Carotia laughed. “Well, I am glad ye feel that way,” she said. “So tell me, do ye ever think of going back tae yer family? I am certain that ye miss them.”

  Gabby smiled and stood up. She walked a bit further from her before turning around.

  “Yes, I absolutely do,” she said softly, her eyes, gazing into an empty space. “I can still remember the softness of Brookes’ hair when I hugged her before I was taken away. I am still haunted by my father’s sad eyes as he watched me leave… Berthie, mother-” her voice trailed off.

  “But why have ye not talked tae yer husband? I know he loves ye so much, Efgerald tells me everything. I am quite certain that he will dae anything tae make sure ye see them one more time if he knows ye miss them so much.”

  Gabby sighed. “I know but, I cannot do that yet. Being here is the only thing that protects my home from being invaded by the Jacobites. I cannot leave right now.”

  “Well, if that is the case, then ye can always find a way tae bring any of yer family members tae come visit ye.”

  When Gabby heard this, her eyes lit up. “This is true, could that be possible?”

  “Of course,” Carotia replied.

  “Seems I haven’t been thinking of many things, these days,” Gabby said, walking back to Carotia.

  “What dae ye mean?” the other woman asked.

  “Well, lately Malcolm asked me tae write letters tae my family and I never really thought about it until he brought it up.”

  “Wait, Malcolm?” Carotia asked, looking a bit confused.

  “Aye. Callum’s brother.”

  Carotia scoffed. “Malcolm is giving ye family advice?”

  Gabby frowned but nodded. “What? Is anything wrong with that?”

  Carotia inhaled deeply. “Efgerald doesn’t trust him and neither does yer husband.”

  “I know, but he meant well,”

  “Well, just be careful around him.”

  Gabby, not quite certain why Carotia was talking like this finally nodded. “Well, I will, thank you.”

  “So, what about the other thing that we discussed?”

  Gabby frowned. “What other thing?”

  “Callum is bedding ye often now, is he not?”

  Gabby gasped at how Carotia mentioned it as if it was nothing, but talking about it made her feel exposed in some way.

  “What?” Carotia asked, seeing the look on her face.

  Gabby smiled, shrugged and went back to her seat. “Well, yes, we make love every night.”

  “If that is the case, then ye need tae talk about getting’ pregnant.”

  Gabby inhaled. “I really do not think it necessary.”

  “If so, then dae not be surprised when it happens when ye least expect.”

  Gabby took more quick short breaths. “Alright. I will talk to him. But I need tae make it a special occasion.”

  Carotia frowned. “What special occasion?”

  “I mean, I need to make the discussion truly special. We could discuss it when we are alone and enjoying each other’s company, like a picnic.”

  The look on Carotia’s face made Gabby think that probably she has never heard the word before or was just not into the idea of a special occasion.

  “What is a picnic?” Carotia finally asked and this made Gabby laugh. The Highlanders were totally odd.

  “Well, it is when you and your spouse decide to have a private time alone, usually outside your home, far away from every other people.”

  Carotia nodded as she finally understood. “Oh! I see. Ye need tae teach me that. My husband and I would like a special occasion too, like a picnic.”

  Gabby laughed. “It is quite simple. All you need to take with you are few things that you will need. Anyway, I will teach you all about planning a great picnic, but first, I need to plan mine.”

  ***

  “Ye Sassenach people are something else entirely,” Callum said as he dismounted before carrying his wife off the stallion they had been riding for a few kilometers.

  “Well, you Highlanders get too busy with raiding and killing that you forget to learn how to have enjoyable moments with your wife.”

  “We enjoy ourselves every night, dae we not?” Callum teased as they walked hand in hand towards the foot of a tree.

  Gabby chuckled. “Trust me, husband. This will be worth it.”

  He sighed but said nothing more.

  That morning, Callum was surprised when his wife had woken up with the idea of leaving the castle and going somewhere alone with her. He was surprised that she actually knew her way around, but what she didn’t realize was that the place was just next to the graveyard where his Isabella was buried.

  “How did ye know this place?” he asked as they finally settled at the feet of the tree. She had brought a plaid with her which she spread on the ground for both of them to lie down on.

  “Well, Malcolm brought me here, the last time we went out together. He said that if I ever want to get away, or perhaps, I want to have a time alone, this would be a great place and he was right. It came in at the right time.”

  Callum’s face hardened. Malcolm had brought her here because he knew that it was close to Isabella’s graveyard and that if he knew, he would be displeased about it. That bastard!

  Gabby, who noticed his unusual silence turned to him. “Callum, what is it? Surely, the idea of a picnic is to have fun,”

  He was quiet but lay on the plaid nonetheless. “There is something I need tae tell ye, about Malcolm,” he started.

  Gabby nodded attentively. Deep frown creased her brows.

  “I am listening,” she said.

  “Ye cannae trust him. He is my cousin truly, and we were friends once. But in the past few years, we have been anything but friends, and he tries tae take anything’ that is mine”

  She frowned. “I don’t quite follow, Callum.”

  “He wanted Isabella for himself, even after we were betrothed,” he growled angrily. “Even while father was alive, he did everything he could tae make sure I was not chosen as the Laird. The only reason why he is nice tae ye is because he wants tae make me feel jealous and possibly steal ye away from me.”

  Gabby gasped. “Is that so?”

  “Aye, it is.”

  “I am sorry, I never knew this. But why did you never try to tell me this?”

  “Because,” he started and then stopped. “I didn’t want ye tae hate him or think I dae not feel safe in my own marriage. I dinnae want ye tae think that I dae not trust ye, because I dae.”

  Gabby inhaled and leaned in closer to him, putting her arms around him. “I am so sorry, Callum. I shall be more careful,” she said.

  “There is something I need tae show ye,” he said softly into her ears.

  Gabby frowned but stood up to follow him.

  Chapter 22

  The entire landscape was surrounded by tall trees. It was a quiet place. She remembered how she had felt when Malcolm had brought her there, the only thing on her mind was how she would love to spend time here with Callum instead.

  When they finally left the forest behind, they passed through a narrow path which led them to an open field. There were lots of tombstones arranged in rows.

  Callum seemed to be taking her somewhere in particular. She stopped in her tracks as she saw the name that was chiseled on the tombstone in front of her.

  “Is, is that…?” She stuttered.

  “Aye, this is where she was buried.” Callum said, holding her tightly to his side. For some reason, he was actually glad that the time had come for the two women he loved most in his life to finally meet.

  “I thought, since Malcolm had shown ye half of the way, I could show the rest.”

  “Callum, ye must believe me, I am indeed sorry and-” she was silenced as he kissed her briefly but passionately but swiftly on the lips.

  “I am not upset, I am relieved. I am happy that I am here with ye,” he said as he stared into her eyes.

  They both sat down in front of the tombstone.

  “This was where you came on our first night together?” She asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

  He nodded. “Aye, it was. I used tae come here tae clear my head, but I stopped doing that. Νow, I think it is time tae introduce ye tae Isabella and tae bid her farewell.”

  Gabby smiled, putting her arms around him. “You never told me how she died.”

  “It was few days tae our anniversary,” he started. “We were attacked by England. It was an attack we dinnae prepare for and it left lots of people, including women and children, dead. War is war, but that one killed my Isabella.”

  She looked at him, deep concern etched all over her face. “That must have nearly killed you.”

  He chuckled. “It almost did, and it made me what they call me nowadays, the devil. I was really brutal then. I had no control. All I craved was blood and more blood. I just wanted every last one of them tae pay for it.”

  “Then your father went ahead to bring you a bride from England, from the people you hated the most.” Gabby said quietly, looking at him.

  Callum chuckled and nodded.

  “You must have hated me so much then.”

  “Aye, I did,” he replied. “But then, I fell in love with ye and all the hatred is now gone from me. Ye have made me a happy man once again.”

  Gabby smiled and kissed his cheek. She felt this would be the best time to discuss something else. “What do you think of… um… children?”

  He looked at her so sharply that Gabby was startled. She wasn’t sure of what he was going to say next.

  “Are ye with child?” he questioned, looking at her stomach.

  “No, no. I am just asking. Judging by our unending lovemaking, I believe the possibility is high.” She explained.

  He smiled and drew her closer. “Having a child, or children, with you, will be the best thing in the world.”

  She smiled, finally relieved. “It gladdens my heart to hear you say that my love.”

  They stayed for a while before finally returning back to where they were seated earlier. They joked about many things but Gabby kept thinking about Malcolm.

  “My love, ye have been quiet. If ye are bored already, why don’t we head home?” he asked as they lay together on the plaid.

  “There is something else that I need to tell you,” she said, frowning, unsure if this was a good idea or not.

  “Dae tell, go on.”

  She took a deep breath. “I miss my family,” she blurted out and then looked at him to see any sign.

  “I know,” he said. “I was hoping when ye finally decide tae talk tae me instead of Carotia, we could decide when they can come visit ye.”

  When Gabby heard this, she jumped on him out of excitement.

  “You knew?”

  “Of course. Dae ye think the only reason I wanted ye two tae be friends was so ye could talk? I wanted tae know everything on yer mind, things ye are afraid tae tell me,” he kissed her hands. “I want ye tae be happy here, my love. Ye know ye cannae go home, not yet, but they can visit ye, not all at once but one or two at a time. Maybe yer sisters can come first.”

  Gabby could feel the tears welling up inside her as she embraced him and fought back the tears. “Thank you so much, Callum. I am so grateful.”

  “Ye are welcome.”

  “You have no idea how relieved I am,” she said pulling away from him. Now that Carotia had told him everything through Efgerald, she was certain that he must have known about the letters too.

  “I wasn’t sure whether to write those letters but now that you are telling me I need to be careful of Malcolm, I became afraid.”

  Callum frowned. He had no idea what she was talking about now. “What letters?” He asked.

  Gabby frowned and chuckled. “The letters I wrote to my family, didn’t Carotia make mention of that?”

  “Ye wrote tae yer family?” He asked again.

  “Yes, I did,” Gabby replied. “I thought she told you everything,” she said, now regretting having spoken so soon.

  “Wait, did Malcolm ask ye tae write tae yer family?” He asked again.

  Gabby nodded, feeling really bad about the whole thing.

  “Why didn’t ye tell me about this, and when did this happen?” He demanded.

  “Some days back, when you went to raid,” she replied soberly.

  “Why dinnae ye tell me ye two spoke? Why hide this from me?” he demanded, getting up.

  Gabby sighed and got up. She was regretting everything. “I am really so sorry, Callum. Believe me. He just came and he was nice, and I told him I missed my family and…”

  “And ye are not meant tae tell him all these! This is why ye have Carotia! Someone ye can talk to!”

  Gabby could see the effect that her closeness with Malcolm had on Callum.

  “I didn’t know about your family feud, you hadn’t told me,”

  “So, these letters, what was the content?” He asked, facing her.

  “Just to tell my father and everyone else that I love them, that was all. And that I missed them.”

  “Are you absolutely certain that, that was all?” He asked again and she nodded.

  Callum breathed in and then closed his eyes. “Ye cannae trust Malcolm, Gabby. I want ye tae be careful around him! Never discuss anything about us with him again!”

  She nodded. “I promise,” she said and then walked closer to embrace him. “I am so sorry.”

  Callum gathered her in his arms and kissed her on the head. “I am sorry too. It makes my blood so hot to think about ye and him,”

  Even while they kissed, Callum couldn’t help having a bad feeling about all this. Malcolm would never be this kind unless he had something to gain.

  “Hold on my love,” he said, pulling away. “The day that Malcolm came tae ye, was it the same period that Erlyn came?”

  Gabby shook her head. “No, it was after she left. I remember because I told him all that happened between her and me. Why?”

  He shook his head. He couldn’t tell her why. He didn’t want to have to tell her that Erlyn declared her feelings for him just before Isabella died. Isabella had overheard Erlyn and Malcolm discussing how they could both get what they wanted.

  When Isabella told him then, he thought it was nothing.

  “What are you thinking? You possibly are not thinking that those two may be working together, are you?” Gabby asked.

  “It is possible, but I am not certain,” he replied.

  “When I get home, I will ask him about the letter?”

  “Nae, dae not have any conversation with him unless he approaches ye. Also, be very careful, he has spies everywhere. Be mindful of things you say to anyone, even Erinda.”

  Gabby frowned but nodded. She didn’t think he had to be worried about Erinda.

  As they continued their evening together, Gabby could clearly see that her husband was greatly troubled, and he was not as attentive as before.

  “Should we go home?” She finally asked.

  “Aye, we should. I am sorry but I hate to feel in the dark.”

  ***

  All through their way home, he was unusually quiet, and Gabby couldn’t stop feeling responsible for everything. She had let her guard down totally. Yet, she knew that some letters to her family should not be a problem at all. She had only written to them on how much she terribly missed them.

  They had gone a little farther out of town, so they spent some time on the road. The sun was setting quickly, and the moon was eager to replace it in the sky, but that did not stop them from seeing the black smoke that rose up in the far distance.

  “What is that?” Gabby asked as she clung to her husband on the back of the horse.

  Fear gripped Callum’s heart as he slowed down. A distant memory had found its way to his present.

  “Callum?” She asked again.

  “Hold tight, we are riding faster.”

  That was the only thing he said. She could feel his heart beating faster now. She couldn’t tell if it was due to the speed at which they were going or if it was something else. She knew this was a wrong time to ask, so she didn’t. She clung to him tightly.