“How is it ye ken so much about the grasses and flowers?” Lucas asked Ella as they walked arm in arm across the pasture of soft grass toward Fergus and Sarah. The older couple sat surrounded by food and drink on a plaid, and Lucas was hungry but in no rush. He was enjoying Ella’s company and being outside in the sunshine. She had identified so many flowers and herbs since they left the barn. Her knowledge made his head spin. He could barely tell a thistle from a sprig of heather, yet his English rose knew the proper name for almost every piece of greenery they passed.

“I learned most of what I know from my mother, she had a great affinity for plants of all types. In our family home she had a lovely, large garden, and the grounds around our home in Derbyshire were flush with hundreds of varieties of wild flowers and plants.” He liked her shy smile, and that she was not used to being the center of attention.

“Tell me more about yer family lass.” He wanted to keep her talking. He found he needed to know everything about her. Being out of the barn with her like this, walking through the fields made Lucas feel normal for the first time since he’d left Cadney with his father and brother to take up arms against the English. He didn’t realize how much he missed it. Even though they had to move slowly because of the pain in his side, he felt better than he had in weeks and it was all because of Ella.

She gave another smile, and his heart melted with the pressure of her sweetness. She had so quickly managed to disarm him. He found he liked it, liked her.

“My mother, you already know, was a healer. She married my father young, and died in childbirth when I was only six and ten. I have a younger sister Amelia, she was light of my mother’s eye, she was three and ten at the time. Three years younger than I. Amelia, or Amy as we call her, is my best friend, and most important ally.” He noticed a tear forming in the corner of her eye at the mention of her mother and sister, he gently moved to wipe it away.

“Ye miss ‘em terribly, eh?” He kept his tone soft, which Ella appreciated.

“Aye,” she replied. “I hated having to leave Amelia behind, but I knew shew couldn’t come on this journey with me.” He liked it when she used Scottish expressions. The words sounded light on her tongue, the marriage between her sweet English accent and the few Scottish words he had heard her say, he felt as if he could listen to her talk for an eternity.

“What happened to the bairn?”

“He was to be our brother, David. But he died along with my mother. Father was never the same after their deaths. He became withdrawn, disinterested in Amy and I at his best, cruel at his worst.”

“Och, ‘tis a shame lass, a father ought never treat his angels thus. Is that why ye hatched that escape plan that brought ye here?” he asked with a sly wink. She looked at him with surprise.

“How much of my ramblings were you awake for you brut?” she asked, lightly hitting his shoulder, but only faking her anger. Lucas could see the lightness in her eyes.

“Enough to know ye were verra brave, lass, I would nae hae wished the evil fate yer da had in store for ye on me own worst enemy,” he finished. “One day, I hope ye get to see yer sister again.”

“Thank you, me too.” They continued to walk in silence, but only as fast as Lucas’s wounds would allow. It suited him fine, it had been too long since he had a nice walk on a pretty day with a pretty lass.

“What about your family Lucas? Do you miss them?”

“Aye, I hae a brother, Gavin, an’ a bonnie wee sister Milly, short for Millicent. She an’ Gav are twins, but she got all the sweetness and he all the fire.”

“And a wife?” Lucas cocked an eyebrow in her direction, a touch amused, and he could’ve sworn she was shaking a little as she asked. So the little lass wanted to know if he was spoken for, eh? He stopped walking and turned her to face him. He wanted her to see in his eyes that he meant what he was telling her.

“No wife, lass. No bairns, either. I promised me angel mother, Lady MacGille, I’d only marry for love, and that hasnae happened, yet.” He watched, enchanted, as relief flooded her eyes. He liked knowing that she felt the attraction between them as keenly as he did.

“Your mother is Lady MacGille?” Ella asked him, ducking his gaze and quickly changing the subject by questioning his mother’s title. He realized that even though the surname MacGille was only found in his clan, Fergus and Sarah must not have realized which MacGille he was, therefore how would Ella know.

“Aye, me da was the Laird of Clan MacGille,” he said solemnly.

“If your da was the Laird, and he perished in the battle of Dunkeld, then that means you are…” she began.

“That’s right lass. I am, or at least when I get back to Cadney Castle, I will be, the new Laird MacGille of Clan MacGille.” It was the first time he had allowed himself to say it aloud.

Ella’s head spun as she and Lucas joined Fergus and Sarah on the plaid for their noontime meal. She felt like the wind had been stolen from her lungs. He was to be a laird. Any thoughts of fancy she entertained about staying with Lucas would have to be put aside. He was the leader of an entire clan of people. He had a castle, lands, responsibilities beyond just the healing of his battle wounds. She was at once relieved when he said he didn’t have a wife or any children, and then terrified when she realized he would have to leave her soon. He couldn’t leave his people without their laird.

“Och, look at ye up an’ about lad,” Fergus said, laying on the thickest version of his Scottish burr Ella had heard yet as he looked at Lucas proudly. “Ye look good!”

“Thank ye, Fergus. I feel braw,” Lucas replied, smiling as he clasped the older man’s hand in a friendly shake.

“And what of ye Emily?” Sarah asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She had lost track of the conversation but assumed they were still on the pleasantries of the day.

“Oh… um… yes a fine day indeed. How is your hand healing Sarah?” she asked in return, trying to focus on the woman in front of her giving her a quizzical stare with her one good eye.

“’Tis healin’ good, lass,” Sarah replied, Ella barely hearing her, lost in her own thoughts.

There was no use worrying about Lucas and his birthright now, she thought. Whatever will be, will come to pass no matter her concerns. Better to just enjoy this lovely day and meal with the people she had come to love as her own.

Ella tried her best to do just that. The food was delicious, and she was truly enjoying the banter between Lucas and Fergus as they tried to outdo each other with fantastical stories.

After they had eaten their fill, the talk turned to more practical matters. Fergus told Lucas all about the rough times they had as the Jacobites fought with the English. How the land and the livestock had suffered. Ella was shocked to hear Lucas commiserate with the old man, telling him that he didn’t agree with war as a means to end the English invasion of their sovereign lands. But he fought beside his brother and father just as sure as any lad would, because he was Scottish. She had always been told that highlanders were animalistic warriors with no thought to anything or anyone save for the battle. But Lucas was very different. He was thoughtful and considerate. He felt the pain of his people. Ella already knew that he was a good warrior, he had survived. But as she listened to the way he spoke to Fergus and Sarah, Ella also knew in her heart he would be a good leader, as well.

“Och, what's done is done laddie, I hae nae doubt there will be better times ahead,” Fergus said. Ella was sure the old man meant to change the subject.

“Fergus?” she asked. “How far is the nearest village to your farm?” Ella was curious as to the layout of the land around them. She still was unaware how far she was from any civilization. Hopefully, Evans wasn’t yet aware of her escape. She hadn’t thought about her situation in the last few days, being so preoccupied with Lucas and his health. Now in a moment of relaxation she found she needed to know.

“Well Lass, there is Perth tae th’ west. I suppose ‘at be th’ largest town. But I will be travelin’ th’ morn tae Glenrich, a wee village about a three hour walk intae th’ glen from here tae th’ north. I got tae get some supplies for th’ sheep an’ mayhap a pretty bobbin for me bonnie Sarah,” he said, smiling at his wife as she batted him off with a harsh “Och.” It was sweet how much the two older people cared for one another. Ella shot a quick glance in Lucas’s direction to see a warm smile on his face, as he watched Fergus and Sarah. He must have had the same thought as she. She felt her cheeks redden as his green eyes found hers. Quickly turning away, as sadness washed over her. Their company would all have to come to an end too soon. Ella knew Dunkeld was near Perth, and that is where Evans was. She had never heard of Glenrich, but assumed it was not the village close to where the cart had upended. She had walked too long and too far to still be so close. That was unless she had been walking in circles. God, how she hoped not. Even still, if Lucas had to return to his people, at some point she would need to move on as well. Fergus and Sarah had been so kind to her, it just wouldn’t do to continue to put them in danger by staying so close to where Evans may be able to find her.

“While you’re in the village Fergus, I can help Sarah around the house and with any of the chores that need to be done,” she said.

“ ’At would be mighty kind of ye, lass,” he replied.

“Och, ye old fool, I be fine on me own,” Sarah said, giving Fergus a swat with her apron.

“Woman, tha’ verra well may be, but ye be my hen, an’ I’d feel better leavin’ ye if I kent th’ lass was close by tae help is all,” Fergus said, ducking out of the way of another apron swipe.

Ella laughed a little, and Sarah gave her a kind smile. Ella smiled back, trying her hardest to keep her expression lighter than the heaviness that was beginning to settle in her heart. Lucas reached under the plaid and slipped a hand into hers and gave her a gentle squeeze. She was surprised. He must have understood the emotions she was trying to fight back. That one small gesture giving her immense comfort. She squeezed back, fighting tears.

“I think it will be good for the lass tae get out of barn a bit. An’ I on th’ mend. It will be a nice change a’ pace,” Lucas said, taking the focus off of Ella, knowing if Fergus or Sarah noticed her tears it would be difficult to explain away. Ella was struck by his kindness. An idea began to form, maybe she could talk to Lucas when they were alone. She could compel him to allow her to travel home with him when it was him time to leave. She wouldn’t beg, but if she could make him see she had value, he may be willing to vouch for her among some of his people.

She was certain if he did, she could find work in one of the villages that might be close to his family keep. She didn’t want to be a burden on anyone, and even though she would most likely never see him again, knowing Lucas would be so near might give her heart some measure of peace in the lonely days and nights that were to come.

Her sweet Amelia would be so shocked. But Ella’s mind was firm. She would ask Lucas MacGille, future Laird of the MacGille clan, if he would give her safe passage deep into the Scottish Highlands. Hopefully, he will say yes, she thought.