by Sarah Hoss
“Rebecca,” he screamed as loud as he could.
Nothing.
Archibald eyed the men for a moment before turning and walking into the flames.
There was no movement inside. The flames licked at the walls. He ran a little closer and the heat blasted him in the face. He put his arm up, trying to block it.
“Rebecca!” The a in her name was drawn out as he hollered for her again. Deep down, he knew she was gone, but he didn’t want to accept it. He fell to his knees as a tear slid down his cheek. Their child, how could she have done all this, killing herself and their child?
Alexander grabbed his coat and pulled. “Get back.” He stood on shaky legs and let his brother pull him away. The group stood and watched as the fire took a hold of the entire barn and burned. Not able to do anything, having no buckets or water, he fell to the ground and cried. Too much had gone on in the last two months and to be in the exact same place, watching another fire take the life of someone close to him, was too much to bear and he cried. He didn’t care who saw, not that anyone here would begrudge him the moment.
Minutes passed and he stood. Focusing his attention on Gillian, he walked toward her. “Please, tell me what happened in the barn.”
She looked frightened and peered over at James and he rubbed her back to reassure her. “Go on, it will be all right.”
She looked back to him. “Are ye sure?”
He nodded, crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
She swallowed. “There were two bottles of alcohol by the door, along with a lantern. When Rebecca told her story, he kept whispering, It’s all his fault or Glad he’s dead.” She shrugged. “I think he set all of those fires to relive the satisfaction of the death of his father. He just kept talking about his parents, but more to himself than me.”
She shivered and despite the heat radiating from the barn, a cold chill ran up and down her spine.
“He kept telling Rebecca that you would never love her if you knew. He knew that she was going to go with you, so he took the lantern and set fire to the barn. When you hollered my name, he told her that you would never be with her if you knew the truth. That’s when she pushed me out of the barn.”
His brows furrowed in confusion and he shifted his stance. “What truth?”
She glanced back at Alexander, then James. When James encouraged her to speak, she turned to him. She reached out, holding onto his arm. “Hamish, she lost the baby weeks earlier.”
Chapter 29
“It’s been three weeks, James, what will ye do?”
James scooted his chair back and stood from the table. Alexander watched him as he walked across the room. Scooping Margaret into his arms, he took the baby and sat down again. He watched as her little fists punched at the air and smiled when she cooed. His strong hand held her tiny one and he marveled at the difference. His was dark and weathered, hers was pink and smooth. She wrapped her hand around his finger, sealing the hold she had on his heart. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
This is what he wanted; a home, a loving wife, and a family. He wanted to hold his own child. He tucked her in a little tighter and peered up at his brother. “I doona know.”
“James?”
“Aye, I know what I need to do.” He gave a half, shy smile to his brother. “I kinda liked the idea of knowing I was going to spend my life with someone.”
Alexander peered over at Marlana who stood in the pantry. He understood. But as much as Alexander understood his want for a family of his own, he understood that you can’t really have it without love. He and Gillian didn’t love each other, but Hamish and Gillian did.
He swallowed. “I’ll leave now and head back to the castle. If I ride straight through, I can be there by morning. I’ll tell them then.”
Marlana came back into the room. When Margaret began to fuss, she walked over and took her daughter. “If you both will excuse us, someone is hungry.”
The men rose from their chairs as Marlana took Margaret into the bedroom. James grabbed his things and made for the door.
“Good luck to ye, James.”
He smiled, then with a lift of the latch, he left to go back and make things right.
Hamish strolled through the castle as a man with his world in turmoil. It had been weeks since the fire. Cluny had talked to him and the rest of the men twice to learn all of the details of what had happened at his place. He was tired of going over it. His heart ached. No, it was shattered and for many reasons. To know that Rebecca was not the woman he thought she had been made him doubt his ability to trust people or judge them. It brought down his barrier of being the kind of man he thought he was. He was angry that there would be no justice for Margaret, but maybe, even though it wasn’t how it was supposed to happen, she’d received her justice in that fire. Archibald was dead and he would never again hurt anyone else.
He missed his sister and wished she was there so he could speak to her about his feelings. He was lost. Even though he did not love Rebecca, he had become excited about the child.
He punched the stone wall, causing his knuckles to bleed and pain shot through his arm. He relished the feeling for it was the only thing he had felt in a while. He had become numb to any feelings since that night.
She’d lied to him about the child. How could anyone do such a thing? He’d been so frightened when he thought she and the child were in danger and it was all for nothing. He had been duped and it ate at him to know she had done so. On top of it all, because of her selfishness, he had lost the one woman he’d ever really cared about.
Gillian was engaged to his brother, James. Now that he was alone, he knew he couldn’t stay. There was no way for him to live in the castle and watch them as they moved on with their lives and there would be no way for him to ever go back to his farm and rebuild. There was too much grief and destruction.
He had just come from speaking to Cluny, letting him know he no longer wanted the land. He’d understood his feelings and offered him other property. Cluny asked that he not make any decisions yet, take some time to think about his future when his heart wasn’t so shattered. He agreed.
Now, as he walked through the candle-lit halls of the castle, he sighed.
James was approaching and called out his name. He waited.
“I wish to speak to ye. Would ye meet me in my room? There is something I need to get first.”
He nodded and James left. The walk to James room was slow. He didn’t want to speak to his brother. He was packed and ready to go. Where, he wasn’t sure. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He just knew he needed to get away for a while.
In the bedroom, he walked over to the table and poured some whiskey. After downing the first glass, he poured another. He paced the room and sipped his drink while he waited. A few moments later, James walked in and behind him was Gillian. He downed the rest of his drink.
James glanced between them. “I brought ye both here because I wanted to speak to ye.”
As much as he tried not to look her way, he did, and their gazes met. God, he loved her. She was beautiful.
“I know true love when I see it and I’m looking at it right now.” They both turned to look at James at the same time.
“I’m calling off the engagement.”
“What?” Hamish asked in surprise.
“Ye heard me. Ye two belong together and as it is now, I’m the only thing standing in the way of yer happiness.” James walked forward and placed his hands on his shoulders. “I want ye to be happy, Hamish. I doona like to see the dullness in yer eyes. If there is something I can do to change that look, then I want to and I can.” He turned to Gillian and held out his right hand. She took it and stepped closer to them.
James took their hands and placed them together. “Ye two are in love, ye belong together.”
Hamish couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are ye sure, James?”
“Aye, tis the right thing to do.”
Gillian let go of his hand. She placed hers on James arm to get his attention, then she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Tears rolled down her face as she addressed him. “You are a wonderful man and bring great honor to the Macpherson name. I’m privileged to know you and I thank you for what you have done for me.”
James smiled, blushing a little at her praise.
“James.”
When his brother turned to him, Hamish held out his hand and James grasped it, locking forearms. “I . . .” He couldn’t speak. He was overcome with emotion and tears threatened to spill, blurring his vision.
James nodded. “I know.” Then he pulled him into a bear hug, patted his back, and stepped away. “I will leave ye two now.”
As the door closed, Hamish turned to Gillian. He could only stare at her, unable to believe that he could be standing here, knowing they could have a future together.
“I love you,’ she said a little breathlessly.
“Aye, I love ye, too.” He reached out and drew her to him. He searched her face, taking in all of her features as if he was afraid she was a mirage. She wore a dark blue dress with white trim on the sleeves and at the neck. Her hair was down, brought up on the sides by pins. He loved it when she let her hair hang loose to her waist and he pulled the pins out.
“Please.” She placed her hand upon his cheek. “Kiss me.”
He didn’t need any more encouragement. He drew her in closer so their bodies touched. Burying his hand in her hair, he kissed her. His mouth covering hers as if he tried to make up for a month of absence. He groaned an animalistic sound of pure heat. She was just as eager and it fueled him on. She opened to him and let his tongue touch hers, flaming the desire that was building within him and pulsed through his veins. Then he turned his head to allow himself more access and deepened the kiss, their tongues dancing a timeless ritual.
She made little moaning noises of her own and it pushed him over the edge. The sensation of being able to hold her, touch her, and make love to her was more than he could bear, but not here, not in his brother’s room.
He pulled back, looking at her. Her lips were swollen and her eyes glazed over with love. She was beautiful and she was his.
He dropped down to one knee and held one of her hands. Her other one flew to her face and she began to cry.
“I willna live without ye any longer. Ye are the air I breathe and when I am not with ye, my heart stops until the moment I see yer face. Then, I come alive again.” He squeezed her hand. “Will ya marry me, Gillian Meadows?”
She smiled, a sob breaking free, and she nodded. “Yes, Hamish, I will marry you.”
Also by Soul Mate Publishing and Sarah Hoss:
DREAMS OF THE HIGHLANDER
After suffering with the loss of his wife and child, fierce Highland warrior Alexander Macpherson vows to never love again—but now his recurring dream of a beautiful woman is haunting him every night.
Marlana Crawford has sworn off men after the love of her life cheated on her but when she reveals her dreams of a sexy Scot to her friends, they encourage her to take a trip abroad in the hopes of finding out the meaning of her dreams.
Now, one careless wish lands Marlana in 18th century Scotland and into the arms of Alexander but to conquer his pain he must learn to love again, or will he allow his bitter enemy to lay claim to her for himself?
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/np5zenz
SINS OF THE HEART
A contemporary Highlander novella by Sarah Hoss
Abigail Crenshaw is an antique dealer searching for the perfect item. When she stumbles across a warrior’s shield at a flea market, she knows she can’t leave without it.
Grant MacFie is the Scottish Laird of Clan MacFie. When he discovers his great-grandfather’s shield has been stolen, he will stop at nothing to get it back and punish the one who stole it.
Once in America, he finds the shield but discovering the truth behind who stole it and falling in love with Abigail could cost him his life. How far will he go to get the shield back?
Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/na9m2uu
Sarah Hoss:
Sarah Hoss grew up believing she could try anything and if she set her mind to it, she would succeed. Sixteen years of dance lessons, Cheerleading, and school plays proved to her that her parent’s words rang true. Writing was no exception. Reading the Outlander series made her fall in love with time travels and the historical places books could take her. Always a child with a vivid imagination, she realized as an adult, she could put her imagination to good use and began writing. Marrying her very own hero, they live in Indiana in the town where she grew up. They have three beautiful children and one hyper dog. When Sarah isn’t writing, she enjoys gardening, camping, and watching her kids’ play sports.
For more information about Sarah and her books, you can find her at www.sarahhoss.com. She loves to hear from her readers, so if you would like to contact her, you can reach her at [email protected].