To Have and to Trust (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 1)

by Allie Palomino

  “She doesna want people touching her forehead.”

  Gabriel’s confused eyes went to Andie’s daring ones. “Well, arena we a little peeved today.”

  Andie growled, grumbled, and walked away, shouting, “I’m nay angry!”

  “Could have fooled me,” Gabriel said. He turned to Meghan.

  “So, what are yer plans today?”

  She looked up at him and made a face. “What’s it yer concern?”

  Gabriel sighed and rolled his eyes. “Dear, must we go through this again? I doona want ye getting ill, like Andie.”

  Meghan sighed. “Dear? Please doona use endearments, Gabriel.”

  He looked at her a long moment. She broke the trance when she said, “I’m leaving.”

  “Stay away from those who are sick,” he said seriously.

  “‘Tisna even the season for lung fever!”

  “Both Andie and Gavin had lung fever. If ‘tis nay the season, explain that.”

  She sighed, resigned. “Gabriel, I willna go near a sick clansmon. Now, excuse me.” She went to walk past him and he caught her shoulder.

  “What!” Meghan practically yelled.

  “This,” he said, as his head moved towards hers. She was too shocked to move before his lips connected with hers.

  Their first kiss.

  Her first kiss.

  Meghan was lost. She didn’t know how to kiss, but she knew she wanted to. As for Gabriel, it was obvious to him that she was inexperienced.

  Never had he tasted a kiss so sweet.

  Many he had known before her, but he had never known these feelings- feelings of home, finality, of a battle won. They washed over him like cool, calm waters. His blood surged within him. He felt the strength of his heart as it pumped his blood faster through his body.

  Alive.

  That’s how she made him feel.

  He pulled back and slowly looked down at her. Her cheeks were flush, her eyes smoky, and her lips juicy and plump.

  He had to have her.

  For his own. And soon.

  As she slowly came around, she noticed the odd expression on his face. He was disappointed, she decided.

  That hurt her more than anything, knowing that she had disappointed him.

  “I’m sorry! I havena kissed before. I-” then she paused and ran off.

  He shook his head out of his stupor and wondered why Meghan ran off. It didn’t matter.

  He knew what he had to do.

  “Are ye mad? Have ye come down with lung fever as well?” Gavin asked him later that evening.

  “Nay, I havena,” Gabriel said taking a swig of spirits, his patience running short.

  “Lord above, Gabriel. If ye fancy her, sleep with the girl and let it pass!”

  “Like how it worked for ye? I can see ye’ve gotten over your affliction with Andie.”

  “I doona fancy Andie.”

  “Nay, ye just lie in her bed because she spreads her legs for every mon and ye happen to be this month’s favorite,” Gabriel said sourly, provoking Gavin.

  Gavin rose to his feet, his eyes glacial. Gabriel could have sworn he almost saw fangs.

  “Brother or no brother, if I ever hear ye talk about Andie like that again, Gabriel, ye will nay live to breathe after.”

  Gabriel snorted at the hypocracy and continued to look up at Gavin, bored. He wasna surprised to see Gavin’s eyes glowing and his gaze predatory. He had feelings for Andie and stubbornly kept them to himself, refusing to acknowledge them.

  “I doona think her a whore, Gavin, so calm yerself. I knew I would goad ye.”

  Gavin sat down again, leering at Gabriel.

  “I’m nay afraid to admit it, Gavin, though ye are. Ye’re stubborn, and yer stubbornness will cost ye a lot. It might cost ye everything.”

  Gavin shook his head dramatically. “Lord, he sounds like Althor on a good day. Mon, would ye please! Riddles. Prophesies! All of this is damned nonsense!”

  “If it is nonsense, then why do ye nay admit ye love Andie and make her an honest woman instead of yer mistress?” Gabriel barked back, anger rising.

  Gavin was taken aback slightly. Gabriel rarely became angry. Rarer was the occasion when his anger was aimed at his brother.

  “If the prophecy is so foolish, Gavin, then stop believing that Andie is the woman with the hair of wheat and eyes of honey! Accept that that woman was Sarah and she’s dead. Lord above, Gavin, stop punishing yerself and that lass who’s done nothing but give herself to ye at a time when she has lost so much already!” Gabriel said savagely.

  Gavin looked at him coldly. He didna want to face this. It was too much truth, and too much emotion. It was too much of everything.

  “I’ll give ye permission, Gabriel. Good eve,” he said before turning around.

  “Understand this, Gavin. I wasna asking for permission. I wanted ye to know my intention. I intend to be happy. Ye can wallow in self-pity and self-hatred, but doona take that young innocent with ye.” His footsteps were angry as he marched off.

  Gavin sat down again, knocking back three successive rounds of spirits before he took another breath.

  Andie.

  Damn it. Why couldn’t things be simple? It had just been him and Riley. Now Andie had to find her way into his life.

  She was trying to find her way to his heart- the muscle he thought drummed its last beat years ago.

  “Andie?”

  “Hmmm?”

  The door creaked open as Meghan came in. The candle’s flame flickered as she moved forward, gripping it tight as she shut the door.

  “I need to talk,” she said, her voice trembling. Tears streamed down her face.

  Andie bolted up in bed, realizing the time and hearing Meghan’s tearful voice.

  “What’s the matter, Meghan?”

  Meghan walked over and rested her candle on the trunk next to Andie’s bed.

  “Oh, Andie, what am I to do?” she wailed, throwing herself at her. Andie hugged her dear friend close. Never had she seen Meghan in such a state of distress.

  “Oh, Meghan, it canna be all that bad. ‘Tis late- what happened?”

  “It’s Gabriel!”

  “What about Gabriel?”

  “My father!”

  Andie sighed and rubbed Meghan’s back. She slowly extracted herself from the embrace and retrieved a handkerchief to wipe Meghan’s eyes. Meghan sniffed, but tears still fell from her eyes.

  “Yer father and Gabriel- what about them?”

  “Gabriel!” she whispered loudly. “He asked my father!”

  Andie held on to her patience. “Asked him what?”

  “Nay what, but for what!”

  “For what, what?” Andie asked.

  Meghan stopped hiccupping and sniffing, and looked at Andie, confused.

  “Nay, he asked Father for something.”

  “For what?” Andie asked.

  “I’m going to tell ye what he asked for, but ye keep interrupting,” Meghan said, irritated that Andie wouldn’t let her explain.

  Andie drew in a long breath and exhaled. “Mey-ghannn,” she said in a sing-song voice, “what did Gabriel ask yer father for?”

  “My hand!” Meghan wailed.

  “Yer hand?” Andie asked confused.

  “As in marriage!”

  “Oh, that’s great!” Andie said, clapping her hands in excitement.

  Meghan stopped crying to look at Andie with a surprised face. “Great? Nay, Andie, ‘tis nay great!”

  “But why nay? I’ve seen the way he looks at ye. And ye do like him, Meghan. I see the look ye give him. Ye have strong feelings that have developed, even in this short amount of time. Ye love him, doona ye?”

  Meghan looked scared.

  “What did yer father say?”

  “He agreed!” she wailed again.

  “But ye love him, Meghan.”

  “But I doona know him, Andie! He’s caught my fancy but I’ve known him less than a month.”

  “But ye
do love him, doona ye?”

  “How can I nay? He’s gentle with me, listens to me, seems to care for me. He kissed me last night, ye know? And I disappointed him!” she began wailing again.

  “Why do ye say ye disappointed him?”

  “After he kissed me, he pulled back and looked at me oddly,” she said sadly, her head hung down.

  “What do ye mean ‘oddly.’”

  “As if he were disappointed,” Meghan whispered.

  “Meghan, I believe ye interpreted his look wrong. Would a mon disappointed in a kiss ask the girl’s father for her hand in marriage afterwards?”

  Meghan chewed this over for a long minute while Andie gave into a deep, long sigh. Meghan looked thoughtful and slowly a smile spread across her face.

  “Ye’re right, Andie! He wouldna ask to wed me if he were disappointed!”

  Andie nodded, smiling. Meghan grew serious and then more tears slid down her face.

  “What is it now?” Andie asked, sighing.

  “What if I’m nay a good wife, Andie! I doona know how to be a wife, much less a good one!”

  “Oh, Meghan, calm yerself! Ye’ll make an excellent wife to Gabriel.”

  Meghan looked at Andie, pursing her lips thoughtfully. She took a calming breath. “Ye’re right, Andie. I am behaving a little rash, I believe,” Meghan said, smiling.

  “So, ye didna say how ye discovered this knowledge.”

  “I was coming downstairs, this evening, and I heard them discussing it. I ran up here after my father gave his approval.”

  “This is verra exciting, Meghan! I am so verra happy for ye,” Andie said, hugging her friend again.

  “Thank you, Andie. ‘Tis verra late. I should let ye rest! I shoulnda have bothered ye. Goodnight, Andie, and I’ll see ye in the morn.”

  “‘Twas nay bother, Meghan. I am so verra happy about this bit of news. Night, Meghan,” Andie said, yawning. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she immediately fell asleep.

  Chapter Nine

  “That is too soon! Why so soon?” Meghan demanded.

  Gabriel had just asked her to marry him moments before. He was surprised and amused to know that she had already known. He’d barely asked the question before she jumped into his arms, exclaiming “YES!”

  “Because I want ye as my wife, Meghan.”

  Meghan looked to her father, her confusion obvious.

  “‘Tis nay right, Gabriel. With all that is amiss and the turmoil surrounding us, ‘twould be insensitive to get wed now,” she said softly.

  “Doona fret, Meghan. ‘Twould be wonderful to have a joyous event,” Andie said, smiling broadly.

  Meghan walked over to Andie. “I canna wed like this, Andie.”

  Andie shook her head. “Yes, ye can, Meghan. I willna allow ye to delay.”

  Meghan swung around to Gabriel again, glaring. “I doona understand why we have to wed so quickly. Why canna we wait?”

  Gabriel looked at Gavin and then to Bryce. Gavin smiled and Bryce sighed. Andie caught their looks and smiled to herself. Gabriel wanted Meghan- in every way.

  “Listen, Meghan, wed Gabriel. Ye are both in love,” Andie said, briefly looking up at Gavin before continuing. He caught her look and wondered why she looked at him.

  “‘Tis rare that ye can wed for love, Meghan. ‘Tis rare when the mon ye love returns it back to ye. Why delay? What purpose does it serve? It serves none, but to delay yer happiness.”

  Gavin visibly tensed, but only Gabriel noticed.

  “Are ye certain ye willna be upset?”

  “Nay, Meghan. Ye’re my closest and best friend. Ye’re my sister,” Andie said, her voice fading into a croak as she remembered her numerous other sisters that died. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them. Her watery eyes glimmered as she smiled at Meghan. “Please doona worry over me.”

  Meghan grasped Andie’s hands and squeezed them. She looked to Gabriel and smiled at him.

  “Fine. I shall wed ye within a fortnight.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “Nay. I want to wed ye within seven days, Meghan. Doona pretend that I said a fortnight.”

  Meghan sighed, but it sounded close to a growl. “Alright! In seven days. But I shall never understand why ye want to wed so quickly!”

  Everyone laughed and Andie began walking with Meghan. “Come, I shall tell ye why.”

  The men continued to laugh, and once Meghan and Andie took ten paces, Meghan stopped and looked back at Gabriel.

  Her cheeks were flaming red.

  The men erupted in guffaws again, as Andie led her away.

  The days that led up to the wedding were filled with plans, nerves, and joyous excitement. Andie tried to prepare her friend for the wedding night. She found it ironic since she wasn’t worldly, and was the farthest cry from it.

  “Andie, are ye sure? I shouldna act coy or lay there as a fallen tree?”

  Andie laughed, and Meghan joined in.

  “Who told ye that?”

  “I’ve heard the maids speak, back at home. I’ve also eavesdropped on the clanswomen.”

  Andie couldna stop laughing, and neither could Meghan.

  “Nay, Meghan,” Andie said, grabbing Meghan’s forearm as she doubled over in laughter. “Doona do that. Ye and Gabriel, well ye care for one another. Everything between ye two must always be true. If it doesna feel right, say so, but if it feels right, and it will, let him know,” Andie said, before erupting in a fit of giggles again. “Hurry, go see how this dress fits. I’ll be up to see it in a moment.”

  Meghan nodded, still laughing, and hurried up to try on her wedding dress.

  “So, there must always be truth between a wed couple?” Gavin inquired, as he casually leaned against the wall.

  “How much did ye hear?” she asked, feigning annoyance, while her heart beat faster at his nearness. It had been so long since last she spoke with him. Well over a week, in fact.

  “We havena spoken in over a week, Andie,” he said intriguingly, as if reading her mind. “One would think ye’re trying to avoid me.”

  Andie sighed as she folded some fabric, before walking past him to leave the room. Now, she was annoyed.

  “Doona ignore me,” he growled as he turned her to face him.

  She looked up at him in irritation. “Gavin, ye really shouldna believe that ye’re so important as to merit any thinking of avoiding ye.”

  His eyes slowly skimmed the length of her. “Ye look different,” he said slowly.

  “How so?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

  He looked at her again and noted the subtle changes in her. Her hair caught the light and reflected it more vibrantly. Her eyes were clearer and shone with a light from within. Her skin looked like fresh cream, sweet fresh cream. She had a glow that emanated from her, drawing from all sources of light. Her smile was grander and luminescent. Her laugh was more effervescent. Her voice was clearer and sexier. Her body was beautiful, supple, and soft. Her skin felt silky- like a fine piece of silk that he would barter his castle for in order to buy a small length of it. He saw light and fire surrounding her. Something he’d never noticed before.

  “Did ye change yer hair?”

  “My what?” she squeaked, gawking.

  “Yer hair,” he repeated.

  How could he tell her that she looked fresher than the morning dew on the Highland’s green grass as the sun rose?

  “I’ve more important things to do than to stand here and be toyed with,” she said, trying to brush past him.

  “Nay.”

  “Nay?” she said, her mouth agape again.

  He shook his head, smiling.

  “Ye’re too insignificant, Gavin, for me to stand here and listen to ye rant and rave.”

  He threw his head back and barked with laughter. “So this is it, then? Ye’re still sore from that day ye interrupted me in training, when ye were ill.”

  “I’ve nay wish to speak to ye,” she said, in a sing-song voice. “Good-bye.”

&
nbsp; All humor left his face.

  “Why canna ye nay forget it?”

  “Ye always want me to forget yer rude and inexcusable behavior, but I have to just tolerate yers.”

  “Andie,” he said, pulling her close and nuzzling her neck. She pulled back as if burned.

  “How dare ye? That’s all I am to ye! A whore! Isna that the truth of it, Gavin? Ye ignore me most of the time, but when ye are rambunctious- when ye have an itch to scratch- ye seek me out.” Tears came to her eyes. “If that is the penalty I pay to stay here while I hope to gain yer assistance to battle Alistair, then ‘tis too high a price to pay.”

  “Andie, let me explain” he sighed, realizing how hurt she was.

  “Nay, Gavin, ye’ve said quite enough. I’ll pose a question to ye and all I want is an answer. The truth. In return for my staying here, waiting for ye to reunify yer men, do ye expect me to thank ye with my body?” she asked, her voice strong and unwavering.

  “Nay,” he said, his eyes studying her closely.

  She snapped her arm out of his grasp and headed for the stairs again. “Good, then, ‘tis settled. Please let me know if the circumstances change, for I’ll need just a short time to gather my meager belongings and be gone from here.”

  Gavin stood there dumbfounded. The more he thought about what just happened, the angrier he grew. Why couldna he just be open with her? Had he been denying his feelings for her?

  His father had in fact, taught him well, perhaps too well, just how to hide his emotions.

  Gavin was the best swordsman in the Highlands and quite possibly all of Scotland. He was the most powerful laird of the most powerful and largest clan in the country.

  And he was also the biggest arse in all the land.

  “Are ye all right? Ye look pale and sad,” Meghan said, looking at Andie as she came in through her chamber door.

  “Oh, Meghan, ye look so beautiful,” Andie said, tears streaming down her face.

  “What’s all this, Andie? ‘Tis not because of my dress.”

  Andie sat down on the bed, looking at Meghan. “Ye’re right. ‘Tis not all because of yer dress but in part it is. Ye look so beautiful. ‘Tis amazing ye’re to be wed. How much time did we spend talking about weddings when we were younger? How much time had we spent describing our husbands? And here ye are, here we are, all grown up,” Andie said, her voice faltering.