Page 34 of The Highlander's Fake Wife
But Olivia’s attention only lingered on the warriors. She craned her neck, trying desperately to spot her mother against the wave of men. Elspeth held her hand tightly, equally searching with a frantic vigor, until she suddenly squeezed Olivia’s hand and pointed farther back. There, a small crowd of horses began to part, allowing a rider from the middle position to trot forth. And there, sitting up at the front of the saddle, was Olivia’s mother.
18
“Maither!”
Nathan had barely begun his report when he was interrupted by Olivia’s outcry. Not that it bothered Arthur; he watched his little selkie take off from the entrance, his men quickly helping her mother down off the saddle before the pair practically collided together into a tight embrace. She nearly took the poor old woman to the ground; lucky his men had stuck around to keep their balance.
Eventually, the pair melted into a kneeling puddle of tears, and Arthur couldn’t help but blink furiously himself. He’d never once seen Olivia break down and cry, and to see her so freely sob into her mother’s arms…now more than ever, he was thankful that deer led him on such a wild chase. Thankful it’d taken him to the tarn that night, exactly when he was needed the most.
“I’ll…finish my report later,” Nathan said, similarly eyeing the heartfelt reunion.
“Aye,” Arthur agreed. “Go and make sure all our men an’ horses are taken care of. Then take some time wit yer wife,” he added. “Cause I’ve got an errand to run in town with ye.”
With a nod of his head, Nathan set off to tend to his duties, leaving Arthur to handle his own. He approached Olivia and her mother, still kneeling on the ground in each other’s embrace.
“I-I was so worried about ye, Olivia,” her mother bawled. “When MacDonnell men told the nuns they were lookin fer me–that ye’d been brought to their laird’s very own keep,”
“Aye, I ken, Maither,” Olivia sobbed. “I ken, I ken.”
Arthur cleared his throat softly, catching the pair’s attention at last. While Olivia looked slightly embarrassed, her mother made her fear entirely obvious, arm clutching her daughter as she shifted in front of her.
“I daenae mean either of ye harm, Lady MacCulloh. Olivia has been our most honored guest this last week or so.”
“‘Tis true, Maither,” Olivia said. “The laird has treated me wit more respect than our own clan has.”
Her mother gave Arthur a wary look regardless.
“Lady MacCulloh,” Elspeth approached the group next, slipping off her shawl before draping it over Olivia’s mother. “Ye must be so tired after everything ye went through. Please; allow meto offer a bath and some fresh clothes. We look to be similar in size.”
Olivia’s mother looked to her daughter, who nodded gently. “Go on, Maither. I’ll be right behind ye.”
Arthur couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed. He wanted Olivia to himself for a moment–at least long enough to fill her in on what Nathan had told him so far–but of course, it made sense she wouldn’t want to leave her mother alone in enemy territory. With a slight nod, he watched as the women slowly made their way back into the keep, himself moving to alert the servants of their newest arrival.
Olivia had never seen her mother in such a terrible state. Faded bruises covered her skin once she undressed for her bath, and it took a good while for her to work all the knots from her hair. But once she’d done it up simply, and Elspeth had found a gown for her to wear, her mother looked far more lively. Her once-pallid cheeks were now rosy from the steam of the bath, and though she only nibbled on the edge of an oatcake, Olivia knew her mother was now on the path of recovery.
The trio decided to sit in one of the cozier alcoves, Elspeth reassuring that a few crumbs on their armchairs will hardly support whatever mice scurry behind the walls. She insisted on layering Olivia’s mother in a number of quilts, ensuring the servants kept the hearth stoked and her teacup filled and pipping hot.
“‘Tis…very sweet o’ye to care fer me like this,” Olivia’s mother began, a slight tremble catching her voice.
“Och, nay bother, love!” Elspeth replied with a wave of her hand. “Yer daughter’s practically become part of our family! I wouldnae be caught dead treating her own flesh and blood any less.”
Olivia smiled softly, sipping a bit of her own tea as well. Her mother–her mother was finally safe. She sank into her own armchair, suddenly feeling a massive weight lift off her chest.
“Well, I cannae thank ye enough fer tending to me Olivia,” her mother said.
“Of course! We’re all just relieved to see ye safe behind our walls.” A sour note filled Elspeth’s voice as she added with a huff, “‘Tis terrible, what yer own kinfolk did to the pair of ye. Why, if I had a say in this, I would have rode over meself and boxed each an’ every one o’their ears!”
A slight smile crossed Olivia’s face, but her mood was somber just the same. She knew she had to ask the question, but she worried what reliving such terror would do for her poor mother’s heart.
“M-Maither…the night we separated…what happened to ye? Did our clan–I mean, th-the injuries…” a sour lump began to form in her throat, and Olivia found herself unable to continue.
“Oh,mo laochain…”Her mother’s eyes grew misty, and Olivia stood up from her chair and knelt beside her. She grasped her mother’s hand, worn and frail, but warmed by the kindness of her supposed enemies. Olivia exhaled softly, stroking her fingers between her mother’s knuckle in an attempt to soothe her.
“T’was nae our kinfolk who did this to me. In truth,” she added with a light chuckle. “I think they were more than happy to be rid o’me. ‘A wild woman,’ they screamed while running back to the keep. Pretty sure I bit one o’them harder than I meant to.”
“M-Maither!” Olivia gasped, holding back startled laughter.
“Aye–ye should’ve done worse,” Elspeth insisted with a curt nod. “Bit a finger off, had them recall who ye were to them.”
