After eating a light fare, they each stretched out on the blankets. Bliss wrapped her cloak snug around her and lay on her side, facing the fire.
Trey lay on his back, looking at the canopy of thick branches. “There is a soothing quietness about this place that calms the soul.”
“Why my people still seek its comfort.”
He turned on his side to face her. “People come here to exchange wedding vows?”
“Those who wish for a long, fulfilling life together, for vows exchanged in such a scared place are never broken.”
“The vows would be spoken as we exchanged ours?”
“Nay, it would be different.”
“How? Tell me what you would say if you exchanged vows here with me,” he said.
She felt a sudden desire to show him how it would be done, and so she spoke with love from the heart. “I take Trey MacAlpin as my husband. I give my heart to him and only him. And I will love him for all the days of my life and beyond.”
She heard him mumble but could not understand him. “What did you say?”
“The vows would then be sealed?”
“After the husband-to-be vowed his love, they would be sealed, and the vows honored, for I would not speak them here if I did not mean them.”
“I thought as much. And you would love the man who stood here beside you.”
“I would not bring him here if I didn’t,” she said.
“And you would never stop loving him?”
“I will love only once in this life, and it will be a strong, devoted love. And as I said, I will love him for all the days of my life and beyond, for death will not stop me from loving him.”
“Your husband is a lucky man.”
“That he is,” she said with a grin.
Sleep soon claimed Trey, but Bliss lay awake, her eyes wide and her thoughts churning. Trey had said, “Your husband
is
a lucky man.” And she had agreed with her own words. “That he
is
.” Neither he nor she had said her husband
would be
a lucky man.
It was as if they both acknowledged Trey as her husband—now and forever.
T
rey woke, along with the first light of day. It barely filtered through the treetops, though a spark of light poked through here and there. The fire had died out, but it didn’t matter, they would not linger long this morning. He wanted them on their way, get Bliss where she needed to be, then take her home and see her kept safe. She might object, but perhaps her visions would show her that it was for the best.
Besides, he needed time to make sense of this sudden marriage.
He stretched himself up to a sitting position and gave a glance her way. She still slept, looking so very peaceful in slumber. Her beauty couldn’t be denied though Trey found her kindness and unselfishness more attractive. She thought of others before she gave thought to herself. And she would not betray trust, a quality he much admired.
His da had told him how she had spoken with him and his brothers, giving warning of things that had been and were yet to be, and though she never acknowledged that she knew the identity of the true king, she had pledged her silence.
Once others realized what knowledge she possessed, there was no place she would be safe, except with him. She was, after all, his wife, and he had a responsibility to protect her.
He stood with another stretch and glanced around at the circle of trees. He could well understand why the place was sacred. It brought peace to the soul, and he could use that right now.
He stretched again, his muscles sore but the ache of losing Leora, the woman he loved, was suddenly less painful. Had this sacred grove brought him some peace, or had it been Bliss who helped ease his pain?
That he was attracted to her he could not deny. That he felt somehow connected with her he also could not deny. That he favored her company—he shook his head. He was trying to make sense of why he did not at all, in the least . . . feel troubled being wed to her.
Was he feeling alone, with his brothers having found women they loved, and good ones at that? Or could he finally, possibly, be on the verge of allowing himself to love again?
When he had lost Leora, it had felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his body, the pain was so great. At times he hadn’t thought he could bear it another moment. And then he had turned numb, devoid of all feeling, swearing he would never allow himself to love again.
Then Bliss happened along. And he wondered if she had healed more than just the wounds on his body. He wondered if she had healed his broken heart.
“Have you been awake long?”
Trey turned to Bliss just as a ray of sunlight kissed her face, and her beauty startled him. He had thought he would never think another woman more beautiful than Leora, but Bliss far surpassed Leora, and the thought surprised him.
“Not that long,” he said. “I intended to wake you soon, so that we could eat and be on our way.”
Bliss sat up, running her fingers through her silky blond hair. “I’m rarely hungry in the morning, so please do not wait on me.”
“A hunk of cheese and bread will suffice as we walk,” he said. “I much prefer to be on our way.”
“I am just as eager,” she said, bouncing up to gather and fold the blankets. “I feel the need to get to my friend as fast as possible.”
While he wished the same, to have this done with and see her safely to his home, he rather favored having time alone with her. It was odd to feel the stirrings of more than just attraction. And he wanted the chance to see if it was real or only gratitude for her having healed him.
They were on their way shortly, their hands joining as soon as they left the grove. They both reached out for the other at the same time, their hands clasping, their fingers lacing, and their grip strong.
“Where do we go?” he asked, having let her set the course.
“Not that far from my home, though not on Pict land,” Bliss explained. “It will take most of the day to get there.”
“You travel alone much?” he asked once again, her safety concerning him.
“More times than not.”
“It is not safe.”
“Fate watches over me.”
“Fate can be a cruel mistress,” he said with more anger than he intended.
“I have found through the years that fate is often wiser than we are.”
Trey shook his head. “I cannot agree with that. I believe man determines his own fate.”
Bliss smiled. “With help.”
“I believe you are tenacious in your opinion,” he teased.
She leaned close. “Beware. I am tenacious in more than just my opinion.”
Trey laughed. “At least you are honest about it.”
“To a fault at times, or so I’ve been told.”
“How could honesty ever be a fault?” he asked.
“When it hurts?”
“If someone doesn’t want to hear the truth, he should not ask the question.”
“Sometimes a person cannot help but ask,” she said.
They continued talking as they walked, Trey finding her a delight to converse with and finding their thoughts and ideas much alike.
They both sniffed the air at the same time, but it was Trey who first said, “Fire.”
“It is a distance away yet,” she said.
He sniffed the air again while bringing them to a halt. “It smells as if it smolders.” He shook his head, his features turning angry. “It could be the king’s soldiers. They have grown bold, attacking defenseless crofts on the outskirts of MacAlpin land.”
“We need to see if there are those in need of help,” she said, urging him with a tug to hurry.
“It will delay us,” he informed.
“It cannot be helped,” she said.
He nodded, and as they hurried off, he could not help but admire her courage. She gave no thought to her own safety, only to those of others in need. And what made him admire her all the more was that he knew if he were not with her, she would still tempt fate and see if there were those she could help. Or perhaps fate took her where she was meant to go.
He almost smiled, for he realized he was beginning to understand
his wife
.
A
lmost an hour later, Trey urged Bliss behind him with a gentle hand, and she went willingly as they approached the edge of the woods. Beyond, through the sparse trees, they could spy the smoldering croft. The cottage was all but gone, with only embers left glowing.
Trey came to a halt, and she stepped around him, his hand shot out to stop her from going any farther.
She gently pushed it aside. “There are no soldiers here, but there is a child in need of care.” She was relieved that he didn’t doubt her and hurried forward with her.
A mother with a young lad no more than five cradled in her arms staggered to her feet in what was once a garden beside the cottage. Bliss rushed to her, but Trey was faster and had her and the child up in his arms by the time she reached them.
“On the ground by the tree,” Bliss said, directing Trey where to put the pair.
Bliss immediately went to work on the two while Trey went in search of water. Working together, it didn’t take long to ascertain that the pair suffered no serious wounds though both suffered the loss of a husband and father.
“The soldiers took my Kevin,” she cried, hugging her son to her.
“How many soldiers?” Trey asked.
“Four,” she said through tears. “I do not understand. I thought we were safe on MacAlpin land.”
Bliss almost gasped, sensing the raging anger that ran through Trey. She wanted to reach out and calm him, but he stepped away from her so fast she had no chance.
Trey slipped off the rolled blankets and sack he carried on his back and dropped them to the ground. “Did you see which way they took Kevin?”
The woman pointed. “Away from MacAlpin land.”
Trey nodded. “I’ll find him. Get yourself and your son ready to leave as soon as I return. You’ll head to the MacAlpin keep, where you’ll be safe. You can return home once the true king takes the throne.”
The woman nodded while tears trickled down her face.
Bliss stood and placed a hand on his arm. Try as she might, she could not see the results of his sudden decision, and it frightened her. She wanted to warn him not to go, warn him to be careful, warn him that she could not see his fate, but she didn’t. His heart beat strong and steady with the strength and confidence of a Highlander warrior. There would be no stopping him; he would fight this day.
She did something unexpected, but that seemed natural. She kissed his cheek, and whispered, “Stay safe, husband of mine.”
He smiled and returned the kiss, only his kiss was on her lips. It was a light kiss, as if left unfinished. It sent a tingling shiver to the tips of her toes and left her waiting impatiently for more.
Bliss watched until he was gone from sight, then turned her attention to mother and child. Her name was Sara and the lad was Patrick. It was remarkable how different the pair was after Trey left. Tears subsided, and Sara hurried her son to be ready for his da’s return. She trusted Trey, believed his word, and had no doubt he would bring her husband home.
The lad wiped his tears from his smudge-ridden face and hurried to obey his mum. Bliss helped them scavenge what food they could find and shared some of what Trey and she had.
Sara informed her that they never had a chance to defend themselves. The soldiers swept down on them, one grabbing Patrick and threatening to take him if Kevin didn’t cooperate. They ransacked the cottage, winter garden, and field, then told Kevin he would now serve King Kenneth. He didn’t dare protest, for fear that his family would be hurt. They set the cottage on fire just before leaving.
Bliss wrapped a comforting arm around Sara. And though she didn’t see or sense anything, she encouraged with hope. “If anyone can free Kevin from the soldiers and return him home, it’s Trey.”
Sara nodded and wiped away threatening tears. She turned to her son, who had busied himself with a stick and a stone, and smiled. So did Bliss, for leave it to a child to find a sense of peace in simple play during troubling woes.
Time passed slowly, and the more it did, the more worry wore on Sara’s face and began to creep over Bliss. She reminded herself how confident Trey had been when he had informed the young soldier that he had no time to wait while the three gathered more help to fight him. He hadn’t boasted. He had been quite serious and quite confident.
Still, she worried for his safety, this Highlander warrior—this stranger—who was her husband for not a full day yet.
Hours passed, and Patrick complained about being hungry, and while he enjoyed his food, Sara and Bliss ate sparingly. Silence followed the meal, the lad returning to play and the two women lost in their worrisome thoughts.
It annoyed Bliss that she could not sense if Trey was safe or in harm’s way. And so she sat in silent vigil, hoping somehow something would come to her and relieve her concern. It wasn’t long before a smile lit her face, and she scrambled to her feet, urging Sara along with her.
Before she could explain to Sara, Patrick yelled, “Da!” And he went running into his da’s arms and was scooped up. Sara followed, her husband reaching out and grabbing her tight against him, their son’s skinny little arms winding around their necks and hugging, as if he would never let them go.
Joyful tears flowed freely, Bliss’s included, and she hurried to Trey. He spread his arms wide, and she ran into them. He hugged her tight, and she returned the embrace with just as much enthusiasm. His strength rippled through her, followed by comforting warmth. She closed her eyes, lingering in contentment and wishing for it never to end.
But it did. Kevin spoke up, saying, “Your husband is a brave warrior, and you are a brave woman. We are forever grateful for your help and protection.”
“Take your family and do as we discussed,” Trey said. “You will be safe there, and when all is settled, you will be able to return home.”
There were hugs and more words of gratitude before the family left, and Bliss and Trey were on their way.
His hand slipped around hers after they had taken only a few steps, and the vision hit her then. With a heavy breath, she said, “We don’t need to worry about meeting up with those soldiers, do we?”
He kept walking, and said, “No, they will not bother us—ever.”
Bliss made no comment; she continued walking alongside him in silence.
They walked for a few miles before Trey finally spoke again. “I’m afraid we won’t make it to your friend’s place today.”
“It can’t be helped. If we keep our pace steady until near dusk and leave with the rising sun, we should be there by noonday tomorrow.”
His lack of response drew concern, and she quickly sensed he kept something from her. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I saw more tracks that indicate more soldiers in the area,” he said, shaking his head. “Something is wrong. Small groups of men are usually sent to scout and discover. King Kenneth is up to something.”
If he expected an answer, she didn’t have one. And there was no point in her trying to envision one. She knew she would get nothing. For some reason, she was not to have an answer—at least not yet.
He turned to her, a worried look scrunching his brow. “We need to get you home as soon as you see to your friend.”
“It shouldn’t take long,” she assured him. “And with Pict territory being so close to my friend’s home, once we arrive, you can leave me there and be on your way.”
He brought them to an abrupt stop and shook his head. “We discussed this. Once you’re done with your friend, you’ll be coming home with me to MacAlpin land.”
“That’s truly not necessary.”
“Aye, it is. I protect what is mine, and you’re
my wife.
You’ll be coming home with me.”