happy. Says here the Marcher Lords who ruled the Welsh border pretty much had free rein to quell the rebellious Welsh.”
They pulled into an empty parking lot below Castell y Bere, gravel crunching under their tires. Katy leaned across Catherine’s lap to peek at the castle, but all she could see was scraggly brush and rock and sheep.
Katy jumped out of the rental. Higher up, the valley’s view had to be even more incredible. Maybe soaking in the beautiful scenery could burn off this dream that had settled over her like a second skin.
Traci creaked open the metal gate in the chicken-wire fence enclosing the base of the castle’s ruins. Presumably. All she could see was that they were at the base of a green hill covered in trees. Once past the hill, the view opened up. Before her was a rocky promontory, still covered mostly in trees, but she could see the crumbling stone ruins embedded in the outcroppings, like it had been made to fit the terrain.
They trudged up the path that disappeared around a bend.
“God, I still can’t believe how clueless Preston was in that phone call earlier.” Lizbeth winced at Catherine. “Sorry, I know he’s your brother, but…”
“You’ll get no argument from me.” Catherine grinned at Katy. “I think you handled it well. I would have laid into him myself.”
Katy nodded but saw Traci’s concerned gaze. Katy looked away and trailed behind her friends, who laughed and pointed at the sheep or exclaimed in excited voices as parts of the crumbling ruins were revealed. But her? Preston’s call bothered her on some cell-deep level, and she didn’t want to talk about it with them. Exploring how off-balance it left her would shatter the thin veneer of control over her life, the veneer she tacked over her as a shelter, relentlessly patrolling its perimeter to make sure it fit snug at each corner, its lines crisp and sharp.
And it didn’t help that the dream permeated everything. Still. Despite the awe-inspiring landscape. Despite her friends’ animated banter.
Shake it off. Shake it off. Before her well-meaning friends questioned her too closely. Especially Preston’s sister, Catherine.
The hike up the scraggly outcrop shortened everyone’s breath, and conversation stalled. Finally, they reached the southwest entrance. Sun-bleached wooden stairs arched over a rock-and-bramble-strewn ravine and led into the castle proper. Or what was left of it.
“Hey, guys, you go on up. I’m going to walk around.”
Traci stepped forward. “Are you sure? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just need to clear my head. Got a little car sick.”
Traci’s pretty features scrunched up. Katy made a shooing motion, but her friend shook her head.
“You’re not fooling me.” Traci side-hugged Katy, the scent of her coconut and citrus shampoo dousing Katy, and steered her to a wooden bench along the path. “You’ve been distracted this whole trip, but especially since yesterday. What gives? You’re getting hitched in a little over six weeks. Talk to me.”
Traci’s words batted at that veneer, and in recognition, Katy’s stomach shied away and shriveled up. But that was ridiculous. Everything was okay. She just needed air. And personal space. And time to think.
She deflected Traci with a laugh, but even she heard its I’m-faking-it tones. “There’s nothing to talk about. Preston’s a wonderful guy. I’m really lucky. He loves me to pieces. What girl wouldn’t want that?”
Yeah, what was wrong with her? In six weeks, she’d be happy. In six weeks, she’d have secured her future. In six weeks, she’d have accomplished another long-term goal—marriage before thirty. She was rapidly and efficiently crossing off her cherished goals. Career as a French translator for an NGO established? Check. Retirement fund established? Check. Next up, kids after five years of marriage.
They settled onto the bench, the cold of the planks seeping through her jeans. She scooched forward so only her coat-covered butt rested on the bench.
Traci grabbed her hand, the warmth—physical and emotional—welcome. “You may be all smiles, but the cheer isn’t reaching your eyes. Your all-put-together act? It isn’t fooling me. Something’s off.”
Katy snatched her hand away and stood. No way could she face her friend if she were that perceptive. Besides, Katy had no clue what to think herself. What was wrong with her?
She waved in Traci’s general direction. “I love him. I do. He’s nice. He’s responsible. He has a steady career. Besides, I can’t back out now. My mom’s spent loads of money. The cost of the family’s plane tickets from the States alone…” Except for her dad. Just a