The Highlander's Secret(17)

When they got closer she could see them engaged in a conversation and his eyes flickered up to her in anticipation. She offered a gentle wave as they approached the farm. The edge of Alan’s mouth lifted into a smile.

“Good morrow, Jain,” Rodrick greeted her.

“Good morrow.”

“Ye’re looking well today.”

Her eyes drifted over to his companion and said, “Good morrow, Alan.”

Alan met her gaze and Jain felt as though the air had been knocked out of her lungs. He was perfect.

“Jain,” Alan addressed her with a smile. “Rodrick and I are back to finish with the roof. Is it all right if we get started?”

His voice was dark, but warm and rich as velvet when he spoke. The sound of it made her mouth run dry. Aileen must have heard their arrival and rushed out to greet them. Her cheeks were rosy pink and radiated pure pleasure when she met them in the doorway.

“Rodrick,” she breathed out in a rush. “It’s good to see ye again.”

He smiled at her warmly, with his hands clasped behind his back. “And ye as well, Aileen. When does yer mam return from Inverness?”

“Not until the week’s end.”

Jain walked back into the kitchen to check on the cooking to give Aileen the moment she’d been waiting for. The bannock cooked nicely for them as a mid-morning snack. It was her first time making the fruit preserves to go along with it and Jain was eager to see how they turned out, or whether they compared to ones made by Aunt Gracie. Her eyes flickered to the doorway reflexively and she was disappointed to see that Alan wasn’t still standing there with Rodrick. Instead, she could see him through the window, already setting up the ladder for work ahead.

She’d never admit it to her mam, but Jain was grateful to have them around. She just wished that when it came to Alan there was a simpler way for them to see each other. Jain grabbed a rag to protect her hands as she removed the baking from its heat and brought them over to the table.

Rodrick looked like he was about to leave when Aileen blurted out, “Jain made some bannock and fruit preserves and it should be rather tasty. Would ye like to join us fer some breakfast?” she asked him hopefully.

Rodrick paused and seemed to consider her offer. Jain knew he likely understood what Aileen wanted. He had a good head on his shoulders and must have been able to sense her want and affection. Aileen gazed back at him with such a wide-eyed and innocent expression that no man could have possibly refused her. “Aye, lass. Perhaps I’ll stay a while and chat before we start.”

Her cousin beamed at Rodrick and let him into the house, helping him to a hearty breakfast of bannock and preserves. Seeing the opportunity, Jain walked over to the doorway and glanced around in search of Alan so he could join them. She would have never invited the men to eat with them herself, but with Aileen’s introduction it gave the perfect excuse. Jain found him on the side of the house, carrying tools up the ladder to complete their job.

“Hard at work already,” she commented with a smile. “Though I’d expect nothing less.”

Alan looked down at the sound of her voice and smiled when he saw Jain standing there. “Oh. How can I help ye, Jain?”

“Aileen and I have invited Rodrick to break the fast with us. Would ye like to come inside as well and enjoy some food?”

Alan smiled, setting down the load he was carrying and climbed down the ladder beside her. “Aye. That sounds lovely.”

She walked along the side of the house, back towards the kitchen. Moira waved to them, carrying another basket of eggs in from the kitchen coop. “Good morrow, Alan. So good of ye to come again.”

“Thank ye, Moira.”

“We just invited the lads to break their fast.”

Jain’s mother nodded in approval. “Good, I’m glad to ken ye’ve learned some manners.”

Alan grinned, sitting down around the table next to Rodrick and Aileen to enjoy the tasty snack. Jain brought them each a serving of the bannock and took a seat at the table herself.

The four of them ate quickly so as not to interfere with their tasks and when they were finished, Rodrick and Alan thanked the women for their company and went to work on the roof with the remaining fibers. Everyone was excited, anticipating the festival that night, which usually made the day’s work go fast—still, there was much work to be done just maintaining the kitchen and gardens, let alone preparing for the festival in store. Jain got to work, starting with taking the scraps out to throw to the pigs, and saw the men already busying themselves on the roof discussing what needed to be done.

Jain smiled to herself as she heard Alan humming throughout the day. It was a low, pleasant sound that resonated through the air and brought joy to all that heard it. It always lightened up a day to work alongside agreeable company, and Jain found herself often taking the opportunity to bring some water to Alan and the men working up a sweat outside. By mid-morning they’d stripped off both their shirts and climbed down to meet her in the shade.

“Ye’re a godsend, Jain. An angel with a bucket,” Alan chuckled, taking a deep drink of the cool water with a ladle before dumping a second right over his head. Jain couldn’t help but watch the water dripping down his sopping hair to his bare chest and stomach. She always knew that Alan was built well underneath his tunic, but she’d never seen it for herself before.