Page 17 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

17

L ucas didn’t waste any time the next day. After he saw his grandmother start to walk with Caitlin outside of the castle, he left, riding Searbas to the church not far, down in the valley to the east of the castle. There was a chapel in the castle as well, but the minister enjoyed his solitude in the church below, and it was closer to the nearest village.

As he rode in, the minister stepped out from the doorway, and looked up at Lucas with a smile. He wasn’t much older than Lucas, and the blasted man was always trying to get Lucas to attend church, but Lucas was perfectly content staying at home. Sometimes, he would sit in the chapel at home, but it only made him think of his parents.

“Well, Laird McDougall! What a pleasure and a pleasant surprise!” The minister kept grinning as he walked closer, his black hair tied back with a bit of leather. He wore long robes, but his face was so young, it seemed an odd mixture.

“I thought ye might think so, Minister MacMillan,” Lucas said wryly.

He jumped down from Searbas and felt a little gratified that he stood a bit taller than the minister. The man could continue to spew his words of attempting to bring Lucas back to the church, but Lucas knew he could silence him if he so desired.

“I have a favor to ask of ye.”

“Of course. I am at yer service, Me Laird.” Lucas was irritated already when the young minister bowed.

“Fine, fine. Now, I have brought a lass under me protection. Seamus MacLennan’s sister. I believe ye’ve met him a time or two at a feast.”

“Aye, so I have. Pleasant lad. Kind face.”

“I am afraid that he has died. He was a traveling merchant, as ye ken, and—,” Lucas felt his throat go thick, and he cleared it. Now was not the time to show his emotions. Minister MacMillan would love to see that. “And his ship was overtaken by a storm. There were very few survivors.”

“Dear God, I am sorry to hear it.” The minister folded his hands together, and his eyes crinkled with sadness. “He was a good man. I ken ye were good friends with him.”

“Aye, and now I have assumed protection of his sister. She is at the Castle now. Her name is Caitlin.”

“How very Christian of ye, Laird.” The minister put his hand on Lucas’ shoulder. “Ye must call upon me if ye need any help, or if she desires to have a minister for prayer.”

“That is why I am here. Ye have heard of the feast at the Castle come tomorrow.”

“Aye, a message was sent round.”

“But I want it to also be a proper funeral for Seamus. In spirit only, of course. I thought perhaps ye might perform a ceremony for us, and then the feast will be a funeral feast, celebrating Seamus’ life and honoring his death.”

Minister MacMillan put a hand on his chest. “I would be honored, Me Laird. I am glad ye thought of me. Tomorrow, ye say?”

“Aye. Mornin’ if possible.”

“I will make all the necessary preparations. Do ye have a place ye would like to have it?”

“I think it should be in the chapel, and then I will have a stone put out behind the Castle, close to the sea. It would be most appropriate.”

“Very good.” The minister smiled. “I would be happy to.”

“Thank ye, Minister. Ye will make the lass very happy.” Lucas turned to go, and he jumped into his saddle when the minister spoke again.

“I am lookin’ forward to meetin’ her. If she is Seamus’ sister, then I ken she is a good and kind woman, deservin’ of such protection.”

Lucas nodded but said nothing else and turned to ride back to the castle. When he returned, he found Sarah passing by on the way of doing her duties.

Lucas hurried to grab a basket from her arms, but she pulled it back. “Lucas Murdoch, dae nae dare take me job from me. I am nay invalid, and ye may tell that to me husband. I have done this once before, and I will dae it again.”

Smirking, Lucas held up his hands in defeat. “Fine. But if he comes to blame me for nae helpin’ ye, then I will tell him it is all yer fault.”

“Perfect. He will believe ye instantly.” Sarah grinned at him, shifting the basket on her arm. “Yer Nan told me what ye are doin’ for the lass. She will like that, Lucas.”

Lucas put a finger to his lips and looked around the passageway. “Ye must say nothin’. It is to be a surprise.”

“Well, I think it very kind of ye. We will all be there for the ceremony. Since when did ye get so nice, Lad?” she asked, reaching up to pat Lucas on the shoulder.

He grumbled, “Why does everyone keep askin’ me that?”

Laughing, Sarah grinned. “I’m just glad to hear ye doin’ this. I worried that ye would nae ever want to see her again while ye were in the Castle. But she will be very happy.”

Lucas shifted on his feet, and he rubbed at a sore spot on the back of his neck, uncomfortable with what he was about to ask.

“How was it when me and Archie were away? Did she…get on well?”

Lucas wanted to roll his eyes at the sparkle he could see in Sarah’s gaze. A satisfied look it was.

“Aye, so she did. She is kind, and she has helped me with Colin time and time again. She has learned the Castle well enough too so that she doesn’t need someone to guide her anymore. I was amazed.”

So was he. It had been very quick for her to learn the castle enough that she could come down the stairs and walk around the castle outside. But he was not entirely surprised. From what he knew of Caitlin, she was determined and intelligent, and she was used to looking after herself, with Seamus away so much.

“Good. I am glad. Thank ye, Sarah.”

“See ye in the mornin’.” She squeezed Lucas’ arm, and he watched her walk away, struggling a little with the basket as she held it under her arm.

He shook his head at her, annoyed that she would not accept help, but he walked away, needing a bit of physical exercise to get him through the nervousness of the afternoon. Now that things were underway, he was worried about how Caitlin would take the plans.

Walking through the castle to find the practice area, he wondered how she would feel about what he’d done. Would she be upset that he had not consulted her? Would she wish that she could have been involved? Would she have preferred the minister from her own village to come?

When he arrived in the stone room, filled with weapons, it was empty, and he let out a breath of relief. He removed his shirt until he was bare chested, only wearing his kilt, belt, and boots. His swung his sword in a circle in his hand, weaving it in front and around him, stretching and warming his muscles.

He poised himself in front of one of the hay figures built for practice, and he stepped forward, swinging the sword against the dummy. Over and over, he hit and swung, until a light sheen of sweat covered his skin, and his breath came fast and hard.

“Why did ye nae ask me?”

Lucas turned to see Archie at the door, smiling, and pulling off his shirt, tossing it to the floor.

“I dinnae wish to trouble anyone. Have a bit of thinkin’ to dae.”

“Aye, well, I will help ye as I always dae.” Archie winked and picked up his sword, standing across from Lucas. “Besides, the dummy will never help ye improve in yer skills. Those two men would have killed ye if I wasnae there.”

“Ha!” Lucas said, getting into position, deflecting Archie’s first blow. “I ken ye lie. But ye are right. I dae like to fight against a lesser warrior. Keeps me skills sharp.” He ducked out of the way of another swing from Archie and reached up to hit him in the side with the flat of his sword.

With a humph, Archie swung around and got Lucas on the arm. “So what are ye thinkin’ about? Sarah told me about the funeral.”

“Aye. What dae ye think?”

Chuckling, Archie danced to avoid Lucas’ swings. “I cannae remember the last time ye asked me for me opinion.”

“Another lie,” Lucas said, catching Archie on the hip.

“Fine then. But I dae enjoy teasin’. I think the funeral is a perfect idea. I was surprised ye’d nae thought of it before.”

“Caitlin made me think of it.”

“Och, so that’s it.” Archie spoke like he was just about to laugh, and Lucas groaned, knowing what his friend was going to say.

“Go on then. What is it?”

“That is why ye decided to dae somethin’ nice for someone. Because of that lass. I’m glad she is around then.”

Lucas with a glower, swung hard, but Archie was too quick. He kept laughing, making Lucas growl with anger.

“Why dae ye nae think I could dae somethin’ good? Dae ye hold such a low opinion of me?”

“Nay. Ye’d be surprised at what I think of ye, Lucas,” Archie winked. “But I dae think I ken what ye think of the new lass.”

With a loud yell, Lucas jumped up, hitting Archie across the chest. Archie yelped in pain, and he jumped back.

“See? I think I was right?”

They parried now, their swords hitting against one another with loud metal cracks. “I mean to honor me friend, Seamus. Ye ken how much he meant to me.”

“Aye, so I dae,” Archie said, throwing one last swing, before he put down his sword and stepped back. “I daenae wish ye to think I thought little of that kindness. Seamus was a good man, and he deserves the honor.”

Breathing hard, Lucas tamped down his anger. He was never really angry at Archie, but he didn’t like people guessing as to the inner workings of his heart and mind. He was doing enough of that himself.

“Thank ye, Archie.” He reached across and shook his friend’s hand.

He wiped his face with his forearm, and he turned to the doorway where he saw a flash of color and heard a little squeak. Walking to the door, he leaned against the doorjamb, watching as Caitlin raced away as fast as she could manage and disappeared around another corner.

To his own surprise, he smirked, feeling smugly satisfied. It seemed that Caitlin had come to see him.