Chapter 8
Almost as soon as she returned to the castle, Elle had a nasty run in with someone named Nessa.
She made it very clear to Elle that she was Hamish’s woman and that Elle had better keep her distance.
Having just shared a moment of true connection with Hamish and knowing she wanted more, this news was devastating.
Hamish told her he didn’t have a woman. Was he lying to her?
Maybe this was her warning. Maybe they weren’t meant to be. She wasn’t sure what to do.
“Hey, Elle!” Sara hurried across the courtyard to her. Giving her a quick hug, she held her at arm’s length. “You look upset. What happened?”
“Someone named Nessa told me to stay away from Hamish … that he was hers. He told me he didn’t have a woman. I guess he’s been lying to me.” It was difficult to keep the deep sense of disappointment from her voice.
“Don’t go jumping to any conclusions,” Sara said.
“I can personally vouch for Hamish. He doesn’t have a woman.
And even if he did, it definitely wouldn’t be Nessa.
” She put her hands on her hips and scanned the courtyard, obviously looking for Nessa.
She returned her attention back to Elle.
“But wait a minute, why do you care? I thought he wasn’t your type.
” Sara tipped her head, a slow smile spreading across her face. “You like him, don’t you?!”
“Of course I like him,” Elle said, feeling relieved to hear this news from Sara. “He’s a great guy.”
“No, I mean you like him, like him.”
Elle had to smile at Sara’s excitement. She was practically jumping up and down. “Sara, it’s not like that. I mean it is, but it can’t be.”
“And why not?” Sara asked, taking Elle by the arm.
“Because I have to go back home and I can’t take him with me.”
“Let’s go get some tea and we’ll talk this through,” Sara said, sounding very much like the friend Elle needed in that moment.
They walked back to Sara’s croft, stopping along the way so Sara could chat with almost everyone they came across.
Their short walk turned into a meet and greet for Elle as she was introduced to everyone who happened to be out.
When they finally reached their destination, Sara put the water on for tea and settled Elle into a chair by the fire.
“So what changed your mind about Hamish? You said he wasn’t your type,” Sara said, sitting across from her.
“I don’t know. There’s just something about him.”
“Yes. Tell me more,” Sara encouraged.
“I was always attracted to the artsy bad boys, and at first I didn’t see Hamish in that light.”
“What changed your mind then?”
“When I heard him playing the lute. When I saw that he loved music as much as I do.”
“You know he’s not the bad boy type, right? He’s tough as nails, don’t get me wrong, but he’s got a kind heart and he’d never hurt you.”
“Yeah. I’m oddly attracted to that scowl he seems to wear all the time.”
“His game face.”
“But when he smiles, my heart melts.”
“I think someone is falling in love.”
“I can’t, Sara. When I get back home, I’ve got a lot to do to get my career back on track. I won’t have time for Hamish.”
Sara looked at her with what seemed to be pity. “I’m so sorry, Elle. You’re sacrificing so much for your music.”
“And it’s not even my music. I know you like it, but it’s not the music of my heart.”
“I get it. You’ve got a fan base you have to please, but I think if they got a chance to hear the song you sang the other night, they’d fall in love with you all over again.”
“You’re very sweet, Sara. My manager and the record label don’t agree and they won’t even listen to any of the songs that I’ve written. I’m stuck singing songs someone else wrote. Songs that don’t mean anything to me.”
“Well, you do a good job of selling them.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ve had my fifteen minutes.”
Sara reached over and grasped her hand. Elle wished she had someone like Sara to talk to back in her own time.
She thought about her sister and about the girls she knew in high school.
She’d lost touch with all of them and her sister was usually angry with her for not making time for the family.
She had no one to confide in among the circle of people she was always surrounded by.
It was their job to keep Elle in line and so far they’d been pretty good at it.
“No matter what, you have to do what’s best for you. I know you’ll figure it out. I hope, for your sake, you can make room in your life for Hamish,” Sara said, giving her hand a squeeze.
“Thanks, for listening to me. I’ve got a lot to think about and one of the nice things about being here is that I have plenty of time to do just that.
” The constant demands of her career seemed far away.
The phone she never seemed to put down was now safely tucked away in her backpack, completely useless.
Maybe this was why Edna sent her here. The anger she’d been feeling towards the witch dissipated a tiny bit. She’d needed this wake up call.
“I should get going. I’ve got songs in my head that I want to work on.”
On the walk back to the castle, Elle thought about her future.
One thing she was sure of was that she wanted out of her contract.
She didn’t imagine the record company would complain too much.
They’d invested time and money into her last album and it hadn’t been the hit they’d hoped for.
Elle thought it might be because she wasn’t in love with the music.
If only she could sing her own songs, her heart and soul would be committed to the artistic process.
She started formulating a plan in her head.
She’d go out on this last tour and then, come what may, she was going to tell Eric that she couldn’t do the pop princess thing anymore.
Since he’d most likely drop her, that would mean she’d need to put all of her efforts into writing, performing and promoting herself.
This only confirmed for her that with all the work she’d be putting into her career, she wouldn’t have time for a love life.
***
Returning through the gates of Breaghacraig, Hamish glanced around for Elle.
He was disappointed she wasn’t waiting for him on his return, but why would she be?
The castle guards always called out their return and the men who had wives and lovers were often greeted by them as they dismounted.
The only one waiting for him was the last woman he wanted to see—Nessa.
He didn’t know how much clearer he could make it.
He didn’t want her and now there was someone else who occupied his mind, no matter the time or place.
He dismounted and kept his back to her, doing his best to ignore her presence, but he knew she was nothing if not determined.
He loosened the saddle on Aylwen’s back and gave a quick sideways glance to see if she was still there.
Much to his relief, she wasn’t. His shoulders relaxed, the tension of having to deal with Nessa over.
Handing Aylwen’s reins over to one of the stable lads, he watched as they walked away.
He was about to turn towards the soldiers’ quarters when he felt a warm hand on his back.
He turned quickly, expecting to see Elle, but was surprised to find Nessa pressed up against him, running her hands up and down his body.
“Me handsome man is back,” she said, purring like a kitten.
“I’m nae yer man,” Hamish said, doing his best to push her away. He brushed Nessa’s hand away. He’d no sooner done so when it was back, along with the other. She snaked her hands through his hair, staring up at him.
“Will ye nae kiss me?” she asked.
“Why would I kiss ye?” he asked, completely dumbfounded by her behavior.
“The others have all met their men and kissed,” she replied.
He quickly scanned the area, hoping against hope that Elle wouldn’t be witnessing this.
“Are ye searching for the strange wee lass? Do ye nae think she looks like a lad?”
Hamish didn’t answer her.
“If ye are, dinnae fear. I set her straight. I told her ye were mine and that she should keep her distance. She’ll nae bother ye again.”
“What?” He frantically set her away from him.
He had to find Elle. He had to let her know that what she’d been told wasn’t true.
He began walking towards the castle as Nessa grabbed his arm and ran to keep up with his determined stride.
“Donal!” he shouted when he saw his friend.
Tipping his head towards Nessa he signaled to him for help.
Much to his surprise he hurried off in the opposite direction.
“Donal!” He stopped dead in his tracks, throwing his head back and staring up at the sky.
“What’s wrong, me love?” Nessa asked.
“Ye ken what’s wrong. Ye’ve meddled in me life when ye ken how I feel about ye.”
“I ken it, Hamish, but when I saw how ye were mooning over that one, it made me jealous.”
“Jealous? I’ve told ye. I dinnae wish ye to be me woman.”
“Aye. Ye did, but ye didnae give me a chance. That one’s been here less than a week and ye’ve decided she’s the one fer ye.”
“Elle. Her name’s Elle.” Hamish was fuming. “Ye’ve nae right to meddle in me life. Be off with ye. I must speak with the Laird.” He strode away, leaving Nessa to stare after him from the middle of the courtyard.
***