Page 46 of Desire of a Highlander

Sarah recoiled. “Ow. I see yer temper hasnae improved any since we got here.”

The woman pointed a finger at her. “Ye should be out there tending to that man of yers instead of hovering like a worried hen.”

Sarah went bright red.

“Oh,” Elodie said slowly, interest sharpening. “You have a man?”

Sarah made a strangled noise. “I....um...”

“David,” Elspeth supplied helpfully. “His name is David.”

Sarah shot Elspeth an annoyed look. “If ye have quite finished sharing my personal business?” She looked at Faye and Elodie. “We were supposed to be married,” she said quietly. “Before our village was burned.”

Silence settled over the barn and Elodie felt something twist in her chest. Loss, sudden and familiar.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Sarah shrugged, but her eyes were distant. “It’s fine. We both lived, dinna we? What more can we ask than that?”

A lot more, Elodie thought. You can expect to be safe instead of in danger all the time. You can expect to be able to live your life in peace.

Sarah spoke so casually that Elodie was reminded again of how far she was from home. How could she hope to survive in a time where you were counted lucky if you survived one day to the next?

“You could get married here,” she blurted.

Sarah looked at her, startled. “What?”

“Your wedding,” Elodie repeated, sitting back on her heels as her mind started moving faster. “You could have it here. In the Steading. Food, music, dancing. It could be just what this place needs.”

Sarah blinked. “But we canna just—”

“Why not?”

Sarah opened her mouth. Closed it again.

“It would give everyone something to celebrate. Something normal. Something good,” Elodie added.

“Unless ye dinna wish to marry yer sweetheart anymore?” Elspeth said with a wicked smile.

“Oh hush!” Sarah snapped. “Of course I want to marry him. It’s just...just...”

“Just what?” Elodie prompted.

Sarah threw up her hands and laughed. “Just nothing! I suppose I’d given up hope, that’s all.” She glanced at Faye and then at Elodie. “But being here, with all of ye, perhaps it’s given me hope again.”

Elodie laid her hand on her new friend’s arm. “So is that a yes?”

“Dinna ye think we should ask David first?”

Elspeth snorted. “The lad will do what he’s told or he’ll have me to answer to.”

Sarah laughed and clapped her hands. “Then yes!”

Elodie felt herself grinning, a wriggle of excitement in her gut. There would be a lot to organize. Someone would need to conduct the ceremony, then there was food to be cooked, decorations to be made, and—

Faye stood and dusted off her hands. “Right,” she said briskly. “We’ve more ulcers to see.”

As they left the barn to go and see Faye’s next patient, Elodie found her thoughts drifting. Not to problems and plans this time, but to celebrations. To people enjoying themselves and living rather than just surviving.