by Matie Cole
“Excuse me.” He shook her gently, softly, thinking that he needed to wake this woman. He had to. For his own sanity as much as for her safety. “Excuse me, Miss. I think it best you wake up here...”
She stirred a couple of times but did not fully wake up at first. As she fluttered her eyelashes, Bryson fell backwards, not wanting to be thought of as a stranger standing over this woman and watching her sleep... even if that was exactly what he had been doing. But as she did not fully wake up, he moved once more to see if there was a reason that this beautiful angelic woman was not yet awake.
“Do you know me?” The words tumbled out of the woman’s mouth as soon as she finally opened up her eyes fully. “Have you come looking for me? I do not know what has happened, but I have lost my memory.”
“Oh...” Bryson was not sure how to respond to that. It was not what he was expecting at all. “I see. I am sorry, I do not know you. I was just out riding my horse and I found you sleeping by the river.”
She winced in pain as she pushed herself up into a sitting position, clearly having trauma all over her body. Bryson felt bad for this poor stranger. She seemed to be going through a whole lot.
“Do you remember what happened to you?” Bryson asked her quietly, cautiously, unsure as to how she would react. “Or can you remember nothing? I am simply trying to work out what I can do to help you.”
“I remember nothing.” She shrugged helplessly. “I simply woke up...” She glanced around. “I do not even know where, with nothing. I have a vague feeling like I have been robbed, maybe attacked, I am not sure. But I do not even know my own name. I am scared because I have no recollection of who I am.”
She fell against Bryson and he could do nothing but hold her. The guilt and pain that he had been holding on to on this day seemed to be nothing compared to what this poor, beautiful woman was suffering. Bryson immediately began to believe that it was his duty to make her feel better.
At least this was a problem that he could find something of a solution for. His own issues had no answer. Right now, this woman simply needed somewhere to stay while she recovered from whatever had happened to her, and as her memories recovered, so he could offer her that.
“I am sorry that I cannot help you with your identity,” he said sadly. “But I do not like the idea of you sleeping in the danger of the forest where you may come across troublesome people. I have a castle nearby and I would like to offer you a place to sleep until you are recovered. After that, when you start to recall who you are, I will take you to your home. If that is what you would like, of course.”
“You... you would do that”? She looked up at Bryson with teary wet eyes. She could not believe that a hero had come here to save her. It was what she had wished for, but she did not know that wishes could come true. “Would you take care of me, even though you do not know who I am?”
His lips twisted up into a happy smile. “Of course, I would. I cannot expect to know anything about you when you know nothing about yourself. But if it helps, I can tell you more about me.” He held out a hand for her to shake. “I am Laird Bryson MacGregor, and my castle is over the hill in that direction. I live there with my daughter, and we have plenty of room, so you can come and stay with us and have as much space as you might like. I do not know what you need to help you recover, but I will make sure that it happens.” He cocked his head to one side and grinned, feeling a burst of happiness as he looked at the angel in front of him. “And I also have people in my clan who are experts in medicinal needs. They can help you.”
“I am so grateful.” The woman rose to her feet. She was a little unsteady, but she quickly regained her balance. “I would love to have somewhere safe to stay while I work out who I am. And who knows, perhaps someone within your clan will know who I am. They might be able to help me.”
Bryson smiled at her as if this might be possible, but he was pretty sure that if she had ever been in his town before, he would have noticed her. There was something sparkling about her, something captivating, he would have spotted her right away. Right now, he was far more convinced that she could not remember who she was because she truly was an angel sent from heaven just for him. Maybe from his wife as a solution to all of his issues... of course, that was more of a playful thought than anything else, but it was fun to imagine. This stranger was certainly going to make his life more interesting for a while anyway.
“I would ask you if you know how to ride a horse, but I assume you cannot remember.” She shook her head, which was of no shock to Bryson, since she could not recall her name. “That is alright, you simply have to get on to the back of Pharaoh and hold on tight to my waist. He is a gentle giant who will take care of you. And I shall as well. For as long as you need me.”
“I am a little afraid,” the woman admitted. “But I will give it a try. I do not want to be alone.”
“You do not have to be alone,” he assured her. “I will be there, I am here to help as much as you want.”
The angelic woman looked nervous as she climbed on to the top of the horse, but Bryson knew that she would be alright. He had confidence that this was going to be the start of a beautiful surprise friendship and that everyone in his clan would get along with this stranger. Maybe even his darling daughter, Anice.
If this woman could help him with making Anice happy, then everything would be perfect. At least for a little while.
Chapter 5
T he woman was not sure if she was still dreaming or wide awake as she clung on to the back of this man while he took her to his home to care for her. She had that same sensation of safety about him, he made her feel protected like the river had done for her before. She knew nothing about him, other than the name that he had given her, but there was something comforting about his presence.
I shall be safe with him, she thought happily to herself as they rode. Until I work out who the woman on the medallion is. Until I can go home and back to my real life, whatever that might be.
As the horse kept going, she was surprised to note how natural it felt to be on top of an animal such as this one. Inside her body, she knew that this was not the first time she had ridden. Her eyes fell closed and she tried so very hard to recall the last time that she may have been riding, hoping that it might lead to more, but everything that she could remember had a strange quality to it. It could have only happened while she was sleeping, not in reality. This difficulty to recall anything was highly frustrating.
“Here we are,” Bryson finally declared, causing the woman to pull her head back, to look at what he was talking about. “My home, Goraidh Castle. I hope it is nice enough for you to stay in.”
The woman gasped under the power of the sheer beauty of what lay before her. The castle and the land surrounding it, from what she could currently see, was absolutely breathtaking. The stone walls seemed to burst the skyline because they stood so tall, the lush greenery surrounding it seemed to be from a painting because it was so stunning, with flowers so colorful she was blown away.
This was where the man lived? This was where she would be able to recover? This had to be a dream. The woman might not have known much about life at the moment, but she realized that she was lucky.
“You have such a lovely home,” she told Bryson in awe. “You must be the luckiest man alive.”
“I certainly feel that way right now,” he admitted. “But I am very pleased that you think so.”
He took his steed into the stables and brought the woman inside his castle. She looked exhausted, he could tell that she was still struggling to keep her eyes open, despite sleeping like an angel by the riverside, so instead of forcing her the pressure of meeting everyone, he took her to bed. Just because he found himself overly keen to introduce her to the world right away, Bryson could be patient.
“This is one of my guest rooms.” He took her to the nicest one, hoping to impress her. “I hope this is alright and to your taste. If there is anything that you need at all, do not hesitate to ask.”
The woman could not think of anything else that she might possibly need. This was a welcoming bed, a comfortable place for her to rest her weary head, nearly at the top of one of the tallest towers of the castle. She could not ask to be safer, which was all that she needed. This was a dream come true.
“I do not need a thing, Laird Bryson MacGregor. Thank you for your hospitality. I do hope that with some time, I will remember who I am and no longer be a problem to you. You have already done so much.”
Bryson almost told the woman that she could never be a problem to him, but he stopped himself at the last moment. He could not start saying things to her which might later be taken in the wrong way, once she realized who she was. He needed to be careful and professional at all times.
But as he left the room, allowing her some much-needed time alone, he let everything out. “Goodnight, sweet angel. I already feel like I will spend my time missing you. You have captivated me. You... you have brought me back to life and now I can really feel things once more. I feel everything.”
Bryson was shocked to realize how many years he had spent utterly closed off to the world, to his feelings. He might as well have been sleepwalking and now the sweet angel with no name had woken him up. Bryson was revitalized, excited, ready for whatever would come next.
The woman waited until she heard Bryson’s footsteps fading away, before she removed her footwear and climbed into the soft, comfortable bed. She held on to the medallion, grateful that no matter what had happened to her, she had somehow managed to keep this one thing. If she had been robbed or harmed, the villains had missed this which meant she got to hold on to a part of herself through this challenging time. There had to be a reason for that. It meant something, surely? It was important. It had stayed with her through the darkest of times like a clue she simply needed to unravel.
“The lady and the rose,” she whispered sleepily to herself. “Who are you and what do you mean to me? Perhaps if I hold you tight while I sleep, I shall dream of you instead of that terrible snake. With the dreams, memories of my identity will surely return and I can finally become me once more.”
The medallion was warm from being held on to so tightly and the woman was sure that she could feel the emotions connected to it zinging through her as she drifted off. She was sure that by the time this sleep was over, everything that had gotten mixed up would be back where it needed to be.
The sunshine, indicating morning time, disturbed the woman’s peace. Not that she minded because as she opened her eyes, she felt the overwhelming need to smile. This was going to be a good day, she could just feel it. She reached up and stretched high, yawning happily as the morning came for her...
“Oh, I am terribly sorry, Miss,” a strange voice called out, making the woman jump with surprise. “I did not mean to wake you. I am just laying out some clothing that Laird MacGregor has asked me to for you. He was worried that you came here with nothing and does not want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Laird MacGregor. The man who had saved her. Who had taken her from the river side and brought her to his home without even knowing her name. He had to have the kindest heart that she had ever known.
“That is very nice of him. I shall have to let him know that I am grateful for this.”
“I do not know if this is your normal style...” The handmaid paused for a second. “I am sorry, Miss, I do not know what to call you. Laird MacGregor informed me that you do not recall your name.”
The woman strained her brain once more, desperately hoping that this time everything would have come back to her at long last. The sleep should have rejuvenated her and given her own self back... but there was nothing. She was just as blank and empty as she had been before. All that she knew about herself was that she had a medallion clutched between her fingers like it was all of her.
“Rose,” she whispered quietly, her thumb running over the image on the medallion. “I need a name for the time being, and perhaps that is my name. It certainly feels right. Rosalyn. That could be my name.”
“That is a beautiful name.” The handmaid beamed brightly. “It suits you very much.”
“May I know your name too?” Rosalyn asked the woman. “Only, Laird MacGregor said that I can stay until my memories return. Since there is no sign of them returning yet, I would like to know you.”
“Of course. My name is June. I am here for you, whenever you need me. Would you like any help?”
As June nodded to the clothing, Rosalyn found herself agreeing to the assistance. She probably did not need it, but she also did not like the idea of being left by herself. There was something about the idea of being alone that troubled her so much. It was almost as if she had been left in the dark, all by herself for years, and now she absolutely needed to be surrounded with people at all times.
“Thank you very much, June. I would like some help. That is very kind of you.”
“Once you are dressed, I could either take you to Laird MacGregor so you may speak with him, or I could take you to the kitchens and sort you out some food. You must be terribly hungry.”
At the mere thought of food, Rosalyn’s stomach betrayed her and allowed June to see exactly how she felt. The growl was so deep that it had the pair of them wondering when she had last eaten.
“I shall take you to the kitchens,” June chuckled lightheartedly. “It shall be good for you to get to know the kitchen staff anyway. They will take to you, I am sure, and it is always better to have the people in charge of the food liking you. It is the best way to make sure you are well taken care of.”
Rosalyn laughed along with June, taking an immediate liking to her as well. Goraidh Castle was filled with the most wonderful people that she had ever met. It was almost like a fairy tale that Rosalyn did not ever want to leave. She felt a connection to the place, like it was where she belonged.
But right now, I do not belong anywhere, she reminded herself. That is something I must figure out.
When Bryson had told June about the strange woman in the forest, she had been consumed with doubt. She did not express this to her boss because she had not ever seen him looking so happy and full of life, but she feared that he had been taken in by a con woman who wanted to take everything from him. That was something that a wealthy widower needed to be wary of, but now that she had gotten herself acquainted with the lady, she could see why Bryson was so taken with her.
Rosalyn was beautiful, breathtaking, and joyful to be around. She had an aura of someone intoxicating, friendly, with a good heart. June prided herself on her ability to sense good and evil within people, and Rosalyn immediately struck her as wonderful. Someone with a heart of gold.
June no longer believed that this woman wanted to trick Bryson and to steal from him. She seemed to have a genuine need to work out who she was and where she had come from. June believed that everyone inside of Goraidh Castle could help her with that. But by the time she remembered who she was, June was sure that no one would want Rosalyn to go. Least of all Bryson.
June had a funny feeling that her boss coming to life as he did up on meeting this woman spoke of the sort of feelings for Rosalyn that he had not experienced for a woman for a very long time. The whole clan wanted him to be happy and to find love, so if this ended in a happy ever after then everyone would be very pleased for him. For Anice as well. That sweet little five-year-old girl really deserved a lovely motherly woman in her life. Perhaps Rosalyn could be that...
Chapter 6
“R osalyn, Rosalyn, I need you to come with me!” Anice yelled, very loudly for a girl who was normally pretty quiet. “I have something to show you, Rosalyn.” She tugged on her hand. “Please, it is important.”
Bryson smiled, overwhelmed with joy. He could not believe how much Anice liked Rosalyn. He had been nervous, introducing them over a month ago after he first brought Rosalyn back to Goraidh Castle after finding her alone and sleeping in the woods, but it had not been warranted. The anxiety was completely unnecessary becau
se they clicked and got on well as if they had always known one another.
Rosalyn still had no idea who she was. Her memories did not seem to be coming back any time soon, which only reinforced what he initially thought about her. That she was his angel.
Rosalyn went willingly with Anice because she adored his young daughter, she loved playing with her and would go along with what she wanted for hours. They also spent a lot of time hugging and telling one another stories. It was the sort of bond that Bryson never thought that he would see Anice have with a woman. It made his heart swell with happiness, his whole body alive with joy.
“She would make a very good wife, you know,” June commented idly from behind him, almost as if she was speaking to herself. Not that Bryson would be fooled by that trick. “For someone, I mean. A great wife and a lovely mother. I am surprised that she has not been asked by anyone already.”
June shot Bryson a playful knowing look. This was not the first time that she had mentioned something like this, and it would not be the last. It was almost as if June could see into his heart and she knew what he thought about Rosalyn. She knew that he had been falling for her ever since he first met her.
Bryson knew that Rosalyn was different the moment that he laid his eyes upon her. He could feel the changes that she stirred within him. Those changes had continually grown and bloomed, every single day he found himself tumbling and falling into deeper feelings for this woman.
“I do not know what you are trying to suggest,” he shot back haughtily. He did not want others to know about these feelings. “She is here to recover, not to find herself a husband.”