Free Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes by Ceci Giltenan Page A

Grace said, “good day. It was lovely to meet ye all.”
    “We will see ye later at the feast then?” asked Nell?
    Bram arched an eyebrow at her.
    “Uh…nay, I’ll be helping my grandmother in the kitchen.”
    “But it is yer first feast day here,” said Una. “Ye can’t spend the whole night in the kitchen.”
    “That is exactly what I told her,” said Bram.
    “Aye—well Kristen…” Grace shrugged. “Thank ye again for letting us join in.” She curtsied to Bram. “Good afternoon, Sir Bram.”
    Kristen mimicked her curtsy. “Good affernoon, Sir Bwam.”
    “I was walking back to the keep anyway. I’ll accompany ye.”
    The other women all grinned.
    “Thank ye, but it isn’t necessary.”
    “It’s no trouble at all.”
    If anything, Grace’s blush grew deeper and the grins on the other women’s faces grew wider.

Chapter 7
    Bram told himself that he hadn’t been strolling through the village merriment in search of Grace, but when he found her, he knew it was a lie. Seeing her laughing and enjoying herself in the midst of a group of woman and children playing peevers took his breath away. When she fell and just sat in the dirt laughing and kissing her daughter, he couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight. A woman who knew deep sorrow and yet could still relish the joy of life was surely a treasure.
    Now she walked beside him, silently. While he missed the liveliness she displayed moments ago, her sudden shyness and warm pink blush was equally as appealing.
    “So, ye met a few of the village women?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Aye.”
    “We pwayed peevers,” said Kristen.
    “I saw ye playing. It looked like ye were enjoying it.”
    “Aye.” Kristen nodded exuberantly then giggled. “It was funny when mama feww down.”
    Bram chuckled. “Did yer mama think it was funny?”
    Kristen nodded again. “Aye. She waffed a wot. Didn’t ye mama?”
    Although still blushing hotly, a smile flirted on Grace’s lips. “Aye, sweetling, I did.”
    “Do ye like it when yer mama laughs, Kristen?”
    The wee lass grinned. “I wike it a wot.”
    He leaned down conspiratorially, “I do too.”
    Grace gave a little laugh, glancing sideways at him. “Are ye trying to make me perish with embarrassment?”
    “Nay. I’m just trying to coax that smile back.”
    She looked down shyly, but couldn’t suppress a wee smile.
    With her guard down a little, perhaps he could talk her into at least coming to the hall for the music and dancing after the feast. “The women were right, ye know.”
    “About what?” she asked.
    “It is yer first feast day here and I don’t want ye to spend the whole night in the kitchen.”
    She shook her head and opened her mouth, poised to speak, but he put up his hand to stop her. “Don’t say me nay again. At least say ye’ll consider it.”
    After a few moments she said, “I’ll consider it.”
    “Thank ye.”
    *
    The feast was sumptuous and while Bram ate his fill, he wasn’t happy that Grace had helped prepare it but didn’t take part in it. He anxiously waited for the food and trestle tables to be cleared away so the dancing could start. He kept watching the doors to the great hall, not wanting to miss Grace when she arrived.
    Ian, who had been dancing with one partner after another all evening, approached with two tankards of ale. He sat beside Bram, shoving one tankard into his hand. “Who are ye waiting for?”
    “I’m not waiting for anyone,” said Bram irritably. He took a long pull of ale, avoiding his brother’s eyes.
    “Nay? It sure looks like ye are waiting for someone. Ye’ve kept yer eyes on the doors all evening.”
    “Well, I’m not waiting for anyone.”
    Ian shrugged. “Suit yerself.”
    Bram took another drink, trying to ignore his over-observant brother.
    After a few moments, Ian said, “I know ye aren’t waiting for anyone, but ye do know that there are musicians and dancers outside ? Maybe the person ye aren’t waiting for is