Page 64 of Highland Warrior

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The following morning, Iain said he was going to familiarize himself with the area. He told Yesenda he was uncomfortable being in a strange town until he got his bearings. Yesenda was busy organizing the cottage and unpacking their provisions, so she nodded and said she would see him later.

It was now later. Yesenda stepped outside to see what all the noise was about. She froze. Iain had returned with a visitor. The man was enormous. He wore a leine and the plaid of his clan. His hair was windswept, his cheeks were ruddy, and he sported a bushy beard. But Yesenda cared little about that. It was the fact the visitor also wore a large cross on a chain around his neck.

When he saw her, he grinned. Then he said in a booming voice, “Och, cousin, she is bonnie to be sure! The lord has been most kind to bless an uglymuclike you with such a treasure.”

He walked over to Yesenda and gave her a bear hug. “I’m Tavish Stewart, Iain’s first cousin on his ma’s side, and I’m a priest, but dinnae hold that against me.”

Yesenda stammered, “But… I did not think there was clergy in these parts.”

“Aye, they’re scarce, and you need to ken who they are. You’re vera lucky Iain kens these parts well. When he was a lad, he spent most of his summers here by the bay with his kin.”

“Did he now?” Yesenda said as she glared at Iain.

Iain just shrugged.

“There’s going to be a wedding?” Sienna asked.

“Aye, Yesenda made anoathto marry me once I found the first available priest. Well here he is.”

Yesenda met Iain’s heated gaze and gulped.Damn it!She was outplayed.

***

Hitched

“Here I got you these,” Iain said. He handed Yesenda a small package.

“What is it?”

“Something for you to wear. I picked it up from the village. These are also for you. They belonged to my ma.” He handed her a second package. Then he said, “I’ll see you at the tree. Dinnae be late.” Then he was gone.

Yesenda opened the first package and gasped. It was an embroidered plain crème kirtle with matching slippers. She opened the second package, and it was the Henderson airisaidh and a tiny wooden box. When she lifted the lid, there was a delicate gold band inside. She touched it and felt an overwhelming surge of emotion.

This was her wedding day, and her parents were not going to be there. Her mother would have prepared something for her if she were alive, but Iain gave her everything she needed for her day. The gravity of what this meant hit her hard, and Yesenda burst into tears.

That’s how Sienna found her ten minutes later, quietly bawling her eyes out.

“Come on now, lass. Dinnae cry. Come on now. What has you overset?”

Yesenda sobbed, “He got me a dress and his ma’s ring. And… I… I have nothing to offer him.”

Sienna sat down beside her and said, “I’ve only met your Highlander recently, but I can tell you this much. That man looks at you like you’re his entire world. You say you have nothing to offer, but tis not true. It’syou, Yesenda. That’s all he wants and all he’ll ever need.”

She sniffed and nodded. “Aye, I will try to be a good wife. No, the best wife for him.”

“Och, I doubt you’ll need to try. Come on. You have one hour to bathe and dress. You dinnae want your braw highlander kicking the door down and dragging you before the priest, half-dressed, do you?”

Yesenda shook her head. Then had a thought. “Is that what happened at your wedding?”

Sienna replied, “As God is my witness, that’s exactly what happened with Gideon. I was taking too long for his liking and let’s just say the priest copped an eyeful before I could pull my dress on properly. These men are a different breed. When they want something, nothing will stop them. So, you best dry your eyes and get ready. Hurry before Father Tavish drinks all our mead.”

When Yesenda MacDonald finally exchange marriage vows with Iain Henderson, she thought him the handsomest man on earth. His hair was partially wet from his bath, and he wore his full Henderson regalia. It entailed a crisp white leine, his Henderson plaid buckled around his waist and over his shoulder with his crest badge proudly displayed. He wore untanned leather shoes. His polished claymore sheathed in an intricately designed scabbard at his side. But it was the way he gazed at Yesenda when she walked out to meet him beside the tree that stole her breath away. There was so much love shining in his eyes she realized Iain already owned her heart.

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Chapter 16

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