Brianna studied the small wooden heart resting in Justus’ hand. Keeper of my heart? The sincerity of his question rested in his earnest eyes. Oh, how she desired to accept the small token whole-heartedly. Twould be a wonderful beginning to their marriage for their plans had been marred.

She turned back to the wall, gazing across the landscape. A summer past, Justus had visited the MacEwan Keep. He knew her brothers well for they had been schooled together when young lads. By the end of the summer visit, she and Justus had become fine friends too. They were soon betrothed, agreeing to marry in Brianna’s twentieth summer.

All thought it befitting that the couple wait two years to wed. The period would provide time for Brianna’s maturing and Justus’ healing for he had lost his wife and young daughter to sickness. But in all truth, Brianna had also insisted on her twentieth year for she was the mistress of MacEwan Keep, a role that had become hers two years past when her parents had passed with the same ailment as Justus’ people. Twas a strange ague that had swept across the land, taking some and leaving others. Her heart had been broken but she had thrived as mistress, applying all that her Mah had taught her.

Bri looked at her husband and clasped her hands at her waist, readying herself for negotiations. Could she convince him of her whole heart’s desire? “My heart is fragile, Justus.”

“As is mine, Breeze.” He lifted her hand and dropped the heart into it, wrapping her fingers around it. “I will cut a thin strip of leather so you can wear it as a necklace. When I journey to Edinburgh next, I will purchase a gold chain. A wedding gift.”

“You are not the only soul laying claim to my heart, Justus.” Her hands tightened around the delicate gift, giving her the courage to speak her mind and quiet her heart a wee bit. “The moment the silent girl-child was placed into my arms, she too lay claim to my heart.” Twas a challenge to reason how joy had so easily swept into her grieving heart. “Can you keep my heart .  .  .” She trembled for fear of his response. “. . . and the lass’ too?”

Promise Keeper is available in print and as an e-book on Amazon