Scottish Romance: Scottish Highland Romance: Highland Songstress Read Online Free PDF Page A

compound. All I knew was that I was not going to make the same mistake as my mother.
    In my haste, I made for Duran’s quarters. As I made a sharp turn inside, I heard laughter before I ran head on into Beatrice and Wallace laughing flirtatiously outside Duran’s door. I halted quickly but they had already seen me. Their laughter faded. Wallace gave me cold glare and then gesture with his head that Beatrice go elsewhere with him. Surprised, I watched them disappear around a corner.
    Suddenly nervous, I took in a deep breath before letting myself into the room. Chief Laird and a couple of elders were in there too but my eyes were only for Duran. I was taken aback to see how emaciated he had become. His dark hair was the only part of his body that was still glowing. Sadness captured my heart. I stood staring at him for a long moment. I was almost too late. Duran had sunk out of consciousness.
    The sound of a cane knocking against the floor stirred me out of my trance. Welda entered soon after. She stood behind me. I looked at her, unsure what to do. She grimaced.
    “Sing, silly!”
    I blinked. In my haste I had forgotten what it was I had run miles for. Promptly, I sat down beside Duran and clasped his hand in mine. Then, with the bravest voice I could conjure, I sang.
     
    “Hearts break when pain is raw,
    Though your heart be shattered,
    Live to see another day,
    Hearts break when enemies wound,
    Though your pain be raw,
    Live to see another day,
    For I’m just a girl who loved a man,
    Live so I can love again…”
     
    My voice trailed off. I waited a moment. He did not stir.
    “He’s not getting better.” I cried.
    “Patience, my child,” Welda said.
    One by one, the elders started to leave. Duran had not healed. He had not gotten better. Chief Laird was the last of them to rise. He walked to me and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
    “I never held your mother responsible for the loss of my wife. When pain visits, it is easier to put the blame on ourselves or others, but the truth is, there is not much in life we can control,” he said.
    Tears welled in my eyes. “I am so sorry. It is all my fault. I wasn’t there when he needed me.”
    “Hush my child. You are here now.” Chief Laird said, and then ambled out of the room. Welda gave me an encouraging nod and then followed the chief out.
    For days I refused to leave Duran’s side. I sang to him until my voice was hoarse. Though he showed no signs of improvement, I was not going to let him die. If he did, I knew for certain that I would lose myself again and then not even self-exile would redeem me.
    Eventually, I was the only one by his side. Even his bride to be Beatrice had gotten tired of paying him visits and Wallace didn’t show up to avoid me altogether. It was Welda who kept me going. She helped me tend to Duran even as he wasted away. And the more I was by his side, the images of Gurt became a distant memory. All I thought about was Duran and making him better.
    Then one cold day, fate smiled upon me. My head was rested on his arm and I was fast asleep when a hand touched my hair. I startled awake. Instantly my gaze locked into the most profound eyes I could ever care to be lost in. Duran was awake.
    “Loyalty,” he said in a gruff voice.
    “Huh?”
    “You came back and stayed by my side, even when you aren’t really fond of me.”
    “Shhh.” I stood up. It was late at night but I wanted to fetch Welda immediately. I wanted someone else to confirm I wasn’t dreaming. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back beside him.
    “Lay beside me, tonight. The news can wait,” he said.
    I shuddered despite myself. “I have lain beside many men including the lonely, the perverted, and the enemy. I am not worthy to lay by your side.”
    He smirked weakly. “What use is the past when we have the present?” He pulled me closer and I obliged.
    Reluctantly, I positioned myself next to him and propped my head on his arm as if it were a pillow. In