Dreams of a Highlander

by Katy Baker

  But he couldn't. He wouldn't. He'd sworn a vow to protect her, no matter how much the damned woman might curse and rail against it. He had a duty and protect her he would, even if that meant protecting her from himself as well.

  Nothing could happen between them. He'd see her safe back to her people and that was it.

  ***

  Darcy found herself drowsing in the saddle.

  They topped a rise and Quinn nudged her gently awake. "Darcy? We're home, lass."

  She opened her eyes to find them looking down on the loch with Dunbreggan rising from its island in the middle of it. A stab of anxiety went through Darcy. How would the clan react? Would they be angry at her for spurning their hospitality? Would they think her an ungrateful foreigner?

  She needn't have worried. Hardly anyone paid them any mind as they rode along the causeway and through the castle gates, perhaps assuming that they'd merely been out riding, and the main hall was fairly empty when they went inside.

  Only Rebecca, Lily, and the castle steward were in attendance, sitting with heads together looking at some sheaves of parchment spread out on the main table.

  Rebecca looked up when she heard the doors open. A wide smile split her face.

  "So ye found our runaway?" she asked, crossing the floor and taking Darcy's hand in hers.

  Darcy's cheeks flushed. "I...I'm sorry, Rebecca," she said. "Whatever must you think of me, running away like that?"

  Rebecca frowned. "I think yer a young woman who's had a terrible time. One who's found herself amongst strangers and who's desperate to get back to her people. What's wrong with that? I might have done exactly the same in yer position."

  She looked at her brother-in-law and her eyes widened as she saw the bruise on his temple. "Yer hurt! Ye didnae run into the brigands again did ye?"

  "Nae," Quinn replied, eyes flicking to Darcy, "just had a bit of an argument with a tree branch."

  Rebecca looked from Quinn to Darcy and then back again. "Well, I'm glad ye found her and brought her home." Rebecca's clear green eyes fixed on Darcy. "I'm sorry ye felt ye needed to run, Darcy.”

  Darcy’s eyes filled with tears. She'd expected anger from Rebecca and the clan and instead she was getting only kindness and compassion. Her shame doubled. "You've already made me feel welcome, Rebecca. More than I deserve. Can we forget this happened and start again? I'd like it very much if we were friends."

  Rebecca waved her hand. "We already are. Any friend of Quinn's is a friend of mine. Here, let's get ye into some proper clothes and let ye get some rest."

  "I'd rather be busy, actually," Darcy said. Having nothing to do made her think and thinking made her restless. "Is there something I can do around here? Helping the cook? Helping the servants? I'm not fussy."

  Rebecca frowned. "It would nae be seemly for a lady to be doing such work."

  Darcy was about to protest that she wasn't a lady but Lily smoothly cut in. "I've got a delivery of cloth coming in today. Why doesn’t Darcy come help me sort it? I can give her a tour of the village at the same time."

  Darcy smiled at Lily. "I'd love to, thanks."

  Quinn cleared his throat. "Right. If ye'll excuse me, I'd better go and see how training is going."

  Darcy turned to speak to him as he left but he strode away quickly before she could say anything. She watched with a strange feeling in her stomach as he disappeared out into the sunlight.

  "Well, shall we?" Lily asked.

  Darcy nodded, gave Rebecca a quick hug, and then followed her new friend outside.

  Chapter 9

  They crossed the castle grounds and walked together down the causeway to the village on the mainland. It was late afternoon and the sun sparkled on the water. A light wind stirred Darcy's hair and the laughter of a group of children carried on the breeze as they took turns jumping into the loch.

  For a moment Darcy could almost forget her worries. It was a peaceful scene.

  "You look as though you're a million miles away," Lily said.

  "I was just thinking how tranquil it is here. Not like where I'm from. There it's all traffic queues, long days at work, paying bills, vying for promotion. Things seem simpler here."

  Lily tilted her head as she looked at Darcy. "I can't say I know of the things you're talking about. This America sounds like a strange place to me. But yes, I understand what you mean. This place, well, it gets into your blood."

  "Is that why you didn't return to London?"

  "Yes, that and...never mind." She looked away, suddenly blushing.

  "Fraser?" Darcy asked. "Rebecca was right wasn't she?"

  Lily smiled but it was a sad smile. "It's stupid, isn't it? I keep telling myself I'm wasting my life waiting for him when nothing can come of it."

  "Why can't it? If you love each other, what's the problem?"

  Lily sighed, staring out over the loch as they reached the end of the causeway. "Fraser has no land, no title. His position comes solely from Laird Robert. Should anything happen to the laird he could find himself with nothing. He's told me countless times he won't take me as a wife only to turn me into a beggar."

  Darcy frowned. "That makes no sense. You're a weaver, aren't you? You run your own business. Surely you could support both of you if it ever came to that?"

  Lily shook her head. "No man would ever allow his wife to support him. I don't know what America is like, Darcy, but that just simply isn't done here."

  Darcy bit back a retort. She had to remember that things were different in this time and she had no right to judge.

  "You don't know that," she said. "Maybe you should give him a chance. Don’t wait for him to do the asking – you do it. Things only change when somebody is brave enough to do it first."

  Lily smiled but didn't answer.

  They reached the end of the causeway and entered the village. It was a large settlement with stone-built houses with thatched roofs and a square in the center which housed a well. Lily led her towards the outskirts of the settlement to her weaver's shop. It sat on its own with a small kitchen-garden out the back and a herd of honking geese that hissed at Darcy as she made her way up the path to the rear door.

  "Take no notice," Lily said. "They'll not attack you while I'm here."

  "And what about if you're not here?" Darcy murmured. "They look like they want to eat me for dinner!"

  Lily laughed lightly. "Far better than guard dogs, believe me. Nobody can sneak up on my shop in the night without me knowing."

  Inside, the shop was divided up into two large rooms, one where Lily stored her materials, the other where her loom was set up. There was a smaller room at the back that was currently used as a scullery. Upstairs were Lily's sleeping quarters, a modest, whitewashed room set into the eaves of the house.

  "This is wonderful," Darcy breathed as she was shown around. "How on earth do you run all this yourself?"

  "With difficulty," Lily replied with a laugh. "I keep telling myself I'll take on staff or at least an apprentice but I think I like everything my own way too much. I wouldn't trust anyone else to do things how I wanted them."

  Darcy nodded. "I'm with you on that one. I'm a bit of a control freak myself."

  There was a knock on the door.

  "Excellent,” Lily said. “Rolf is here with my shipment! Put the kettle on the stove would you? I think we'll need refreshment to get through this - Rolf can haggle with the best of them!"

  The afternoon passed pleasantly. Rolf turned out to be a huge shaggy bear of a man from Holland who traded in the finest Flemish wool. By the way he and Lily haggled good-naturedly it was obvious they'd known each other a long time. Eventually a deal was struck and they all celebrated with a dram of whisky. After Rolf left Darcy spent the time helping Lily catalog and store her wares in the back room.

  "You must find this very boring," Lily said as they stowed away a thick bale of wool ready to be spun into plaid for the clan. "You being a lady and everything."

  "Lady?" Darcy snorted. "I wish ev
eryone would stop calling me that. I'm not a lady."

  "Oh? Then what are you?"

  "A veterinarian."

  Lily stared at her, baffled.

  Darcy thought of how best to explain it. "I'm a healer. For animals."

  Lily still looked none the wiser.

  "If someone has a sick animal, they can bring it me and I give it medicine," Darcy explained. "For example, if a farmer's cows have colic or a horse has gone lame, I can fix it."

  "That sounds like a mighty skill," Lily replied. "I know half the crofters round here would dearly like to have someone they can call on when their animals take sick. Maybe you could do something here in Dunbreggan?"

  "I’d love to," Darcy replied, a little spark of hope flaring inside her. That would be just what she needed to keep her busy until she could get home. And it would be a way for her to earn her keep rather than being reliant on Quinn. Being reliant on Quinn MacFarlane was the last thing she wanted. Thoughts of the big warrior brought confusing feelings of annoyance and attraction. She pushed them resolutely away. She would not think of him. She wouldn't.

  "But how would I do it?" she pondered aloud. "I'd need somewhere for a clinic." And there's no way I'm going to ask Quinn's permission to set up at the castle. She could well imagine his look of disapproval if she did that.

  Lily looked around the small room. "Well, how about here? I can easily move this cloth to the other room. It’s not much but it's a start."

  Darcy clapped her hands together. "Seriously? You wouldn't mind? That would be wonderful!"

  "Of course I mean it!" Lily said, laughing. "Seeing as you're staying a while, it might help you keep out of trouble!"

  Darcy blushed - Lily was referring to her running away this morning. "Thank you, Lily."

  Lily waved her hand. "You're welcome. I know what it's like to be in a strange place where everything is different to what you're used to. The MacFarlanes welcomed me, made me part of the family. It's only right that I should extend that same kindness to you."

  Darcy crossed the room and folded Lily into a hug. The other woman laughed lightly and returned the embrace. It felt good to have made a friend. Really good.

  Once they'd finished sorting out Lily's stock, the weaver declared it was time for Darcy to be getting back to the castle.

  "It will be time for the evening meal soon and Rebecca will worry if you're not there. She takes her charges very seriously."

  They shut up Lily's shop and strolled back through the village. All the way Darcy's mind was filled with thoughts and plans for her new veterinary practice. There would certainly be enough patients. Everywhere she looked there were animals - dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, geese, chickens, and of course this didn't include the sheep and cattle that dotted the hillsides roundabout. She was looking forward to it. Until she was able to get back to the stone arch, it would take her mind off things. A bit of normality was what she needed.

  Once back in Dunbreggan they took a leisurely stroll around the grounds. Darcy hadn't had the chance to see much of it so, true to her word, Lily gave her a guided tour. She showed her the kitchens, the kennels, the stables - which Darcy inspected with a critical eye and concluded that the horses and dogs were very well cared for - and lastly the practise grounds.

  The clan warriors were being put through their paces. Around twenty or so men were stripped to the waist, taking turns to fight with wooden practice swords. The sight had gathered a group of spectators - serving girls for the most part - who giggled behind their hands as they watched the young men spar.

  Darcy felt her steps slowing as her eyes fell on Quinn. He was sparring with Fraser, both of them wielding a practice sword as long as their arm. Quinn appeared to be having the upper hand. He beat on Fraser's sword in a flurry of blows that sent the younger man staggering back. Quinn spun, altering his angle of attack and flicked the wooden blade from Fraser's grasp. It went spinning through the air and landed in a puddle.

  Quinn frowned down at the younger man. "Ye took yer eyes off me," he said in a stern voice. "Do that in a real battle and yer dead. How many times do I have to tell ye not to let yerself get distracted?"

  "I...um...I..." Fraser stammered. His eyes slid to Lily and he blushed. "Sorry, Quinn. It willnae happen again."

  Quinn followed the line of Fraser's gaze and saw Darcy and Lily standing there. Darcy began to lift her hand to wave but Quinn's frown deepened and he looked away, calling for his men to form up.

  Darcy crossed her arms. Was he deliberately rude or did he just not realize how thoughtless he could be?

  But despite her annoyance, Darcy couldn't help but stare as he began putting the men through their paces again. He moved with such deadly grace. He reminded Darcy of a panther - all rippling muscle and easy poise. Although his body was strong and thickly muscled he was as light on his feet as a ballet-dancer, spinning and ducking and pivoting in the blink of an eye.

  Lily raised an eyebrow at her. "Ah, I see you've joined the Quinn fan club."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Don't worry, you're not the first and you certainly won't be the last. Quinn has always been popular with the ladies of the clan. Not one has snagged his heart though. Maybe that's starting to change, eh? He seems quite taken with you."

  "Taken with me?" Darcy snorted. "Hardly. He treats me like a naughty school girl most of the time, when he acknowledges me at all. He's like an overbearing elder brother - so serious all the time."

  "Can you blame him after what happened to his brother? Quinn's always been the brooding type but he got much worse after Duncan."

  Darcy looked at Lily. "What do you mean?"

  "He hasn't told you?"

  "No. He’s not exactly forthcoming with me. What happened to Duncan?"

  Lily sighed. "It's a sad tale. Painful for the clan. Most don't like to talk about it but if you're going to be staying here a while it's important you know. As I said, Laird Robert and Quinn had an elder brother, Duncan. He was the laird of the clan and a stronger, fairer laird you couldn't wish for. Quinn and Robert both idolized him. But a few years ago Duncan's party was attacked on the road. Duncan, and the clansmen with him were all killed. Quinn was the only survivor - and he was seriously injured. Robert became laird and Quinn became his heir. I think Quinn blames himself for not being able to save his brother. It's part of the reason Quinn is so protective. He's determined the same won't happen to Robert or anyone else from the clan."

  Darcy bit her lip and looked over at Quinn. A wave of shame washed through her. It all made sense now. No wonder Quinn was so wary of brigands on the road. No wonder he was so determined she wouldn't put herself in danger. He'd sworn to protect her, just as he'd sworn to protect his brother. She had deliberately put herself in harm's way, making it difficult for him to keep his oath. What must that have felt like for him? Although she hated to admit it, she owed him an apology.

  As Lily took her arm and steered her back towards the castle, she promised herself that she'd seek Quinn out. After all, if she was going to be here a while it made sense be on half decent terms with the laird's brother. That's all it was. Right?

  Chapter 10

  Darcy hoped to be able to speak to Quinn at dinner. As it turned out though, he didn't come to the high table to sit with his family but instead sequestered himself with his men over at their table by the door. Fraser sat next to him and the two of them spent most of the meal deep in conversation.

  Darcy couldn't help but think he was avoiding her.

  "What's this I hear about ye setting up shop with Lily?" Rebecca asked her. The laird's wife was wearing a beautiful blue gown, one that Lily had made especially for her pregnancy. The color set off her eyes.

  Darcy tore her gaze away from Quinn. "What? Oh, yes. I'm going to start a veterinary practice in Lily's spare room."

  Rebecca grinned and shook her head. "Ye know what? I'm nae gonna even ask what that means. Good luck to ye, dear. We could do with more women folk following Lily's lead."
>
  "I thought it was generally frowned upon for women to set up their own businesses," Darcy replied, a little surprised by Rebecca's support.

  "Foolish nonsense," Rebecca replied. "We only say that to smooth over male pride. Who de ye think really runs a clan? The laird?" She glanced at her husband who was tucking into his dinner. Rebecca leaned close and whispered conspiratorially. "Hardly. If the men upped and left, this clan would carry on regardless. But if the women did the same? There'd be chaos!" She winked at Darcy. "Besides, yer American aren't ye? We need to make allowances for yer strange ways!"

  Darcy laughed. Neither Rebecca nor Robert had mentioned her running away this morning and Darcy was profoundly grateful. She'd been dreading explaining herself to Robert but it appeared Rebecca had done that for her. She hoped she'd be able to repay these people's kindness somehow. Perhaps setting up her veterinary practice would help her do that.

  After the meal Darcy returned to her room to change and refresh and then went looking for Quinn. He wasn't in the main hall or on the practice field. After asking around she was directed to the blacksmith's shop.

  Darcy approached the building and stopped outside. It was growing dark and candlelight was spilling through the windows. The door to the cottage which stood next to the smithy was open and through it laughter floated out into the dusk.

  Darcy halted at the open door. Inside she could see one large room with a fire merrily dancing in the hearth. Quinn was standing by the fireplace, holding a girl of about eight upside down by her ankles. The girl shrieked with mock outrage and three other children of varying ages clustered about Quinn howled with laughter. Quinn put the girl down and she scrambled up, laughing every bit as hard as her siblings.

  A large man who Darcy guessed was the blacksmith sat at a well-scrubbed table. "Will ye leave Quinn alone ye little beasts?" the man said. "He canna walk through the door without ye all mobbing him!"