Tess and the Highlander by May McGoldrick Page A

of it was
worth mentioning to Tess now. Of that he was certain.
    Within an hour, Colin built a large fire on the
highest point on the island, and another one along the eastern
bluffs. He had no doubt that Alexander would arrive soon, even
without the aid of all these signs. But Colin had many questions
about how Tess would react when the exact moment arrived to leave
the island.
    He frowned at the thought of how she’d sunk into a
deep melancholy once she had made up her mind to go. Colin could
understand her perfectly, though. This was the place where she had
spent most of her life. These ruined buildings were home. She could
be herself without worrying whether others would accept or reject
her.
    Colin had given her the privacy that she had sought.
He’d come out to start the fires himself. But now, as the sky and
the sea gradually became calmer, he could only imagine how her
fears would be preying upon her.
    He turned his steps back toward the building.
    The outside, the stairs, even the large
living chamber had been transformed in his absence. Everything had
been cleaned and swept. Amazed, Colin looked at the shells sitting
in a neat pile by the door.
    As he was looking at the changes, Tess
descended the stairs of the ladder. He saw the child’s clothing and
the cross and the brooch were the only things that she was carrying
down. She looked self-consciously at her dress when she saw him in
the room. He noticed that she had mended the holes. “I looked
through everything that might have resembled a dress that Charlotte
had put away up there, but there was nothing better than what I
already had on.”
    “Tess, you look wonderful as you are.”
    She shook her head. “I know I don’t remember much of
that other life that I left behind, but I can guess at the
importance of good manners and clothing and household skills—all
those things that people deem necessary in a young woman who wants
to make a good first impression. All of those things that I sadly
lack.” A blush had crept into her cheeks.
    He immediately took her hands. “In what is
truly important in life, you are better prepared than most women
twice your age. And what you don’t know you learn in no time at
all. But none of that is important right now.” He lifted her chin
until she was looking into his eyes. “Just think of the thrill that
finding you are alive will bring to your mother and your other kin.
Think of that, Tess, and everything else will work out.”
    The uncertainties in her dark eyes continued
to linger. “I…I don’t want to disappoint her, Colin.”
    “You shan’t,” he said fervently. “You are
alive, Tess. Alive ! No mother would wish for a greater
treasure.”
    She looked searchingly into his eyes, and he
held her gaze for a long while. Then he smiled and glanced down at
the things in her hand.
    “Now, do you mean to tell me that out of an
entire loft filled with baubles and keepsakes, that’s all you are taking with you?”
    Tess smiled at the small bundle. “These are
the only things that are mine. The rest belong to this island.
Whoever is sent to take care of it after I go should inherit them.”
She walked away from him and cast a sweeping look around the room.
“There was one last thing that I was hoping to bring with me,
though.”
    “If you want to bring Makyn and her wee
lambs, it should be no problem.”
    She shook her head. “I wouldn’t want to
uproot them. They belong here, too. What I was hoping for…it
doesn’t really weigh much and doesn’t take much space. But…”
    “Anything.” He would do anything to see that
smile dance in her eyes.
    “Those.” She pointed to the pile of shells.
“’Tis not really for me, but more for you, as I know how you’ve
become accustomed to the sound of them crunching beneath your boots
and…”
    He smiled. She was going to survive
this.
    They both were.
     
    The Isle of May was truly a place of
miracles.
    ‘Unparalleled’ was the only word Alexander