The farm covered vast acres of thick woods and steep terrain alongside Loch Garry. High mountains and shaded canyons still lay robed in snow, while sunlit trails dissolved into thick, soupy mud from run-offs. Impromptu waterfalls and hillsides littered with trees felled by snow slides made for treacherous travel in the backcountry.
How far had he gone in his search for the missing sheep? Kieran was a shepherd after the heart of the Good Shepherd, who left the ninety-nine to search for one. He would not give up until he found them all.
Struggling for a deep breath against a weight of weakness on her chest, Bonny stared into the darkness and breathed a feeble prayer. “Lord, you say you’ll never leave or forsake us. I believe you offer comfort and answer prayer. Please bring him back. You’ve already taken his child. Don’t take the man I love too.”
Her pain increased each time she roused, expecting Kieran at her side like he’d been in the past when she awakened from a coma following a car accident. Once, in a dream, he carried a laughing little boy high on his shoulders as he strode across the lawn, Loch Garry sparkling in the sunshine. Now, that child who would never draw a breath would live only in her dreams. When the pain reached its worst, Bonny was transported to her father’s graveside once again, lost and alone, with no one to call her own.
How cruel to keep her on the maternity ward. Baby cries filtered through the closed door. Mothers stirred in hushed tones, their exclamations of joy and awe seeping into Bonny’s heart the way tears soak a handkerchief. Sadness born from the death of hope, newly raised and crushed too soon, clogged her throat and knotted her insides. She should never have allowed herself to share Kieran’s joy of anticipation.
Sunlit clouds cloaked Ben Nevis with the pink light of dawn, evoking memories of the sunset reflected in the calm waters of Loch Linnhe the first time she and Kieran talked, kindred hearts that budded into love. Wouldn’t she sense if he were gone?
Her father-in-law’s cell phone rang, startling him awake. He fumbled in his pocket and held the phone to his ear. “Hamish here.”
Bonny raised the head of the bed when Maggie awakened, straightened in her chair, then rose to turn on the light.
“Tell everyone thank you. Yes, I’ll call later.” Hamish hung up and took a deep breath. “Angus found Kieran near the Bolinn Wood, in a ravine. God be praised, lass, he’ll be here soon. Someone hit him over the head a good one. He escaped but passed out at the wheel. The Land Rover hit a rock and stopped on the edge of a fast-flowing burn.”
“Thank God. My prayers are answered.” Her love was coming. Sadness almost crushed the joy when a sharp pain stabbed deep. “Does he know?”
“Aye, he asked to go home to you first. Angus told him.” Hamish stood and walked to her side. “They think he suffered a concussion. You’ll heal together now.”
Sun shone from Maggie’s eyes with the certainty her only son was safe. “Hamish and I will stay at the farm until you two regain your strength. Kieran won’t rest unless we’re there.”
A forlorn waif stared at Bonny out of the mirrored tray in the bedside table. Her pallid skin contrasted against dark circles under her green eyes, making them appear even larger. A frizzle of tangled red curls framed her wan face. “Can you brush my hair and bring me a washcloth, Maggie? I don’t want to look too awful. He’ll be worried enough.”
“Aye, you’re a wee bit peely-wally, but with good reason, dear. Let’s see what we can do.” Maggie took a makeup bag from her purse, rose, and wet a cloth at the sink.
Bonny sipped some cold tea for energy. Memories of the rainbow she and Kieran once marveled at from atop Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness danced through her heart. She longed for his kiss now more than the first time. The band of pain around her heart eased a little. Her love would be with her soon.
Maggie worked a brush through the stubborn knots, then applied blush for Bonny’s cheeks and pink for her lips. It seemed pointless to darken her colorless lashes only to create mascara streaks down her cheeks when Kieran appeared.
Her heart lurched when the door creaked open and a pale, disheveled Kieran entered. Broad shoulders sagged. With mouth taut and his face framed in a fiery display of tousled red-gold hair, red, swollen eyes met hers. He limped to her bedside, bent his six-foot-five frame, and brushed her lips with his. Tears mingled as his mouth claimed hers, then pressed harder, pouring his love into the passion of his kiss. When it ended, they were alone, their pounding hearts and sighs the only sound. She would treasure this embrace for a lifetime.
The bed groaned under his weight and solid arms eased her close. Their heads rested on each other’s shoulders while he shook with grief and disappointment. Their oneness anchored her, took hold deep in her soul, and held on with a shared bond stronger than she believed possible.
Kieran reminded her of the mighty Ponderosa pines surrounding her house in New Mexico. His legs and back strong to withstand storms, arms like sturdy branches offered shelter and protection, roots sunk deep into the soil of faith. This man dwarfed her in the physical and spiritual, yet his touch caressed her skin with the gentleness of snowflakes.
“My poor love. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” He cradled her against him and smoothed the hair that tumbled down her back. Big hands spread from shoulder to shoulder, a solid shield of comfort. His love breathed life into her weak and shattered spirit.
Bonny moved her hand to the springy curls at the back of his neck and encountered a sticky substance. Her fingertips came away tinged with blood and mud. “Kieran, what happened?”
“I never found the sheep. I sat on a rock on the slopes of Beinn Tee for a drink when someone hit me on the back of the head. A big man with dark hair and a face filled with rage. I turned, and my fist connected with his jaw. When he staggered, I rushed for the Land Rover, but the eijit grabbed my foot and threw me to the ground. I kicked him in the side, pulled myself up with a tree, and ran. He caught me as I climbed in. My shirt tore, and when he stumbled, I shoved him with my foot, slammed the door, and locked it. The keys were in the ignition. I gunned the engine and headed down the mountain, but lost consciousness. If the truck hadn’t hit a rock, it would have rolled into the chasm of a burn, running deep with snowmelt.”
“Have you seen a doctor?” She cupped his rough, unshaven cheek, auburn whiskers contrasting with the lighter color of his hair. Her finger traced a purple lump along his jawline. The knuckles of the hand grasping hers were swollen and bruised.
“They said you could have bled to death. I had to see you first, mo chridhe, to hold you in my arms. Now, I’ll go downstairs and see to my own injuries.” His lips quirked into a grimace. With a sob, he buried his face in her hair. “I was so frightened.”
My heart’s desire. Her sore heart swelled at the sweet sentiment of his Gaelic. “Kieran, I’m so sorry. Dr. Moncrieffe blames it on the scar tissue from before. If only …”
He lifted his head and cupped her face with calloused hands. “It’s not your fault, love. Children would be a blessing. But I need only you.”
“God gave us hope and then took our child.”
Rough but tender fingers brushed the tears from her cheeks. Eyes, bloodshot with fatigue and sorrow, met her own. “We’ll walk this road together. Every step.”