AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
McPherson cannae be suggestin’ what I think he is. Nay, surely nae. Elena would never find happiness wit’ such an old man.
Gabe’s throat tightened as Elena’s face drifted into his mind, he swore she stood before him in the flesh. Her face was one he had etched into his memory. Every detail of her burned and seared his mind. She was after all the woman who had stolen his heart so very long ago and never returned it.
“McPherson,” Gabe cleared his voice trying not to sound so desperate as he stepped out from his hiding place. “Never suspected I’d find ye here.”
McPherson’s head whipped about causing his gray curly hair to bounce about his face. The lines around his eyes were deeper than Gabe remembered, but the face was the same. The shock on McPherson’s face however was unexpected.
“Gabriel McAllister, my word, what are ye doin’ here lad?” McPherson asked as he stepped forward and took Gabe into his strong embrace. “I thought ye avoided these gatherings like a bairn avoids a bath.”
“Aye, well, suppose when yer faither passes and leaves ye wit’ certain obligations, a man must attend such events, aye? Of course, where else is a man like myself to find such delicious food? Tis nae like I can whip somethin’ up as fine and tasty as what is offered at a Campbell’s gatherin’.”
“True. And I am sorry to have heard of yer faither’s passin’. He was a good soldier and loyal friend to be sure. Why I remember him on the battlefield, but that was many years ago,” McPherson said as the older gentleman’s eyes shifted from McPherson to Gabe and back again. The man tugged at the collar around his neck and let out a heavy, sluggish sigh.
“If ye’ll excuse me, McPherson,” the man said. “I think it is time for me to retire for the night.”
“Come now, Deacon, ye cannae be leavin’ so soon. The night is just started and we havenae finished the discussion of marriage.”
“About that,” Gabe said with a mischievous smile. He found his stomach turning as the words formed on his lips. “I think ye and I should have a chat about a few things.”
Confusion drifted over McPherson’s face as Deacon stepped back.
“I’ll leave ye to yer business then,” Deacon said with a sparkle in his eyes that caught Gabe off guard.
“I couldnae help but overhear ye mentioned Elena, how is the lass?” Gabe said. Her name rolled off his tongue like honey.
“She is well, and has come of age. I’ve come to find her a match. Yet, I am curious about ye though, I never took ye as one to eavesdrop.”
Gabe curled his arm around McPherson’s shoulders and pulled him into the night air.
“Tis nae my fault Deacon is hard of hearin’ and ye had to speak as loud as ye did. I’m nearly certain everyone in the room heard what the two of ye were discussin’. I just happened to be a bit closer is all.”
“Why are ye here, lad?” McPherson asked, stepping away from Gabe, face riddled with suspicion.
“Yer lookin’ to get Elena off yer hands, are ye nae?”
McPherson’s eyes drew into slits, “What of it? Are ye sayin’ yer contendin’ to be a husband? What of yer reasonin’ for nae takin’ any of my other nieces when I presented them to ye nae only last year but the year before that?”
“Look around ye,” Gabe said scanning the room behind him. “The pickin’ for a husband is slim. Anyone can see that. And we both ken all too well that the proposition for marriage happens in the back rooms, nae the dance floor.”
“Aye, that is true,” McPherson said as he rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Ye remind me much of yer faither, ye ken that? He too was a clever man. Suppose that is how he won so many of the skrimmishes against the English. But I caenae help but wonder what exactly it is yer getting’ at.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched as he suppressed a smile. “I’ve known Elena since we were bairns. Our maither’s were the best of friends were they nae? And let’s just say Elena is like a lily of the valley. She’ll bloom but once in her life. Do ye really want to squander such beauty on eyes that cannae fully appreciate her finer qualities?”
“And yer sayin’ ye do?” McPherson asked as he lifted his head as if to get a better view of Gabe.
“What I’m sayin’ is that I may have a proposition for ye, if yer willin’ to negotiate?”
Chapter 1
This cannae be happenin’to me.
Elena stared into the mirror as the maids around her moved about in a blurry frenzy. She pulled in a deep breath fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. With trembling lips, Elena remained as calm as she could, sitting like a statue as her attendants twisted and tied up her long locks.
“Yer goin’ to be the most beautiful bride there ever was,” Allie said, beaming with admiration for Elena. But there would be no admiring the girl in the mirror. Elena’s throat tightened as she caught a glimpse of the bridal gown in the mirror.
Turning swiftly around in her chair, Elena’s world crashed down around her. She had never laid eyes on the white-trimmed laced dress that reminded her of a bell covered in snow. Although she was terrified of what the dress represented, she couldn’t help but love the beads and silver thread flowers at the hem.
