Page 3 of Wendy Meets the Highlander Hamish (Scottish Highlander I Never Knew #5)

H amish walked with Wendy back to his horse and mounted, then said, “Jest put your wee foot in the stirrup and take my hand, then swing your leg over Thunder’s hind end, lass.”

Wendy did as he said, rather gracefully she thought and then slid forward, wrapping her arms around Hamish’s middle so she wouldn’t fall off. She’d ridden before but usually on her own, never with anyone.

“Hold tight, lass, wouldnae want you ta fall off and get hurt,” Hamish said, patting her hands at his waist.

As Hamish nudged Thunder into motion, Wendy took in the view.

The very idea of being here, amidst the wilds of seventeenth century Scotland, seemed surreal.

Her heart was aflutter with anticipation and curiosity, and she wondered if she would truly discover the secrets she so ardently sought in this mystical realm.

She was already well on her way considering how she’d gotten here in the first place, and she truly hoped for more.

Wendy couldn't deny the curiosity that lingered in her thoughts about Hamish. He was exactly how she had pictured Highlanders from this era. Rugged and handsome, muscular and brawny. And charming, which Hamish clearly was. Her fingers were itching to explore him, but she kept them still. For all she knew he could be married, and she didn’t want to be poaching on someone else’s man.

A surge of questions and speculation surged within her. She wondered how willing he’d be to answer them. As they rode, she studied him. He certainly knew his way around a horse. The beast listened to every cue he gave it, and they were practically flying over the moors.

And then there was the instant attraction she felt the moment she laid eyes upon him, but that was nothing compared to how being pressed against his back was setting her body on fire.

It was a good thing he couldn’t see how turned on she was, he’d probably think she was some sex starved nymphomaniac, the way her face was currently flaming at being so close to him.

“Have you ever been to Scotland afore in your time, lass?” Hamish asked, startling her out of her thoughts.

“I haven’t but I’ve always dreamt of coming here. Well not here -here, since I didn’t know that was possible, but here in my time here. Sorry I’m not trying to be confusing,” she said with a laugh.

“I understand, lass, tis a lot to take in and you’re doing well.” Hamish chuckled. “Do you know much about Scotland? About Islay?”

Wendy nodded. “Not as much as I’d like. I know that Islay is the southern most island of Scotland on the west coast, that it sits in the Sea of Hebrides and that it’s actually nicknamed the Queen of the Hebrides.”

“Aye all of that tis true,” Hamish replied. “Tis also where many of the Fae like to spend their time when in our world.”

“Is it really? That’s amazing,” Wendy answered. “What part of Islay are we in? Are we near the west coast or the east or somewhere in the middle?”

Hamish chuckled. “Fort Donald is situated nearest to a town called Ballygrant, which is up head, though, tis still a good ride from there to Fort Donald. Where Dub Sith brought you tis near Loch Finlaggan.”

Wendy listened with rapt attention, her heart swelling with an appreciation for the gorgeous landscape around them. “Can you tell me about Fort Donald? How many people live there? You said there were other women from the future. How many are here?” she peppered him with questions.

“Slow down, lass,” he said, chuckling. “We are at low numbers of the moment, having had some past issues with another clan, so we’ve barely a hundred people residing at the fort itself and a handful more in the wee village around it.”

“Past issues? You mean clan wars? Are you currently warring with another clan? Should I be concerned that we might be ambushed while out riding?” Wendy asked, her mind racing a mile a minute.

“Aye, tis a long and dark history we have, lass, though at the moment, nae, we are nae at war with any clans, though tensions are always high between us and the Campbells. So nae, you donnae have to worry about another clan attacking us, but there are bandits who will, so always be on your guard.”

“Bandits?” That word gave her pause. She hadn’t considered them. “Do we have to worry about them very often?”

“Nae normally, nae. But the past year has been troublesome. A group o’ Campbells were murdered nae too long past, end o’ last summer in fact, by a group of bandits. We put a stop to ‘em, but their leader escaped. We’re still on the hunt for him.”

Wendy shuddered, thinking about some random guy out there murdering people with none of the modern kind of policing or equipment to track him down. Looking around, she could see anyone who was resourceful could probably live out here in the wilds forever without being discovered.

As Wendy thought about what he’d just said, she asked, “You said the ones murdered were Campbells, but you also said there was tension between you and the Campbells, so why would you, the Donalds, put a stop to the bandits and hunt for the leader?”

“T’was the right thing to do, but also the Laird, Colin Campbell, owns the Donald land and threatened to raze our fort if we didnae find them.”

“That’s not normal, is it? For one clan to own the land of another?

Did you get into some financial trouble or something?

” she asked as they entered a town that looked straight out of a history book.

She half wanted to ask him to stop, but he and his brothers kept riding straight through the town without halting.

Hamish’s chest rumbled with his growl. “Nae, tis not normal, lass. But tis a long story best saved for another time.”

“Okay,” Wendy accepted that. “Can you tell me about some of the Fae that are here?”

“Aye, that I can do. The Fae and the Donalds are allies. We seek wisdom and sometimes healing from Aine, who is a wise woman and half-Fae. She lives on a small isle in the middle of Loch Ballygrant. Then there is Dub Sith, who you’ve met.

He’s a black elf who once joined my ancestor in battle against the Macleans.

Then after a particular incident with the Campbells where they murdered many of our clan, most o’ the women included, he vowed to restore us,” he said hesitantly, as though he was holding something back.

Wendy was curious to know what that was, but she didn’t push. Instead she asked, “And then there’s the kelpie, but are there any other Fae creatures here?”

“Oh, aye, we’ve had our fair share of run ins with sprites, brownies, and elves and various others. Mischievous, they are, for the most part. They visit from time to time, cause a wee bit o’ trouble, then return to their world.”

Wendy had always felt that the legends and myths she’d researched were true, so being here and hearing firsthand accounts was thrilling.

She was beyond excited to get to be in a place where she might get the chance to encounter more of the creatures and supernatural beings she’d studied for so long.

“Can you tell me about some of the trouble this kelpie has caused?” Wendy asked.

“Well, I mentioned before that we’re hunting the leader o’ the bandits, aye?”

“You did yes, but what does he have to do with the kelpie?”

“You see, mysterious lights were seen at the ruins, and we had word that Malcolm had been seen in the area, so a group went out to investigate.”

“Are those the ruins near where Dub Sith left me?”

“Aye, lass. Tis the ruins of the old Donald Castle.” He nodded. “We’ve heard rumors that the bandits are staying there, and that the leader was ridin’ a stunningly beautiful white horse that will nae let anyone touch it besides the leader. Tis nae normal that.”

Wendy frowned. “Do you think it’s a kelpie?” she asked.

“We cannae be sure, but I can tell you that since its appearance, the kelpies in Loch Finlaggan have been acting up. There’s been numerous attacks an’ their behavior has been more frenzied o’ late.” Hamish sounded frustrated and at his wit’s end.

“So do you normally go out trying to fix things with the Fae creatures?” Wendy asked.

He gauffed at that. “Nae. Cam, our Chief, thought I might be able to help because I have a way with horses, which kelpie certainly are, o’ sorts, but this one… tis only a horse sometimes. Tis disturbing.”

“So are you the stablemaster then?” she asked.

“Nae. I do help in the stables, but I am nae the stablemaster. I am actually the blacksmith. Artair and Crisdean are guardsmen.”

“I see,” Wendy murmured, as they reached the edge of another loch. “What loch is that?” she pointed out to the left.

“Loch Ballygrant. We’re nearly home. If’n you look up yonder,” he pointed ahead and slightly upward, “you’ll see Fort Donald at the top o’ the hill.”

Wendy leaned around his large form and then up the way he pointed and nearly gasped.

Up head of them lay a smaller village with stone and thatch roofed cottages, a small chapel and what looked like barns with livestock.

Beyond that was a huge hill with a winding road that led up to a huge wood and stone wall with a gate, but above that she could see the top of what looked like a castle.

“I can’t believe it,” she said with wonder.

“Tis a brilliant sight, tis it nae, lass?” Hamish said, his voice full of pride.

“It is.” She was in complete awe of the sight. She couldn’t wait to get up there and take it all in.