trust him with her heart, for it was too late to rescind her feelings. Being with him was one thing but being with the Highlanders was something else entirely. She'd known that it would be difficult but experiencing it for herself was eye-opening.

  “Rosemary! Rosemary!” she cried, looking this way and that, twisting through the camp.

  People looked at her strangely, wondering why an English girl was loose among the camp. There was no sign of her yet, and for a moment Sarah was afraid that Rosemary was somewhere else, or even worse, that she had been killed by a stray arrow. It would be just like her to run into battle. Her steps faltered, and her voice grew softer, and then, behind her, she heard movement. Turning, she saw Rosemary emerge from a tent.

  “Rosemary,” she gasped.

  “Sarah?” Rosemary said as the basket she was holding dropped to the ground.

  The two women looked like they have both seen a ghost. The both looked as astonished as each other. For a moment they were still, processing the thought of being in the presence of each other again, and then they ran forward, wrapping each other up in a warm and tender embrace.

  “I never thought I'd see you again,” Rosemary said.

  “I thought you had been killed,” Sarah said. The two of them hugged for a long time, and their cheeks were wet with tears. Rosemary showed Sarah into her tent and sat down.

  “What are you doing here? Have you come to find me?” Rosemary asked.

  Sarah didn't know where to begin. “No, I'm here with Drew actually.”

  Rosemary's eyebrow arched. “Drew? As in Blair's brother?” Sarah nodded, and couldn't stop herself from smiling.

  “Well this is surprising! Tell me everything,” she said, leaning forward eagerly.

  Sarah proceeded to tell her about the lie George had told, and how Sarah had pretended to be Rosemary to save herself from being punished. Rosemary listened intently, gasping, a sad expression on her face, especially when Sarah told her of the cruelty of Lord Flynn.

  “I'm so sorry you had to endure that hardship. I never wanted that for you,” Rosemary said.

  “I know, but before I knew it I was caught in the lie and there was no way out.”

  “But then how did you come to be here?” Rosemary asked.

  Sarah proceeded to tell her about her daring escape and how she was running through the woods when Drew had appeared on horseback. She shyly told Rosemary all about their encounter together, and how the feelings inside her heart had bloomed.

  “It is a wonderful thing!” Rosemary said, clapping her hands.

  “It is?” Sarah asked. “So far I have been met with suspicious glares and I do not feel welcome here at all.”

  “The Highlanders are a proud people and they do not like the thought of their clan leaders and powerful warriors making English girls their women. I have been disrespected and accused of being an English spy. It is not an easy thing, but it will be much better now that you are here!”

  “Rosemary, please tell me of how you arrived here. I have been dreadfully worried about you ever since that night we made camp. You should never have skulked off like you did. I thought you were dead. If the bandits had not come to Lord Flynn, I would have had no idea what happened to you.”

  “Those bandits,” Rosemary scowled. “They stole my locket.”

  Sarah gasped. “The locket. It is still in Lord Flynn's estate! I am so sorry, Rosemary. We left in such a rush that I did not think to retrieve it from my chambers.”

  “Do not trouble yourself too much. It was a memento. I have learned much in my time here, and one thing is that the memories we hold dear are more important than objects. As for how I came to be here, that is quite the story,” Rosemary said, and proceeded to tell Sarah about how she had witnessed the execution performed under the cloak of darkness by Lord Flynn's men, and how she had been chased through the forest with the threat of death snapping at her heels. She talked with great fondness of how she had been rescued by Blair.

  “It has not always been easy, especially since Blair's father died shortly after my arrival and he became laird of the clan, but I belong by his side. His fellow countrymen think that taking me as his wife an act of betrayal. But no matter what the others say, I would never leave his side. And now you are here as well, a kindred spirit in the midst of all these wars. I am so sorry for abandoning you, Sarah. When I saw what Lord Flynn's men were doing to those prisoners, and that they were doing so on his orders I knew that I could not marry him. I never would have wanted you to have that fate either.”

  “Neither one of us has to now,” Sarah said with great relief. “And it was tiring to pretend to be you, I was so ashamed. I could never compare to your beauty and grace.”

  “I am sure that it was not that difficult.”

  “It was in the sense that I looked at life from a different perspective. Instead of being a handmaiden I was a lady, and I had to get used to people treating me differently.”

  “There is none of that here. We are all just people. Here you are free to be whatever you want and also choose the life you want” Rosemary said. “It is quite refreshing really.”

  “But surely you cannot mean to stay here indefinitely? You have a place in English society. Given what has happened I do not think you will have to marry Lord Flynn, but there are other eligible lords who would be honored to have your hand.”

  Rosemary offered a small smile. “I can never return, and I have made my peace with that. I sealed my fate when I ran, as did you. Now I have found my place by Blair’s side. I am going to stay here and help him become a better leader than he is now.”

  “But I am just a lowly handmaiden.”

  “We are both merely girls, Sarah, girls who followed their hearts. It is not an easy thing to do, especially not with Highlanders. You will come to know that they are stubborn, passionate, and arrogant, but they are pure of spirit and noble of mind.”

  “I think I have come to learn that already,” Sarah said, thinking back to her time spent with Drew. Even though he was a difficult man in some respects, it filled her with pride to know that he chose her, when a man like him could have had any woman he desired.

  “Then you also know that there is no shame in following your heart. We are here for a reason, Sarah. It may seem strange at first, but this is where our happiness lies.”

  “Then you do not intend to go back at all? Not even to see your father?”

  Rosemary looked pensive. She hung her head, and when she spoke her words were laced with sorrow.

  “If I return to England I know that I will never be allowed to leave again. I would have to leave Blair behind, and I am not prepared to do that. I love my father, but he would never understand my heart's desire, and he would do all he can to keep me with him. Did you see him before you left?”

  “I did not, but I did send him a letter. I hoped that he would be an ally to me in my quest to escape Lord Flynn. But war broke out before I could receive a reply. I mentioned in my letter what had happened to you. The last I heard from Lord Flynn was that your father was going to join the battle.”

  “My father is out there?” Rosemary said, the color draining from her face. “He should not be in war! He should be at home. This is all my fault. He probably thinks that I need rescuing. After losing my mother he could not bear to lose me either.”

  “I am sorry too. Perhaps if I had not sent the letter and told him you were in danger he would not have heeded Lord Flynn's call to war.”

  “It is a sorry thing in life that in order to be happy we often have to hurt the people close
st to us,” Rosemary said.

  At that point Drew burst in. He looked surprised to see the two of them together. Sarah and Rosemary shared a smile.

  “Ye two know each other?” he asked incredulously.

  “We are like sisters,” Rosemary replied. “We grew up together in the same house. Although of different parents, we were raised to see ourselves as sisters. Now then, Drew, I must warn you that if you ever hurt Sarah you will have to endure my wrath.”

  Drew looked a little stunned, and was rendered speechless.

  Rosemary leaned into Sarah. “You just have to know how to handle them,” she whispered. Sarah giggled.

  “Ye should nae run off like that,” he said to Sarah.

  “I'm sorry, but I couldn't wait. When I found out she was here… Oh Drew, you have no idea what this means to me. Rosemary is my best friend in the whole world.”

  “It seems like us English lasses aren't so bad after all,” Rosemary said with a cheeky smile.

  “Ye are a load of trouble though,” Drew said. He walked over to Sarah and gave her a kiss. Sarah blushed, still not used to these displays of affection in front of other people. Rosemary gave her an encouraging smile. Sarah felt a hundred times better for being in the company of her friend again, although she did spare a thought for Catherine, who was alone out there, most likely feeling abandoned by Sarah.

  At that point another warrior burst in, and from one glance Sarah could easily tell that it was Blair, for the two brothers looked very similar. He also had her hair like Drew, perfectly chiseled face and broad shoulders like his brother. The only difference was that Blair was bigger than Drew. She was daunted by his presence though, and a little afraid even though she had no reason to be. But her fear of the Highlanders ran deep, and it would take a long time for her to be entirely rid of it.

  She moved back as the two men embraced each other tightly. Sarah was happy that all of them could enjoy a reunion.

  Chapter 20

  Drew was relieved to see his brother, and his brother was relieved to see him.

  “I thought ye were dead, hidden under a pile of bodies!” Blair exclaimed.

  “I had men search everywhere and every pile of bodies. For days they combed the entire battle ground but found nothing. I had given up hope till the moment Declan found me and told me you had returned to the battle.” Drew placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and smiled at him.

  “It was nae my time to die, although it would hae been had this wee lass nae saved my life.”

  Blair walked over to Sarah and took her hands into his.

  “Then I owe ye a debt. Thank ye. I don’t ken now how I can ever repay ye for saving my brother’s life” he said. Sarah nodded. Drew was pleased that she wasn't entirely overwhelmed by the situation.

  “Blair, Sarah was my handmaiden that I told you about. We got separated on the night you rescued me. I thought I would never see her again. It is a miracle she is here with me now. I expect her to be treated in the same way as I have been,” Rosemary said.

  “And she is more than that tae me, brother,” Drew admitted.

  He took Sarah's hand and kissed her on the forehead. “Sarah did not just save my life brother, she also saved my heart. I fell in love with her while we were together in the forest.”

  Blair threw his head back and laughed. “I knew that one day ye would understand! Oh brother, I am never going tae let ye forget all the times ye told me Rosemary was bad for me.”

  Drew muttered something under his breath. Still, it was worth it if that was the only price he had to pay for being with Sarah.

  “I must speak with ye, brother,” Drew said, and gestured for Blair to leave the tent. Before he left Blair kissed Rosemary, and then the two of them walked outside where they could talk alone.

  “What troubles you brother?” Blair asked.

  “First I want tae know how the battle is going? Are we defeating the English?”

  “Fine brother, better than we hoped. We hae managed tae drive the English back. They run scared, like the wee cowards they are. I hae nae been able tae corner their leader. He is a slippery one, running from battle, hiding behind his own men. They fight bravely. Are ye fit for battle? I can use another fierce warrior by my side.”

  “I am ready, brother. I have been ready tae get back tae the war. I have only had a brief taste, and I have tae slake my thirst for English blood. My blade shall drink the blood of their leader.”

  “Then we should return with haste!”

  “But before we dae go, brother, I hae some doubt. I fear that we are putting the clan in danger by our actions.”

  “Ye mean Rosemary and Sarah?”

  “Aye. There was already discontent about Rosemary. It disnae look good now that I am wi’ Sarah.”

  “They are always going to find someone tae complain about, Drew. Ye should not worry yerself about them tae much. We are winning the war. Our loyalty is nae in question.”

  “Hae ye spoken tae Declan recently?”

  “Briefly, before battle, but otherwise nae. I hae nae spoken to many of our kin. The McCall clan hae done us proud though.”

  “He hae been having his mind twisted by Deirdre. She hae been scorned, and she will nae stop until she has hurt you.”

  “That woman,” Blair said, scowling. “I should never have gotten involved with her. Now she is using her tricks on Declan. He is young and naïve and she knows she can twist his head. If it would nae cause more trouble I would hae her head. I will hae words with Declan. He is young, he will learn as ye hae. How are ye finding love?” he asked.

  “It is...strange. I did nae know it would be this powerful. I feel...stronger than ever before.”

  “She seems like a good lass.”

  “She could have run, Blair. She could have left me for dead, but she didnae. She stayed with me and nursed me back tae health. I owe her my life.”

  “Then I owe her tae,” Blair said, putting a firm hand on Drew's shoulder. “I know we hae nae always seen eye tae eye on things, Drew, but I am glad ye are still with us. Let us return tae the field of battle and drive the English cowards back where they belong. Let us end this, if yer leg can handle it,” Blair said, glancing down at Drew's wound.

  “Nothing could keep me from battle,” Drew said, gritting his teeth, “but there is one favor I would ask of ye. Let me hae the duel with their leader, Flynn. He hae treated Sarah cruelly, and I would see his blood on my blade before this is over.”

  “Consider it done, brother.”

  Chapter 21

  After sitting with Rosemary for a while, Sarah was relieved. Blair returned and told them that Drew was just getting his wound seen to, and informed Sarah that she could have this tent. Drew would return shortly. Blair and Rosemary then left Sarah alone. Rosemary told her that they would see each other soon.

  When Drew returned he had a proper dressing on his leg, and he was walking more confidently. He still winced in pain now and then, but overall he seemed in better spirits.

  “Your brother seems nice,” she said.

  “Oh aye, we hae had our difficulties over the years, but we hae grown closer recently. I had my doubts that Blair would be able tae lead us, but he is a good laird, and is leading us tae victory.”

  “I hate that so many people have to die. Not just my countrymen, but yours too.”

  “I know, lass, war is a sobering business, but it will be over soon.”

  “Are you going to fight?” she asked, hesitation in her voice.

  “Aye.”

  “Oh Drew,” she gasped, flinging her arms around him, pressing her head against his chest. Drew's arms enveloped her, stroking her hair softly.

  “What's wrong, lass?”

  “I'm worried that you won't come back. That you'll die out there. We've only just begun. I can't bear the thought of you dying.”

  “I won't die, lass. I promise ye that. I'm going out there to make things right, tae find Lord Flynn and punish him for all he put ye throug
h.”

  “You don't have to do that. I'd much rather you stay here with me.”

  “I cannae dae that, lass. My place is out there, with my brother, with the rest of my clan. I am a McCall, and McCall dinnae run from a fight.”

  “Then stay with me for a few moments more,” Sarah said, tightening her grip on him, not wanting to let him go. She raised her head and showered him with kisses, pressing her lips against his. Fire bloomed within her again, but it was different this time.

  Unlike when they had been in the glade, their lovemaking was not free from worry. Sarah was fraught with tension and fear, anxious about the future. Her life had not been a happy one, and whenever she had felt content something had upended her happiness. Now that love had filled her heart she was frightened that something would take it away from her, and she wanted to get as much from it as possible.