Heather's Highlander: Book Club: Heartsgate (Heartsgate Highlanders 1) Read online

  “That sounds like a good plan. We’ll be eating supper in about an hour. Do you need any help before that?”

  Heather nodded. “I need a different dress. This one has a million little pockets that my mother and I sewed into the skirt, and they’re all full.”

  Beth stepped back. “Pockets? Where?”

  “On the inside!”

  “Oh, that’s brilliant!” Beth smiled at her. “You obviously had more time to prepare for your trip into the past than I did.”

  “I just wished I’d been wiser about some things…”

  Chapter Three

  After supper, Derek asked Heather to walk with him, and she nodded. She really did need to get to know him better before they married. “I need to help with the dishes first,” she said.

  Beth shook her head. “No, we have a kitchen staff. You just go and get to know my boy.”

  As they stepped outside, Heather was happy she’d asked for a different dress to wear. The other was really weighing her down more than she’d realized. “Your mother is very nice.” It seemed like an inane way to start a conversation with the man she was about to marry, but what should she say to him?

  “She is. She will be a good ally for you to have.”

  “I’m glad because I already feel like she’s on my side.”

  He gestured toward the back of the keep. “Let us walk around the loch.”

  “I’d like that.” Heather took a deep breath and accepted the arm he offered. “Tell me about yourself.”

  Derek shrugged. “I feel like you already know everything. I am a seventh son, so the youngest boy in my family. There are no girls, and I hope you dinna want to have daughters, because you will not get one. The seventh son always has seven sons and no girls. Every generation it works that way.”

  “Really? That’s odd.”

  “Tis how it has always been. Me mother had a hard time believing at first too.”

  “And are you happy to know you will have no daughters?” Heather asked him. She was almost relieved to know she wouldn’t have to worry about whom her daughters would marry in that time period. It would have been hard enough in the twenty-first century.

  He shrugged. “I suppose. I always knew how it would be, so I willna be even a bit surprised.”

  “I see. And granddaughters?”

  “Only the seventh son will have only sons. The other brothers have sons and daughters. You will have nieces as well as nephews and eventually grandchildren.”

  Heather stopped walking. “Wait. It just occurred to me you want me to give birth to seven sons without the benefits of an epidural!”

  He chuckled. “I have heard me mother talk about epidurals and how they are necessary for childbirth. Father can lessen the pain that comes with giving birth for you, if you find you need that.”

  “If?” she asked. “You mean when, right?” Heather shook her head. “The most painful thing a woman can go through, and I’m expected to do it seven times without good drugs.”

  “Twill be all right,” he said, his arm going around her shoulders.

  “That’s easy for you to say. You won’t have a baby squeezing out of your most delicate parts without pain medicine!” Heather shuddered just thinking about it.

  “Does this mean you now feel like you should marry me?” he asked.

  “I don’t feel like I have much choice. Your family…well, you don’t really ask a lot of questions. Anyone else would.”

  “That is very true. I am glad you understand.”

  “I just…well, I don’t like the idea of you having to marry me simply because you’re the one who found me. Are any of your brothers unmarried?”

  He frowned. “You want another?” He’d thought they were in agreement about marriage, and now she was looking for another man who she could spend her life with.

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just don’t think you should be stuck with me.”

  Derek shook his head. “I feel anything but stuck with you. Let me show you how I feel for you.” With that, he put his arms around her and lowered his head to hers.

  As soon as his lips touched hers, Heather knew marrying him was the right thing. Sure, she’d been kissed before. There had been boys in high school, but this…this was something she’d never experienced. Her entire body felt as if it was tingling, and her belly felt as if there was an entire flock of butterflies trying to get out.

  Her arms went around his shoulders, and she pressed her body against his. No matter what else happened, this first kiss with him…well, it was like something straight out of a romance novel.

  She moved to her tiptoes, still trying to get closer to him. She ran her hands over his shoulders and down the muscles of his arms. Finally, she took a step back, but her eyes were glazed as she looked up at him. “You pack a wallop in that sexy kilt of yours,” she said softly.

  He seemed slightly out of breath. “You’ll be my wife on the morrow.” After that kiss, there was no way he was letting her off the hook.

  “It’s strange to me that sometimes I can hear the New York in your voice, and sometimes I can hear the Highland.”

  “I was brought up with both influences,” he said, smiling. His thumb traced her lips. “I look forward to having you as my wife.”

  She blushed. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “I can feel your emotions, remember. Your passion for me is as strong as mine for you.”

  She turned away, embarrassed. “It’s not fair that you know how I feel all the time. When do I get my power?”

  He laughed. “I am sorry, but it doesna work that way.”

  “It doesn’t?”

  “Nay, it truly doesna. I have a power that I will use to help both of us though. Does that help?”

  She nodded. “I suppose it will have to be enough.” She would have liked for them to be starting out on even ground, but there was no way to arrange that.

  As they continued their walk, she told him that she’d brought some seeds from New World foods.

  He groaned. “Tacos? Are you as obsessed with tacos as my mother is?”

  She let out a bark of laughter. “I’m a French fry girl, but I’m always happy to eat tacos.” She knew a lot of people were obsessed with tacos, but as much as she liked them, there were definitely foods she liked more.

  “Mother has tacos once per week. She calls it Taco Tuesday. She’s odd at times.”

  Smiling, Heather took his arm again. “My roommates and I did the same back in New York. Every Tuesday night was taco Tuesday. Sometimes we did chicken tacos, sometimes beef…sometimes we just did refried beans.”

  “Dr. Lachele brought everything we would need to make tacos. Mother said she misses going out for tacos, but that she’s happy to grow her own as well.”

  Heather laughed. “She’s going to love that I brought potatoes with me. And cocoa beans.”

  “What is a cocoa bean?”

  She blinked a couple of times. “For making chocolate. Your mother has gone without chocolate for your entire lifetime? Are you kidding me?”

  “She’s mentioned it a few times, but never really said how it was made. This cocoa bean is how you make chocolate?”

  “It is! And I’m going to grow it! If I can.” She frowned. “I’ve never been much of a gardener.”

  “Dinna worry about that. My great-grandfather can grow anything.”

  She tilted her head to one side. “Your great grandfather is still alive?” She didn’t think people lived that long in medieval times.

  “Aye. My father makes sure his parents and grandparents are always in good health. I know they won’t live forever, but they will still live a while.”

  “That’s wonderful. I guess I never thought of that aspect of things. Can he heal himself?” Heather asked. She hadn’t intended to end up in a paranormal historical Scottish romance, but here she was, and here she’d stay. She’d figure out all the ins and outs of things as quickly as she could.

  “He cannot.
I wish he could.”

  “It would be nice if we had a son who could heal him, wouldn’t it?” she asked.

  He smiled, pleased that she seemed to accept now that they would marry, and she would bear his sons. “It would be very nice.”

  As they got back to the keep and went inside, there were voices, and they followed them to the great hall where his parents were sitting with his brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Beth called out to them. “Derek, bring Heather to meet your family.”

  Derek called back, “Yes, Mother.” But he took a few gulping breaths, and Heather looked at his pinched face.

  “It’s hard for you to be around even your family, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “It’s my life.” Taking her hand, he tugged her toward the table where his family sat, and he smiled. “Everyone, this is my betrothed, Heather. Heather, this is a large crowd of people whose names you will need to learn eventually.”

  There was laughter at that. “I’ll do my best,” Heather said. “It is a lot of people.” She was happy to see there were as many little girls as there were little boys.

  “Ye came from the future?” one of the men at the table asked. “Just like our mother?”

  “Yes, I did. Dr. Lachele sent me back to this time.”

  The men looked at each other. “Dr. Lachele, ye say?” one of the other men asked.

  She nodded. “It was the strangest thing. One day she just started coming to our book club, and she told me she could send me back in time to marry a laird. Of course, I didn’t immediately believe her, but I decided to humor her and let her try…and here I am.”

  “Interesting,” one of the other men said.

  “Are all of you Derek’s brothers?” Heather asked.

  “Aye,” one of the men responded. “And our wives and bairn of course.”

  “Of course.” Heather took a deep breath. “I know the story sounds preposterous, but it’s true.” If they believed Beth had come back in time, then they would have to believe she did.

  “Do you have the game where you break the candy?” one of the wives asked. “Beth told me about it long ago, and I wanted to try to break it meself.”

  Heather shook her head. “No, I didn’t play many games on my phone, but I do have books on them.”

  “And ye’ll read us these books?” one of the other wives asked.

  “I…I guess I can.”

  Beth laughed. “You can skip over the naughty parts.”

  Heather grinned. “I’m glad you knew what I was thinking.” The very idea of reading a sex scene aloud was…well, it made her uncomfortable. If she were living in her own romance, then the sex had better be behind closed doors.

  Beth nodded. “We’ll have a sewing day sometime soon because Heather arrived with nothing just as I did. While we sew, Heather can read to us.”

  Gavin shook his head. “I am happy none of the men will be invited.”

  “Me too,” Heather said, grinning at the other women. It would be fun to read the books she’d brought and sit with them, learning about them.

  There was noise behind them, and another couple came into the keep, this one much older. “Heather, these are my grandparents. I showed you in the woods where they fell in love.”

  The older woman smiled. “He told you about how his grandfather saved me life?”

  Heather shook her head. “No, he didn’t!”

  “Well, let me tell you.”

  Heather listened intently as the woman told a fantastical story about how when they were mere children, her husband had plunged his hand into the chest of a wolf and pulled out his heart. “You must have been frightened!”

  “Terribly, but I knew Kennan would save me.” The woman’s eyes were full of love as she gazed at the man beside her. “Twas the day I vowed I would marry him.”

  “And you did.”

  “Many years later, of course,” Gillian said with a smile. “We always played together as children, and I grew up knowing I would someday be lady of this keep.”

  “I’m glad it happened for you then,” Heather said. She couldn’t imagine falling in love as a child and always holding out hope of marrying one man. But of course, she was standing beside the man she meant to marry, and she’d only met him hours before. She was in an entirely different situation.

  Beth stood up. “Heather is going to read to us from one of her Highland romances while we sew someday soon. I hope you’ll join us.”

  “I wouldna miss it for all the sheep in Scotland!”

  Heather smiled at the turn of phrase. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said shyly. It was strange to be accepted by all of these people when she’d expected to have to try to fit in. Now she was being asked to read aloud from a device that shouldn’t exist yet. It made her wonder if there were others who were here in a place out of their normal time.

  “And a wedding on the morrow!” one of the other wives said happily.

  Derek frowned. “Everyone knows how I am in a big crowd. Would ye mind keeping it quiet that I marry so the keep isn’t filled with the entire clan?”

  Beth nodded. “I think that’s what we need to do.”

  “Then that’s exactly what we will do,” Laird Gavin said. “Tis me last night as laird, and I can make the decision.”

  Gillian sighed. “But there will be no way to keep the clan away after the wedding. You’ll need everyone to meet your bride and welcome you as the new laird.”

  Derek nodded. “I just want to put it off as long as I can.” He wanted to be able to concentrate on his bride during his wedding and not worry about the emotions of any of the wedding guests.

  One of Derek’s brothers clapped him on the shoulder. “We will all do our best to keep them from you during the celebration. And you can keep sneaking off to steal kisses with your bride. Twill be a good excuse to be gone for a moment or two.” His brothers obviously understood his need to be away from crowds.

  “I dinna need an excuse to kiss me wife,” Derek said happily. “I will happily sneak a kiss whenever I can.”

  Heather didn’t know what to do other than blush. “I don’t mind sneaking away for kisses myself.”

  The laughter that followed that statement made her feel as if she was a part of the big family surrounding her. No, she didn’t know names yet, but she would soon, and they were all so welcoming of her. It felt right to be here. Now, if she could just fall in love with the handsome man beside her. Not that she thought that would be hard. He was her hero after all.

  Early the following morning, there was a knock on Heather’s door and she hurried to see who it was. “Beth, come in.”

  “I have ordered your bath. This is Aileen. I mentioned her mother, Kirstine, to you, and she’s going to be your maid, if you’d like.”

  Heather bit her lip. The idea of someone being her maid was strange, but she was certain it was necessary, at least for a while. “Yes, of course. Come in Aileen. Tell me about yourself.”

  Aileen shrugged. “Tis not much to say. I am the youngest of Kirstine’s daughters, and my family has served your family for generations. I’m happy to be given the opportunity to serve you.”

  Heather smiled. “And have you been told about me?”

  Aileen looked at Beth who nodded to her. “I grew up knowing about the oddness of the McClain family. I will happily be your maid and help you hide your secret.”

  “Thank you,” Heather said. “I appreciate that.”

  “I aim to be of service.” Aileen quickly moved out of the way as several servants carried in the bathtub and more followed behind with buckets of hot water. “I’ll stay to help you with your bath.”

  Heather felt strange that someone would feel the need to help her bathe. “I can bathe myself,” she said softly.

  Beth shook her head. “You’re going to need help. I promise this.”

  Heather took a deep breath and nodded, smiling at Aileen. “I’d be happy to have your help.”

  Heather understood what B
eth had meant as she went to wash her hair and there was no shampoo. Why hadn’t she thought to put shampoo into one of her little pockets? There were so many modern conveniences she was going to miss, and then she thought about Derek. His smile made her feel like she should swoon. Maybe he was worth giving up every modern convenience for.

  Once she was out of the tub, Aileen helped her dress in the McClain plaid. She wished there was a mirror, but of course, there was nothing like that yet. Someday.

  When she was dressed, Aileen had her sit, and she went to work on Heather’s hair. Her hair was long, almost to her bottom, and it was dark. As Aileen worked, she talked about what she was doing. “I thought to leave most of your hair down for the ceremony, but I’ll form a crown of braids atop your head with some of it. Does that sound like what you would like?”

  “That sounds wonderful.” Heather hadn’t even thought about how hard it would be to do her hair with no mirror available. She was honestly surprised at all the things she’d taken for granted about living in 2020.

  As soon as Aileen was finished, she and Heather went out to see Beth. Beth looked at her and smiled. “You’re beautiful, lass.”

  Heather frowned. “I feel strange without underwear.”

  Beth laughed. “Trust me, you’ll get used to it. And you will never miss wearing a bra.”

  “I guess.”

  Beth and Heather descended the stairs together to see Derek, Gavin, and the rest of the family waiting for them at the bottom of the stairway. Beth hugged Heather. “Welcome to the family, dear daughter. Love my son.”

  Heather nodded, feeling panicked. What was she thinking to marry an absolute stranger? She thought engagements of less than a year were crazy pants! And she was marrying a man she’d met the day before while not wearing any underwear!

  Derek held his arm out for her, and together they walked to the priest. Heather was a little surprised that the ceremony was conducted in Latin, but she followed along well enough. And when Derek leaned down to kiss her, she knew she was his wife. She was spending the rest of her life with this stranger who made her heart beat faster.