Highland Sanctuary (38 page)

She caught up with the travelers at the site of the new kirk. "Akira! Akira!" Serena called, not seeing Gavin among them.

Akira rode her own mount beside her husband. She turned. Concern entered her expression as she rode to meet Serena.

"Where is Gavin?" Serena asked.

"He couldn't leave ye. He separated from us before we came to the first house. Has something happened?" Akira tilted her head.

"Nay . . . Aye . . ." Serena shook her head. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she blinked them back. "Please . . . I canna let him leave without me. I just came from that way and didn't see him."

"Mayhap he went for a ride to think. Serena, I've never seen him like this. He's verra worried ye won't have 'im. He doesn't understand why ye rejected him if ye love him. And for the first time ever he's willing to defy Da and give up his entire inheritance."

"Yer da didn't give his permission?" Serena's hopes lay buried in the cage of her heart, her entire future depending on Akira's answer.

"Da didn't forbid yer union but expressed his concern and doubts that it was the best match for Gavin." She reached out and grasped Serena's hand. "Don't let it worry ye. Our da is a wise and sensible mon. He's already lost one son and nearly lost me once, he'll gain his son back by giving him the freedom to chose his future."

"I hope ye're right because I came to tell Gavin I've changed my mind. I'm going home with him." Her heart pounded so hard, she feared it would bruise her ribs.

"Then we'll truly be sisters?" Akira asked.

"Aye." Serena grinned.

Birk and Bryce rode up to join them. "'Bout time ye came to yer senses, lass," Bryce said. He elbowed Birk. "Right? Gavin deserves to be happy. Ye both do."

The MacKenzie Chief said naught, only jutted his chin at a defiant angle and looked away. He swallowed and when he looked back his eyes were red. "Aye, I agree."

"Mayhap he's with Father Tomas," Serena said, happiness rooting inside her. She turned her horse and galloped in that direction.

Gavin sat across from Father Tomas at his wooden table. A small fire blazed in the hearth.

"Would ye like something to eat? Sure looks like ye could use it." Tomas leaned on his hands, poised to rise.

"Nay." Gavin shook his head. "I wouldn't be able to eat it. She's taken my appetite. I canna sleep. My brain is like mud." Gavin rubbed his tired eyes. "My whole life is on hold, waiting for this woman to come to her senses. What if she never does?"

"Then I guess ye'll be miserable for the rest of yer life." Tomas grinned.

Gavin wasn't amused. He glared back. "Mayhap she doesn't love me." He shoved a fisted hand into his palm. "This is worse than an illness."

"From the confessions I've heard over the years, it must be an illness." Tomas scratched his bald head and stared at the table.

"I came here for good counsel and some inspiration." Gavin said, allowing his annoyance to show.

"Lad, I can counsel ye on most any religious thing or health-related issue ye wish, but women are out of my league. Sometimes they confound me as much as they do ye." Tomas shook his head.

A timid knock caught their attention. "Excuse me." Father Tomas stood and answered the door.

A female voice spoke, but Gavin couldn't make out the words. He wasn't in the mood for entertaining. He hoped whoever it was wouldn't stay.

"Come in," Tomas said.

Gavin rolled his eyes. He sat up, prepared to make his excuses to leave. Serena stepped around the door. Gavin froze, his jaw dropped open.

"Gavin! I've been lookin' for ye." Her red eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "I couldn't let ye leave without telling ye how I feel. Please forgive me. So much has happened. I've been so mixed up. It's hard to think beyond all the pain."

The words tumbled from her tongue so fast he hardly had enough time to process them. Gavin didn't move. He was too afraid to hope again, so he merely listened.

"After ye left, Doreen brought me a letter my mither wrote to me the morning she died." Serena twisted her hands as she moistened her lips. "Somehow her words gave me the strength to finally leave this place. I want to go with ye, if ye'll still have me."

"Ye want to be my wife?" He raised an eyebrow as if he didn't believe her.

"I do." She nodded, wincing and shrinking back. "Thank ye for not leaving me." Her voice fell to a whisper.

"Um, I think I'll go for a walk." Father Tomas said. His footsteps were the only sound across the wooden floor as he closed the creaking door behind him. Voices greeted him outside, but Gavin and Serena ignored them.

"Serena, ye canna get my hopes up and dash them again. Please, ye don't know what it's doing to me." He rubbed his eyebrows and swallowed. "I pray ye mean what ye say. I don't think I could bear it if not."

"If it's ripping ye up as much as me, then I've an idea." She walked toward him. "Gavin, I never lied to ye. I really do love ye. I've been afraid to leave the village. It's hard for me not to fear the unknown. And after my mither died, I felt like I was betraying her if I left the safety of the home she'd created for me here. These villagers have become the only family I've ever had. They would sacrifice their lives for me. Beacon did." She pulled out the folded letter from her plaid and handed it to him. "Here, read this. Mayhap it will explain what I canna seem to find the words to say. It has released me from my fear."

He reached out and took the letter. "Are ye sure ye want me to read this?"

"Aye." She nodded. "From this day forward, I want no secrets between us."

Gavin unfolded it and read the looped handwriting. He had to blink back tears. While he didn't understand a mother's love, he did understand God's love. He could see how Serena would feel free to leave the village after reading this. Her mother had given them her blessing. He stepped forward and took her in his arms, pulling her tight against him, never wanting to let her go. "Serena, from this day, never let fear come between us again." He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair, resting his chin upon her head. He closed his eyes.
Thank ye God, for this precious gift.

She wrapped her thin arms around his chest. "I won't." Tears lingered in her voice and she sniffled.

Gavin leaned back, cupped her chin, and lifted her tearstained face to his. With gentle restraint, he lowered his lips to hers. The soft touch soldered them together, kindling a passion ate warmth that flowed through his body like a current. He dug his fingers into her silky black hair, savoring every moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both of their hearts beat in rapid succession and they breathed in short breaths. He waited until he could speak. "Do ye want a large wedding in a kirk?"

"Nay, that isn't necessary. God is everywhere." She laid her head against his chest.

"Do ye have any reason why ye'd like to wait before ye become my bride?"

"Nay, I've no reason at all." She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed her warm, soft lips upon his.

"Good," he said against her, taking her hand and pulling her to the door. Gavin swung it open. "Father Tomas, we're ready to have a wedding."

Gavin paused, surprised to see his clansmen all gathered around the yard. Everyone clapped.

"It's about time!" Bryce roared with laughter. "I take it ye were so engrossed in each other, ye didn't even hear us ride up, did ye?"

Serena and Gavin met each other's gaze, their red eyes now sparkling. "Nay!" they said together.

"I want to be the first to welcome my new sister!" Akira pulled her husband forward, weaving in and out of their clansmen, making their way to the front of the cottage.

Cara stood beside Craig, her arm linked with his, and a bright smile. "Serena, we'll both have our verra own clan."

"This is so wonderful." Serena laughed, covering her hand over her mouth in awe. "I've always dreamed of a family like yers."

Gavin looked down at her and grinned. He kissed the tip of her nose. "And now yer dream has come true, for now they're as much yer family as mine."

Highland Sanctuary
has a special place in my heart and there is a reason I've dedicated this book to my daughter, Celina. Even though I didn't know it at the time, this story began with my daughter's birth, specifically within the first thirty-two hours of her life. Celina was born with a lifethreatening seizure disorder, much like
Highland Sanctuary's
heroine, Serena.

Unlike Evelina, I had a very supportive husband and a community of healthcare professionals who rallied behind our family. We had the benefit of medical technology with medications that controlled my daughter's seizures. Celina didn't have to worry about hiding her condition since people have a general understanding about seizures these days and few think of them as demonic behavior.

As we learned to cope with Celina's condition, I couldn't help thinking about how different her life would have been if she had been born in the late medieval period. The next thing I knew, my story grew into a whole Village of Outcasts. As with everything, the maturity of this story needed to be in God's timing. He knew I needed healing from the emotional trauma and time to let go of my fears.

Celina's doctors told us she may grow out of her seizures, but we know she's been healed. I'm pleased to report that Celina is now seizure free and no longer taking seizure medications. The descriptions of Serena's seizures came directly from my experience with my daughter.

Even though the word
seizure
was in existence by 1477, many people, especially those in remote areas of Scotland, wouldn't have known the word. Those who did were still skeptical and had very little experience with them. For this reason, I tried to use the word as little as possible.

I hope you enjoyed
Highland Sanctuary.
I pray you were somehow touched and inspired by this story. Thank you for traveling back in time through the flight of my imagination to bonny Scotland.

Blessings,

Jennifer Hudson Taylor

1. In order to save her baby's life, what other choices did Evelina have? Did she make the right choice to leave her husband? Why or why not?
   
2. Other than demon possession, how else might a person with seizures have been viewed in 1477?
   
3. Once Serena's secret became known, Evelina was forced to place her faith in God, not in the remote location of the village. How did this change her?
   
4. What made Serena finally trust Gavin?
   
5. Back then, the church and king had a power struggle. Was there anyone else who could have helped Serena besides the king? What other options did she have?
   
6. Do you think there are unique places in the world where people with similarities gravitate toward one another? What did you think of the Village of Outcasts?
   
7. What role did Phelan, the white wolf, play? Do you think of him as the protector of the village?
   
8. I chose not to drag out the details of the inquisition and trial, but to give you a glimpse. How do you think it might have really happened?
   
9. Gavin faced the obstacles of coming from a wealthy family and convincing his clan to accept Serena's seizures. How did his faith play into his ability to overcome this?
   
10. Would you have made the same sacrifice for your daughter if you were Evelina?