Highlander's Trials of Fire

“I think we are both aware of what I would like.”

“Aye, aye, ye want to marry me,” she drawled. “Ye think I am so beautiful and so kind and ye are so overcome by yer feelings that he can hardly keep it in.”

“Nay. I only want to try those sweet cakes ye’re lurin’ me out here with.”

Jonet gasped and he laughed loudly at the disbelief on her face. “Ye are really tryin’ to test me patience, arenae ye?” she hissed.

He only waved her off. “Ye ken I like it when ye get mad.”

Again, she blushed. It was outrageous how much power he had over her emotions. She had not truly been angry at him, but she had at least wanted to hold on to her mock irritation for a little while longer.

The loch drew closer and, soon enough, they were dismounting their horses. Temper stomped furiously at the loss of his rider, but Matthew, to Jonet’s never-ending disbelief, calmed him with a stroking hand and a few soothing words. Aftewards, they continued on to the banks of the loch.

“Oh, I have been meanin’ to ask ye,” she spoke suddenly. Freya had helped her prepare this picnic basket and had so wonderfully provided the blanket they would sit on. Of course, Jonet had not even given a blanket any thought.

“What’s that, me love?” he asked absently, helping her to lay the blanket.

The endearment made her forget her question. She paused, but when he glanced up at her, she shook away the warm feeling that had come over her.

Goodness, it has been so long that I daenae ken how to act around someone I like anymore.

“Jonet?” Matthew’s voice broke into her thoughts. He was already settling down on one end of the blanket. “Ye say ye wanted to ask me somethin’?”

“A-ah, right.” She sat opposite him. “It is about the wine ye threw out when we were on our way to the stables. Ye dinnae like it?”

“Oh, the wine?” Matthew waved his hand dismissively. “I dinnae realized that I carried it out with me and so I thought to get rid of it.”

“Oh, is that it? With the way yer face looked, I thought ye were displeased with how it tasted. I think it would break me Faither’s heart if he thought ye dinnae fancy his favorite wine.”

Matthew chuckled. “I find it hard to think anythin’ could break the Laird’s heart. Other than matters concerning ye and Rinalda, of course.”

Jonet sighed. “I nearly forgot ye and Maither have gotten so close already.”

“Ye daenae like that?”

“It’s nae that I daenae like it…”

It’s that everythin’ seems to be going so perfectly. I cannae help but wait for somethin’ bad to happen now.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she shoved it aside. She had promised herself that she would not be sucked back into that dark vortex of negativity. With Matthew by her side, things felt possible again.

“Ye daenae have to worry, Jonet,” Matthew spoke with an easy grin. “I will ask her more about ye when ye were a wee lass only when ye are nae there from now on.”

Jonet only sighed. “That doesnae make me feel any better. But, anyhow, now that we are here…” Jonet brought the basket toward her and withdrew the sweet cakes she had wrapped. “I told ye that I would pay ye back for the sweet cakes ye got for me so here ye are. I hope ye like them.”

“Ye ken ye daenae need to pay me back for anythin’, Jonet. I did that because I wanted to.”

“Aye, so consider this a token of me gratitude.”

Matthew took one of the cakes she offered him. Jonet held her breath, watching him intently as he took a large bite. He chewed slowly for a few moments and when he broke into a smile, her heart melted.

“This is magnificent, Jonet!” he exclaimed. “Ye truly made this?”

“Well… I had a bit of Christal’s help.” More than she was willing to admit to him. “But I’m happy it dinnae end in a failure like all me other attempts. I’ve always wanted to do well at cookin’ but I daenae think I have the talent for it.”

“That is only one of yer many charms,” he smiled.

“I suppose only ye would see a flaw like that as one of me charms. Come to think of it, I havenae had one meself yet.”