The Highlander’s Challenge by Emilia Ferguson

Author:Emilia Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-09-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

PARTING AND ARRIVING

PARTING AND ARRIVING

A lina stood on the steps. She swallowed, wishing she did not feel as if she was about to cry. She looked at Amabel, who stood before her.

“I wish you were staying,” Amabel said softly.

“I will not say goodbye,” Alina insisted. “I cannot leave you.”

Amabel sighed. “Yes, dear, I am with child,” she said, covering her abdomen protectively with long, slender fingers. They had talked of the child the night before, when they were together. Alina had said only that the child would be a girl. She looked at Amabel with concern as she continued, “but the birth is months off. You will have time to return and care for me then.”

Alina smiled, though the smile was tinged with worry. “I suppose that is true,” she said carefully. “But I will return sooner than that.”

Amabel laughed. “I would like that, my dear! I would I could have you here always. Mayhap that will be brought about.”

Alina bit her lip. She had told her sister something of the trials Duncan faced, feeling it was wrong to keep the knowledge to herself. However, she did not want to think of it overmuch, for fear discussing it would cause some dire bad luck. She smiled sadly. You were never superstitious, she chided herself. Still. It did not do to take risks unnecessarily.

“Yes, mayhap,” she said nonchalantly. She smiled at her sister. “In any case, do not think you see the back of me for long.”

Amabel chuckled. “My dear, I long for your return.”

Alina smiled. She reached for her hand and found herself enmeshed in a firm embrace. She squeezed her sister fiercely, breathing in the smell of rosewater and honeysuckle that clung always to her. She felt an almost physical sensation of pain at parting from her after so short a time together.

“I'll see you soon,” she said, but her voice was a hoarse croak. She blinked her eyes fiercely, batting away tears. She had not wept so when they parted first six months previously. I do not know if I will see her again. The threat of the dream hung over her, made all the more real by the discovery that part of it was true. Joanna would be born. She will be. I will do anything I can to make that happen.

“See you soon, Sister,” Amabel said. She took her hand and squeezed it. Alina squeezed back. She turned away then, letting the tears fall.

“Goodbye, Amabel,” Chrissie said sadly. She stepped up behind Alina and Alina heard Amabel give a little grunt as she wrapped her arms around the girl, holding her tightly.

Alina looked away across the forest, letting the two have their private moment together. She did not listen to their low voiced talk, but looked out across the forest to where the pine trees cleared the mist, her mind already on the long journey home.

I should have brought more sewing, she thought, recalling the scrap of linen she had worked on the previous day.

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