Chapter 9 #2
They rounded the outer edge of the barbican and found their spot.
Elle sat on the makeshift bench Hamish had created for her when last they’d met here.
He knelt in front of her and pulled the lute from his shoulder.
He snuck a peek at Elle. She was watching him like a hawk.
He allowed himself a small smile at this tiny step in the right direction.
He tuned his lute and Elle tuned her voice.
When he was satisfied that it was perfectly tuned he sat back on his heels and began to play a tune he’d learned as a young lad.
“That’s pretty. Did you write that?” Elle asked.
“Nae. ’Tis an old tune. I dinnae ken where or when it was first played, but ’twas long before I was born.”
“I like it. Maybe we can do something similar.” She hummed some more and Hamish picked it out on his lute. They continued on like that for hours. Elle sometimes humming and sometimes singing, and Hamish following along, never missing a note.
Elle stood and paced as they worked, occasionally stopping to place a hand on his shoulder, singing in the clear, beautiful way he loved.
There was magic in this music, Hamish could feel it.
He hoped she could as well. As they worked, the sky began to darken.
Storm clouds were on the horizon and the wind was whipping in from the sea.
Hamish reluctantly stopped playing. “We should go inside before the storm hits.”
“Can we do this again tomorrow?” she asked.
“I’m nae sure what the Laird has in store fer me tomorrow. ’Tis my day to patrol with me men.”
Elle seemed disappointed and once again, a small flame of hope lit inside of Hamish. He’d taken Sara’s words to heart. Was it working?
“I’ll walk you back to the great hall.” Again she took his arm and he felt that same thrill he felt every time she touched him. Once they were inside, he bid her goodbye and returned to his quarters.
***
Elle fought her attraction to Hamish with everything she had.
It was difficult working with him today, but the music they’d written was beautiful.
It was, to her mind, the best she’d ever done.
That was in large part due to Hamish. He was, simply put, amazing.
She wished she had a writing partner like him back home, but she’d never found anyone who seemed to get her quite like he did.
He almost knew what she was thinking before she even sang a note.
If only she could bottle him and taking him back with her.
The others were all gathering for the evening meal. She hoped Hamish would have something good to eat tonight. He should have stayed and eaten with her. As she stood regretting that she hadn’t said something, Sara walked through the door with Logan.
“It’s getting windy out there,” she reported.
“I had to hold her down so she wouldnae get blown away,” Logan teased.
Sara made a face at him and the two of them laughed.
“How’s it going?” she asked, seeming a bit too curious.
“Good,” Elle answered, not sure what else to say with Logan standing right there.
“Anything new happening that you want to share?”
What was she up to? Elle couldn’t help but think Sara knew something she didn’t.
“Not really. I was just working on some new songs with Hamish.” Elle smiled warmly at Sara. She was taking her friend duties seriously.
“It’s so great that you’ve got someone to collaborate with. I guess music transcends time, huh?”
“I guess so.” It was a surprise to her that she felt she was doing some of her best writing while in the sixteenth century.
“Ashley told me you’ve heard from Edna. When are you going home?”
“She didn’t say.” Elle was fairly sure her disappointment was written all over her face.
Sara nodded her head. “I guess she’s not done with you yet.”
What was that supposed to mean?
“Let’s go sit down, love,” Logan said, guiding Sara away from Elle. “Come join us,” he called back to Elle.
“I think I will,” she answered and followed along behind them.
They were a cute couple. Sara was bright, bubbly, funny and a little bit accident prone.
Logan was exactly what she needed. He was kind, loving and very protective of her.
From now on, no matter where she was in her life, when she thought about love, she’d think about Breaghacraig.
The women here all seemed to have found their perfect match.
Their soulmates. An image of Hamish came to mind unbidden, He, too, was kind, considerate and protective, but also the alpha male she thought she could never be attracted to.
No doubt he was every inch a man, but he was so much more than that.
Would she ever meet someone like him again when she was ready to settle down, or was she losing her only chance at love.
She might never know the answer to that question.
“We’d best eat quickly and get back home.” Logan dug into his food with gusto.
“I can’t eat that fast,” Sara said.
“Is it going to be a big storm?” Elle asked.
“Aye. I believe so. It will rain steady for a couple of days, then pass on,” Logan said.
Elle was taken aback, without the weather app on her phone she would never know what to expect.
They finished their meal and everyone in the great hall seemed to be of the same mind.
As soon as they were finished eating, they rose and hurried for the door.
A shiver of apprehension ran through Elle as Sara and Logan bid her goodbye.
She watched as they left the relative safety of the hall for the rain and wind pummeling the courtyard.
She hoped they made it back home safely.