Highland Yuletide Magic (The Band of Cousins Book 9)

by Keira Montclair

  She glanced over at Moray, still standing behind her, and he nodded, a pleased expression on his face. “We have a fine clan, and we—I would be honored if you’d join it.”

  Steenie suddenly jumped up and down.

  Cairstine entered the hall and asked, “Steenie, what is it?”

  “Paddy. He’s the smartest of all. You’ll see soon!

  Shona had no idea what the lad was about, but life was suddenly improving.

  They had a home again.

  ***

  The keep had been a flurry of activity ever since the MacFees and Shona had joined them. Celestina and Cairstine had set themselves to the task of arranging bedchambers, pleased that they had enough for all. They stayed inside for another day until the storm finished lashing its fury on them, then they gathered in the great hall to decide where everyone would fit best.

  Not wanting to take one of the few remaining chambers in the chieftain’s keep, James MacFee had insisted that his family would do quite well in one of the two remaining cottages inside the bailey. Roddy, Rose, Daniel, Constance, and Shona had all gone outside to assist them with the cleaning of the cottage.

  Midway through the day, Moray knocked on the door and asked to speak to Shona. She came to the door, a bright smile on her face. It was the kind of smile that made it impossible not to smile in return.

  “You’ve healed quickly, lass.”

  “Better than Juel, but I think he will do quite well in another day. He’s quite happy playing with Steenie and Paddy, so I left him in the stables.”

  Moray shifted from one foot to the other, not sure how his request would be received. “Shona, the blizzard has ended. Would you mind going for a stroll with me so we could talk?”

  She glanced back at Jamesina, Rose, and Constance, who were all nodding their heads furiously, grins on their faces.

  “Aye, allow me to grab my mantle.”

  Once they left the cottage, Moray took her hand, leading her outside the gates so they could speak privately.

  “’Twas a nasty storm, but ’tis quite beautiful now, is it not?” she asked as they strolled through areas where the wind had cleared the snow for them.

  “Aye, nature can be as beautiful in the winter as it is in the warmer months.” He cleared his throat, nervous about how to best approach her.

  She stopped and tugged on Moray’s hand. “Moray, I must thank you again for your dedication in searching for me. Had you not been willing to follow Paddy through the blizzard, I’m sure we’d have all died in the storm.”

  “Please, you’ve thanked me many times and you need not thank me again. ’Twas my honor to assist you.” He cleared his throat and fumbled through different ways to approach her. It struck him that perhaps he would do best to be direct, so he said, “’Struth is, I’m interested in you. I would like to court you. Would that be acceptable to you?”

  She smiled and tipped her head. “You’re a fine man, Moray Allen.”

  Moray’s heart skipped a beat. Was she suggesting they might suit? “Those are verra kind words, Shona. Does that mean you would consider…”

  She leaned forward and tugged his face down to hers. “Kiss me.”

  He groaned and touched his lips to hers, tentatively at first, but then he angled his mouth until she parted her lips, allowing him to taste her sweetness. Hell, he’d never been as happy as he was at this moment. His desire for her built to a feverish pitch, but he kept it carefully under control. When he ended the kiss, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed the cold tip of her nose.

  “I couldn’t let you go,” he said softly. “There was a part of me that believed we could be together, if only I could find out why you hid from me. I’m not verra experienced, and I don’t know how to go about this in the right way, but I’m most pleased that you’ll consider my suit.”

  Her brow quirked, and he cursed himself. What the hell had he been thinking to be so forward? Then tears flooded her face and he didn’t know what to do.

  “Forgive me. I’m sorry. Forget what I said. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He’d surely made a mess of things. He should have kept his mouth shut and kept his feelings to himself.

  “’Tis not that. I’m happy, and aye, I’d be pleased if we could get to know each other better.”

  His heart skipped a beat. He must have heard her wrong. “You would? But we just met. My heart is sure of what it wants, but are you certain you feel the same?”

  She chuckled, a sound he hoped to hear again and again. “Moray, I wanted to trust you from the first, even when I worried you might work for the men who hurt the Muirs. I think Mama and Papa guided you to me,” she said, tears misting her eyes. She hung her head as the tears fell onto the snow beneath her.

  “If you keep that up, they may freeze on your face,” he said, hoping to lighten her mood. Loss was something he understood all too well.

  She smiled, swiping the tears away. “Having you by my side will make the holiday easier for me, although I miss my parents terribly.” She paused, then added, “I’m verra glad you felt the need to help me. If you didn’t, I don’t know what would have happened to us. But your brothers… I was so sorry to hear of your troubles, but ’tis not your fault.”

  “You remember what I said?” he asked, shocked.

  “Not right away, but I did last eve. ’Tis another reason I know you’re right for me. You have a good heart.”

  He kissed her again, then said, “I’d like to introduce you to my mama if you don’t mind.”

  “I would love to meet her.”

  He took her hand and led her back into the inner bailey. “She’s busy cooking in the kitchens. The morrow is Yule, and they’ve planned a big feast to celebrate. All the guards will be inside, everyone in the clan. I’d be pleased if you’ll share a table with me.”

  “Aye, and Juel. Will your mother be able to join us?”

  “After she meets you, I’m certain she’ll make a point of it.”

  They passed the MacFee cottage on their way to the keep and the sound of applause reached their ears. They spun around at the same moment.

  “Well done, Moray,” Braden yelled out.

  Roddy said, “Another wedding coming soon, if I were to wager.”

  Moray grabbed a fistful of snow, quickly forming it into a snowball, and hefted it at Braden, hitting him in the shoulder only because he turned.

  Moray then wrapped his arm around Shona and hurried her toward the door, protecting her from the barrage of snowballs hitting his back, laughter echoing across the bailey.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The keep at Muir Castle was full of revelry the eve before Yule. Steenie, in particular, seemed overjoyed to be approaching the holiday with his new friends. He’d taken Juel under his wing at once, for which Shona would be eternally grateful. She watched with a smile as Steenie bustled about the hall, leading her brother around as he toted two small sacks.

  “The morrow is Yule, Juel. This eve we’ll have a great big feast. We have pheasant and Papa even caught a boar. He and Grandpapa got it fresh this morn. We’ll have boar stew and pheasant soup. And Hilda makes the best fruit pies. You’ll see. And Papa brought some spices back from his travels near the sea.”

  He made his way over to the women decorating the hall. “Mama? Grandmama? I have something for you.” He leaned over to whisper something to Juel, but she couldn’t hear his words. Whatever it was made Juel giggle. The two were perfect together.

  “What is it?” his mother asked, turning to face him. His grandmother spun around also.

  “Here. Happy Yule to you both!” He handed each of them a sack, his face beaming with pride. “I worked verra hard on them.”

  Cairstine peeked in her sack and gasped. “Oh, Steenie. This is quite beautiful. You must have had help with this.” She pulled out a basket full of greenery, red berries, ribbons, and pine cones.

  “I did it almost all by myself. Be careful. There’s a place to put water inside so the branches won’t
die.”

  Celestina’s basket looked similar, although the ribbons had been arranged differently. “Oh, Steenie. This is magnificent. I love it!”

  Steenie giggled when they each came over to give him a hug. His mother said, “I’m putting mine on the dais.”

  His grandmother said, “I’m placing mine on the hearth mantle for now, but I must take it to my chamber at night so I can enjoy it all day.”

  Steenie whispered to Juel, “’Tis so much fun giving presents. You’ll see! Next year we’ll do it together.”

  They’d all helped with the decorations inside the great hall. Celestina, Cairstine, Rose, and Constance had woven garlands of plaids and evergreens. One particular table held a huge basket filled with pine boughs and ribbons.

  “But what is this table for?” Steenie asked, running up to the empty trestle table, still hand in hand with Juel. “Why did you put it here in the middle of the hall, Grandmama?”

  “Why, this is for your gifts, Steenie,” Celestina said. “Do you not recall all the ones you made?”

  “Aye, I do. But what shall I do with them?”

  “You’ll hand them out at the meal this eve,” she said, rushing to the kitchens. “We’ll let you know.”

  Shona joined them and whispered to her brother, “Juel, do not expect gifts. They did not have time to make anything for us.”

  “I have to go,” Steenie announced, tearing out of the keep.

  Juel asked, “Where did he go?”

  Shona said, “He’ll return, I’m sure.” Juel wasn’t able to keep up with Steenie yet, but she was sure he’d be chasing behind him in another day or two.

  “I think he went to get his gifts and bring them inside,” Juel said softly.

  An hour later, the feast began, and everyone assisted in bringing the food out, while Hilda and Moray’s mother instructed everyone on how they wished to have the food arranged. The meal was delicious. Shona sat with Moray and his mother at the dais with Braden and Cairstine, Steenie and Juel sat together across from Brodie and Celestina. Roddy, Rose, Terric, Henry, Kelby, Daniel and Constance sat at the long table near them with the MacFees.

  The other tables were full, as the guards had joined them for the feast. It was a loud and joyous meal together, laughter bouncing off the rafters.

  When they finished eating, Celestina whispered to Steenie, “Why don’t you get your gifts now, Steenie. You can hand them out.”

  Steenie raced over to the table, picked up his packages wrapped in twine and hurried from person to person, handing out the carefully wrapped packages.

  Shona was more surprised than Juel when Steenie handed him a long package. But nothing surprised her more than when she had a package dropped on the table in front of her, one much smaller than Juel’s but a package, nonetheless.

  “Go ahead. Everyone open your gifts,” Steenie cried as he moved back to stand between his mother and father. The sound of fabric unfolding filled the hall, and Steenie couldn’t contain his giggles. “Grandmama, this is so much fun. You’re right. I like giving gifts.”

  Shona watched Juel open his and his eyes widened, his jaw dropping open when he saw the finely hewn wooden sword inside. It was just his size. He picked it up and ran his hand down the wood. “Someone took a long time whittling that, Juel. Make sure you thank Steenie. He must have worked verra hard on it.”

  Juel stared up at her. “Open your package, Shona. I wish to see yours.”

  She glanced at Moray, who nodded with a smile. “Go ahead.”

  Her hands shook when she opened it, and she glanced at Moray, who said, “’Tis not from me. ’Tis from Steenie. I have a small gift for you, but open this one first.”

  She unfolded the fabric carefully, gasping when she saw the beautiful ribbons inside, perfect for her hair. The sight nearly brought tears to her eyes.

  “Shona, just like Mama always had for you,” Juel said.

  “Aye. I must go thank Steenie.” She got up from her chair, tears misting her eyes at her good fortune. Moray and his clan were a true Yule miracle.

  Juel raced over to see Steenie already surrounded by all the other lads—Terric, Henry, James, and Benneit. They each held a sword just like he did.

  Jamesina held a handful of ribbons exactly the same as Shona’s. Her gaze caught Shona’s, her look of delight evident from across the hall.

  “Steenie, many thanks to you. How did you know ’twas exactly what I needed? And the lads all love the swords.”

  “Paddy. He told me I had to make five swords so I did. Then he said I had to put ribbons in packages, but he never told me why. He is magical. I tell everyone he talks to me, but they don’t believe me. See…he knew you were all coming.”

  She’d heard the tale of Paddy the Pony, of course, but she still marveled over the fact that the wee pony had led Moray to her. She reached for Steenie’s hand and asked, “How does he tell you things, Steenie? He cannot speak.”

  “I hear it in my mind. Then I know. He never explains why, he just tells me things.”

  Shona peeked up at Moray and asked, “Is he really that special? How did you know to find me? To find us?”

  Moray shrugged his shoulders. “He led us to your location in the middle of the storm. Besides leading us directly to you, he also led us to the cave, and he knew exactly where to go in the snow. He never got caught up in a snowdrift at all.”

  Everyone had quieted in the hall, listening to the tale of Paddy and his gift.

  “’Twas naught but a miracle lass, a Yuletide miracle,” Braden said. The others agreed.

  “There are more,” Cairstine said. She motioned to Celestina to assist her in handing out the rest of the packages.

  There were carefully wrapped packages for each family. Celestina had made some of her oils for the lasses, Cairstine had made chair cushions for her friends’ new castle. Dried meat was also shared to be taken home.

  While they were busy opening their packages, Moray pulled one from the table and brought it to her. “For you, Shona.”

  Shona’s eyes lit up at the carefully wrapped package. “I have no idea what it is,” she whispered to him. She opened it carefully and inside was a scarf in the Grant colors, red, green, and black. “Moray, ’tis most beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the finely woven wool. “My thanks, but I did not have the chance to find a gift for you.”

  He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You’re all the gift I need.”

  She blushed and stared at her gift. “I’d never guessed things would turn out this way.”

  Cairstine caught everyone’s attention with her last statement. “And these last gifts are the most special. Special because Paddy again gave us some insight into how many were needed. Many hands went into crafting these gifts.” She beckoned to Celestina and the two handed out the gifts, one for each child under the age of ten. Each was given a fabric animal. Henry and Terric’s faces lit up when they saw their fabric dogs. Henry said, “I’ve always wanted an animal to go to bed with me.”

  Wee Kelby squealed when she opened her fabric bunny, complete with a fluffy white tail.

  Steenie opened his gift and squealed. “Paddy! I have a wee horse to take to bed with me. My thanks to you, Grandmama and Mama. I love Yuletide.”

  Just then, there was a loud pounding at the door.

  Braden glanced at his sire, who shrugged his shoulders, but then moved over to answer it.

  He opened the door and groaned.

  Paddy, who’d kicked the door with his hind legs, turned around and pranced into the hall to the applause of everyone present. Once he reached the middle of the great hall, he turned around and flicked his tail to one group and his mane at the other. Both tail and mane had been wrapped and plaited with ribbon.

  “All right, back outside, you wee beast,” Braden said.

  “Just a moment, Braden,” Moray said. “Allow him to stay a moment more, if you don’t mind.”

  Braden nodded, although he gave him a surprised look. Mor
ay headed over to a chair, bending over to grab something he’d hidden behind it.

  A small basket filled with apples and carrots.

  “What is that for?” Braden asked.

  Brodie said, “Not what, but whom?”

  “I’ll answer both at once,” Moray replied, carrying the basket over to Paddy the Pony. “’Tis for all he’s done for us.”

  Braden chuckled as the small horse turned about in a circle, almost as if he were gloating.

  Moray set the basket down in front of the pony.

  “A little thank you for all your Paddy magic,” he said. “I’ll never doubt you again, you wee trickster.”

  Paddy turned his head to Braden and showed all his teeth.

  Just as if he were smiling.

  Brodie lifted his goblet and said, “Happy Yule to all.”

  ~THE END~

  Dear Readers,

  Wherever you are, whatever you celebrate, a verra happy Yuletide to all!

  Keira Montclair

  www.keiramontclair.com

  http://facebook.com/KeiraMontclair/

  NOVELS BY KEIRA MONTCLAIR

  THE BAND OF COUSINS

  HIGHLAND VENGEANCE

  HIGHLAND ABDUCTION

  HIGHLAND RETRIBUTION

  HIGHLAND LIES

  HIGHLAND FORTITUDE

  HIGHLAND RESILIENCE

  HIGHLAND DEVOTION

  HIGHLAND BRAWN

  HIGHLAND YULETIDE MAGIC

  THE CLAN GRANT SERIES

  #1-RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER-Alex and Maddie

  #2-HEALING A HIGHLANDER’S HEART-Brenna and Quade

  #3-LOVE LETTERS FROM LARGS-Brodie and Celestina

  #4-JOURNEY TO THE HIGHLANDS-Robbie and Caralyn

  #5-HIGHLAND SPARKS-Logan and Gwyneth