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“Did ye not tell me that ye rather disliked it when I read the expression upon yer face?” His right eyebrow rose in challenge. “What are ye nervous about?”
In that moment, Loki finally had had enough. He squirmed, and Sarah set him down upon the deck. “Will he be all right?” she murmured, then looked up at Keir. “You don’t think he will jump overboard, do you?”
Keir laughed. “In my experience, cats rather dislike water. See, he’s settling himself beside the girls.” He turned back to look at her. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Sarah nodded. “And Kate? How is she?”
Holding her gaze, Keir slowly shook his head, a knowing smile upon his lips. “Dunna try to distract me, little wisp. Ye know as well as I do that everyone is fine. What of ye, though?”
Sarah heaved a deep breath, lifting her shoulders and letting them fall. “I know it’s foolish, but I… I cannot seem to shake the memory of the Whickertons’ ball. It haunts me.”
A frown slowly descended upon Keir’s face, and he drew closer, his hands sliding up her arms and once again settling upon her shoulders. “It haunts ye? And here I thought ye had been pleased to see me again.” He spoke lightly, and yet Sarah was surprised to see vulnerability in his eyes.He does not truly doubt how I feel about him, does he?
“No. I mean, yes, I was overjoyed to see you again,” Sarah assured Keir, delighting in the way he looked at her, smiled at her. “What I did not care for, what I did not expect, foolish as I am, was the way… people looked at me. I knew I would be ruined after…” She grinned at him. “And yet I never quite imagined what it would feel like to walk among thetonand have them look at me and whisper behind my back.” She scoffed. “Of course, I should have. Yet my focus was simply upon never again receiving an offer of marriage! I completely overlooked the inevitable disapproval, the censure that would be directed at me wherever I went.” She shrugged, feeling helpless. “And then we arrived at Birchwell, and every word to fall from the dowager’s lips was…” She pinched her eyes shut at the memory, that feeling of unworthiness that had somehow wormed its way into her heart. “I felt so small, so flawed. I…”
Keir simply wrapped his arms around her, and Sarah could feel some of that weight float off her shoulders as though carried away by the wind. “Words are odd sometimes,” Keir murmured next to her ear. “They have the power to cut deep, wound us to the core of our being, and yet other times, it seems we are immune to them. No matter how often they are repeated, their meaning simply won’t sink in.” He kissed the top of her head. “I know I’ve said it before, and I shall say it again as often as ye need to hear it; no one will look at ye with disapproval. No one will blame ye for what ye did. On the contrary, I am absolutely certain that my family will be proud of yer courage, of yer daring spirit.” Sarah chuckled as Keir continued, “and yer perseverance. Yer story is like the story of our clan. ’Tis not a simple story, one marked by many obstacles, yet eventually by going against convention, freedom and happiness are found.”
Lifting her chin, Sarah looked up at Keir. “I love your stories,” she murmured, savoring the way he held her close. “They are so beautiful, and the way you tell them always makes me feel…” She shrugged, unable to find words to do the feeling justice.
Trailing a finger down her chin, Keir smiled at her. “Once upon a time, these stories were nothing more than the simple retelling of a life. A life like mine… and yers. One day, perhaps centuries from today, people shall tell yer story.” Keir dipped his head and touched the tip of his nose to Sarah’s. “And feel inspired by yer strength and yer perseverance, wondering if ye ever had doubts walking the path ye knew to be yers.”
As tears streamed down Sarah’s face, she snuggled into Keir’s embrace, grateful for every word of comfort and encouragement. Indeed, she loved his stories. She loved the way his voice rang with kindness and certainty alike, speaking of the past and the future as though they were forever connected. And perhaps they were. After all, people were people, each one with their own set of hopes and fears. In that moment, locked into Keir’s embrace, Sarah’s gaze drifted out across the waters toward the islands that slowly came into view. And she wondered if Yvaine—the young woman who centuries ago had gone against convention, brought her people to safety and become the origin of Clan MacKinnear—had ever felt uncertain.
Sarah knew she had to have. After all, she had been as human as Sarah herself, and the human heart worried and feared. It was a part of who they were, and no one was safe from that.
Not even those that lived in legends.
Chapter Thirteen
A FARAWAY LAND
To Kate, the ship felt like a teacup bouncing along upon the open waves. She had never been on a ship before, and she could rightly say she would not care to do so again. The idea of remaining on deck had frightened her from the beginning, and she had been grateful when Keir had led her below. Unfortunately, though, her own nervousness had stirred Frederica awake, and Kate had had a hard time calming her little daughter. By the time, a shout rang to her ears from above deck, Kate felt exhausted.
And slightly nauseated.
Stepping out of the small cabin, Kate looked up and found Keir climbing down the ladder. He turned toward her, a kind smile upon his face. “How are ye, Katherine? Ye look a bit green around the gills.” He stepped forward and then held out his hand. “Here, let me take Frederica.”
To Kate’s surprise, her arms moved, handing over her child without another thought.I trust him! I must or…
“Go ahead,” he urged her, nodding toward the ladder. “We’ll follow.” He looked down at Frederica. “Won’t we, wee lassie?”
With a smile upon her face, Kate climbed the short ladder up onto the deck. The wind almost knocked her off her feet, and for a brief moment, she feared she would tumble back down the ladder. Then, however, she managed to right herself, and her eyes widened as they fell upon the island sticking out of the sea only a few ship-lengths ahead of them. It was lush in vegetation, and sharp rocks jutted upward, a natural fortification. Down by the water’s edge, Kate spotted a small harbor town with people hurrying to and fro and a wide path leading upward toward a massive fortress seated upon a cliff overlooking the sea.
To Kate, it seemed like an entirely different world, one with its own set of rules and traditions, and she felt lost at the thought of entering it.What will these people think of me?After all, she had left her husband and stolen away his children. At the thought, another wave of doubt assailed her, its impact almost as strong as the wind that had threatened to knock her off her feet.
Then, however, her gaze fell upon her daughters, standing at the front of the ship, their little mouths hanging open as they stared in fascination at this new place.Does it seem like a fairytale world to them?Kate wondered, and once again she heard Keir’s words echo in her head, reminding her that nothing was more important than her children’s happiness. That was the measure of a life.And they do seem happy, do they not?
As the ship slowly glided towards the harbor, Kate realized Keir was still holding Frederica. Thus far, she had barely been able to part with her newest daughter for longer than a few moments, always afraid deep down—a notion that went against every rational thought—that if she were to release her for only a moment, something would snatch Frederica away for good. Still, now looking at Keir, seeing him coo under his breath to the child, making her smile, Kate realized Dorothea was right; he was a hero.
“Here,” Keir murmured as he moved closer, “go back to Mama.” He smiled at Kate and then handed her her daughter. “I shall help with securing the boat and then see ye all safely off board.” He nodded to her, a deeply reassuring gesture, and then moved away to do as he had said.
As the ship docked, Kate felt every muscle in her body tense. A crowd of people gathered, staring not only at Keir but at all of them. For a moment, Kate felt certain they were glaring at her, whispering behind her back about what she had done.
“That is nonsense!” she reminded herself in a quiet whisper. After all, no one knew! At least, not yet!
At a second glance, Kate saw that there was no hostility in anyone’s eyes. What she saw instead was curiosity and joy also. Clearly, Keir’s homecoming was a reason for celebration, and she saw many people call out to him, waving their hands, smiles upon their faces. He returned their greeting as best as he could as he assisted his brother in securing the ship.
Then he moved toward the gangplank, beckoning them forward. Within a second, Augusta and Dorothea were at his side, eager eyes sweeping past Keir and toward the gathered crowd. “There’s a carriage waiting to take ye up to the fortress,” Keir explained then held out his hand to Sarah. He escorted her off the boat before seeing Kate’s daughters safely from board as well. Last, he returned for her, Kate, his presence reassuring as she put one foot in front of the other, joining Sarah and her daughters upon the dock. People crowded close, still calling out greetings, and for a moment, Kate closed her eyes, overwhelmed by this sudden racket. Then a sudden thought struck.In such a crowd, my daughters could easily be lost!
