Page 2 of Never Fall for a Highlander

She smiled but was grateful they were close to the brooch.Hamish had been paying a bit too much attention to her on the trip.Each night when they made camp, he offered to share his bed with her.She treated it as a bit of teasing, but she kenned the mon was serious.

“I will be glad to sleep in a real bed.”The words were no sooner out of her foolish mouth than she realized what a stupid thing that was to say.Before Hamish could change that into something uncomfortable, she turned as one of her other escorts, Boyd rode up alongside Hamish and frowned.

“Leave the lass alone, Hamish.She’s certainly showed ye during the trip that she’s no’ interested in ye.”

“Ach, but give me a few minutes alone with the lass and I can surely change her mind.”

She ignored him as they grew closer to their destination.The tidy and flourishing Village of Tongue sat nearby but the brooch of Dun Ugadale caught her breath as they grew closer.

Set on a high hill-top, its remarkable location gave her a clear view of the mountains Ben Royal and Ben Hope.So this was where her sister lived for the past two years.Excitement built in her chest as they grew close enough to see the drawbridge begin to lower.

They rode over it, the three Mackay warriors flanking her, the thunder of the horses announcing their arrival.

Helena looked around to see if her sister was waiting for her, and then laughed at her foolishness.Jena had no way of knowing when they would arrive.

Hamish dropped from his horse and reached up to grab her around the waist.Before she could tell him she was quite capable of getting off the horse herself, she was on the ground.She brushed off her dress and thanked him, immediately turning away.

“Helena, is that you?”

She turned to see her very swollen sister waddling down the steps from the keep.

Tears sprang in Helena’s eyes at the sight of her sister.Jena looked wonderful.And very pregnant.Helena practically ran toward her sister.With bright smiles, the sisters hugged.Well, as much as Helena could with her sister’s large belly.

Helena stepped back and studied Jena.“You look very…”

“Pregnant.”Jena grinned.

“Yes.Verra much so.”They hugged again and Jena put her arm around Helena’s waist.“Come, you must be hungry and weary from your journey.”

Helena stopped in her tracks and turned toward Hamish, Boyd, and Finlay.“Thank ye verra much for a safe travel.I appreciate your escort.”

The men nodded to her and then moved their horses, and hers, to the stables.Hamish took his time to wink at her.

She sighed and shook her head.

“I canno’ tell ye how happy I am to see ye.”Jena lowered her head and spoke softly.“The woman who is the midwife here is frightening.She keeps telling me all the horrible things that can happen.I was about ready to climb onto a horse and return to Dornoch when Blair sat me down and explained that the midwife, Beatrice, was old, set in her ways, and kenned for scaring the life out of expecting mothers and I shouldna pay attention to her.

“It was then that he suggested we send for you.”

“So this was yer husband’s idea?”

“Aye.I wanted to send for ye, but I dinna ken if the laird would care for having a few of his warriors away from the castle and spending time escorting ye here.”

They had climbed the steps and were entering the great hall.They settled on two stools in front of a table.Jena was out of breath, and they had to wait a bit before Helena asked, “Is the laird so difficult, then?”

“Nay.”Jena shook her head.“He isna.But he is always fretting about this and that, so I dinna want Blair to bring another problem to him.”

“But he did it anyway?”

Jena smiled.“Aye.Blair is the best of husbands.He oversees training the new warriors now and is quite proud of himself.But since he is close to the laird, he feels more comfortable with him than I do, so he had no problem asking for an escort.”

Just then a young serving lass entered the room.“Good afternoon, Jena.I see yer sister has arrived.”

“Yes, Miriam, this is my younger sister, Helena.”She turned to Helena.“Miriam is a sweet young lass.”

The lass blushed.“Can I get ye some food and drink?Supper is still a couple of hours away.”

“I would like something to drink, for sure,” Helena said.“I believe I can wait until supper is served.”