sounds of birds as they called to their mates, exhorting them to return to their nests for the evening, cast a sense of peaceful well-being over the land.
She stopped walking to stare into the deep shadows of the forest behind Struan’s cottage. No enemies lurked in those cool depths, nor did any rival clan hide behind the hills. There were no reavers awaiting nightfall to steal the Gordons’ kine or burn their fields. No clan feuds or political intrigues marred the serenity of this place and time. She shouldn’t be envious of these good people, but she was, and greatly so.
“Sky.”
“Och.” She jumped, her heart pounding at the sound of Struan’s voice. “I did no’ hear you approach.”
“You were deep in thought, and I didn’t wish to intrude. It’s time for supper. Would you like to walk, or would you prefer we take the truck to Gene’s?”
“Let’s walk. ’Twould be good to stretch my legs.” Slipping her feet back into her sandals, she searched the toft surrounding Struan’s cottage. “Where is Michael?”
“He went on ahead.” Struan reached for her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Come, my lady. Supper awaits, and Lindsay is an amazing cook.”
“The Gordons dinna keep a cook?” She frowned. “They seem wealthy enough, I trow.”
He chuckled. “That’s not how things work today, and Lindsay just finished culinary college. She’s what we call a chef, someone who cooks as their profession. My sister wants to start her own restaurant eventually, but for now, she works at a nearby resort. We get a lot of tourists here because of the hot springs.”
She nodded, and her stomach rumbled. It had been quite some time since their midday meal. “There is so much to learn.”
Struan patted her hand. “Aye, that there is.”
They continued on to Gene and Marjorie’s abode in companionable silence. Sky savored the moment, feeling close to her new friend, feeling safe. The gathering twilight combined with the surrounding peaks to cast shadows upon the road. One minute they were bathed in sunlight, and the next they walked in the coolness of dusk. It seemed the very air was filled with magic. “This is a special place,” she murmured.
“It is,” he said with a smile. “Three Gordon brothers came to the United States from Scotland at the turn of the century, hoping to make a better life for themselves. The Jacobite uprising had pretty much decimated the clans in Scotland, and those who remained lived in abject poverty.”
“Jacobite uprising?” Sky frowned. “I ken naught of such an uprising.”
“You wouldn’t. The Stewarts lost the throne, and Scotland was ruled by the English. The uprising occurred in the mid-seventeen hundreds, and the Gordon brothers came to this land as lads in 1790.”
“Ah.”
“Each of the brothers worked hard in the growing cities hereabouts, and they lived like paupers until they had the funds to purchase land. Once they each owned their adjoining parcels, they swore to always keep it in the family. Eventually their land merged into one large farm, and the bulk of it now belongs to Gene. There are more Gordons, descendants of the three brothers in the area, who also own tracts of the original property.”
“You are very fortunate to live here, Struan.” She averted her gaze, not wanting him to glimpse the envy she felt so keenly.
“What were you thinking about a moment ago, Sky? You seemed to be searching the forest for something.”
“Aye.” She huffed out a breath. “I was searching the shadows for reavers from a rival clan intending to steal the Gordons’ kine, and me without my dirk.”
Struan laughed, and she joined him. “’Tis all so very different. I remember when I went to court for the first time. The very air was fetid with strife and intrigue. I could scarce draw a breath.” She surveyed their surroundings. “The sense of peace, the very goodness of this place is quite foreign to me. As much as I love my
She stopped walking to stare into the deep shadows of the forest behind Struan’s cottage. No enemies lurked in those cool depths, nor did any rival clan hide behind the hills. There were no reavers awaiting nightfall to steal the Gordons’ kine or burn their fields. No clan feuds or political intrigues marred the serenity of this place and time. She shouldn’t be envious of these good people, but she was, and greatly so.
“Sky.”
“Och.” She jumped, her heart pounding at the sound of Struan’s voice. “I did no’ hear you approach.”
“You were deep in thought, and I didn’t wish to intrude. It’s time for supper. Would you like to walk, or would you prefer we take the truck to Gene’s?”
“Let’s walk. ’Twould be good to stretch my legs.” Slipping her feet back into her sandals, she searched the toft surrounding Struan’s cottage. “Where is Michael?”
“He went on ahead.” Struan reached for her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Come, my lady. Supper awaits, and Lindsay is an amazing cook.”
“The Gordons dinna keep a cook?” She frowned. “They seem wealthy enough, I trow.”
He chuckled. “That’s not how things work today, and Lindsay just finished culinary college. She’s what we call a chef, someone who cooks as their profession. My sister wants to start her own restaurant eventually, but for now, she works at a nearby resort. We get a lot of tourists here because of the hot springs.”
She nodded, and her stomach rumbled. It had been quite some time since their midday meal. “There is so much to learn.”
Struan patted her hand. “Aye, that there is.”
They continued on to Gene and Marjorie’s abode in companionable silence. Sky savored the moment, feeling close to her new friend, feeling safe. The gathering twilight combined with the surrounding peaks to cast shadows upon the road. One minute they were bathed in sunlight, and the next they walked in the coolness of dusk. It seemed the very air was filled with magic. “This is a special place,” she murmured.
“It is,” he said with a smile. “Three Gordon brothers came to the United States from Scotland at the turn of the century, hoping to make a better life for themselves. The Jacobite uprising had pretty much decimated the clans in Scotland, and those who remained lived in abject poverty.”
“Jacobite uprising?” Sky frowned. “I ken naught of such an uprising.”
“You wouldn’t. The Stewarts lost the throne, and Scotland was ruled by the English. The uprising occurred in the mid-seventeen hundreds, and the Gordon brothers came to this land as lads in 1790.”
“Ah.”
“Each of the brothers worked hard in the growing cities hereabouts, and they lived like paupers until they had the funds to purchase land. Once they each owned their adjoining parcels, they swore to always keep it in the family. Eventually their land merged into one large farm, and the bulk of it now belongs to Gene. There are more Gordons, descendants of the three brothers in the area, who also own tracts of the original property.”
“You are very fortunate to live here, Struan.” She averted her gaze, not wanting him to glimpse the envy she felt so keenly.
“What were you thinking about a moment ago, Sky? You seemed to be searching the forest for something.”
“Aye.” She huffed out a breath. “I was searching the shadows for reavers from a rival clan intending to steal the Gordons’ kine, and me without my dirk.”
Struan laughed, and she joined him. “’Tis all so very different. I remember when I went to court for the first time. The very air was fetid with strife and intrigue. I could scarce draw a breath.” She surveyed their surroundings. “The sense of peace, the very goodness of this place is quite foreign to me. As much as I love my
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