Page 30 of To Charm a Highlander

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Despite the problems with their last visit to the village, Callum and Donella set out once more on a cool Thursday afternoon, the day the crofters and other vendors from the surrounding area came to the Sutherland Village.

This time Donella was happy to note that very few people seemed surprised to see her.The discomfort of the last trip melted away as vendors greeted her, smiled, and offered to show her the various items they had on display.

“Do ye care for a new ribbon, Donella?”Callum asked as he pulled her toward a table with various items, including wool scarves, necklaces, and colorful grosgrain ribbons.

“Aye, I would always want a new ribbon.”

They took their time looking over the table; Callum purchased a ribbon and promised the vendor to buy a scarf from him when the weather grew cold once again.

“I’m feeling a tad hungry.Do ye want to try the alehouse again, or mayhap one of the meat pies that smell so good from that table over there?”Callum nodded in the direction of a mon passing out wonderful smelling meat pies as fast as the woman with him could put them into his hands.

“Ach, Lady Donella.‘Tis good to see ye again, lass.And who is this fine mon with ye?”Boris Sutherland and his wife, Ellen had been selling meat pies in the village from when Donella was a young girl.She hadn’t seen them for years, but then again that was most likely because she’d been in hiding, her family had told her.

“’Tis good to see ye and yer wife as well, Boris.”She turned to Callum.“Mr.Callum Gunn is one of our warriors.”

Boris’s eyebrows rose.“Gunn, aye?”

“Yes, sir,” Callum said.“Our laird has accepted me into the clan and I now train the young warriors.”

Boris slapped Callum on the back.“’Tis a fine thing to have a welcome from our laird.”

Callum purchased two meat pies for them, and they ate them and drank mugs of ale from the table set up in front of the alehouse.Donella was enjoying the afternoon and dinna want it to end.She and Callum held hands during their venture and a few villagers who had seen her the last time, commented on how happy she looked and the handsome mon at her side.

Eventually, the air grew cooler, and the vendors began packing up their goods.Callum glanced at the sky.“I think we’re in for some rain, ‘tis a good time to leave.”

She looked up and nodded her agreement.

Callum took the ribbon from her hand and tucked it into the sporran that hung at his side.Clasping her hand, he tugged Donella and they began their hurried return to the castle.

The great hall had begun to fill up with the warriors and other clan members who ate at the castle each evening.Before they separated for her to join her family Callum had the inclination to lean forward and kiss Donella right there in the great hall and longed for the day when he could do that without causing an uproar from her brothers.

“Would ye care for a game of chess after supper?”Callum asked.

“Aye.I would like that.I must warn ye, however that I am a verra good player.”

Callum winked at her.“Then we shall see if ye can beat me, since I am a verra good player, as well.”With a squeeze of her hand, he walked toward the warrior’s table and Donella headed to her family.

* * *

The next afternoon,Donella entered Haydon’s solar.“Ye wished to speak with me, brother?”

When she noticed Conall was there, both of them looking quite serious, she said, “Is something amiss?”

“Nay, Donella,” Haydon said.“Doona fash yerself.‘Tis something we want to discuss with ye.”

She sat next to Conall and placed her hands in her lap.

Haydon leaned his forearms on his desk.“I’m sure Callum told ye that he asked my permission to court ye.”

“Aye.”

“How do ye feel about the lad?”

She could feel the blood rush to her face and began to shift in her chair.“I like Callum.Verra much.”

Conall turned and looked at her.“He told us his intention is to ask for yer hand in marriage.”