Chapter 20
Hamish held Amanda in his arms for a few moments, then said, “You had better see to your injuries, sweetheart. Do we know a good healer?” There was a smile in his voice.
“You are my healer, Hamish,” Amanda whispered. “I feel better just because I am in your arms, knowing you love me.”
Hamish kissed the top of her head. There was work to be done, he knew, but the last hour had been so harrowing that he needed a while to recover, despite the fact that he needed to look strong and invincible in front of his men.
He was only human, after all, and the fear and anger he had experienced needed time to subside.
Presently, Gregor appeared, grinning from ear to ear. “The Laird will need a feast,” he said triumphantly. “He must be celebrated!”
Hamish shook his head. “This is no time to celebrate,” he replied, reluctantly getting to his feet. “The people need to eat first. Gregor, take the men and go downstairs to the stores, then bring up as much food as you can carry and take it to Inchkeith. We can celebrate as we hand it out to them.”
“Good plan, Hamish,” Gregor said. He smiled at them both. “I am glad tae see ye both sae happy.” He walked away to do Hamish’s bidding, looking completely contented.
Hamish bent to help Amanda to her feet, then picked her up and laid her on Struan’s bed.
“I am so sorry, my darling,” he said huskily. “I should never have allowed you to walk into so much danger.” He lay down beside her, then kissed her tenderly and embraced her, sighing with contentment.
“I chose to, Hamish,” Amanda replied. “And I would do the same thing again. I have no regrets, except that I am sorry Struan is dead because any loss of life is a tragedy. I would like to have seen him try to explain what he did to you, then he could be severely punished. Spending the rest of his life in a cell would have driven him mad.”
Hamish frowned, feeling his heart sink. “Do you hate me for killing him?” he asked, dreading the answer.
“No,” Amanda replied. “You did it to save me, and you had no other choice, Hamish. I just wanted to hear his excuses for what he did, but I suppose it is really not important now, since he can never hurt anyone again.”
“And together we can mend all the hurts he has caused,” Hamish observed, smiling at her.
“But there is one thing I need to know, Amanda. Kidnapping you was the best thing I have ever done. But I know it was a dreadful act, nevertheless. Tell me, do you want to leave here and be free? Or would you like to stay here? I promise I will always keep you safe.”
Amanda smiled into the apple-green eyes that were looking into her own, now warm with love. She smiled, and drew his head down to kiss him, warm and tenderly.
“I will never leave you,” Amanda told him.
“Never, Hamish. But now there is something I think you should do. Address your people. Tell them the good news, and let them know you will be a better Laird than your brother. Not that he ever was a real Laird, of course, but they need to know that their lives will be better from this day on. You will be a wonderful leader, Hamish.”
“Will you be by my side too, Amanda?” Hamish asked. “Will you marry me and stay with me forever, have my children?”
He looked so hopeful that Amanda smiled and kissed him again. “Of course I will. I could never say yes to any other man but you.”
“Thank god.” Hamish sighed with relief, then his face lit up with pure joy. “Thank you, my sweetheart. I never thought I would ever see this day. You have made me so happy.”
“I am equally happy,” Amanda replied, then she touched her bleeding lip. “Let the healer treat herself before you speak to the people.”
Hamish’s face darkened with anger again.
“I will have Struan’s body taken away now,” he said angrily.
“I’m sure I have a wooden box somewhere we can put him in.
I would rather not waste funds having a coffin or a headstone made for him.
There is a dark corner of the garden where we can bury him.
Now, let’s not speak of him again. There is a lot to do, and we must hurry. ”
He pulled Amanda to her feet and embraced her tightly. “I would do anything for you, Amanda,” he whispered. “You are the love of my life.”
Amanda smiled again and squeezed Hamish’s hand, then watched as he walked away to organise the activities. She could not remember ever feeling so happy; it was covering her like a warm blanket, and she snuggled into it as she would snuggle into Hamish’s warm body.
Suddenly, the world around her looked and felt different; the colours were warmer, the people’s faces more cheerful, the sun brighter.
Amanda knew this was all in her imagination, of course, but she resolved to hold on to the feeling because for the first time ever, everything in her world was perfect.
Hamish strode down the corridor to the wine cellar to order some of the precious liquor for his servants and the villagers, who had never tasted anything so exotic in their lives.
This was only the start of what he wanted to give them, however.
He wanted to shower them with gifts and blessings, for they have suffered greatly under Struan’s injustice.
Halfway down the corridor, Hamish encountered Gregor again. He smiled at his friend, and Gregor stopped to talk to him, looking at him quizzically.
“You have good news?” he asked.
“The best,” Hamish replied happily. “Amanda is going to marry me.”
Gregor laughed, then slapped Hamish on the back and cheered. “I knew it!” he cried. “We could a’ see it long before you did. Ye were meant for each other.”
He called one of the other men over to tell him the good news, then they quickly spread it amongst the others, who came to pat him on the back and wish him well.
Eventually, when all the congratulations had been done, Hamish managed to escape for a while to supervise the loading of the food stores into the wagons which he would escort around the villages to spread the good news.
He went to Struan’s chamber again to find Amanda, but she had retired to the sick bay to put some arnica on her bruise and some salve on her lip. She was not quite her usual beautiful self, but Hamish cared nothing about that.
She was here, she was safe, and a moment later she was in his arms, and he was kissing her as if his life depended on it.
When they drew apart, he said, “You know, I long to see you being the mistress of my castle. My people are already learning to love you, as I do.”
“I can hardly wait,” she replied, smiling. “But before that, we have many other things to think about, Hamish. Your people are waiting for their Laird; their rightful Laird.”
“And his Lady,” he said as he cupped her cheek in his hand and gave her a smile that was so loving it brought tears to her eyes.
Amanda laughed. “Lady? Me?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“Lady Amanda McNeill,” Hamish told her huskily. “The fairest Lady in the Highlands.”
“You forget my sisters,” Amanda said, smiling. “But now, My Laird, let’s go and share our happiness. We could all do with a dose, it has very healing properties!”
Hamish put his arm around her waist, and they entered the Great Hall, where a crowd of their own men, servants, and even Struan’s guards were waiting for them. A great cheer erupted as soon as the crowd saw them, and they both waved, then Hamish escorted Amanda to a seat at the head of the table.
He called for silence, then smiled broadly and said, “My people, I am now the Laird of Inchkeith since my half-brother Struan is now deceased. I promise to be the best Laird I can be, and I swear to you now that I will do my very best to make sure you suffer no hardship under my tenure.
I will also do my utmost to make sure you are provided with everything you want and need.
It has hurt me badly to see how my brother has treated you over the past years.
Now, I would like you to welcome my bride-to-be, Amanda.
It was she who helped me to rid you of Struan, and we all owe her a great debt. ”
Another cheer erupted, then Hamish said, “She is the best Lady to be at my side, since not only is she a wonderful woman, but as you know, she is a skilled healer. Between us, we will make it our mission to improve life for all of us.”
He had provided a glass of wine for everyone, and now he held up his glass.
“Now, let us drink a toast to the future! Sláinte Mhath!”
“Sláinte Mhath!” came the joyful reply.
A few moments later they were on their horses riding to Inchkeith, while a couple of wagons loaded with food rolled behind them.
“I cannot wait to see their faces,” Amanda said joyfully.
Hamish reached across the gap between them to take her hand, smiling with his heart in his eyes.
A few moments later they arrived in the village and were greeted with cries of happiness as they gave out loaves of bread, fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and meat, as well as many other types of foodstuffs.
It gladdened Amanda’s heart to see the poor underfed people, especially the children, descending on the best fare they had seen for ages. It also angered her to think that Struan McNeill had sat on all of it for ages while his people starved.
Hamish put his arm around her. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said gently, “but we are going to change all this poverty to prosperity, my love. Struan was a monster, but we are not.”
Amanda sighed and laid her head on his shoulder, smiling as she watched a boy running past munching a piece of bread and honey.
Everyone looked as though they had suddenly had a weight lifted from their shoulders, and indeed they had.
There would be no more scrounging for edible leaves and mushrooms, no more eating the remains of forest animals that had been killed by wild boars.
Hamish could not stop smiling. He had recovered his home and his heritage, and now he was holding the love of his life in his arms. He felt free, happy, and alive in a way that he never had before.
When they arrived back at the camp, they found that the atmosphere had changed completely.
Everyone was drinking the wine they had brought back from the castle, and the atmosphere of watchfulness had disappeared, since there was no further need for it.
The inhabitants had thrown caution to the winds; they were free, and celebrated it by singing, dancing and drinking wine.
Hamish and Amanda stood watching for a while, then Fiona came towards them wearing an uncertain smile.
“Thank ye for what ye have done,” she said softly.
“We didn’t do it alone, Fiona,” Amanda told her.
“But I didnae help,” Fiona replied, shaking her head. “I am sorry for bein’ such a fool, Amanda. I was jealous, but I cannae make Hamish love me when he loves you. Please forgive me.”
“Of course I will,” Amanda stepped forward and hugged Fiona, much to her surprise.
After a moment, Fiona returned the embrace, then the two women smiled at each other. Fiona looked at Hamish, who, after a glance at Amanda, also hugged her.
“I heard the news ye are gettin’ married,” she said.
“Indeed we are,” Hamish replied, looking down at Amanda lovingly. “The sooner, the better.”
“I hope ye will be very happy.”
Then, with one last sad smile, she turned and left, and Amanda sighed happily.
“Well, this day started badly, but ended wonderfully,” she said.
“What about some more celebrating?” Hamish asked wickedly.
Amanda giggled. “I am all yours, Hamish,” she told him, before he swept her into his arms as they walked to his tent.
Every pair of eyes in the camp turned to watch them as they entered it, but neither cared as Hamish set Amanda down on the floor and kissed her.
“I have never loved anyone as I love you, Amanda,” he said, his eyes shining.
“Then prove it, Hamish,” she said tenderly, smiling.
Hamish laughed softly.
“Gladly,” he said, and there was a world of joy in his words.