Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Packing up at first light that day felt different for James than all the other mornings on the road. His feelings had become stronger. Blair had managed to reach a part of him that no one ever had before. He was smitten by her, wanted to protect her, and above all else, not leave her side. Unfortunately, he knew he would have to, and the time was coming soon. Of course, even if James' secrets were revealed, he wasn't sure he would have any choice in the matter. He didn't know what to expect when he returned to his homeland, but he didn't expect his brother to be happy to see him.

Callum and the others were ready to go, all set up and waiting on Blair to finish changing in the cottage. James mounted his horse and walked it back and forth along the road, at least acting as if his mind was on the task at hand. In reality, he was just trying to keep his mind off the inevitable. It frustrated James even more to know his mind was more on Blair than on his own safety. He wasn't exactly walking into the best situation, and he needed to come up with a plan so he would be prepared for anything that would possibly come his way.

The door to the carriage opened, and Blair stepped out, dressed in the new skirts, blouse, and cape that had been sent with her to change into before meeting her new husband. She had taken the time to pin her hair back, and the dirt and mud from the night before had been washed away. As her head turned to James' direction, he immediately looked away, turning the horse and riding up next to Callum.

"Are ye ready, lassy?" Callum asked.

"I am," she replied, petting her horse's nose.

"Good," Callum said gruffly. "We'll stop when we get closer, so you can get in the carriage."

"Why would I need to do that?" Blair asked, unphased by Callum's gruff tone.

"Because the future wifey of a Laird doesn't ride up to her new clan on the back of a beast," Callum replied, turning and riding forward, letting Blair know he would have no further discussion.

James knew Blair wouldn't argue. Not only had Blair been raised to not argue, she had a goal in mind, and she wanted to make the best impression possible in hopes of helping her sisters. That was still James' biggest goal too, and even though his heart was torn, he had made Blair a promise, and he would do what was needed to ensure he helped her, even if he had to let her go.

Wanting to ensure they got to the McFerguson castle long before supper, they made haste, riding along the road at a quicker pace than before. James could tell from Callum's disposition, he didn't want any more issues along the way. The sooner they got there, the safer the guards would be. All they needed to ensure was her safe arrival and the exchange with Laird McFerguson. After that, they would do what the guards always did; eat food, drink, and partake in the local debauchery until their trip back the next morning.

Not James though. He would stay out of the way, keep his hood up, and make sure that no one noticed who he was. Though he had left home a long time before, his features were distinctive of the family, and their roots were far and deep in the clan. Just as the old wise woman had recognized him, he knew he ran the same risk with the elders in the clan.

The trip ahead was too short in James' mind. He was desperate to hold onto every last moment around Blair, even if that meant keeping his distance and staying quiet. However, he had to keep up with Callum who, though he was not necessarily the leader of the trip, had taken on that role naturally. Callum had always been a leader. Part of James wished there had been more guards with them, giving him a chance to blend in and disappear from Callum's mind. He knew it wasn't simple as to think Callum didn't still have his suspicions about the disappearance of Blair and James just a couple of nights before.

James lingered in the back, bringing up the rear. The wind rushing across his cheeks kept him awake, alert, and heightened his senses. He tried to enjoy the ride through the countryside, but as they approached the hills surrounding the clan land, James could feel a mixture of emotions overtake him. The familiarity was strange to James. He felt comforted by his home land, curious to see if any of the vision that had befallen him at Agatha's held any weight, and broken a bit, knowing when he left, he would be leaving his heart behind.

It did comfort James knowing that Blair trusted him to look after her sisters. He would do whatever it took, as he had always done for Blair. That was, if he made it out of there in one piece.

Up ahead, Callum slowed to a stop, hopping down from his horse and walking over to Blair. She ignored his hand and dismounted on her own, glancing at James as she entered into the carriage. That time, James looked back at her, knowing every glance in her direction could be his last. It was his intention to avoid being the one that escorted her inside.

James turned his attention back to the surroundings, taking in the breathtaking views of his former home, a clan nestled in the hills of the Highlands, with the ocean in one direction, and the mountains in the other. The early day rain had brought in the low rolling fog. It crept over the hills and spilled down toward the fields, like smoke billowing from a fire. The cottages seemed denser, and though James thought he remembered a greener, more fertile image in his mind, everything seemed a bit muted.

He assumed he had just created a world in his head that he saw from a child's eye, and pushed the thoughts of his earlier vision away. However, as they grew closer to the castle, mud covered fields, dry and brittle grasses, and the worn-down roofs of the homes along the road began to increase. As they crested the hills, the castle came into view. It was a structure built for both strength and beauty, looming upward into the low-hanging clouds, much larger than most clan castles.

Callum whistled. "I forgot how big that thing was. Though, the town seems a bit worse fer wear than I remember. Looks like the lass might 'ave gotten the better deal here."

James trotted up next to Callum as the horses and the carriage descended into the valley. They passed through the major area of town, the place where the clans set up shops for trading and sale. Being so close to the ocean, the clan land was host to travelers from across the world, especially those that didn't want to stay in the port city. James put up his hood and glanced from the shadows of his cape. As they rode slowly through, James' heart began to beat faster. Everything around him was familiar, and not because he was born and raised there. The reality in front of him was exactly what he had seen at the old wise woman's cottage.

Mud covered almost everything, people looked tired and haggard, and the merchants were definitely not from the clan. Everything smelled of manure and sickness, and in the distant cottages, you could no longer hear music and laughter. The cries of babes rang out in the stagnant air, the kind of cries you could tell came from a hungry belly. James gripped the reins of his horse tighter, frustration building inside of him. He had to stay focused. He had to remember why he was there. He was there to help Blair, not to save a place he had left behind long ago. It was hard though, as it wasn't at all what he had expected.

As they rounded through the town toward the castle gates, James spoke quietly to Callum. "You go ahead and take her in. I'll make sure the accommodations for the night are set and the horses are tended to."

"Oh no, ye won't," Callum chuckled. "Laird specifically stated that you'd be the one that makes the exchange and ensures everything is to McFerguson's likin'. They got stable hands and guard captains here fer the rest of it."

"I really…" James began to protest but stopped as Callum nodded ahead of them.

"Looks like they were expectin' us. Suppose McFerguson's eager to meet his new bride."

James looked ahead, finding several guardsmen and a servant waiting at the steps to the castle. James took in a long, deep breath, realizing there was no way to get around it. He would have to escort Blair inside. As they came to a stop out front, James dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to the stable boy standing by, awaiting instruction. Callum walked back to the carriage and opened the door. James didn't look back at Blair, scared of seeing any kind of excitement in her eyes.

It wasn't that he wanted her to be unhappy, but he knew more about what she was walking into than she realized. Any enchantment she might feel would surely be crushed very soon. Not only that, but James couldn't bear thinking of her in the arms of another man, especially Laird McFerguson. As he approached the guard, he pulled his hood back. The guard glanced nervously at him. James could tell he was pondering over whether James was familiar or not.

"We're here to escort Laird McFerguson's bride-to-be inside," James said.

The guard cleared his throat and nodded nervously. "We've been expectin' ye. Yer name?"

"James."

The guard glanced up at him again, a realization settling in. He fumbled over his response. "James…"

James kept his face straight. "Just James."

He immediately turned, finding Blair standing with the servant, looking at him. He nodded at her and motioned toward the steps. "Shall we?"

Blair nodded. James looked at her for the first time since they arrived. While her cheeks were rosy, and her hair was loosely braided and pulled back eloquently, she didn't look happy in the least. He could see the same determination on her face that he had come to know so well. He tried not to be pleased by her lack of excitement, but it was hard. When she looked at him, her eyes were soft and sad. He tried to appreciate that sentiment of caring for a moment, because he had a feeling that was all about to change.

Reaching the top of the steps, two guards held the large wooden doors open. The inside was dim, oil lamps flickering through the entryway. The smell of herbs and spices hit James' nose, reminding him of when he was a boy and would come home in the evening to the smell of dinner being prepared. They were the same smells, only there was no beautiful Highland woman waiting to greet her dirt-covered son. Instead, it was just a cold draft whipping around them.

The servant walked ahead of them. "Laird McFerguson awaits you in his personal library."

James almost scoffed at the sound. Laird McFerguson was not the kind of man James pictured sitting in his library, reading. He managed to keep a straight face though, walking ahead of Blair to the library. The servant cleared her throat as they waited outside of the room.

"Excuse, but yer wifey-to-be and her guard are here."

"Thank you," the burley voice bellowed. "Come in."

Blair walked close behind James, and he could almost feel her nervousness buzzing in the air. He was a bit nervous as well, but he would never let Laird McFerguson know. Keeping his chin up, he walked in and paused, waiting for the Laird to turn around from the large fireplace. As he did, the smile left his lips, and in the silence of the moment, James took the opportunity to speak first.

"Hello, brother."