Highland Daydreams by April Holthaus Page A

‘Twas the Highlanders who told those stories, to keep enemies wary of entering these woods.”
    His confidence gave Lara a little sense of relief but not enough to calm her completely. She kept her eyes trained firmly on their surroundings.
    “Honestly, lass, there is nay a thing to worry about. We will rest once we reach Loch Lomond.”
    Cresting the last wooded hill, the sight of Loch Lomond at the bottom of the valley was far more beautiful than Lara had imagined. The sunlight twinkled off the surface of the water like tiny stars fallen to earth. As they reached the loch, they dismounted and rested for a short while, as Bram had promised.
    The hot sun beat down on them. Lara did not recall a hotter summer than this, and there was no evidence that rain had fallen in weeks. The grass beneath them was dry and beginning to brown. Within the hour, they once again continued their journey to Stearns Castle.

Chapter 11
     
     
    Stearns Castle was built on the highest point of a hill that overlooked the village. Its outer stone walls stood tall and intimidating, easily twenty or thirty feet high, and looked as if they could touch the clouds. Lacking windows, the castle looked forbidding.
    As they approached the gate, a guard stopped them from entering. When the guard turned and looked at Lara he almost lost his footing. His jaw slightly fell open and his gaze looked dazed, as if someone had hit him over the head. Without hesitation, the guard opened the gates and allowed them entry.
    “Mistress? What are ye doing here, my lady?” the guard asked.
    “Adrian, I must insist on speaking with my father. Where is he? My husband has done something terrible.”
    “I am afraid, my lady, that yer father is no’ here. He has traveled with John to Bergen.”
    “Bergen, Norway?” Lara raised her voice puzzled why her father would have traveled so far.
    “Aye, my lady.”
    Lara struggled to offer him a friendly smile. Without her father, she knew not what to do. If Dermot learned she had returned home, he would surely come for her. Suddenly, she felt a bout of nausea come over her.
    Bram quietly walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned a solemn face to him. She did not want to cry. Not now. Not ever. She was glad that he did not show her pity. Instead, his slight smile lifted her spirits. His eyes were the color of honey, a light amber shade. She mused that she hadn’t noticed them before. They reminded her of a warm autumn day, just as the leaves began to turn gold.
    “Thank ye fer bringing me home, Bram.”
    “Lara, I promised ye my protection and Highlanders dinna break our promises,” Bram curled his lip and gave her a genuine smile.
    “I suppose ye will be leaving now?” she asked. Sadness crept inside her heart at having to say goodbye. There was so much more she wanted to learn about him. They had shared an experience few others survived. Their acquaintance was short, but their bond was strong.
    “Aye.”
    “I shall never forget ye and yer kindness,” Lara said as she stepped up on the tips of her toes and softly planted a kiss to his rough cheek. “God speed,” she whispered in his ear before lowering her feet back to the ground.
    Bram turned to mount his horse. Lara wanted to ask him to stay, to at least rest for a night, but she did not.
    Just as he mounted the horse, a woman called out to them from a distance. Hiking up her dress, she ran towards them at a full sprint. As the woman came closer, her features became more distinct. She was an older woman, dressed in a plain brown dress covered by a white linen apron tied around her plump waist. Her grey hair was tightly braided except for a few loose tendrils that flew in the wind. As she drew closer, Lara recognized the old woman. It was Moira, her clan’s head cook.
    Breathlessly, Moira cried out, “My lady, my lady!”
    Lara veered to face her and greet the old woman.
    “Moira, what is it?” Lara asked.
    With no response, Moira