Page 46 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
“Thank ye, Jacob. Did ye hear that, Ogilvie? Ye are nearly home.”
“Yay,” the wee boy cheered.
Jacob had been right, for as the roof of the house came into view, Skylar could see a small wall that surrounded the property and beyond it a small, well-kept garden. There appeared two other children playing in the yard, and upon seeing Skylar and the guards, their faces grew fearful, and they ran into the house, calling for their mother.
A moment later, a woman came out. She was a rotund lady, and as they drew nearer, Skylar could see she looked much older than her years. She stood at the gate with her hands to her mouth, for Ogilvie was now easily visible.
“Oh, my boy. My poor, wee boy.”
The group eventually reached the small gateway, and with no fear of them at all, the woman hurried through it and ran toward them
“Mammy. Mammy,” Ogilvie called out.
Jacob dismounted and, approaching Skylar, took the boy from her, allowing her to dismount freely. By the time she had turned around, the woman had lifted the child in her arms and was holding onto him as though she would never let him go. She shed some tears, which warmed Skylar’s heart, for she couldn’t imagine how much the poor woman had worried.
The guards who had accompanied her remained on horseback and moved a small distance away, facing outward in the direction they had come. Caelan had obviously told them to be on high alert at all times, and even Jacob had joined the others, leaving Skylar alone to approach the woman.
“Hello,” Skylar began. “My name is…” she suddenly hesitated, for she was no longer just Skylar, and yet, Lady Macleod sounded so very formal. “Lady Skylar,” she continued, compromising between the two extremes. “Ye are Ogilvie’s mother?” It was an unnecessary question, but it gave the woman an opportunity to introduce herself.
“Aye, I am. Mary Wilson is my name,” the woman said hurriedly. “I cannae believe ye’ve brought him back tae me. I thought I’d lost my bairn forever.”
“We found him lost in the woods,” Skylar explained. “He was very ill. Ogilvie told us ye were out looking for a healer and had tae leave him tae find one.”
“I did,” she nodded eagerly. “When I and Mr. McKinley got back tae the woods, Ogilvie was gone. I was distraught. I thought he might have wandered off. When I left him, he wasnae really with me, if ye ken what I mean. His fever had gotten worse, and it was like he couldnae see me. We searched for hours, and then,” she sniffed, becoming emotional as she remembered her experience, “we couldnae find him. When darkness fell, I thought all was lost. He was too sick tae survive a night out on his own.” Mary began stroking Ogilvie’s head incessantly, as though she could still hardly believe he was there with her. “Thank ye,” she blurted, a sob escaping from her. “Thank ye for finding him.”
“It was my pleasure,” Skylar said, smiling warmly and feeling the happiest she had felt in some time.
“It was ye that healed him?”
“Och, nae. The healer at the castle, Kendrick—it was he who healed yer boy. He’s a very clever man.”
“My god, Ogilvie was at Dunvegan Castle this whole time?”
“Aye,” Skylar said. “He was safe and well and in very capable hands.”
By now, the other two children had slowly left the house and joined their mother on either side of her, each hiding behind her skirts, scared to come out but curious enough to know what was going on.
“Ye must come in,” Mary said. “I have some bread baked only this morning. I dinnae have much tae offer as a reward, but I can share some bread.”
Skylar shook her head. “There’s nae need for any reward, Mary. Ogilvie being better is all the reward I need.” Skylar looked about her and paused for a second before continuing. “Are ye out here all alone?”
By Mary’s story, it appeared there was no Mr. Wilson, which matched with what Skylar had seen in her vision, a mother and two children crying but no father in sight.
“Aye,” Mary sighed heavily. “My husband was killed several years ago by robbers. I dinnae ken if John fought back, but all they got was a few coins. I have to rely on my sister and her husband to help me. They own a farm over the glen and give us food when they can.”
“Well, if ye’re ever in need again, please come and see me at the castle. There’s plenty of food there and medicines too,” Skylar added. “We’ll do all we can tae help.”
Mary smiled kindly. “Och, ye’re a sweet lass. Are ye sure ye willnae come in for some bread?”
“I really must be getting back, Mary. I wouldnae want anyone to begin worrying.” Skylar was not really sure there was any validity to her words. There was really no one who would worry about her, apart from maybe Kendrick. Maxwell wouldn’t even have noticed she was missing, given he had hardly paid her any attention this last while. She would likely walk into the castle on her return, and it would be as though she had never left.
“Well then, I can only offer ye my thanks. Do ye have bairns, Lady Skylar?” the woman asked.
She shook her head. “I dinnae.” She likely never would.
“Then ye cannae ken how much it means to me, having my boy back in my arms again. There is nae way I can repay ye. I can only offer my heartfelt thanks.”
“I’m just glad he’s home, safe and well, Mary.” Skylar then looked at Ogilvie and gave him a beaming smile. “I’ll miss ye, Ogilvie. But whenever I read those stories again, I’ll always think of ye.”
