Page 7 of Wendy Meets the Highlander Hamish (Scottish Highlander I Never Knew #5)

W endy woke the next morning, dressed and went down to the dining hall only to find that Hamish and his brothers were gone.

There had been another kelpie attack and Cam had sent him and his brothers out to do what they could.

Of course, nobody could tell her what that was and she was very disappointed that she hadn’t been invited to go along.

Hamish had promised her he’d ask Cam, but it seemed as though he hadn’t and now, she was left to her own devices, wondering if or when he’d be back and if she’d ever get to go out with him to help.

The thought was a depressing one and she soon found herself wandering the castle looking for something to do.

She ended up in the library where she browsed some of the books.

“Wendy, what brings you up here?”

Wendy turned to see Catherine coming out from one of the aisles of books with her arms loaded down with tomes. “Hi Catherine. Boredom, I guess? Hamish is out chasing the kelpies and left me behind.”

“And you want to go out there and help, I get it.” She nodded. “Well, since you’re here, maybe you want to read some of the books we’ve got on the Fae?”

Wendy paused and looked over at her. “Wait, you’ve got books on the Fae? Are they in English?”

“For the most part. Theres a couple in Gaelic, but the ones I’m thinking of are in English. Let me grab them for you.” Catherine moved to a shelf and began selecting books and stacking them in Wendy’s arms.

“This is amazing, thanks, Catherine,” Wendy beamed as she crossed the room toward the table Catherine had left her own books at. “Mind if I join you here?”

“Not at all, have a seat. It’s not often I get to have company while I work.” She smiled.

Wendy sat down and began to dive into the first book.

It was all about the Donald Clan and their intwined history with the Fae.

For Wendy it was fascinating to read and she had to wonder why she’d never come across anything like it before.

Frowning, she looked up at Catherine. “Hey, so how come these books exist here, but I never came across them back home? I mean, I’ve studied the Fae and Scottish myths and legends since I was about eleven, and I’ve never read anything like this. ” She pointed to the book in her hands.

Catherine nodded. “I know what you mean, and I’ve discussed this with Eamon.

Not directly about the Fae, but about other things.

My guess is that at some point in the future, all of this will be lost.” She indicated the room.

“I never specifically studied the Donald Clan either, so I can’t say for sure, but I know from my work, that many castles were razed or destroyed in different clan wars.

It possible that will happen at some point in the future.

It’s one of the reasons I’m working on translating several of these, writing new accounts and compiling information from all of this and I plan to get it somewhere safe like the University of Edinburgh.

It’s not called that at the moment, but it will be. ”

“That’s amazing. I wonder…” Wendy trailed off as she thought about the fact, she had been planning to write a book on the supernatural.

“You wonder what?”

“Well, I told you what I was working on before Dub Sith brought me here. I was thinking, maybe I can write it after all. I may not have all the reference books I had before, but I’ve got these…” She indicated the books on the table. “And I’m going to bet there’s more on the shelves, right?”

“Right, but you’ll need to learn Gaelic to read them.”

“I can do that.” Wendy nodded, her mind going a mile a minute. “Do you have some more paper I can use? And a pen and ink?”

Catherine was more than happy to provide Wendy with what she needed and together they each worked on the projects they’d set for themselves.

The following morning, as the Highland sun bathed the castle courtyard in a warm, golden glow, Wendy ventured out to soak in the sights of daily life.

Her steps carried her across the well-trodden stones, worn smooth by centuries of bustling activity.

There, in the courtyard, she spotted Hamish, standing at a distance, his rugged form a striking silhouette against the backdrop of the fort's towering walls. He’d returned and she wondered when.

He turned and saw her, a vibrant smile lighting his face as he noticed her and gave her a wave. Yet Wendy hesitated to approach him, her steps slowing as she realized he wasn’t returning but preparing to leave once again. He was going to go out beyond the fort’s walls without her again.

Hamish readied his saddlebags and checked the weapons at his side, and Wendy couldn't help but marvel at his rugged handsomeness.

His hair, tousled by the Highland breeze, cascaded to his shoulders in wavy locks.

The way his gray eyes took everything in as he focused on his task.

He was just so appealing to her. Wendy watched the way he moved, her heart racing as he deftly fastened the leather straps of his gear.

“Where are you off to this time, Hamish?” she asked, as she took in the fact he was once again wearing a sword. Did they all just walk around with a sword at their side at all times? she wondered. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him without it.

"We're off to track down the kelpies once more," he informed her. “We didnae find them yesterday, so we’ll try again today. Though I am still unsure of what we shall do once we find them.”

“Then let me go with you. I know you’re trying to protect me from myself, but I can help.” Wendy pleaded.

“Lass, I know tis your wish to go, but Cam agrees tis much to perilous for you to be chasing down these creatures with me an’ my brothers. We’ve a task to do, lives we’re sworn to protect, an’ I cannae go against his wishes.”

“But—” she started to argue.

“Lass, we’re going ta be gone for days, living rough, tis nae place for a lady such as yourself,” he said, his tone firm.

As Hamish mounted his horse and prepared to depart with his brothers, Wendy couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration and disappointment. She clenched her fists, her brows furrowing in irritation as she watched him ride away. It stung to be denied the opportunity to prove herself.

With an exasperated huff, Wendy turned on her heel and stomped back into the castle. Her vexation was palpable as she muttered, “Blasted men and their blasted antiquated idea that women can’t take care of themselves.”

During Hamish's absence, Wendy delved further into her work, capitalizing on the unique opportunity of living in a world steeped in legends and folklore.

She soon found herself in the castle's library, immersed in research for her book.

The musty scent of ancient tomes surrounded her as she pored over the texts, transcribing tales of magic and mysticism.

While Hamish was gone, her days revolved around working in the library with Catherine, each of them on their separate projects, meals with the other women or on her own in her room, and dreaming at night of Hamish.

Sometimes in the dreams she would be out with him exploring the Scottish countryside, others they were arguing about the Fae, but for the most part they were pleasant dreams. Despite her being upset with him, she couldn’t deny the fact she was very attracted to him.

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow across the rolling Scottish landscape on the fourth day of Hamish’s absence, Wendy found herself heading into the dining hall alone.

She had long left the library, having needed some time outside where she could smell the salty breeze and the wild flowers growing on the moors.

She’d told Catherine that she’d meet her for dinner, but as she entered the dining hall, she didn’t see her.

She walked forward, passing by tables full of other members of the Donald clan, the tables laden with numerous platters of food.

Looking around she couldn’t decide where to sit.

“Wendy, hey, sorry,” Catherine called, rushing up to her. “I got caught up in one of the books and lost track of time. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

Shaking her head, Wendy replied, “Not yet, no. I was just looking for a place to sit, but there’s no empty tables.”

Catherine smiled. “Yeah, typically there aren’t very often. Come on, we can sit over here. I don’t see the others, and Jen will probably eat with Cam. Eamon’s on duty, I hate when he’s working night shift, but they all have to take their turns.” She shrugged.

“It does seem they do,” Wendy murmured.

While they talked, Cam and Jen entered the dining hall and headed for the high table on the dias.

A couple of time over the last few days, Wendy had eaten up there with them, but she always felt as though she was on display when she did, so she tried not to pretty often.

She was glad Catherine had led her to a table more in the center of the room.

As she and Catherine ate, there was a slight commotion near the doors to the dining hall and then Wendy’s heart stuttered in her chest. Hamish and his brothers had returned. Her gaze tracked him as he, Crisdean, and Artair strode toward the dias and then stood in front of Cam at the high table.

She wondered what he was reporting as he stood there looking confident and smart.

Had he and his brothers found the kelpies?

Was the problem solved? Had they found a way to stop them from attacking?

She couldn’t hear any of what was said over the noise in the room from the various conversations taking place.

Once he finished speaking with Cam, he and his brothers moved to a nearby table and sat down. They began filling their plates and Wendy felt just the slightest bit of disappointment that he hadn’t come over here to join her.

“Damn, you’ve got it bad, don’t you,” Catherine murmured.

Wendy turned her startled gaze to her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She could feel the heat creeping up her neck though, because she knew exactly what Catherine was saying.

“Sweetie, denial is a river in Africa. You can’t fool me.” She grinned.

“Trust you to make a geography joke,” Wendy teased back.

“Go talk to him. I know you want to.”

“But he didn’t even acknowledge me,” Wendy fretted.

“Trust me, he wants to see you. Go talk to him. Maybe even flirt a little,” Catherine suggested.

“You think? I’m not all that great at it,” Wendy admitted with a twist of her lips.

“Just be yourself, you’ll be fine,” Catherine tilted her chin toward Hamish, “go.”

Wendy took a deep breath, gave her a nod and then stood and smoothed down her skirt. She walked over to him and when he looked up, she smiled. “Hamish, I’m so glad you’re back, I’ve missed your company.”

“Have you, lass?” he asked, his eyes twinkling as he grinned up at her. “I’d have thought you were a wee bit angry at me after our last encounter.”

Wendy winced. “Not gonna lie, for a little bit there I wanted to push you off your horse, but I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t have gone the way I imagined because you’re big and strong and I’m…well…I’m just tiny little me.” She snickered as she gestured toward herself.

“I find tiny little you quite fascinating, lass, an’ you’re probably right about it nae going as you imagined were you to do such a thing,” Hamish replied, and there was a heat in his eyes as he gave her what only could be described as a roguish grin.

It made Wendy’s insides melt at the sight of it and she had to gulp and wonder what exactly had she gotten herself into. “Um, well, would you mind if I join you?”

“I’d like that, lass, though I must admit I’ve trouble focusing when you’re around.”

The look in his eyes was just this side of vulnerable, but held quite a lot of heat too and it had Wendy feeling giddy with excitement. She hoped this was his way of telling her that he was just as interested in her as she was in him.

Wendy awoke from a night of passionate dreams, her heart still racing from the sensual fantasies that all centered around the enigmatic Hamish.

The dreams had been so vivid that when she’d woken, she actually looked next to her in the bed, half expecting to find him next to her.

She flopped back against the pillow and sighed.

She wanted that connection with him more than she wanted anything with anyone in her life ever.

It was like her body craved his, craved him and she wouldn’t be satisfied until they’d finally gotten together.

With that in mind, she got up and dressed, planning to go in search of him and see if they could further the little bit of progress they’d made last night in their flirtation.

However, as she reached the grand hall, she discovered that he had departed once more without so much as a goodbye.

Her emotions were a tumultuous mix of desire and confusion, intensified by the hot-and-cold nature of their interactions.

He hadn’t mentioned last night that he’d be leaving again so soon, and she was now filled with disappointment.

Sitting in her room alone, she longed for the day when Hamish would finally reveal the depth of his feelings, and she could do the same. Until then, she was left to grapple with her own desires and the mysteries of this enchanting place.