watched her as they both tried to calm their rapid breathing. “I mean every word I say, lass. What is the term you would use for a man in love with a woman? A modern expression, say?”
She pushed some hair off his face, running her hands over his jaw as he placed her back on her feet. “That you’ve fallen for her. We still use the word love.” She laughed.
He sobered, all mirth wiped from his visage. “Well then, I’ve fallen for ye, lass. I love ye. What say you?”
“You have no idea how hot you are when you talk in my type of language.” She bit her lip. How lucky could one girl be? “I love you, too. Utterly besotted with you, actually. Aren’t we blessed?”
“Very blessed,” he said, taking her lips again and showing her how blessed he was—in water and out.
Chapter 18
The castle and the surrounding lands were a hive of activity. Abby strolled with Aedan toward a field at the northern side of the estate. The land this side of the castle was relatively flat and went for some miles uninterrupted by woodland.
They walked side-by-side, the odd bumping of hands followed by heavy-lidded gazes that made her stomach clench. Somehow, in the last few weeks, Abby had started to call this land, this time, her home, and the future seemed so very far away—an impossibility that she’d no longer have to concern herself with.
She smiled, contentment warming her soul. “It’s so beautiful here. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to Scotland’s majestic splendor.”
Aedan put an arm about her shoulder and pulled her against his side. “Aye. It has a way of needling into yer heart.”
They stopped at the side of a wheat field, the tenant farmers hard at work with the start of the reaping. “Explain to me again how Lammas works?” A young boy ran past, giggling as an older lad chased him as if the hounds of hell were on their tails. Abby laughed and watched them disappear toward a small, shallow river.
“It’s the first harvest festival for the year. All my tenant farmers will bring a loaf made from their new crops harvested during Lammastide.”
The wind picked up, and the wheat made a dry rustling sound, its golden yellow color all but shouting it was ready for cutting. Abby caught the faint smell of Wheat Chex cereal and smiled, as it reminded her of home. “And what happens then?”
“It’s blessed and broken into four bits and placed at each corner of our barn, to protect the garnered grain.”
Abby looked up at Aedan and took in his features. They were relaxed, a slight smile tweaking his lips, completely serious. “And do you believe that the blessing actually works?”
“Of course.” He pulled back a little affronted. “Don’t ye?”
“Not at all.” She chuckled at his shocked expression. “Somehow, I can’t see how saying a prayer over wheat will stop it from going moldy, or sprouting, or whatever wheat does once it’s harvested. I think the elements or rodents are more likely the cause for any trouble you have with the crop and no wishing it away will change that.”
“Perhaps you’d like to tell me what you really think.”
Abby laughed at his teasing, wrapping her arms about his waist. “Just because I don’t believe the prayer will work doesn’t mean I won’t be standing beside you, hoping it does.”
He leaned down, taking her lips in a kiss. Abby leaned into him, pulling him close. The continued sound of sickles chopping through wheat stems sounded around them. She ran her hand over his shirt, the smoothness at odds to his woolen kilt. “Do you think it’ll be a good harvest?”
Aedan nodded, turning them toward the castle. “I do. There was plenty of rain in the season followed by good growth periods. The harvest should be enough to keep all of those involved happy.”
They walked for a little while in silence, before something that had been bothering her for the past few days niggled to the point she had to ask. “I have a question that’s not related to farming, but I don’t want to alert you to anything, as I’m not sure if you’ve noticed like I have.” They continued toward the large grey edifice of Druiminn Castle, but Abby could feel his curious gaze.
“Out with it, lass.”
She placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the wind coming straight at them in this direction. “Well, I wanted to know if there was anything ever between