Page 27 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

27

“ H ow in God’s name did ye ken about that?” Lucas asked finally, once his words returned to him, and Archie had finished wiping the tears of mirth from his face.

“Sarah. She saw ye leave with Caitlin on yer arm, and it was noted ye dinnae return. I also went to yer chamber this morn to deliver the message about the skirmishes that had come in at dawn and found ye werenae there. And werenae anywhere else either.”

“What of it?” The food arrived, and he fell onto it, filling his mouth so that he didn’t have to answer any of Archie’s probing questions right away.

“Come now, Lad,” Archie said. “We are old friends, even if ye are me laird. Will ye nae tell me what happened? I can see there is somethin’ different with Caitlin and between the two of ye. Why hide it? She is a lovely lass.”

“Aye, that is the problem,” Lucas said harshly, stuffing another bit of bread into his mouth and chewing as he stared into the flames.

The memory of the cold rain on his skin had faded as he and his friend sat warm and dry. He thought of Caitlin’s request for him to stay, how her hands had clung to him so tightly, he’d never wanted to leave.

“She is too good. Too pure.” Darting his eyes back to Archie’s, he said, “Ye remember me faither. Heart as dark as sin it was. Gave me maither, me, and me Nan nothin’ but grief and pain.”

He remembered the feel of Caitlin’s fingers on his bare back, wondering how and why she’d said naught about the scars she’d certainly found there.

“She deserves more than me, Lad. I made a vow I wouldnae marry and taint others with whatever evil blood runs in me veins.” After that, he took another bite, his heart crying out for him to do more than this.

Archie sighed, and he shook his head. “I cannae claim to ken what it is like to have such a faither, but I dae ken this. Ye are nae him.”

Lucas looked away while Archie continued, “Ye think ye are some beast because ye scowl and grumble, but that is all ye dae. Ye fight for who ye love; ye keep yer grandmaither in comfort and peace, as well as the rest of us. Ye protect yer clan, and ye have just given shelter to a young lass who is now alone in the world. Yer heart is pure, Lucas, whatever else ye might think. Ye have never raised yer hand to a woman in violence, either. Caitlin is a good woman, and goodness shines out from her eyes. Perhaps she could help ye bring back that happiness ye lost a long time ago.”

“A happiness I never had, Archie,” Lucas said suddenly, his chest aching a bit.

He was never one to enjoy conversations of a personal nature, and this was certainly one of those. It made his skin itch, and his heart patter away with nerves. But Archie’s opinion was one to be respected, if not fully listened to.

“Think on it, Lucas. If she feels as ye dae, then perhaps there is a chance at a new life. Yer faither, maither, and grandfaither are all dead. There is nay longer anyone left to hurt ye or to hold ye back.”

Lucas tapped at the top of his tankard, thinking for a few seconds. “I think ye’d better go and find us good lodgin’, Lad.”

Archie hesitated, but eventually he stood and patted Lucas on the shoulder. “Aye, I shall.”

As his friend walked away, Lucas knew there was still someone who could hurt him and hold him back.

Meself.

The next day when Caitlin emerged from the castle with Fallows for her morning walk, she spotted a young man waving to her and coming her way. She stopped and knelt down to brush a hand over Fallow’s ears, hoping the dog would alert her if the man was dangerous or not. But Fallows stood comfortably close to her, enjoying his extra pat that morning.

“Caitlin,” a familiar voice said, and when the man got closer, she could see it was Bram from the bakery.

In seconds, her face flushed at the way he smiled at her, and she could tell he wanted her to look at him the same way. She noticed that he had the tiniest bit of flour on one ear.

“I thought I would come right away to see ye. Perhaps ye already saw me comin’?” He held a brown package in his hand, and when he looked down at Fallows, he said to the dog, “I would pet ye, Lad, but I’ve got a precious gift in this bag, and none of it is for ye, unless yer mistress says it is so.”

Caitlin patted Fallows again. “Bram,” she said, straightening. “Ye’ve come to the Castle.”

“Aye, as promised.” He handed over the brown package, and it was still warm.

She flushed, hoping he would attribute it to the heat of the fresh bread in her hands. “Thank ye. Ye are very kind. Shall we go inside?”

Bram looked up, squinting into the sun. “Nay. Ye were just comin’ outside, were ye nae? Let us go for a walk. Perhaps someone else can deliver the bread for ye.”

She nodded with a weak smile and handed the bread to a waiting guard. “Could ye have a servant take this to the kitchens, Eamon?”

The young guard smiled at her and hurried off. When she turned to Bram again, he was chuckling, holding his arm out to be grasped.

“I am certain that all the young lads here are desperate to dae yer biddin’, Lass.”

“Hardly,” she said, embarrassed, taking his arm. “I have nay biddin’ to ask others to dae. It is nae the way I was raised.”

“So ye say. Well, I would be happy to dae whatever ye asked of me,” he said, still grinning.

Caitlin found she did not know what to say in the face of such smiles. Considering she also did not know what to say in the face of Lucas’ scowls, she wondered if she just did not know what to say in the presence of men.

But Seamus. I kenned what to say with Seamus, talkin’ sometimes too much.

“Daenae worry yerself, Lad. I willnae ask ye to dae anythin’.”

“Ye already have,” Bram said, pulling on her arm a little as they pulled away from the castle a bit more.

“What dae ye mean?” Caitlin asked, her heart thumping.

While Lucas had the scent of smoke and mist about him, Bram’s was a little earthlier. Bread and sweets were the prevailing smell instead, and it made him seem warm and comforting, even though Caitlin was so nervous.

“The honey bread.”

“I dinnae ask ye to bring that,” she said, horrified, worried that somehow her behavior yesterday had made it seem so to the young man.

“Daenae look so distressed,” he laughed. “I am only teasin’. I brought it of me own accord, since ye enjoyed it so.”

They were silent for a few seconds as they walked around the castle wall. Unable to feel the familiar stone as her guide, Caitlin had to hold tightly to Bram’s arm.

“Ye daenae seem used to teasin’, Lass,” Bram said, a little kindlier.

“Och, well, I had a brother, so I am, I suppose.”

Bram nodded. “All right, then. I am sorry for the loss of yer brother. We heard that was what the feast was for. ‘Tis a terrible thing to lose a brother, I am certain. Me maither worries about it every day, with me own brother so far. It almost feels like he’s lost to us, for I have nae seen him in a long while.

“Aye.” Feeling a little more comfortable, she tightened her grip on him. “But the Laird has been kind to me here, givin’ me a home and a place to live out me days.”

“My, that sounds a bit ominous, as if ye are ready to die already.” He laughed. “Ye are still young yet, Lass.”

“Aye, I just mean—” she paused.

Would she tell him about her handicap? About the way her life had been ordained because of her eyesight?

She paused. “Just that I daenae ken what me life holds from this moment on. It is only the beginnin’.” She smiled at him, hoping to dispel any suspicion that she had other things to say.

“Aye, so it is.” He smiled, and they walked on, enjoying the morning weather before it would turn to rain later in the afternoon.

They spoke of the village, and of her time in her own village far away, and Caitlin grew more and more comfortable as time passed. Even if Bram was shameless in his flirtations and attentions, he was kind and thoughtful. He asked questions, and he made her feel wanted.

Lucas only runs away after we’re together. Runs away and hides as if I am somethin’ he is afraid of. At least Bram comes to face it head on. Bold and unafraid.

It is because he doesnae ken about yer eyesight, her mind answered her.

Resentment toward Lucas only grew as Bram walked her to the castle entrance. Lucas had just left, run off, after giving her such great pleasure. For all his fearsomeness, he was acting like a coward. Or just as beastly as she’d thought he was from the beginning.

“Thank ye for comin’, Bram. It was kind of ye to bring the bread. I ken we will love it.”

Bram let go of her arm, but he picked up her hand instead and brought it to his lips.

In a low voice meant only for her ears while the guards stood nearby, he said, “I only care if ye love it, Lass.”

She blushed furiously, feeling the heat in her cheeks, and she gave him a shaky smile.

“I’m sure I will.”

“Then I bid ye good day. Will ye let me come again tomorrow?” He put on his cap, and his eyes were eager as he looked at her.

“Aye, of course. That would be nice.”

It would be nice to collect friends and to make new acquaintances during her time at the castle, if she could. And making friends with those who lived in the village was even better, making it easier for her to visit the village often.

He doffed his cap and bowed his head. “Then tomorrow it is, Caitlin. Until then.”

“Aye, until then.” She folded her hands in front of her and watched him walk away.

His shoulders were straight and tall, almost in a smug fashion, but she admired confidence since she had little of her own.

Thinking of confidence only served to remind her of how Lucas had boldly showed her just what pleasure could be wrought from her body through his expert, confident touches and kisses.

Letting out a breath, she was confused as to how she felt about Bram coming back tomorrow. She liked him, or so she thought. He was very handsome, charming, and they seemed to get on well enough. But there was only one thing that bothered her.

He was not Lucas.