Page 2 of Highland Hearts

Dawn shook her head and patted her chest more vigorously as she fought back tears that threatened to spill.

Old Mary stopped, not only Dawn’s forceful gestures upsetting her but what she spotted in her eyes. “Tears? You are not happy with this move?”

Dawn shrugged and annoyed she had allowed tears to fall, wiped the few away.

Concern weighed heavily on Old Mary for Dawn as she asked, “You do not know?”

Dawn’s glance fell to the ground as if she had to give Old Mary’s question a thought or was it that she knew and did not want to admit it? Her confused thoughts had her nodding her head.

“Change can be upsetting,” Old Mary said and chuckled. “Listen to me advising you when I complain about moving.”

A small smile broke on Dawn’s face, and she patted her chest and pointed to Old Mary once again.

“Of course, I will move into my new home.” Old Mary gave Dawn’s arm a squeeze. “I will always go where you go.”

Dawn hugged the old woman who had been like a mother to her after her mum had passed, and they both got teary-eyed.

“All will go well, worry not,” Old Mary assured her,

Her words gave Dawn hope since Old Mary often saw things before they happened.

“You should go join your family and partake of the joy. It can be contagious,” Old Mary encouraged.

Dawn wished she had the desire to do that, but she didn’t. She nodded anyway.

Old Mary stared at her oddly for a moment. “Be careful, Dawn, do not let anything, even your own misgivings, divide you from your family.” She shook her head as if shaking herself from her thoughts. “I best go see how those fool warriors are handling the things I want to take to my new cottage.”

Old Mary’s words of warning made Dawn realize that she should talk with her husband about how she felt. They did not keep things from each other. They had always been truthful with each other, and she did not want that to change. Why then had she kept silent?

She almost laughed at that since silent was all she ever was.

Concerned with her troubling thoughts and how they could affect her family, she decided to forego some things that needed her attention here and join her family at the new keep.

Dawn planned to walk and enjoy the sunny day that would probably disappear by noon. You could always count on the weather in the Highlands to be unpredictable.

“Dawn!”

She turned and smiled seeing Lucerne hurrying toward her. It was hard to believe that at one time the woman had been Cree’s intended and was now wed to Sloan, Cree’s best friend. Their story was part of the history of this place, memories she enjoyed recalling. Lucerne had given birth to her and Sloan’s first bairn, a son, Ross, in the cottage near the keep where Dawn, herself, had resided when she had become involved with Cree. Lucerne and Sloan also had a daughter, Fern, two years now and a pretty little lass.

Dawn was quick to ask about the bairns and Lucerne was happy to boast.

“All are excited about the move. Ross has his things packed and Fern clings to the doll Lila made for her, fearful she will be left behind. I never thought our family would grow so rapidly, but I cannot tell you how much joy Trent and Hana have brought us. Sloan and I feel as if they are our own. Can you believe it is almost three years since you returned from Clan Strathearn with the pair?”

Dawn nodded, recalling the memories. The pair were not brother and sister but felt as if they were having survived a difficult time together. Cree had offered them a home here at Clan Carrick where they would be safe from the man who had treated them badly.

“Trent is almost five and ten years now and on his way to becoming a skilled warrior, and Hana, almost nine years now, has been more accepting of her unique skill since Old Mary is helping her understand it, though mostly helping her not feel alone and frightened by it. Both could not believe the home we offered them and are shocked they now will live in the keep. I cannot believe it myself.”

Dawn gestured and Lucerne understood.

“Aye, Sloan does deserve the honor having fought bravely beside Cree, still though, I feel as if I am taking your home away from you,” Lucerne said and shook her head. “Though I know you go to a bigger and better home, it must hurt some to leave this one. I, myself, get teary-eyed thinking of our last days in the cottage, though with the growth of our family we could use the room.”

Dawn patted her chest and nodded relieved to hear that she was not the only one who felt nostalgic and unsettled with the move.

“The one good thing,” Lucerne said, and Dawn eagerly listened, for she wanted to hear what good this move would bring, “is that the move does not separate us at a great distance. That would have been heartbreaking.”

She was right and Dawn nodded, thinking how horrible it would be to move far from family and friends.

“I wanted to thank you for being so helpful and generous in letting me run the keep the last few weeks so that I could learn and grow accustomed to it. Though, I must say, I fear no one will be able to replace Flanna and I envy you that and her friendship.”

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