Page 1 of To Charm a Highlander

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Dornoch Castle

Home of the Sutherland Clan

July, 1660

Lady Donella Sutherland, sister to Laird Haydon Sutherland and Conall Sutherland, had seen three and twenty summers and yet remained unmarried.She was sure her laird, like everyone else in the clan, thought her simple-minded, and therefore he had ne’er tried to arrange a marriage for her.

Donella was no’ simple-minded.Her mind was locked down by fear and guilt.Thwarted by memories she’d kept to herself.

And had been since she was a lass.No one kenned that because she ne’er told anyone what had happened to her and what she’d done when she was a mere fourteen years.

That was when she drew into herself and blocked out the rest of the world.It was the only way she could protect herself.She had her own secret safe place in her head where she lived most of the time.She spent hours in the woods enclosed within the castle walls, walking, and enjoying the sights and sounds.Avoiding people was her favorite thing to do.

In the wintertime, she took hour long walks in the snow, loving the cool air on her face.It was never too cold for her because she was free.

“Donella, there ye are, lass.”Her sister-by-marriage, Ainslee, Haydon’s wife, called out to her where she sat against a tree, drawing on the parchment paper Haydon was able to get for her.She knew it was an expense, but since she asked for nothing more, he’d oftentimes told her she deserved it.

She wasn’t sure what she deserved, if anything.But did not like to dwell on it since being in her happy place where difficult thoughts didn’t exist was much more pleasant.

Ainslee approached, her stride forceful, her long braid bouncing over her shoulder.Donella wondered where the woman got all her energy.She ran the keep like a warrior and even kept her four bairns and one—difficult at times—husband in line.Haydon thought he ran the clan, but Ainslee had more to do with it than he did, although no one would e’er say that to his face.However, with as crazy in love as he was with his wife, he would most likely laugh and walk away.

Her sister-by-marriage came to an abrupt halt in front of her.“I need yer help in the kitchen.”

“Aye.”Donella gathered up her things and stood.She brushed off the back of her dress and smiled at Ainslee.“What do ye need me for?”

Ainslee patted her on the shoulder, a slight shiver running down Donelle’s arm at the touch.“Since ye took over the garden again, I must tell ye Jonet is so verra happy to have fresh herbs to season the meals with.Ye do have a gift.”

Donella’s eyes grew wide.It was rare for anyone to notice something she did and offer a compliment about it.After Mam died and Donella’s world fell apart, she let everything in the castle go, even though she was supposed to be acting as chatelaine.Back then, she couldn‘t even look at the garden without turning into a waterpot.That was where she and Mam spent so many hours, talking, and making Donella feel safe and loved.

“Thank ye, Ainslee.I do enjoy working out there.Is something amiss?”

Ainslee turned and they both began to walk toward the keep.“A bit.Muriel, the young maid Jonet sent out to gather herbs for the meal she is preparing, apparently dinna ken one plant from another and brought back all the wrong things.Jonet wants ye to gather what she needs because ‘tis growing late, and also, if ye will, dry and preserve the herbs Muriel brought in so as not to go to waste.”

Having something to do using her hands, keeping her mind occupied was fine with her.She gladly tucked her drawings away and followed Ainslee to the kitchen back door.

“Donella, lass, here’s a basket for ye to gather the herbs I need.”Jonet, the cook who’d been with them for years smiled as she handed it to her.The friendly woman was the solution to another mistake Donella had made.Shortly after she’d taken over the chatelaine’s duties following Mam’s death, Donella had hired the prior cook, Margie, who had turned out to be a verra poor choice.

The cook had terrorized the kitchen staff, had been rude to the laird and his wife, and after Haydon fired her, they discovered she’d been stealing from them.Nothing Donella seemed to do to manage the keep had been the right thing.

Donnella gladly took the basket.This was a task she thoroughly enjoyed.The smells of the garden and the earthly aroma of all the wonderful herbs that Jonet used in her dishes surrounded her, bringing her peace.

She was happy Ainslee had put her in charge of the garden when she’d married Hayden.By then she’d gotten over the hardest part of losing Mam.Now only good memories enveloped her when she knelt on the soft, damp ground and completed her chore.

* * *

Callum Gunn kickeda clod of dirt and stamped out the small fire he’d used to cook the plump pigeon he’d caught for his meal.Certain that all was well, he then packed up his few possessions and tightened the cord holding them to Favela’s haunches.The poor animal was looking as scrawny as Callum.

It was time to approach one of the clans who could use his warrior skills.After wandering for weeks, he realized the closest clan was Sutherland.Callum threw his leg over his horse’s back and moved them in the direction of Dornoch Castle.He went over in his mind what he kenned of the clan.

A verra old clan and an honorable one, Laird Haydon Sutherland had a brother and cousin who held the positions of seconds-in-command.He wasn’t looking for a position like that.He only wanted to feel part of a group.

With war forever a threat, a clan could always use another sword.His had always been the finest, the best of the Gunn’s.‘Twas tired he was of wandering; he wanted a place to rest his head with a roof over it and regular hot meals.He also craved a sense of being needed.

He rode for a few hours, the sun just beginning to set when he approached the castle.

“Who goes there and what is your business?”The warrior on the Dornoch Castle rampart called down to him as Callum grew closer to the drawbridge.