All for the Heiress (11 page)

“We were kind of arguing a little about your flowers and Lachlan said he didn’t care if I carried turnips as long as we got married.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m so glad he came here from the eighteenth century. I’m sorry you guys argued over the planning. We can just hang up all the choices we have left and throw darts at them if you want.”

“Yes, let’s do that. We can let Mel throw the bridesmaid color dart.”

Piper dabbed at her eyes and Evie flung her arms around her. They both shivered in their wispy dresses, and made their way to the vestibule where they could see Sam and Lachlan peering out the window at them. She was glad now that the secret was out, and not only would Piper get to be at her special ceremony, she’d get to be at Piper’s.

“Well, fancy this happening,” Sam said wryly, as Lachlan struggled not to laugh.

Piper ignored them both and took Mags from Sam, admiring his suit and instantly cheering the grumpy baby. It was one more thing that told Evie everything was perfect.

Evie teared up again when she realized Lachlan could walk her down the aisle, in lieu of her dad, who would have to wait for the formal ceremony.

“Let’s fix our makeup,” Piper said, handing Mags back. “You guys should take our first spot or you won’t have any makeup left.”

“Don’t be dumb, I won’t cry anymore.”

She was wrong, of course. The waterworks started the moment Sam stepped aside from handing off Piper to Lachlan. Father Branaghan smiled benignly at them as they sat in the first row, then began the ceremony.

Lachlan was a sight to behold in his full dress kilt. His hair had begun to grow out from the haircut he’d been forced to get after Bella lopped off his glorious shoulder length locks, and it curled a bit at his collar. The way he looked down at Piper made Evie’s heart nearly burst with joy for her best friend, who deserved nothing less than that level of adoration. He’d come to accept so many different things about their life in this time, but he hadn’t changed. He was still fiercely loyal, just, and kind. The occasional bossiness still popped up now and then, but a good lot of the time his strong opinion happened to be right, so they put up with it.

Sam took her hand as they began the vows, and even Magnus settled, sprawled out across both their laps with one foot in his mouth. Fresh drool stained her dress but she didn’t care as she leaned forward to listen.

Lachlan cleared his throat and took both Piper’s hands in his as Piper giggled nervously. “My love, I fear I canna properly express how I feel with words, and I have no talent for singing as ye’re well aware. I only want ye to know that without ye I am nothing. Ye are truly the light that guides me and the air I breathe. I never knew loss until I thought I’d lost ye, and I never knew peace until we were together again. When I first traveled here, yours was the first kind face I saw, and I hope I can continue to gaze upon ye until the moment I leave this life.”

Piper took a deep breath, fished a dainty handkerchief from her bosom and mopped her tears. She stood on her toes as if she wanted to jump the gun and kiss him, and Evie smothered a hybrid laugh-cry. She looked over at Sam, who’d gone pale, and she wondered if he felt bad about wanting to just repeat the traditional vows.

“That was bloody beautiful,” he whispered. She nodded and squeezed his hand.

Piper’s voice was shaky when she started hers. “Lachlan, I never thought I’d get married. I never believed that love was real, because I’d never felt it until I met you. And now I’m so filled with love I sometimes think I might burst. After all we’ve been through and all you’ve done to stay by my side, I know we’re truly meant to be together. Your strength keeps me steady when I start to falter, you bring me shining moments when times seem dark. Your smile reminds me every day just how lucky I am.”

“I am the lucky one, my love,” Lachlan said. leaning down to gaze into her eyes.

“You’re both very lucky,” Father Branaghan said, getting them back on track with the rest of the ceremony.

Evie couldn’t help the small sob that slipped out when Piper said her ‘I will,’ and Piper quickly turned and smiled at her. At the kiss, even Sam sniffed and wiped his eyes. She squeezed his hand, feeling a flare of nerves as their turn approached. Not about finally getting married, but certain she’d muck it up somehow. They’d decided to do plain old traditional vows, since there were no words she could make up that worked better. All she had to do was not trip, and repeat what the priest said. And not wash away on a river of tears.

Sam dropped a kiss on the top of her head as they followed Lachlan and Piper back down the aisle to reboot for the next ceremony. At the holding area, they exchanged more hugs and handshakes, then Piper took Evie aside.

“You’re sure now? We can still make a run for it.”

Evie laughed, recalling a time that seemed like ages ago when she tried to get Piper to ditch everything— the spooky castle, the mad time traveling Highlander, the wonderful village and all its well-meaning inhabitants— and save herself while she had the chance. Thank goodness she had rejected that advice.

“Not for all your billions,” Evie assured her, looking over her shoulder at Sam, who spoke animatedly with Lachlan.

As if he knew she watched him, he turned and smiled a slow, knowing smile. A tremor of anticipation ran through her and she stepped forward, ready at last.

Shane felt like a right perv, but he kept watching Mellie as she slept, curled in a tight ball the moment he eased out from under their blankets. A lock of hair drifted across her face and he wanted to move it away but kept still to let her rest a bit longer.

He’d found a few more twigs and some moss that wasn’t drenched, but couldn’t get a new fire started to save his life, so he was already irritated at himself, and when he couldn’t read the map because he didn’t have a clue where they were, he got downright angry. Looking at Mel’s face, so much sweeter without that prickly hard look she’d been pulling constantly since they started their adventure, he only wanted her to be comfortable.

He swallowed a laugh, thinking about how uncomfortable she’d been when he first lay down next to her. At the moment, he’d only been wanting to stay alive, but then he’d been surprised at how much he’d liked holding onto her. He couldn’t help himself, he moved the strands of hair off her cheek, letting his finger drag across her soft skin.

Her eye cracked open and small miracle, she smiled at him before burrowing deeper under the blankets.

“If ye want to try starting a fire, I found more kindling, and brought us some water,” he said, a new flash of disappointment in himself that he didn’t have a crackling blaze going for her already. “I’m going to climb a tree and figure out where we are.” He stomped outside before she could say anything to ruin the lovely sleeping image he had of her.

His spirits lifted when he got high enough to see the mountains just ahead, and he whooped loudly. When his feet hit the ground again, he turned around to find himself nose to nose with Mel.

“Oh, hi,” he said, taking her arms to keep from knocking her over. “I got a bit excited.”

“I see that,” she said, still miraculously smiling.

His good mood doubled, no, tripled, and he pointed north. “We’re so close. We must have really hustled yesterday.”

He wondered what time it was. The sun was just at the horizon, so early morning. The watch they’d brought turned out to be almost useless, since they didn’t know the proper start time to set it to, an oversight he should have corrected at the inn. The most it could tell them was how many hours had passed since the last time they checked it. “If we hoof, we might be there by nightfall.”

She did a little dance, which he attributed more to warming up than happiness, but he’d take it. He remembered so many good times with her, why did she pretend they were mortal enemies lately?

“Let’s hoof, then,” she said. “I stole the blankets, I hope you’re okay with that.” She blinked sleepily a few times, and handed him one of her stale oatmeal protein bars.

Normally he would have queued up to have some of Mel’s cooking, but the bars were just awful, and worse now that they were hard enough to chip a tooth. Still, he gnawed off a chunk and nodded gratefully, hoping he wouldn’t choke. “Thanks, these are quite good.”

“Liar,” she said mildly, already several yards ahead of him.

He ran to catch up, unfolding the map he carried in his jacket pocket, still feeling silly in his kilt as it rustled around his legs. He’d only worn one a few times before, for special occasions. He wasn’t sure, but he thought Mel had been serious when she ogled him. He turned around and walked backwards for a few steps to watch her as she slogged along, head down, breaking off bits of protein bar and popping them in her mouth. He felt a twinge looking at her mouth and almost fell on his ass when he recognized what it was. Jesus, was he just attracted to Mellie? He turned back around and walked faster, tearing up the forest floor, trying to run from his feelings.

All sorts of uncomfortable memories flooded him. Her soft skin that had been icy cold until he pulled her close, and the way she’d held herself so stiff, terrified of resting against him. She was innocent yet not at the same time. He suspected she’d never been with any of the guys in town. Sadly, he would have heard about it if she had, since no one there could keep their mouths shut. But she also knew exactly what she was about, and it wouldn’t have been for lack of anyone trying. She was pretty, smart, genuine, and fun when she wanted to be. Hell, he would have tried if  he thought she’d have taken him seriously.

It was embarrassing to remember the way he used to follow her around, sending her his rubbish games in hopes of impressing her. He’d felt such delight when she sought him out for tutoring, sitting elbow to elbow in the inn’s dining room before he had to help with the supper service. The lass couldn’t get algebra to save her life and he’d mostly ended up doing it for her.

Stupid Tom would always come around and oafishly flirt with her, the worst of it being that she’d flirted back. He knew his brother had taken her out at least once, and his fists curled at the thought of Tom possibly making a move. If he ever saw him again, he’d punch him just in case he had.

“Is it getting warmer or am I crazy?” he called over his shoulder, determined to stop thinking his wild thoughts about Mel. He was here for Catie, so he’d think about Catie.

“Crazy,” she grunted.

Well, he’d opened the door, of course she had to go through it. He looked at the map, deciding roughly where they were, and how much further they’d have to follow the river before heading toward the road. Once they were on the road, it was less than ten kilometers to the Ferguson border. Hopefully they’d meet a friendly person who might give them a ride.  

Nothing Mel said could dampen his enthusiasm. He picked up his pace and ignored her for a few hours, forcefully keeping his memories in check. They were so close to success, he could already taste it. Even if he misjudged the distance and they had to spend another night out in this forsaken forest, he knew they could survive.

As if to taunt him, it started to rain, but not even the cold drizzle could make a dent in his mood. He let Mel catch up with him and swung his arm around her. Amazingly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a quick squeeze before squirming away from him.

“I guess we’re actually going to make it,” she said.

“Hell yeah,” he said, then they both stopped, hearing a rustle not too far away.

She looked quizzically at him, and he nodded, dragging her closer to him again. They stayed silent and still for several moments and he almost thought they’d imagined it, when a twig snapped even closer to them.

She gasped and he grabbed her hand, still not moving, but looking around for whoever had made the noise. The branches of the shrubs growing near the bank shook and his eyes shifted down.

“Mel, get behind me,” he whispered, as a huge, shaggy wild boar snuffled out from behind the shrub, his hooves and tusks muddy.

Damn it, but he hated pigs. The ugly beast fixed his beady eyes on him, and he could tell the feeling was mutual.

Piper shoved down her guilt as she waved goodbye to Daisy, Mags, and Goldie, watching until Padma hustled them all into her house. She’d left a long, meandering note of half apology and half arm flailing frustration, but hoped Evie would never have to read it. A quick in and out, wring Mellie’s neck, send her back to her own time, and they’d be back before anyone missed them.

Once she and Lachlan found a good spot at the edge of the woods, she felt a flare of excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“This is like a second honeymoon, don’t you think?”

He gave her such an incredulous side eye, she felt mildly ashamed and hung her head. After all, they weren’t just leaving their only child to go out of town for the weekend. It had been so long since they’d had to go back and muck around with the fabric of time, that she’d forgot how dangerous it could be.

He stroked her hair out of her face and smiled at her. “We’ll be fine, love. I’ll return us to Daisy.”

“I know you will,” she said, beaming at him.

She had complete faith in his ability to protect her, which was why she could do this with anticipation rather than dread. She also hoped to see Quinn, Lizzie, and Catie again. If they did it right, only a short time would have passed for them, but for her and Lachlan it had been years. They scoured historical documents on a regular basis, but there was a maddening lack of information about Lachlan’s clan. It was as if the universe didn’t want them to know, so they wouldn’t feel the urge to meddle.