Highland Pride

by Dana D'Angelo

  He sat at his table, his head bent and his fingers threaded through his hair. The flask of whisky was empty, but it had no effect in numbing the anger inside of him. But then the temper changed into something else. Even though he forced himself not to explore the dark memories, the images of the past continued to play on his mind. Soon, he sank further into his gloom.

  William had tried to forget about Kila, but she somehow had taken hostage of his thoughts. Everywhere he looked, he saw her graceful figure moving throughout the fortress, and he was forced to seek sites that weren’t permeated with her memory. That didn’t leave many places for him to go.

  His hand automatically reached for the nearby cup, but he pushed it aside when he remembered that it was empty.

  He could never forgive Kila for what she had done, a voice inside his head raged. She had no right to expose the secret that he kept for all these years. It was true that the feud with Clan MacHewen was now finished, but he couldn’t forget the vow he made to Anna.

  When his older brother had died unexpectedly, William had to step up, and take on a position that he never wanted. But of course, he understood his duty, and he became the new clan chief. At the time, he wasn’t even over the death of his first wife. But he kept himself distracted. He spent much time away engaged in battles and working to bring peace to his clansmen. As the pressure mounted, he knew he needed a woman that would take charge of his household when he was away. Based on her background, Anna MacHewen seemed like the ideal woman to fit that role. Unfortunately, while unknown to him, she suffered from loneliness and neglect. Her misery was so immense that she decided to end her life. Ultimately, he failed not one but two wives.

  Years later, his grief had subsided somewhat, and he never expected to find another woman to love. Then Kila entered his life. Since her arrival, her presence had an immediate and positive effect on everyone around her. For years he had kept Anna’s suicide a secret, but now that it was out in the open, the animosity from the MacHewen Clan had disappeared. Clearly, Kila had helped bring about this harmony. She also brought hope to his life. Was he wrong to let her go? More and more questions crashed down on his head. And slowly, his rage began to dissipate.

  William’s gaze fell on the parchment and pen that lay on his desk. He dragged the sheepskin over and picked up the writing implement. And somehow, the words came out of nowhere and began to fill the sheet.

  At the light tap on the oak door, he looked up. He debated whether to ignore the disturbance, but he realized that he had to stop brooding and get back to governing the clan.

  “Enter,” he said, putting down his pen.

  The door creaked open, and his mother and daughter came inside.

  “The servants said that ye were here,” his mother said. She pushed Isabel in front of her. “Your daughter insists on seeing ye.”

  Isabel cast her eyes to the ground, and once again, she reverted to being a silent child.

  “Come here, Isabel,” he said.

  His daughter obeyed and approached him. When she looked up, he saw unshed tears in her eyes.

  “What is the matter?” he asked, his tone gentle.

  “I miss Kila,” Isabel said. “Things are different now that she’s gone.”

  “Well, I dinnae miss her,” his mother said, closing the door behind her. “The servants took directives from her, and they dinnae listen tae me. If she stayed any longer, she would have permanently impaired the chain of command. Now she can become some other man’s burden. I’m proud that ye stood your ground, and told her tae leave. Just like your father and brother before ye, ye put the clan’s interest first.”

  Her comment caused him to pause and he frowned. Ever since he took over as chief, he had always put the needs of the clan first. When he sent Kila away, he wasn’t thinking about himself. Rather, he wanted to keep his promise and protect Anna and his clan from scandal.

  But now it was time to consider his needs. Until Isabel voiced it, he didn’t want to admit how much he missed Kila. He had refused to believe it, but Kila really did change his life for the better. He wasn’t happy that she overstepped her boundaries and went behind his back. But at the same time, he realized she didn’t act out of malice. Her actions were done with a pure heart, and the belief that the deeds were right for him and his clan. She had also assisted him in finding out about Iagan who had worked against him for years. He was so used to protecting others that he couldn’t see that she was trying to protect him. If he kept her away, he would be a damn fool. What more, he wasn’t cursed. And he had the power to try to undo the damage he caused.

  He rolled up the parchment and abruptly got up from his chair.

  “Where are ye going, Da?” Isabel asked as she moved out of his way.

  “Aye, what is the haste?” Kaithren added, alarm creeping into her voice.

  “I have tae do what’s right for the clan,” he said as he headed out of the door.

  ***

  “Kila, someone is here tae see ye,” Rory said, his voice booming across the quiet room.

  She glanced at her brother who stood near the door of the solar. Ewan was at his side.

  “Ye might want tae see this visitor,” her younger brother added.

  Mairead, Darra, Adrina, and Sileas looked at the clan chief with interest. But none of them seemed willing to ask the obvious question as to why he had come. The only time Rory visited the solar was when he had news to deliver in person. Or like last time, when he wanted Kila to entertain a respected clan leader. Everyone in the room knew this, and Mairead, especially, looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. Ever since Kila had come back from Domlainn Castle, she sensed that her sister worried about her.

  “I dinnae feel like entertaining anyone at the moment,” she said.

  “I’m afraid your visitor willnae take that excuse well.”

  She turned back to the window, staring blankly at the landscape. She considered that it might be Henry MacIachlan. As an afterthought, she added, “Just tell him that I’ve taken ill.”

  “He wouldnae like that excuse either,” a deep voice said at the door.

  The unmistakable brogue pierced her brain. But she was afraid to pivot and discover that she was imagining the familiar voice that kept her up at night.

  “Kila,” the man spoke again.

  She turned her head slowly, looking toward the entrance of the solar.

  “William,” she said, her heart singing at the sight of him. He had one hand behind his back as he smiled at her.

  But then the joy at seeing him faded, and she swallowed, remembering their awful parting. She forced her pulse to calm down as she studied her visitor. Dark stubble grew on his chin, and he appeared as if he had traveled nonstop to get to her home.

  “Why are ye here?” she asked, hiding her turbulent emotions. He was like a ghost from her past, and she didn’t know what to make of him.

  “I’d like tae ken why ye are here too.” A fierce frown formed on Ewan’s lips and he crossed his arms over his chest. “The last time we saw ye, ye told Kila tae leave your castle.”

  She nodded. More often than not, her twin could give voice to her thoughts.

  “I was wrong tae do that.” William looked at her younger brother, and then at her. “I’m here because I want tae apologize for being an ass. Please, take these,” he said, thrusting something at her. She looked down and saw an array of freshly picked wildflowers. Each bloom was carefully chosen, and all were vivid and beautiful.

  “I also have a poem for ye,” he added.

  “A poem?” she asked confused.

  Before she could say anything else, he took hold of her hand and guided her to a stool near the others.

  “Aye, ‘tis something I wrote.”

  “I dinnae understand. From what I remember, ye dislike flowery words.”

  The image of William scoffing and laughing at the idea of poetry danced in her memory. Did he come here to make fun of her? Because if he did, it wasn’t amusing at all.
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br />   A contrite look appeared on his face. “Clearly, I have a lot tae learn.”

  She looked past William and saw everyone in the room watching them with rapt attention.

  Rory caught her glance and waved his hand at them. “Never mind us,” he said. “Continue on.”

  “Show us why ye came,” Ewan said, finding a seat among the women.

  William winced a little, but he dropped to one knee, making him level with her. He brought out a parchment that he had tucked in his shirt. Unrolling it, his fingers gripped the sheepskin as if it was an important legal document.

  A flush began at his neck and slowly rose to his cheeks. He cleared his voice. “Ye might think this poem is terrible, but ‘tis written from my heart.”

  Then taking a deep breath, he started his poem. He continued to look uncomfortable, but he forged ahead, sweeping his hand dramatically in the air as he described the beauty and yearning of his subject.

  My love for ye is like pure air,

  That swirls round the misty mountain;

  My love for ye is like fine, sweet music,

  That makes my heart sing and soar.

  My bonnie lass, how I love thee;

  I will love ye, my dear

  Through all the seasons.

  Through all the seasons, my dear,

  E’en as the green buds burst and grow,

  And as the purple heather blooms o’er heath.

  I will love thee still, my dear,

  E’en as the brown leaves fall tae earth,

  And as the snow blankets the Highland hills.

  Ye are my true love, pure and sweet.

  Through all the seasons, ye will be mine.

  Now and forevermore,

  Ye are my one true love.

  Kila clapped her hands over her mouth as a tear ran down her cheek. The poem was awful, and he looked a little uncomfortable performing it, especially with so many people in attendance. But none of that mattered. As he began his poem, he forgot his audience, and his voice grew stronger. The sincerity and meaning of each word washed over her, and she felt a tremendous wave of warmth.

  When he finished reciting his poem, she got up and reached for his hand, pulling him up from the ground.

  “Ye dinnae have tae prove tae me what true love is. I ken ‘tis ye.”

  “Och, my bonnie lass. I love ye,” he said, tenderly caressing her cheek. “I hope ye will reconsider and marry me.”

  “’Tis already done.” Kila went on her tippy toes and pressed her lips to his, sealing her intentions. “There is nay man I’d rather marry but ye.”

  Thank You

  My heartfelt thanks for supporting an indie author. Your consideration in writing a review or even telling a friend that you enjoyed this story helps a ton.

  Also as a thank you, I’d like to give you a free digital copy of Heart of a Knight for signing up for my newsletter. The two characters featured in this story are very close to my own heart. Others have generously rated this story, and I hope you enjoy it too.

  Simply visit my website at the link below, and you can be reading this book in the next few minutes.

  Many thanks,

  Dana D’Angelo

  Acknowledgment

  Thanks to my husband for all your help. Thanks as well to my friends and fans for you continued support. Much love to all!

  About The Author

  Dana D’Angelo is the only girl from a family of nine children. As a teenager, there was a constant battle for the T.V. remote, which she lost, so she was forced to find her amusement in books. A friend got her into romances, and soon she read as many as ten romance novels per week, spending hours with her nose pressed between the pages, skipping meals and cutting out sleep. Life, it seemed, wasn’t as exciting or interesting as in the Medieval or Regency eras.

  It wasn’t until she was married with two young kids that she decided to take a stab at writing her own historical romance novels.

  She is intrigued by the idea of writing romantic stories that could bring hours of enjoyment to readers, help them escape from reality, and perhaps remind them how sweet love is and should be. These are the things that she enjoys as a reader, and these are the things that she wants to give back as a writer.

  Dana lives in a city east of Toronto, Canada. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s dining at local restaurants with her husband and kids and enjoying spectacular foods of the world.

  Website: www.dana-dangelo.com

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dana.dangelo.books

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanaD_author

  Glossary

  For your reference, I’ve compiled a short list of Scottish terms and words that I used in this story:

  Aiya — Ouch, a sound of distress

  Arisaid — A Scottish woman’s dress that is similar to a highlander’s great kilt.

  Bairn — A child

  Blaeberry — Known also as the European blueberry or bilberry. The fruit is referred to as blaeberry in Scotland and is different from the North American variety

  Bonny — Attractive or beautiful

  Braw — Beautiful, fine or handsome

  Burn — Small stream or brook

  Ceilidh — A ceilidh is a social gathering where people entertained each other by sharing legendary tales, poems, and songs.

  Claymore — Double-edged sword that Highland warriors used

  Great Kilt — Originating in the 16th century, this full-length garment worn by Highlanders was known as the belted plaid or great kilt. The fabric was approximately nine yards, and was pleated and secured with a belt. The lower portion of the great kilt was adjusted to come up to a man’s knees. The upper half of the garment could be modified to either drape over the shoulders or be worn as a hood. A pin or a brooch might also be used to hold the excess material together at the shoulder.

  Loch — A lake

  Ken — Know

  Och — Oh

  Thrift — A pink wildflower with globular blooms. This plant is a hardy perennial that grows along the Scottish coastline. They can also be found on rocky cliffs, salt marshes, and other sandy terrain.

  Tryst — A tryst, in a Scottish sense, is a marketplace or fair where people from all over Scotland converged to buy and sell black cattle, sheep, and horses. These trysts were usually held each year at a specific time and place.

  Sept — A branch of a Scottish clan

  Stone Put — A game that is similar to shot put. It uses ordinary stone or rock instead of a steel ball. There are different versions of the game, but the main goal is for contestants to throw the stone as far as they can while using only one hand.

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