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Chapter Sixteen
Amelia reined in her daydreams and shook her head. “No, thank you. I will walk by myself as always.” And she said goodbye to Mr. Fletcher and began to walk away.
Henrietta stopped her by placing a hand on her arm, and said with a worried glance, “My dear, I think it would be best if you rode back with him. She looked up. “I do believe snow will be on its way, and I don’t want to be worrying about you getting back to the castle safely.”
Amelia thought she saw the corners of her mother’s mouth turned up in a smile, but she didn’t want to risk the possibility of upsetting her mother, especially with the truth of her father’s debt still ringing in the corners of her mind.
“All right, mother. So you won’t worry, I will ride with him.”
She saw Jamie perk up as she hugged her mother goodbye and walked toward the horse, her back stiff and her shoulders squared. She whispered to him as he held her small waist to assist her onto the horse, “This is to only not worry my mother.”
Jamie mounted up behind her, and Amelia felt his body heat touching her back. Jamie whispered back, “No one could accuse ye, lass, of wanting an excuse tae touch me.” She couldn’t tell if he was joking or agreeing with her. She chose to go with the latter, as that option didn’t make her core begin to heat with the memory of his hands on her.
Jamie clicked at the horse to begin its ride, and they waved to Henrietta as they rode steadily on towards the castle. Jamie dispatched Fletcher to return to the village to obtain the employment of the shepherd, and then he turned slightly away from the castle.
“What are you doing?” Amelia asked, wondering why they had suddenly veered off course.
“I need tae visit widow Kinnaird briefly about asking one of her sons to be the shepherd. I thought ye wouldnae mind comin’ as it will give ye a chance tae see a little more of the land and the people here.”
Why would she want to do that? She wouldn’t be staying forever certainly. Would she? Did she want to? She looked around at her, the wind in the grass, and the view of the open sea. Did she want to give up that hope of ever returning to London and live here instead? Had her heart fallen for the Highlands and a particular Highland Laird?
After a long while of riding in silence, Amelia stewing in her emotions, Jamie slowed Faolan, next to a small rugged cabin. Two young boys were chopping wood outside, and they stood with smiles as Jamie dismounted. He grabbed Amelia’s waist to assist her on her way down, and he let go of her quickly as he went to greet the young boys.
Amelia pushed aside the disappointment she felt at his warm hands leaving her sides so hurriedly.
She walked up behind him to hear the boys laughing. “Och, Jamie, ye should have seen him. He nearly cracked his head open!”
Jamie was smiling when Amelia walked up beside him. “Och lads, calm yerselves now. This here is Miss Parker, and she is companion tae Lady Fiona up at the castle. She is a fine lady, so I want ye tae be respectful.” He went around behind the boys and slapped each of them on the back. They removed their caps to greet her.
“Hello, Miss Parker.”
“Hello, boys. Lovely to meet you.” How did Jamie know she was a fine lady?
Suddenly a woman came around the corner, calling out to the boys. She stopped, and then a smile came across her face. “Jamie! Hello, me lad.” She went over to hug him.
She had a pretty face, and her figure was good, but there were lines of sorrow and hardship in her face. But she still had a sparkle in her eye, it seemed.
“Amelia, meet Jessica Kinnaird. She is another cousin of mine, but distant.”
Amelia nodded her head. “Pleased to meet you.”
“And ye as well, lassie.” Jessica put out a hand for Amelia to grasp in greeting.
She then gave the boys a task to do out in the field, and they scrambled out yelling and laughing.
“Och, these boys will be the end of me. And I’ve got four more of ‘em around, the good Lord didn’t think one or two would be enough.” She laughed.
“Jessica, we’ve gotta few things tae discuss with ye if ye’ve got a moment.”
“O’ course! Come on inside, outta the cold. Take Faolan tae the barn, lad, and I’ll check on the pot.”
She motioned for Amelia to follow her inside, and Amelia did so, watching her step as she entered the first cabin on the Kinnaird estate that wasn’t her own. It was one large main room, with two small rooms on the side. It was dark, but there was a merry fire going, with a pot boiling on top of it. The room smelled sweetly of meat and herbs, and Amelia’s stomach began to rumble with the thought of a meal.
It was a clean room, but very cramped, and nothing looked new. Many of the dishes had chips in them, including the furniture, and the fabric that she could see had tears and stains.
Lord forgive me for my worries in my mother’s little cottage. It’s a castle compared to this. And 7 people living here, in such a place.Amelia chided herself and tried to be kind to the woman.
“It smells lovely. What are you cooking?”
