Part 60 (1/2)
Already the horrors of the past months were slipping from her. How good it was to be home. What a joy to be able to share with her sisters all that had happened since last they were together.
”And he loves you, too?”
”Aye.”
”It is all so romantic.” Brenna sighed.
”But I do not understand,” Megan interrupted.
”He is a Highlander. A barbarian. And you are the MacAlpin.”
”He is an educated, cultured gentleman,” Meredith said. ”And a trusted friend of the queen.”
”If Brice Campbell loves you, why did he let you come alone to clear his good name?”
”Because now that everyone thinks him dead, he will no longer be hunted. If he shows himself, he will once again have to fear for his life.”
”But he is the Highland Barbarian,” Megan persisted. ”He is the strongest, bravest man alive. All my life I have heard songs sung about him, legends whispered about him. If he is so fearless, why would he be afraid to be hunted?”
Meredith was growing weary of her sisters' questions. Brenna had wanted to know everything, from the moment she had been abducted at the altar, to the moment she climbed the wall of the MacAlpin Castle.
Megan, on the other hand, was only interested in the reasons why.
”Do you think he will come for you?” Brenna asked, stifling a yawn.
”Nay.” Meredith was annoyed to feel tears spring to her eyes. She tried to blink them away but they continued until they clouded her vision.
”I begged him to stay where he would be safe.”
”But if he loved you he would care more about your safety than his own.”
Megan turned to study her oldest sister.
”Are you crying?” In consternation she turned to the middle sister.
”Brenna, I have never before seen Meredith cry.”
Brenna, the most tenderhearted of the three, shot her youngest sister a warning look.
”Our Meredith is merely overwrought. It has been a long and difficult journey for her. She has a right to cry.”
”I am not crying.” Meredith wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and rolled to one side, pulling the linens over her head. With a sniff she said softly,
”Well, perhaps I am. It is just that I am so weary. You are correct.
It has been an arduous journey. But it is not yet over.”
”What do you mean? You are home now.” Brenna yanked the linens aside and peered at her sister.
Meredith sat up.