Saving Sabine

Chapter 15 - Photo of Heather

Chapter Fifteen

Sabine watched, still frozen, as Connor’s brother Fergus began to attempt the first task. He truly loved the crowd’s reaction, and seemed to revel in attention, something he and Connor did not have in common.

Fergus flexed his large arm muscles as he knelt down beside a long pole that was about twenty feet long. Placing his hands at the foot, he used all his might to lift it, leaning it against his shoulder.

“This is the caber toss,” Heather whispered. “It weighs more than you and I put together.”

Fergus began to run with the caber, the weight of it was obvious with the strain on his face. As he released the caber it flew through the air, spinning so perfectly, and landed not far from him, the top end facing him and the bottom facing the opposite way.

Sabine frowned. Even though the caber weighed so much, the toss was not very far. She felt sorry for Greta. What if Fergus indeed lost the Games? What if she was forced to marry another?

Instead of sighing and moaning, the crowd erupted in a wave of applause and cheering. Greta stood from her seat and began clapping for her fiancé. Fergus turned toward her and blew her a kiss.

“It does no’ matter of the distance ye toss it,” Heather explained. “But the angle. Tha’ right there was a perfect toss. Ye score the highest if the caber is in a twelve o’clock position.”  

At the end of the round, Fergus was in the lead and the men all took a break for ale. Sabine was sure that the other men were losing on purpose as some of their throws were atrocious, but then again, it was touching.

The raven haired Greta disappeared during the break and Deirdre’s disapproving eyes followed her.

“Fergus better win,” she sighed, her green eyes watching her son after a while as he cockily flexed his muscles. “I’m no’ having that girl birthing a bairn out of wedlock.”

No matter how many times Sabine went over it in her mind, she still could not believe she was sitting with Connor’s family, in his home and on his land. If they knew who she really was then she would be thrown in the dungeons. She paused, wondering if modern day castle’s still had dungeons.

“So,” Heather chirped, her chocolate eyes surveying Sabine. “What brings ye here?” she asked curiously. A servant arrived in front of them bearing a tray of golden goblets with red wine in them. Heather lifted two off the tray and handed one to Sabine. Her eyes widened slightly as she realised she was holding a golden drinking contraption. Her family were wealthy, but her father would never dream of purchasing such an extravagant set.

Sabine decided to be honest within reason. Even though Heather had been courting Connor years before, she still seemed like a nice person. She was not vindictive or cruel, she could truly see why Connor liked her … that and her effortlessly flawless appearance.

“My fiancé and I were on our way to Gretna Green, however I’ve separated myself from him,” she replied quietly, electing to take a sip from the goblet. The dark liquid tasted heavenly, and it was just what she needed to calm herself.