Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

“He left some time ago,” Bethany said when she saw the disappointment on Oria’s face.

Several of the trestle tables and benches had been repaired and arranged in the Great Hall. The room was far different than Oria had remembered it. It felt so cold and empty without the beautiful tapestries hanging on the walls and the long table, with beautiful linens draped over it, that once sat on the dais along with several throne-like chairs. It hurt to see how badly the lovely room had been gutted.

“Sit and I’ll bring you food and drink,” Bethany said.

Oria shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

“At least take a cloak, mistress, there’s a brisk chill in the air today,” Bethany called out.

Oria gabbed one of the many wool cloaks hanging on the pegs by the door and swung it over her shoulders to tie at her neck. She was glad that she did. A chill did fill the air and gray clouds dotted the sky. It was one of those unpredictable weather days in the Highlands but then weather was always unpredictable here.

She walked toward the village, smiling at the sound of chatter, laughter, children playing, and work being done. Life was finally returning to the Clan MacKinnon and she was grateful to be part of it.

Before she went to find her husband, she made a stop at Emily’s cottage. The young woman had been accompanying her when she had regularly visited here and tended those in need. Oria smiled when she caught sight of Emily stepping out of her cottage, a basket in hand.

Emily saw her at the same time and waved.

Oria wondered how she got around, she had grown so large with child, though it might have been her petite size that made her protruding stomach appear so huge. Her bright red curls bounced out from around her head even though she had tried to contain them with combs, and a spattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks actually added to her lovely features.

“Feeling well this morning?” Oria asked when she reached Emily.

Emily’s hand went to rub her rounded stomach. “Well enough, though I’ll be pleased when he’s born. He so active I barely sleep.”

“Two months is it?”

Emily nodded and laughed. “Not soon enough. I can’t tell you how pleased I am, as well as everyone else here, that you are the new mistress of Clan MacKinnon. It’s what should have been and glad we are that it’s finally done.” She patted her stomach again. “And soon you’ll be carrying the heir to the Clan MacKinnon.”

How that could be when her husband didn’t touch her, barely acknowledged her, she didn’t know. Though, she’d let no one know that.

“Does someone need tending?” Oria asked, pointing to the basket and wanting to avoid any more talk of future bairns.

Emily drew back the cloth covering the top of the basket. “Bread for Mildred, her hands have been more painful than usual and some for Calla. She can use all the food she can get with five lads and a husband to feed. Though, all are confident with Royden’s return home that food will once again be plentiful.”

After walking with Emily to Mildred’s cottage and speaking briefly with the old woman, Oria continued on through the village. There was so much that needed Royden’s attention, she now wondered if he truly had avoided her or he was simply too busy to pay her heed.

She got her answer when shortly afterward, she spotted Royden talking with Penn and sent him a wave along with a smile. He acknowledged neither. He turned and walked away, Penn following after him.

She thought to go after him, but what good would it do confronting him in front of others? What was between them was private and she intended to keep it that way.

Feeling a bit removed from things, her routine having been completely changed, she decided to take herself into the woods. She had shared lovely moments with Raven and Purity in the woods. Their friendship with Purity had barely time to form before the attack, yet it had been as if the three of them had been longtime friends. The memory of their friendship had sustained her through difficult times. The three of them shared a special connection, one not only forged out of necessity, but love as well. It was a connection no one could break and the last five years had proven that.

She entered the woods and made her way to the spot she and Raven and Purity had once gathered. It was a spot they had bonded and became friends in a brief but significant time. She thought to go deeper into the woods, but decided it presently wasn’t a wise choice.

A glance up had her smiling. The trees were thick with sprouting buds. Soon they would all blossom, creating a canopy overhead and an oasis of privacy. Here is where she would miss her friends the most and also where the memories of that horrid day would too often set in.