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March 7 - March 15, 2025
every drop needed to keep the memories away. It would not be enough.
“The whisky eventually failed, but God never did. When he turned to prayer instead of drink, Bannockburn couldn’t touch him anymore.”
The turmoil that burdened his shoulders eased as the Savior of the world took the yoke beside him.
Arms outstretched, he placed his battle-scarred sword on the altar and knelt before the cross, relinquishing his fight.
You can’t change your past. Trust Me with your future. I will light the way.
Be still. Stop fighting. The battle is already won.
Stillness was foreign to him. Victory without having to fight, impossible. If he wasn’t a warrior, who was he?
I have nothing to offer you.” Give me your heart. I will make it brand new. “Lord, if you are willing…” I will catch you, don’t be afraid. Hector loosened his fingers and let go of his will, plummeting backward into the unknown. “Save me.”
Her tears were not tears of grief, but of relief and thankfulness that God had delivered her.
“Dinnae speak words of discouragement about your life, Cara. You are a treasure. You will make some man a wonderful wife. A kind man, one that will see everything I do.”
“I prayed for God to help me reach him so that he would change. I never saw it happen, but do you know what did?” Cara shook her head. “God sent me you instead. A daughter to love, to nourish, to treasure, and who came to faith just listening to me babble stories while she weaved. He gave me a friend and the child I always longed for. God knows who we need and who needs us.”
your family.” She looked deeply into Margaret’s eyes, remembering the words of Ruth, a woman who, like Cara, loved her mother-in-law as a daughter of the heart. “You’re my only family. Where you go, I go. Your people will become my people, and your land will be my land. There is no future apart from you. I’ll not hear another word about it.”
With the sun and wind behind her, a rainbow appeared on the horizon, just over the burial ground. A promise of mercy and goodness that would follow her, and abide with her, all the days of her life.
“You are significant, Cara.”
“There are things only you can speak, a path that only you can walk, people only you can touch. Dinnae diminish your worth.” A strange intimacy coming from a near stranger, but words she needed to hear.
The quality of one who had tasted a deep redemption. “Hope.” “Aye. She’s full of hope.”
“If God has made you a skilled warrior, don’t be ashamed. Sometimes conflict is necessary to protect order, and to overcome those who wish to destroy good. Peace doesn’t mean passiveness. Peace requires courage. You’re not a murderer, you’re a protector. I’ve often wished that there was one to protect me.”
“Aye. God knows what He is doing by giving you the talents you have, it’s all for His glory.”
“I suppose He knew what He was doing making you as wee as you are. It makes it easy for you to burrow into a heart.”
“Father, I pray for this soul who is troubled. Send your angelic host to guard him. Chase away the demons that want to remind him of things you have settled long ago. Banish the darkness from his mind. Help him to surrender his past into your hands. Help him to know how best to use his gifts to serve you. Comfort him and lead him in perfect peace. In the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
Beginning to pray for guidance, he sought the One who would light the way in the darkness. For in the moment she began her prayer, his heart was lost.
“You must let go of what could have been and accept what is, and not hold it against him. It is something I needed to learn to survive.” He scoffed. “And just how am I supposed to do that when every time I look at him, I can only see his failures and the pain he caused?” “Is that what the Lord sees when He looks at you?”
If she thought he could construct an entirely new stone keep with room for guests and grand banquets in under four months, the woman was off with the faeries.
rose. A voice, ancient and brave, called him into battle and spoke two words. Protect her.
Raising his voice, he bound his protection over her. “Clan MacLean of Lochbuie, you are witnesses that Cara is mine to defend. I number her among my household. I bind myself to her as her guardian and protector until the end of my days. If anyone breaches her peace or safety, it is an offense against the chieftain.”
“Ow! I didn’t mean for you to attack me again, you wee banshee!”
Margaret lovingly caught it with a finger. “What a day you’ve had. You didn’t deserve any of this. Let us thank God that He has kept you from death, and now He has sent you a guardian. A guardian to finally protect my sweet girl and keep her safe.”
For the first time, someone had hunted those who’d hurt her, battling the demons surrounding her. In that moment, her heart bound itself to his.
There was nothing else she needed. He’d restored everything to her.
The longing for one too high above her. Deep devotion for a man that she’d never dare love.
I felt the Lord urge me to protect her. He imbued me with the same battle instincts I had before, but this time it felt different. I wasn’t fighting for myself, for coin… I was fighting because I felt devotion to her. Like I was fighting for Him. I cannae shake it.”
Rhona wrapped a thick arm around Cara’s waist. “You’re a strange bird, but a kind one. I’d sooner have given that man a good smack.”
She would rather eat a toad.
“I like you undone.” His eyes grew intense. She realized he meant it.
“O Jesus, Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, I pray for Cara, that she will know that no’ for a single moment was she ever unwanted.”
“The world has devoured her, but I pray you break every lie that has been spoken over her.”
“Restore to her the words you speak over her. Words like loved, healed, and forgiven.”
“I am confounded by you.” The naked statement sent shock through her. His arm tightened around her waist, and his hand tucked a wave of her hair behind her ear.
Placing a hand on the rock of his chest she tried to push away but he held onto her, a heavy look in his eyes. “I cannae get my head around you. My heart is full of you.”
He cradled her, his forehead coming to hers, his voice desperate. “The only thing I want is to be near you. I cannae stop this longing in my heart for you, Cara.”
“I am Cara O’Ballevan, the only daughter of Eamon O’Ballevan, a distant descendent of the Chiefs of Uí Briúin of Connacht, a gentlewoman of no standing. I become your faithful servant from this day forward, Hector Reaganach MacLean of Clan MacLean, of life and limb, and of earthly fealty, and unto you shall be true and faithful, and bear to you my faith for all that you may require of me, saving the faith that I owe to our sovereign Almighty God. This is my solemn vow.” “Cara…” “I’ve come here to pledge my fealty to you as a widow, renouncing all others and my homeland. Please accept me into
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Hector held her eye for a moment, then took a knee and bowed his head. Emotion caught in her throat; he’d wanted her to have this moment. Her heart broke. She would rather have him.
“I’m no’ sending you anywhere. Your place is here beside me in my clan, as my wife. Let me become your husband.” Cara looked into his eyes with teary astonishment. “But I cannot give you heirs.” His forehead touched hers. “I dinnae want heirs. I want you.”
“Hector has learned much the hard way. He’s been a fallen man, he’s been hurt and done hurting, he is a warrior, and he is a casualty.”
He felt suddenly sobered. “I’ve been waiting a verra long time. I’m no’ the man I used to be. I never tho’ God would give me a wife. I want to honor the treasure he’s given to me.”
“Dinnae rob me of my blessing. You are my gift. Wherever God leads us, or whatever he calls us to, his provision is already there. It might be just enough, not an abundance. But it is all that we need.”
“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. I love you, my darlin’.”
Spurred on by the sounds of triumph, Hector turned to his wife and fitted his mouth to hers again, savoring her softness, because he could. When they broke apart, he swept her into his arms and the berserker living within him let out a wild cry of victory.
No, I’m not upset over things you’ve been long forgiven for.”
We were wrong about you…my lady.”
