Page 22 of Wendy Meets the Highlander Hamish (Scottish Highlander I Never Knew #5)

I n the liminal space between night and day, Wendy woke to the early morning twilight tiptoeing across the ancient ruins that adorned the edge of Loch Finlaggan.

The sky, a canvas of ethereal hues, painted itself in soft strokes of lavender, pink, and azure, signaling the pending sunrise.

It was a beautiful and magical sight, one she would never get used to as it was always an amazing sight to behold.

The looming stones of the ruins, cloaked in moss and history, stood as silent witnesses to the beginnings of the day.

As the sun’s first light embraced them, shadows danced, casting intricate patterns on the weathered surfaces.

A gentle breeze, laden with the scents of loch and heather, stirred the air, whispering through the camp like a lullaby.

Birds heralded the impending day, each note they sang resonating with the promise of a new beginning.

A soft nicker carried on the breeze called to her and she shifted in Hamish’s arms. There was something about it that drew her attention.

It wasn’t the normal nicker she was used to from their horses, there was something off about it.

When she heard the sound again, she sat up, waking Hamish as she did.

“What tis it, love?” he murmured.

“I think it’s the kelpie,” she whispered.

More fully awake, Hamish sat up too and listened. When the sound came again, he nodded. “You could be right, love, let us ready ourselves and have a look.”

Moving out of his arms and standing from her bedroll, Wendy reached for the comfortable wide-legged pants she’d had Bridie make for her.

She slipped them on under the night dress she wore.

Pulling her arms from the night dress, she picked up the top and slipped her arms into it, tying it into place under the gown, then pulled the night dress from her head.

Once she and Hamish were fully dressed for the day, they crept between the walls of the ruins and looked out toward the loch. Hamish glanced at the guard on duty. “How long has it been there?” he asked.

“Nae long, you were already up and dressing, so I figured you’d heard him.”

Nodding, Hamish said, “I’ll wake Artair to get the others up. Keep watch.”

“Aye, I will.”

Wendy and Hamish left the safety of the ruins and moved closer, but not close enough for the kelpie to attack them. The equine creature, mane aglow in the early morning light, nickered softly.

Wendy, caught in the silent exchange, declared, "We’ll follow you."

Hamish and Wendy turned back toward the ruins for their horses so they could keep up with the kelpie. They mounted their horses and returned to the area near the loch. They saw the kelpie waiting for them and though they didn’t get too close, they moved in its direction.

"I hope we're nae walking into a trap," Hamish murmured as they watched it walking along the edge of the loch.

“I don’t think we are. The kelpie hasn’t tried to come at us, it’s leading us somewhere. See how it looks back to make sure we’re following?”

“Aye, the question is, love, where is it leading us to.”

They passed the ruins where they were camping, and the kelpie kept going for another half a mile. It paused and looked back toward them then off to the west away from the loch.

“What is that?” Wendy asked, pointing toward where the kelpie was looking.

From what she could see, there was another set of ruins. Not as large as the ones they were camping in, but it had stone walls that were crumbling, and the roof was mostly gone.

“Tis the ruins of Castle Finlaggan.”

“Who are those people in there?” Wendy asked as she saw movement beyond the walls. “They look…” she trailed off because she didn’t want to say poor, exactly, but their clothing wasn’t in the best shape, and they looked pretty rough. “Are there homeless people around here?”

“Nae, love, nae person here is without a home, unless they chose it. This looks like a bandit encampment, but—” Hamish stopped short and sucked in a breath.

At that moment, a man led a magnificent pure white horse from inside the walls out to the grounds surrounding the ruined castle. There was an ethereal beauty to the creature, and Wendy noticed that the horse’s mane glistened as though it was wet. “Is that…?” she gasped.

“Aye, lass. Tis wearing an iron bridle.” Hamish’s tone was harsh.

“They’ve taken the kelpie’s mate, that’s his mate,” Wendy said suddenly understanding exactly why the black coated kelpie had been attacking people.

His mate had been stolen from him and was in agonizing pain.

“We’ve got to save her, Hamish, we have to.

They can’t—” Wendy’s heart ached as she watched.

“Aye, lass, we must rescue the kelpie from these ruffians. The question is how to do so without harmin’ the creature.”

Wendy looked to their kelpie and nodded. “We’ll help, I don’t know how yet, but we’ll get her free,” she swore.

The kelpie stood, gazing at them, ancient wisdom in its eyes. It tipped its head down in acknowledgement before it turned toward the water of the loch and ran into the water.

Wendy looked back at Hamish. “How are going to free her, Hamish?”

Hamish's eyes widened as he watched the scene. He seemed astonished and in disbelief as the group of bandits came into clearer view. “By God’s bones,” he muttered.

“What is it?” Wendy murmured, keeping her voice as low as his.

“Tis my cousin Malcolm.”

“Your cousin is a bandit?”

Hamish glanced at her. “Aye, he has been banished from the family, from the clan an’ has been a thorn in our side for more’n a year. If you will recall, we’d had reports of him in the area. The Laird, Colin Campbell wants him for the death of several Campbells.”

Wendy did recall him saying something about that when she first arrived. “I’d forgotten. And that’s him? The one with the kelpie now?”

“Aye, tis no mistaking him. Tis Malcolm, the miscreant.” Hamish’s tone was harsh.

Wendy watched the man in question from where they were hidden in the copse of trees next to the loch. She was glad they were out of the view of the bandits, because she feared the two of them were unprepared if those men chose to come after them.

“So what do we do? How do we free the kelpie and capture this man who has caused your clan so much trouble?”

“Let us return to our encampment, we’ll figure a plan there.” Hamish gave the group of bandits one last look and then turned his horse back the way they came.

Following his lead, Wendy turned her horse too, hoping that by the time they reached their camp, they’d have a plan.