Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Me Dearest Mairi,
I dae hope ye made it back tae Achnacarry Castle without incident this past night. Oh, how I feel we didnae see each other at all during the festival. I ken we did have a few, fleeting moments, but I dae so enjoy yer company and wish we had had longer.
So, I have come up with a brilliant idea and would love fer ye tae come tae me home and spend the remaining parts of summer as me guest at the MacMillan keep. Think of all the fun we could have taegether.
Plus, it would be a boon tae have ye here with me fer days and nights, we would nae have tae worry about a thing. Me faither has agreed, and he has even offered tae hold yer horse in our stables should ye choose tae ride here.
Please say ye will come.
I look forward tae yer reply.
Yers in eternal friendship,
Beitris MacMillan
Dearest Beitris,
I have received yer missive and am honored by the invitation ye have extended me tae stay with ye at yer family stronghold. As ye ken, these few years have been rather difficult fer me family, and especially fer me. Yer kindness has been a light in me life after so much loss.
Fer the sake of honesty and our friendship, which I treasure, I will admit I was hesitant tae say yes tae yer invitation, despite so enjoying our time taegether.
However, after discussing with me family, I realize that spending time with ye and yer family may be just what I need.
So with an open heart, I will accept yer invitation. I look forward tae arriving within a few days’ time.
Yers in friendship and heart,
Mairi Cameron
“Tis’ nae as large as Achnacarry, is it?
” her older brother Finlay asked with a bit of humor as their horses pulled up to the MacMillan stronghold.
Though he was right, the keep was still lovely.
Being so close to the noon hour, the sun high, Mairi liked the way the rays played on the gardens and fields around the keep.
Everything was still a vibrant green from the gentle summer rain that had fallen the day prior.
“Tis’ nae, but it is lovely just the same,” she replied. Perhaps spending time there would help soothe her grief and push her to begin to seek company again, with Beitris at her side. Being away from family would be difficult, but she could think of no better place to do so than there.
After frequent encounters on village errands, Beitris’s boundless energy and kind nature had slowly worn down Mairi’s guard.
Even though Beitris was only eighteen, five years her junior, over time she had managed to become the only person outside her kin Mairi felt at ease with. For that, Mairi was ever grateful.
Finlay helped her down from her horse, and Mairi adjusted her footing as she took hold of the reins. She barely had time to steady herself before the doors of the keep opened wide.
Beitris rushed down the keep steps and grabbed Mairi in a tight embrace.
“Ye’re here!” she said pulling back and giving Finlay a nod. “I trust yer journey was uneventful?”
“A bit of rain, but all told smooth,” Mairi replied.
“I’m so excited ye’ve agreed tae visit.”
“Of course, ‘tis a pleasure tae be here.” Mairi smiled at her friend, and she meant it. She was glad her oldest brother, Struan, and his wife, Isolde, had convinced her to spend some time away from the castle. They said it would be good for her and Mairi, while hesitant, understood why.
A sad smile tugged at her lips at the memory of how carefree she had once been.
When she was younger, Mairi had relished those summer mornings spent roaming the hills near Achnacarry Castle like every other girl her age.
She and her older sister, Rhona, would slip away early to play hide-and-seek behind the gorse bushes or chase each other along the loch’s edge until their laughter echoed across the water.
But those memories felt far away now. After her parents and had Rhona passed away, Mairi had stopped attending activities. She found comfort only in the shelter of the keep and the closeness of her brothers. Out there, among all the merriment, she felt unmoored and exposed.
‘Tis a chance fer me coming here…
“Now, let’s get these horses stabled. Would ye join us fer supper, Finlay?
I’ve instructed a place be set fer ye if ye like,” Beitris said and signaled towards the stables for them to go.
“Me faither apologizes he couldnae be here tae greet ye both, clan business took him tae the village this afternoon.”
“Nay, me lady, once I see Mairi settled in, I’ll be headin’ back. I have much tae help me braither with around Achnacarry, and I dinnae wish tae delay.”
“Very well. Let’s get Mairi’s settled then, shall we?”
Finlay took the reins from Mairi’s hand, so the women could walk together arm and arm.
After seeing to the horses, Beitris led them to the keep’s great hall. Mairi followed alongside Finlay, her steps light upon the packed earth as they passed through the courtyard and beneath the arched stone entryway.
As Mairi took in the decoration in the hall, Beitris explained the history of her clan to Finlay.
She was an excellent hostess. Mairi noted her friend had an effortless charm, and if she could keep the normally gruff and detached Finlay interested in the conversation, she truly was a treasure indeed.
Her attention was soon taken by loud footfalls coming up from behind.
“Oh, ye’ve made it back,” Beitris took Mairi’s arm turning her toward the man who had just entered the keep’s great hall.
“This must be the friend ye’ve told me much about. Lady Mairi Cameron,” he said.
Mairi froze at the sound of a deep, familiar voice coming across the room.
‘Tis nae possible…
A chill shot down her spine. Slowly, she turned, her eyes finding the source.
Alec…
Mairi’s thoughts scrambled to catch up. She’d spent the better part of last week, not thinking of the man who had cornered her outside that tavern… but the one who’d stepped in and helped her. The man who kissed her and had been impossible for her to forget.
Now, he was standing next to her best friend, a smile on his face as he turned his gaze upon Mairi.
“And her braither, Finlay Cameron.”
She might’ve convinced herself she’d imagined the whole tavern encounter… if not for the quick intense look he offered her just before shaking her brother’s hand.
Mairi’s breath hitched. A low, unwelcome heat unfurled in her chest.
“Faither,” Beitris reached the man, who wrapped Mairi’s friend in a tight embrace and placed a light kiss on the top of her head.
He’s her faither?