Page 11 of Enchantment of a Highlander

Celia’s stomach twisted in a hopeless coil of knots.

“I dinna think ye need worry much, though,” Bessie continued with her positive cheer. “I suppose the one good thing of being without a proper laird is that ye dinna have to fear the law, aye?”

But Bessie’s bright smile did little to quell the unrest churning in Celia’s gut. She knew too well how close the law lay and how that law dealt with witches.

It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Four

Alec and Duncan edged along the walls of the castle. The weight of being watched had not abated, yet no one emerged from the shadows. And so they’d continued on.

They’d tried to move quietly, but it was impossible in such a vast, empty space. The crunch of their footsteps echoed around them. At least the boy’s incessant chatter had dwindled down to occasional whispered comments.

Alec recognized the hall before them as the one housing the main bedchambers. His father’s, his own, and his mother’s.

Something twisted inside him, something he thought he’d freed himself of when he left ten years ago. Yet being in the familiar layout of the hall, even with debris scattered on the floor and all the fine trappings gone, memories rolled frantic through his mind like a broken strand of pearls.

He stopped in front of his mother’s door. The wood had gone dull with age. His palm ached to press against the cool, worn surface.

The sweetness of jasmine lingered in the stale air, so faint he had to breathe in deep and slow to find it. His heart squeezed at the thought of his mother and suddenly he had to see her room. Even if it was empty, as devoid of furniture as the castle was devoid of her life, he had to see it and let himself remember. Her love, her kindness. Her dire, unhappy situation.

He reached for the handle and a high-pitched squealing rang out, long and loud.

He spun toward the noise as something soft and thick and warm slammed into him.

He careened backward beneath the massive sack of a person, all massive arms and legs and that awful, awful noise.

Duncan shouted and appeared at Alec’s side, but only succeeded in tangling their feet, which sent them both crashing to the hard floor.

A massive woman slammed on top of Alec’s chest, her red hair flying in all directions. Bright blue eyes glared at him, wide with rage and insanity. Her hands slapped against his forehead, his left ear, his right temple, his neck.

And damn that noise she was making.

Alec caught her hands in his and spoke in a level voice. “I demand ye stop.”

The sound ceased and his ears hummed with relief.

The woman struggled and her red face twisted with the effort. Breath huffed from her chest as if she’d run to the other coast of Scotland in a day. Then she stopped. Her face smoothed.

She gasped and leaned forward. Beading sweat left puddled dots along her flushed skin. Gone was the crazed look and in its place was the gentle face of kindness, the corners of her eyes crinkled.

A face he recognized.

“Wynda?” He stared at the woman in disbelief and recalled the many comfits the cook had sneaked to him as a boy.

Her eyes went glassy and her hands pressed into his cheeks, damp and warm. “Ach, my wee lad has returned home after all these years and what do I do? Beat him like he’s one of the outlaws come to steal the fortune.”

She stayed where she straddled him and jerked his torso upright, hugging his face into the overly generous swell of her bosom. “Welcome home, laird. It’s been too, too, too…” She rocked her body, and him, with each word. “Too long.”

“I see now I should have come home sooner.” Alec’s words were muffled against her massive chest.

Wynda dropped him backward and clambered upright. “Come on then, let’s look at ye.” She grasped his hand and hauled him to his feet.

Her critical eye swept over him and her mouth puckered. “Oh, lad, ye’ve grown.” She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Ye’re rather fine.”

Alec’s cheeks went hot in spite of himself. Duncan peered around from behind Wynda with a hand over his mouth, smothering a laugh.

“Surely a man so braw as ye has a bonny wife.” Her eyes lit up. “And wee ones? Do ye have wee ones?”