Highland Daydreams (12 page)

Bram did not know how a woman could have so much resolve and determination with her history. In her situation, he would have expected the lass to be docile and submissive; she was anything but. She had a wicked tongue and was a little too opinionated for a lass. He could see why Dermot thought her to be defiant, and the thought put a mischievous smile on his face.

What he admired the most about her was her heart. The way she spoke of fond memories and of her dreams made Bram think about his own life and unfulfilled dreams. Bram found himself suddenly regretting his promise. It was not his promise to protect her; it was knowing how this journey would end.

Bram and Lara crossed the stone bridge in Aberdeen which led into the market square. People crowded the market, buying and trading their goods, while a group of minstrels played their instruments.

Suddenly Lara called out, “Watch out!”

Instantly, Bram pulled tightly on the reins causing the horse to halt. Bram felt Lara hug him tighter around the waist as she had almost been tossed off the large beast. Unexpectedly, a wee lad ran out in front of them being chased by three other lads.

“Bloody hell!” he cursed under his breath. “Ye coulda been killed ye hellions!” Bram shouted, but the lads could not hear him over the crowd’s noise.

Bram righted himself in the saddle, and directed the horse down the road.

“Have ye been here before?” Lara asked.

“Aye. ‘Tis similar to Dumfries, only the goods imported here are verra different. They come by sea from other countries such as the Orient and the Holy Land.”

“What sorts of things?”

Bram looked down at Lara. Her eyes were wide, looking at the carts as they passed by them. Bram smiled at her and her child-like expressions. She looked as if she were devouring a sweet roll with her eyes.

“Weapons, fine silks, exotic foods, and precious stones.”

“Do ye suppose the journey to Norway will take long?”

“Aye. Tis two or three days’ travel across the sea. We will follow the river to the harbor, then board a vessel that will take us there.”

Once they reached port, Lara could not contain her anticipation. She felt nervous and excited all at once. The only ships she had seen before were rowboats along the lochs. She marveled at the size of these ships.

Leaving their horse behind, Lara followed Bram up the long gangplank to the main deck of the vessel. Several other passengers followed closely behind.

Aboard was a small crew of no more than ten plus the captain. Once everyone was on board, Bram and Lara moved to the stern of the boat. Three members of the ship’s crew pulled hard on a rope, turning the yardarm high on the mast. Within moments, the sail dropped and the wind caught hold, causing the sail to flutter. The captain called out the order to bring up the anchor. When the anchor was lifted, Lara felt the waves crashing into the side of the boat as they turned, bearing north and east towards Norway.

“Lara, ye may want to hold on or sit down. The ride can be verra bumpy and it is easy to get sick from the rocking if ye are nay used to it,” Bram suggested.

“Nay, I will be fine. Thank ye.”

Peering over the side of the hull, Lara gazed into the deep blue waters. It was so different from the Firth of Clyde near Castle Foley. Darkness clouded the sea floor. The only thing she could see was her own reflection staring back at her. The water rippled as the bow cut through the surface like a sharp knife. The open ocean was like nothing she had ever seen. It looked endless. She could not tell where the ocean ended and the sky began.

As the wind blew stronger, the ship gained speed, and Lara’s hair waved wildly in the wind. She closed her eyes and felt the breeze and cool mist on her face. She thought that this must have been what a bird felt like when taking flight.

Over the next hour, Lara watched and listened to the crewmen as they told tales of pirates and selkies. Their animated expressions and dramatic gestures made the stories come to life as they acted out each scene. Once they finished with their tales, Lara turned to ask Bram whether he believed if their fables were true, but he was no longer sitting by her side. Lara looked over her shoulder in search of Bram and found him standing against the hull looking out across the sea.

Lara realized she had grown quite fond of him. She found herself smiling every time he was near. It was hard not to. He had offered her his protection, his comfort, and his friendship, and there was no denying the feelings that were developing inside her. She tried to will them away and think of him only as her escort, or like a brother; anything other than the wanton thoughts and feelings she was having about him.

Like a young lass, she found herself daydreaming of what could have been. Distracted by her wandering thoughts, she had a hard time keeping her mind in the here and now. Her heart hammered in her chest as she secretly watched him. Even though he was a beast in height and strength, he was chivalrous and steadfast, and possibly the most handsome man she had ever laid her eyes upon.

Lara found herself yearning for his kisses, for him to wrap his protective arms around her and shield her from the world. But her mind overruled her heart. While she wanted to allow herself the freedom to open her heart to him, common sense brought her back to reality; that even though her marriage had not been consummated, bound by law and contract, she still belonged to Dermot. Only Father Bolbec, who’d performed the ceremony, had the authority to annul the marriage. Even if she could prove that there was no coupling between them, many years’ acquaintance with Father Bolbec told her that he would not be easily swayed. His position gave him the authority to arbitrarily set rules and laws outside of what the Pope would declare, and pass judgment on what he believed was unholy or against the laws of the church. Lara knew his decisions often had little to do with the church, and were more about power and control. 

Lara stood and began walking towards Bram. As she took a small step, she began to feel her head spin and her stomach turn. Stopping for a moment, she drew in a long breath and started to walk again. Feeling a bit wobbly, she slowed her pace. As she stood beside Bram, she instantly put her hand to her stomach.

“What ails ye?” Bram asked with concern etched on his face.

The world started to spin and Lara’s stomach felt as if it was tossing back and forth along with the ship. She opened her mouth to explain but strained to speak as she felt bile rising in the back of her throat.

“Ye dinna look too well, Lass. Yer skin is pale,” Bram said as he raised his hand to her forehead. “And ye feel as cold as the winter air.”

“Must...stop…rocking,” Lara mumbled as her hand went to her mouth. “Please, stop the ship from rocking,” she pleaded.

Bram chuckled.

“Lass, I can no’ stop the ship from rocking back and forth. We are in the middle of the sea. I warned ye that ye were goin’ to get sick,” he reminded her.

Lara could see the smug, satisfied grin on his face. Now was not the time to be arrogant and thick-headed, she thought, as she saw him trying to cover his smile.

“Ye are finding enjoyment in this, nay?”

“Aye. Dinna say I dinna warn ye lass. Most people think they won’t be affected by the motion of the sea, but most of the time the sea wins,” he replied.  

Lara’s stomach clenched. Holding on tightly to the railing, she retched over the side of the ship. As she continued to empty her stomach, Lara could feel one of Bram’s hands on her back and the other holding her hair up and out of the way. After a quarter of an hour, Lara felt her stomach ease and slumped down to sit on the deck. Bram joined her, scooting himself beside her. He handed her a handkerchief so she could wipe her mouth.

Against her better judgment, Lara leaned into him. Bram instinctively wrapped his arm around her. As much as she wanted to, Lara did not allow herself to take comfort in his arms. Within three days or so, he would be gone from her life, and she could not bear the disappointment she was already beginning to feel at the thought of leaving him. If only things were different, and she could express her feelings; but she knew she couldn’t. Instead, she would lock them away in the deepest recesses of her heart.

Bram’s humor faded as Lara rested against his chest and in his arms. They were still two days away from port and there were no healers on board to ease her discomfort. He had only hoped that rest would offer her the comfort she needed.

Bram did not understand why Lara couldn’t see how he felt about her. He had tried to be agreeable and careful of her, but apparently it wasn’t enough. He was becoming angry with himself. He was a coward.

There were so many things he wanted to tell her, but he was either too proud or too daft to say the words. He had never felt this way about a woman, and he didn’t like having so little control over his own heart. She was opinionated, stubborn, brash, irrational, and completely illogical, but he loved her with every fiber of his being. He was certain of it. But did she love him in return? Aye, she was married, but their union was just a minor inconvenience, and one that he would make certain was rectified.

As she lay there in his arms, Bram could still smell the lavender scented soap she’d used in her hair days ago. Her nearness was the sweetest torture he had ever endured. He would do anything to be with her, even ride across Europe to Italy and demand that the Pope terminate her marriage contract; or take his blade to that bastard husband of hers, leaving her a widow. He would ride to the ends of the earth and back for her. But first, he needed to win her heart.

In the following two days at sea, Lara’s condition worsened. She threw up several times and was not able to keep much food down. Bram encouraged her to rest as much as she could, as it was the only relief she had. Lara swore that she would never set foot on a boat again.

As if angels were answering her prayers, she heard the captain call out to his men, “Ease off the line laddies, ‘tis land ahead.”

Lara looked over the side of the hull. The inland waters were as blue as the brightest bluebells she had ever seen. The water reflected the land above the shore like a perfect mirror. The pine-covered, hilly land looked much different than the rocky terrain she was accustomed to. But it was the thought of standing on solid land that brought her the most joy.

Heading into the channel, the crew lowered the sail and dropped anchor. After they’d docked and the passengers had disembarked, the captain and his entourage went barreling down the boarding plank, carrying with them barrels and boxes of fresh supplies.

“How long do ye think it will take us to get to Bergen?” Lara asked Bram, hoping to reach her father soon.

“By tomorrow evening, if all goes well,” Bram replied.

Lara was elated by his answer. Finally, after several weeks, she could seek justice for Dermot’s treachery.

Chapter 14

“Where is he?” Dermot hollered at the guard.

Dermot and five of his guards had ridden four days from Foley Castle to Stearns to demand an audience with Laird Fergusson for the rights to Lara’s dowry. Upon their departure after the wedding ceremony, he had only been given a trunk full of worthless trinkets. Laird Fergusson had told him about the treasure, and promised that Dermot would possess it in due time. But Dermot was determined not to wait any longer.

Now, with Lara’s unexpected disappearance from the English prison, he found it necessary to retrieve the remainder of her belongings before the truth got out. Of course, if the Fergussons knew the truth of it, they would surely deny him his percentage of the treasure and kill him on the spot. 

“I am afraid, my Laird, that Laird Fergusson is nay here. He has gone to Norway,” the guard stuttered and shrunk in fear.

At that moment, so consumed by rage, Dermot wanted nothing more than to pull out his dirk and put it through the man’s throat. He struggled for restraint.

Dermot knew that he needed to get to Norway and get his hands on that treasure before they found out the truth about Lara. He started to regret his hasty decision to send her off with the English guards. Dermot had not thought what to do if Alban, Lara’s father, demanded to see her.

“I am sure, my Laird, that if ye make haste, ye can catch up wit’ yer wife.”

Dermot’s eyes narrowed. Grabbing the guard’s collar with both hands, he forcefully pushed him against the wall and lifted him into the air.