Chapter Fourteen
“Do ye mind getting wet?” Daimh asked as they crossed over to Dornie in an open boat.
Harper laughed. “Isn’t it a wee bit late to ask me that?” she teased, wrapping herself in a plaid as the rain cascaded down on them.
“I was a bit impatient now that I’ve told ye the truth of it. We could hae waited.”
“I am anxious to meet your brother. A little rain won’t hurt.”
He reached across to grab her hand, squeezed, and returned to minding the oars.
Once they touched the shore, he jumped from the craft and tied it to a pole before lifting her out. He stepped back into the boat to retrieve the basket he had brought, then wrapping them both in his larger plaid, he led her up the bank and down a rutted road to the cottage.
The home was set back into the woods barely visible as it squatted back among the trees. The plume of smoke that rose from the crooked chimney promised warmth inside. Foliage offered shelter from the onslaught of the rain as Daimh knocked on the old wooden door.
An older woman swung the door wide and ushered them inside. She was a tiny thing, wrinkled like a prune, but her smile was so kind and welcoming, Harper immediately relaxed. Before Daimh could properly introduce them, a happy cry came from the back and a boy rushed to Daimh, wrapping his arms around the large man’s legs.
Daimh hugged him, then gently moved him back.
“Thomas and Eilidh, this is the Lady Harper.”
Eilidh wrapped Harper’s hands gently in her own and nodded, the gesture comforting .
“Since Daimh ne’er brings visitors here, ye must be someone quite special,” Eilidh said gently.
Harper smiled at the comment and then bent down, resting on her heels to greet Thomas. Clearly shy, the child pressed against Daimh.
“Hello, Thomas. I am so happy to meet you. I hope we can be friends.” Her sincerity was clear, and Thomas took a step toward her. His grin told her all she needed to know.
Thomas was no changeling. His round face and slanted almond-shaped eyes made his condition clear. He did have Down Syndrome. Harper knew she could never explain to Daimh or anyone else here that this was simply a chromosomal issue and definitely not the work of the fairies. Her heart went out to the poor child who was separated from the clan for a condition that made him no less loveable.
Opening her arms, Thomas tentatively stepped into her hug and giggled. “I like ye,” he said.
“And I like ye, too,” she responded. Standing, she held out her hand for him. “Shall we see what your brother has brought you?”
Nodding enthusiastically, Thomas grabbed for the basket Daimh held and proceeded to dig into it. Eilidh moved next to him and took out the foodstuffs and blankets, leaving a toy that had filtered to the bottom. Screeching in delight, Thomas pulled out a carved wooden horse and hugged it to his chest.
Harper looked at Daimh, her head angled in awe. “Did you carve that?”
“Aye. He loves horses and does nae get much chance to ride.”
“We could take him riding,” Harper suggested. “I am certain there are places we could go.”
Thomas had been distracted by the toy, but when he heard Harper’s words, he perked up.
“Ride horse?” he said, hope widening her eyes.
Daimh was skeptical and pulled Harper to the corner and lowered his voice. “What if he’s seen? I hae no idea how the clan would treat him. They might even try to hurt him, thinking he’s cursed.”
“Are there no paths through the woods?”
“Aye, but it is a risk.”
“Daimh, I have seen children like Thomas before and the more they are treated like other children, the more they flourish.”
Daimh worked his jaw, his tension obvious. “But he is a fairy child. He is not like the other children. Do ye not see that?”
“I see a sweet boy who is full of love.” Harper knew she couldn’t explain more. It wouldn’t make any sense to him, but he was looking at her with such softness in his expression, she wanted to kiss him.
Turning to Eilidh and moving toward her, he spoke quietly. “Any problems?”
“Nay. He is always an easy child. And yer friend is right in saying he is a sweet lad full of love.”
They sat for a while, sipping some of the sweet wine Daimh had brought and spoke of pleasantries while Thomas played with his toy. Harper watched the child and was filled with tenderness.
Thomas moved to Harper and hugged her and she was filled to overflowing with love.
But, too soon, it was time to leave.
“Aye, we must go.” He bent down to Thomas. “We must go,” he repeated. Tears slipped out of the corners of Thomas’s eyes. “No go. Stay.”
“I will come again soon. I promise.”
“Bring Lady.”
Harper stepped up to him and knelt beside Daimh. Thomas angled his body to her, and she wrapped him in a hug. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and Harper’s heart swelled.
“We will come back soon,” she promised, hoping that would be the case. Daimh had hidden the boy to protect him, and Harper knew he would not be so readily accepted by the clan. Poor Daimh had worked so hard for so long to keep Thomas a secret. It broke her heart because it was necessary. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t visit often and show him affection.
Daimh and Harper thanked Eilidh and took their leave. The walk back to the shore was slow and quiet as they held hands, each lost in thought. As they reached the loch, Daimh turned to her.
“Do ye really not care that Thomas is—different?”
“Thomas is a lovely boy and I think that anyone who is capable of such love and devotion should be valued.”
Daimh took a deep breath and reached over to hold her by the shoulders. “Ye could love him?”
“Why would I not?”
“Ye could nae tell anyone. I will nae have him abused.”
“I understand. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t spend time with him. We could go on outings and rides in the woods, and no one would discover us.”
He shook his head. “Ye are the most remarkable of women. And I wish to claim you as me own. Would ye be willing? To be me wife?”
Harper couldn’t believe her ears. Was he actually proposing? Looking into the depths of his blue eyes, she saw so much love and acceptance and her heart said yes, yes, yes. But her pragmatic side held her back. If she agreed and they married, what if she decided she needed to return to 2024? But, of course, that was ridiculous. A future in the twenty-first century had nothing to offer. Her real future was here, with this glorious warrior and the lives they would build together.
“More than willing,” she answered.
Sweeping her up into his arms, he twirled her around in circles until she was dizzy.
***
As soon as they returned to the castle, Harper sought out Skye. They hastened to an alcove and Harper reached for Skye’s hands.
“It went well?”
“It was as I thought. Down Syndrome.”
“And?”
“I thought he was adorable. And he hugged me and kissed my cheek.” Harper stroked the place Thomas had touched.
“Nice,” Skye said, nodding. “But there’s more?”
“Daimh asked me to marry him.”
Skye’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful! What did you say?”
Harper could feel the blush in her cheeks. “I said yes, of course.”
“Yay! Another wedding. And you’re staying! So much wonderful news.” Skye clapped her hands. “It’s nearly Hogmanay. How would you feel about a wedding on New Year’s Eve? You know, starting the new year with a new marriage?”
“It’s all so fast. Am I making the right choices, Skye?”
“Daimh is a wonderful man, and he will treat you well. Better than well. He’ll do everything in his power to see to your happiness. Can you ask any more than that from a husband? And you love him, too, right? I can tell.”
“I do. I guess I’m just not used to…”
“Being happy?” Skye asked.
“Yes.”
“Well get used to it. Your life is about to change for the better. So come, we must tell everyone!”
“But you won’t mention Thomas? Not even to tell Ian you know.”
“Of course not. It’s our secret.”
***
Hogmanay was only a week away. Not much time to prepare for a wedding, but the women faced the challenge with energy and joy. Freya sorted fabric for the dress and Harper chose a soft wool in the palest blue, which complemented her eyes. Kenna organized the food and Neasa oversaw it all. Neasa had sensed Harper’s indecision about remaining and was thrilled that marrying Daimh would assure her continued presence here.
“How can I ever repay you?” she asked Freya as the other woman took measurements.
“Repay me? Ye saved me husband’s life. You could ask me for a hundred gowns and it would never come close to making us even.”
Happy that her being here had made a positive difference, Harper decided to stop feeling guilty and just enjoy all the preparations. Skye whispered that Daimh had gone to the silversmith and was designing something beautiful for a ring and she assured Harper the cake would be spectacular.
And every night, when the moon rose high and the castle settled into slumber, a tap on her door had her welcoming Daimh into her arms.
“Ye know,” she said, grinning, “ye can nae visit the night before. It is bad luck.” She had to smile inwardly at her use of Scottish words.
Feigning a pout, he nodded. “Aye. I think I can survive a night or two without ye, but it will nae be easy.” Running his knuckles along her jaw sent a shiver of desire into her core. “Speaking of, I must lead a routine patrol tomorrow eve, so I will nae be able to visit. But it will be nice after we are wed to nae longer have to sneak up here in the dark.”
“I will be happiest to be able to wake up to ye in the morning.”
“Aye. So much to look forward to.”
“I am guessing Thomas can nae attend the wedding.”
Sadness marred his features, his lips down turning and his eyes clouded.
“Nae unless I can find a way to have him hide in the shadows.”
“Oh no, Daimh. That would be terrible. He should ne’er be made to be ashamed like that. It’s enough he stays hidden in the cottage, but at least he seems unaware that he cannot be discovered. If you brought him to the castle and forced him to cower in the corners, it could only hurt him. We will visit him afterward and bring him cake.”
“Yer heart is so kind. I am the luckiest of men to be able to soon call ye wife.”
But Harper’s heart ached for the boy, never being able to mingle with the clan. Perhaps she could find a way, but overcoming the ingrained superstition of these people would not be so easy.