“’Tis hard not to,” she said, and laughed.
“My son, Quentin,” Robbie said, and tickled the small child’s neck as he showed him to Payton. “Just old enough to bring him out on such a journey.”
“A fine lad. He will make a fine playmate for your son one day, Callum.”
“Aye, that he will. Go on in, Robbie. Bethoc has been eager to see Laurel.”
The moment Robbie and his family went inside, Payton said, “That is a verra beautiful woman. Must admit, at first I wondered how our Robbie got her and then I saw how well they suited each other.”
“Aye,” Callum answered as he and Payton made their way inside. “He decided he would try for her and ye ken how stubborn he can be. He also obviously has the patience of a saint. But, it worked for him. I think they will move back into her house in a year as Colin will be eighteen then and mon enough to hold the house.”
Once inside, Callum found himself swept up in the crowd of visitors. Then Brett arrived and he watched Payton and Brett fall into a deep discussion. The brothers did not see each other as often as they probably would have liked. Callum then went and joined his friends.
“So, the family gathers,” said Uven.
“Aye, new babies often bring them out. ’Tis a good excuse to make a journey and be away from what work ye need to do for a while.” Callum frowned as he watched Bethoc hitch their small son on her hip while talking to Laurel and Kirstie. “I should probably see if she wants to be relieved of the bairn.”
“She will tell ye if she does,” said Simon and he suddenly looked around. “Where is Margaret? She should be here. So much company is just what she likes.”
“Aye, ye are right.”
As Callum started to go back outside he realized his two friends were following. Just as he stepped outside he caught sight of Margaret, or what looked like it might be her. It was the muddiest child he had ever seen and it did not look as if much of the mud was being removed by the water she was trying to wash it away with.
“Margaret?” he asked as he walked up and she looked at him with wide green eyes. “What happened?”
“I was trying to get a puppy out of the mud but I fell in.”
“I dinnae think this water is helping much, sweetling. Mayhap we should just go in and get ye into a new gown.”
“Bethoc will be mad.”
“Ye didnae do it on purpose, did ye?”
“Nay. I fell and the puppy ran out and got away.”
“Then let us go and get this gown off and wash ye up.”
Keeping the child a safe distance from the rest of them, he took her inside. He then found himself holding his small son as Bethoc hurried Margaret up the stairs to change. He looked down at the boy who stared up at him solemnly with wide green eyes. Looking around he noticed his friends had quietly fled. Laurel walked up to him and smiled.
“Margaret is still getting into trouble, I see,” said Laurel.
“I think trouble and Margaret will always be close friends. Happy, are ye, Laurel?”
“Verra happy. I have what I tried to get the first time I got married and found only misery. I have scars and so does he but we seem to smooth them away when we are together. That isnae such a bad thing.”
“Nay, it certainly isnae. I am pleased ye saw the worth in our Robbie.”
“Ye miss him, dinnae ye.”
“Aye, but I wouldnae wish him anywhere but where he is. Miss him though I do, I also wish him to be happy.” He smiled when she blushed. “And, may I say, that was a verra kind thing ye said to Payton.”
“T’was the simple truth.” She placed a hand on his arm. “And are ye happy, Callum?”
“Oh, aye, verra happy. Were ye worried about that?”
“Some, aye.” She stroked the child’s head. “She gave ye a fine son.”
“Aye, Bhaltair was a nice surprise. I am glad we didnae ken he was on his way ere I asked her to wed me though.”
For a while they talked about the house Robbie still worked on and the harvest, what was being planted this year, and even the bairns. Then she was called away to tend to her son who was clearly hungry. Callum walked outside with his son and ran into Brett and Payton. He reluctantly allowed Brett to hold the boy for a while.
“A grandson, Brett. Best get your walking stick,” teased Payton.
“Ye had more to do with raising the father than I did with raising the mother so ’tis ye who best get the walking stick.”
Payton laughed and then studied Callum for a minute. “Ye are doing fine. There is a lightness about ye that wasnae there before.”
Glancing at Brett, Callum sighed. “I faced a truth that I hadn’t faced before nay matter what ye said. I buried it instead. Buried it deep. Then I asked Bethoc to wed me and when she said aye, I kenned it was there for it left me. She accepted me.”
“Ah, I see. Ye always were the one who didnae listen. I thought ye had but I can see what ye mean. There was a darkness, aye? And now ye are rid of it. Good. Ye were ne’er to blame.”
“I ken it. Now.” He saw Bethoc looking for him and waved her over.
“A fine son, Daughter,” said Brett, and grinned. “I suppose I should tell Triona that she was right although I hate to.”
Bethoc laughed and took her son when he lunged toward her. She kissed her father on the cheek, hooked her arm through his, and walked back to the keep. Callum watched the two of them talk and was glad that she and Brett were beginning to grow together.
“So ye are all settled and the darkness gone?” asked Payton, once they were alone.
“I think so. I havenae had my temper tested yet though. Not a single nightmare since I married though. They try but, as Bethoc told me, I just grab on to her and hold her and they fade.”
“I am glad ye and Robbie found such good women. Ones who could heal those last scars. And nay, I am nae fool enough to think they are all gone and gone forever, but growing distant is good. Keep holding on, Callum.”
It was late by the time Callum found himself tucked up in bed with his wife. He held her close as she grew sleepy and smiled as he thought of what Payton had said. He kissed the top of Bethoc’s head, rubbing his nose in her sweet-smelling hair, and smiled again. Keep holding on, Payton had said. He had no intention of letting go.
Highland Chieftain Page 27