The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher
Chapter 1
Elysia kept her steps swift for fear if she slowed even for a moment, she would lose her courage. She had to stay strong no matter how badly her stomach churned or how wildly her heart beat. There was no one left to protect her. Tears rushed to her eyes and she brushed them away, annoyed with herself. This was no time for weakness. Her two sisters had shown courage and it was time she did the same.
Only a few days ago life had been good. Then the two men arrived in the village, Lawler and Cadell, and everything had changed. But they were not to blame—the curse was to blame.
Elysia hugged her wool cloak close, keeping her steps sure-footed and paying no heed to the crunch of the autumn leaves beneath her feet. She had made a choice and she had to see this task done, though it paled in comparison to what her sister Bliss had done and what her sister Annis had set out to do. And it had all started with the curse. A curse cast over twenty years ago.
She wished she was as courageous as her two sisters. Both had made choices that far surpassed anything she was capable of doing. Her choice offered possible happiness, whereas, Annis’s choice proved dangerous, and Bliss’s choice could prove fatal.
The cottages along with the village faded behind her. It would not take long for her to reach her destination and once she got there… her steps faltered. She did not know what she would say or if she would have the courage to say anything at all.
She pressed her hand against her roiling stomach. Did she really think she had the courage to do this? And how did it benefit anyone but her?
She would be safe if things went as her sisters had been certain they would. But how did that help her sisters? Annis went off on a quest to find the witch of the hills to see if there was some way the curse could be broken. It had to be if Bliss were to survive. Bliss had agreed to wed Lord Rannick of the Clan MacClaren, the cursed lord, to keep Annis out of a forced marriage and in so doing had condemned herself to death. The curse had been cast against three clans some twenty years ago, but it was the descendants of the Clan MacClaren that was cursed to suffer the worst. Lord Rannick had lost three wives in a short time and a bairn as well. No one survived a marriage to him and in his own quest to quell the curse, it was believed he had lost his humanity, that he was more animal than human.
The thought shivered Elysia. How did Bliss survive such dreadful circumstances? And how did Annis survive her quest all on her own? She shook her head. Annis was stubborn and determined. But how did she survive a solitary trek through the woods to find someone many claimed was nothing more than a myth? But what choice had they if Bliss were to survive?
Elysia wiped at the single tear that had trailed down her cheek. There was a good chance she would lose both her sisters. She realized that was the true reason why Bliss and Annis had cautioned her to seek protection, though neither had voiced it. They feared she would be left on her own, all alone, with no one to look after her.
The thought roiled her stomach so badly she had to stop. With her hand once again pressed against her stomach, she sat on a toppled tree branch in hopes of calming her unease.
She could not say she hadn’t thought of marriage. She hoped one day to find love and have a family. Unfortunately, there were no men in the village she found appealing… until Saber.
Her cheeks heated at the thought of the man, and she smiled. Saber was nothing like she sought in a husband or that she believed she would find appealing. Most importantly, he was too large. He devoured her short height and his width was enough for her to hide behind, something she had already done—quite by accident—when trying to keep out of Lawler and Cadell’s sight as they searched for a wife for the cursed lord. His fine features were quite captivating as were his green eyes, though his eyes were bolder in color than her own soft green eyes. While she hoped for a quiet man, one not boisterous in nature or speech, she felt for Saber, he having lost his voice from a wound that left a scar across his throat.
She had learned some healing ways from Bliss, her sister being a healer. She had Saber drinking a soothing concoction and taking bramble berry syrup that she hoped would help heal his throat and fully restore his voice to him. She was sure when he did speak it would be with an unassuming voice. If there was one thing she dreaded in a husband, it was that he would be a warrior who favored the sword and battle. Warriors were far too commanding and demanding to be good husbands.
“What are you doing out here by yourself? When you are my wife, you’ll go no place without my permission.”
Elysia stood and turned, making sure to keep her distance from Clyde. He had a demanding tongue and a brash manner. His thick arms and meaty fists always swung far too quickly when annoyed, but then he always seemed annoyed. Moray, a gentle soul of a man, bore a crooked nose thanks to a senseless punch from Clyde. Elysia wanted nothing to do with him. He, however, thought otherwise.
“I spoke with Chieftain Emory and he is considering my offer to wed you,” Clyde said. “Though he believes you should have time to consider it or any other proposals that might come your way.” He puffed out his ample chest. “There is no chance of that happening since I intend to make it known that no one better stand in my way of marrying you.”
Fear of marrying Clyde had her speaking up. “I will not marry you, Clyde, and I cannot be forced to wed you. Bliss made sure of that.”
He fisted his thick hand and shook it at her. “I’ll see about that. You will wed me on that you can be sure.”
Elysia did not want to engage in a senseless argument with him for fear of where it may lead. “I need to go.”
“Where do you go?” Clyde demanded.
Elysia always kept a truthful tongue and it troubled her to lie, though at the moment it was for the best. “I go to tend a woman with child.”
“You will be with child fast enough once we wed and you will submit like a good wife or you will feel the strength of my hand,” he warned, again shaking his fist at her.
Fear rippled through her. She had seen the consequences of what some women suffered at their husband’s hand and she wanted no part of such a dangerous union.
“I must go,” Elysia said and took cautious steps away from him.
“Mark my words, Elysia, I will have you as my wife,” Clyde said.
Elysia shivered at the thought and she hurried off, realizing now that she had to see this done or the consequence could prove disastrous. The problem was that she had no idea how to see it done. How did she ask a man to marry her?
Her legs grew heavier the closer she got to Saber’s croft and she wondered if something warned her away from what she was about to do. Or was it simply fear that weighed her down? She stopped a moment, trying to gather her courage. Her thoughts went to her sister Bliss. How would it be for her when she met her husband, the cursed lord? Would she shake with fright or cower in fear?
Elysia smiled softly. Bliss would do neither even if frightened. She would hold herself with pride and stay strong. She needed to do the same. If her sister could sacrifice so much to protect her and Annis, she certainly could see this done so that she was less of a burden. Then hopefully she could somehow find a way to help Annis save their sister before the curse claimed her.
She kept a tempered pace, needing to gather her courage as she went. It was there somewhere inside her or so Bliss had told her time and again. Annis had needed no such encouragement, nothing stopped her from doing as she pleased or voicing her opinion. There had been times Elysia wished she could be like Annis, but courage did not come as easily to her as it did to Annis. Now, though, she had no choice—she had to find her courage.
When Saber’s croft came into view, her feet stopped of their own accord and she worried she would not be able to take another step. She glanced around at the small plot of land. A pen held a couple of lambs and a small field looked ready for its last harvest to be picked. The cottage itself was small and she wondered how such a large man could fit in it.
She jumped when the door opened and Saber stepped outside.
He wore no cloak, only his plaid and shirt which were dark in color. He was built solid with thick muscle. His hair was dark, though when the sun caught it, it highlighted the auburn strands that ran through it and it brushed his broad shoulders in a gentle wave. That he was endowed with fine features was undeniable and that she found him appealing also was undeniable.
She definitely favored the man, though she had denied it time and again when her sisters had mentioned it. However, there was no point in denying it any longer. She did like Saber and while that should make her task easier, it did not. She might favor him, but what if he did not favor her?
Turn and run!She silently warned herself and she would have if her legs had not frozen with fear.
He spotted her then and waved.
She returned his wave and got her legs to move, though she worried that any second they might collapse from under her. No smile greeted her as she got closer, but then he rarely smiled. Every now and then there would be a slight lift to his lips, but nothing substantial. His green eyes, however, greeted with a delight that was obvious and it made her at least feel welcomed.
The brew she had been giving him to help restore his voice was showing some success. He had been able to say a word or two, though not without struggle and she had cautioned him to limit his speech until it came more easily.
He tilted his head and shrugged.
She understood that he wondered what brought her here to him. “I need to speak with you about something important.”
He nodded, his eyes intent on her.
She clutched her cloak, not wanting him to see how her hands trembled. “I do not know if you have heard yet, but my sisters had to go away.”
His brow narrowed with concern and question, and he shook his head, letting her know he had not heard. She had not expected him to since it was only a short time ago that it happened.
“It is a bit involved, but it is not why I came here to see you.” She paused not sure how to continue. “My sisters worry for me, that I am alone with no one to look after me.” She paused again, feeling that she sounded much too needy. “It is not that I cannot take care of myself, but I thought—” She stopped, her stomach churning so badly that she feared being sick in front of him, so she rushed out her words before she embarrassed herself. “I favor you Saber. I feel comfortable and safe with you, and I would be ever so grateful if you would marry me.” His shock was obvious, since his mouth dropped open some and his eyes went wide, but she ignored both and continued. “I would be a good wife. I would take good care of you and I would be a good mum to our bairns.” She was about to say more when she caught the change in his eyes. A sudden empty coldness filled them that actually shivered her, and she knew then what his answer would be.
He kept his eyes intent on her and shook his head slowly.
“Oh,” was all she could manage to say and that he offered no more, not a gesture or a simple word made it all the more awkward for her. “I will be on my way then.”
He responded with a quick nod.
It was obvious he wanted her to leave and she did not hesitate, she turned and walked away as hastily as possible. She had not expected his refusal to sting as much as it did, but then she liked him a lot more than she would admit to anyone. Never had she gotten flurries in her stomach around a man or felt so happy as when she saw him. She had thought she had seen the same delight in his eyes. She had been wrong and so had her sisters.
A tear trickled from one eye.
He had not even offered a single word or gesture. He had done no more than shake his head. She had thought him at least a friend. Would not a friend offer more than a shake of his head? What difference did it make? He owed her no explanation. Whatever the reason, he had refused her offer and that was the end of it.
She did not know what she would do now. There was no one to turn to, no one to confide in, no one to trust, and no one to ease her hurt.
And no one to stop Clyde from pursuing a marriage between them.
