Page 7 of Scottish Rose: Coira

“The blue rose,” said Coira, thinking of the card.

“That’s right, Child. That should tell you right there that enemies will turn into lovers.”

“But it’s just a card. It’s no’ real. There is no such thing as a blue rose.”

Zara turned her head and looked at Coira with a serious expression. “You may have never seen one, but I assure you they are real. They are very rare, and most people will never see one in their lifetime, but they do exist.”

“What are ye sayin’, Zara? How does that pertain to Lance and me?”

“I’m not sure.” Zara faced forward as she spoke. “All I know is that I’ve never seen anyone pull that card before in all the time I’ve been reading fortunes.”

“Is that a guid thing or a bad thing?” asked Coira, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“I don’t know the answer to that, Coira. But I do know one thing; if a blue rose blooms, it is complicated. Enemies will turn into lovers, but I can’t say what will happen along the way or how long it will take.”

“Zara, are ye sayin’ that this marriage might no’ be enjoyable?”

“I’m not saying that. I am only saying that it will be . . . unique and unpredictable.”

Chapter 4

Lance felt the earth shaking beneath him, and heard his squire’s voice calling out his name. He slowly opened one eye and then the other, having to use his hand to shade his face because a bright light almost blinded him.

“Hold that torch somewhere else, Jack. You are blinding me.”

“My lord, I don’t have a torch. That is the sun,” his squire informed him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s nighttime. There is no sun.” He pushed up to a sitting position to find himself sitting in the wagon in the courtyard of Liddel Castle. And to his astonishment, it was the middle of the day. “How did we get here so fast? Wait. Why is there sun?” He rubbed his aching head, trying to think.

“You’ve been asleep for nearly a day now,” Jack told him. “We weren’t able to wake you when we stopped for the night, and I’m surprised I was able to rouse you at all.”

“Argh, it was that blasted Mountain Magic. The stinking Scots tricked me into drinking it, knowing what it would do to me.” He swung his legs over the back of the open wagon, sitting on the edge.

“The Scots warned ye about the whisky. Do no’ blame yer reckless actions on them,” said Coira.

His head snapped around to see his new wife getting down from the front of the cart and helping her handmaid do the same. God’s eyes, he almost forgot he was now a married man.

He cleared his throat and stood up, still feeling dizzy. “Coira, how do you like your new home?” He stretched out his arm, proud of his new castle, thinking it would impress her. Instead, a shadow covered her face and she clung tightly to the arm of the old gypsy.

Coira looked up to see the walls of her prison from six years ago, and she immediately found herself living in the past. This is where she’d almost died. It was almost as if she could still hear the laughter of Lord Ralston and his men as they tortured her and Effie. This is the last place she ever wanted to be!

“Coira, your husband is talking to you,” said Zara, nudging her in the side.

“Zara, I canna live her,” she whispered, clamping her fingers around the old woman’s arm. “It’s as if I have stepped back in time. There are too many horrible memories within these walls.”

“Get a hold of yourself, Child. Leave the past in the past. This is your home now, and you need to make the best of it.” Zara pried Coira’s fingers from her arm.

“Wife, what is the matter?” Lance looked at her as if she were daft.

She jumped when he took her by the arm. When she glanced up at his face, her eyes played a trick on her. For a moment, she thought it was Lord Ralston coming to accost her.

“Nay! Leave me alone,” she cried, pulling out of his grip and backing away. Her heart pounded in her chest and sweat beaded her brow.

“Stop it,” Lance commanded, running a weary hand through his hair. “My head hurts like the devil, and I don’t need you acting all squirrely on me.”

“Perhaps if you’d ask her why she’s afraid, you’d understand, my lord,” said Zara.

“Afraid? Coira, are you afraid of me?” He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head.