Given to the Highlander (Highlander Bride Series Book 1)

by Veronica Touse

  She found the men gathered around a barrel they were using as a table for a game of dice while they all sat on stumps and buckets in the stable. They were in a heated discussion about which was the best type of blade to wield in battle when she interrupted with a polite cough.

  “Oidche has requested to see ye three.”

  Kyle, Culloden and Eaunrig stood, immediately.

  Kyle put his hand out to one of the older stable boys. “Thank ye for the game.”

  “Thank ye for the money.” The stable boy smiled with a toothy grin and grasped the coins he held in his fist a little tighter.

  “With dice playing like that ye deserve every penny,” Eaunrig conceded.

  “Watch out men, Sean cheats like crazy.” Malmuira had grown up next to Sean and had seen him best many men and boys with his sleight of hand.

  Sean paled and began to sweat. “Ah dunno what ye’re talkin’ about, Malmuira.”

  “Sean Murray, ye know exactly what ah’m talkin’ about and if ye don’t give these men their money back, ah guarantee ye won’t like the outcome. Ah have yet to tell Faither ye’re playing dice again, but ah may just have to.”

  Sean slapped the coins onto the barrel and walked away from the group, as he grumbled and cursed under his breath.

  Culloden laughed and clapped Malmuira on the back. “Ye’ve saved us, lassie.”

  “A few pennies ah’m sure.”

  Eaunrig looked particularly injured by the cheating. “Why’d he cheat? Doesn’t he get paid enough by yer faither?”

  “Thrill of the scheme.” Malmuira had observed him long enough to know that his cheating rarely had to do with the reward. It was more about the game itself.

  “Little rat would’ve gotten beat up had he done that with men other than ourselves.” Kyle grabbed the coins off of the barrel and shoved them into his pocket.

  “He’s lucky he’s never been whooped before.” Culloden had a look on his face that said he wouldn’t mind teaching Sean a lesson.

  “Oh, he has.” Malmuira remembered vividly the look of terror that appeared on Sean’s face when her father had found out about his cheating. He probably still felt the sting of the switch that had been used on his backside. She had never seen her father wield a switch on anyone, but that day he made an exception. Cheating was the one of the things that her father did not put up with in the least. He was a man of honor and expected all others to be, as well.

  “Good.” Eaunrig began to head towards the keep.

  “Lass, we’ll probably be talking to Oidche for a while, if ye want to go visit with yer faither. He was asking after ye at supper. Was worried about ye and Oidche too. Best put his mind at ease.” This sounded like Kyle’s kind way of telling her to give them some time alone with her husband.

  Malmuira nodded politely and set off behind Eaunrig, soon to be followed by Culloden and Kyle. She wanted to see her father and Siusan anyhow. She had missed talking to them today and needed to tell him how much Maizy had helped her.

  Malmuira found her father’s manservant, who told her where to find him—in his room. She headed that way, hoping he wasn’t yet asleep so she could speak to him. He usually stayed up and smoked while he wrote. He was one of the few men in the keep who could both read and write.

  She knocked lightly, hoping it was soft enough to not wake him if he slept.

  “Enter.” His deep, booming bass voice carried easily through the thick wooden door.

  He sat at his desk surrounded in papers and quills, working on some sort of task that required intense concentration, judging by the state of his desk. The more difficult the concentration, the more cluttered his desk became.

  “Faither, it’s good to see ye.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Nighean, good to see ye too. Ah was worried about ye and Oidche when I hadn’t heard from ye for a while.”

  “Did Cohlm tell ye how he was doing?”

  “Cohlm’s been busy with a birth and a few other ailments around the village. Ah was gonna check in with him later this evening.” He twirled a quill between his fingers while he spoke.

  Malmuira sat down on a chair near his desk. “Ah’ve been meaning to talk to ye, Faither. About me staying and such.”

  “Lass, ah don’t think it’s a good idea.” He turned his body to face Malmuira, giving her his whole attention.

  “Ah know. Ah was going to tell ye, ah think ah have to stay with Oidche.”

  “Ye know he will be alright. Ah do know that he will heal. A broken leg isn’t more than he has already been injured in battle, ah’m sure.”

  “Aye, ah know that, but ah think he loves me.”

  Baile leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out before him, with a thoughtful expression on his face. “And do ye love him back?”

  “Ah dunno. Ah care about him for sure, but ah’ve not known him long enough to decide.” She squirmed uncomfortably.

  “It’s alright, Mal, ye don’t have to know right now. Love comes over time.”

  “That’s what ah wanted to talk to ye about.” She paused, trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say. “What if ah never fall in love with him?”

  “Well then, ye never do. Ye continue to treat him well and serve him as his wife. But it is unlikely, considering how kind he is to ye.”

  “Aye, but what if ah don’t? He loves me and if ah never love him back then wouldn’t ah be hurting him?”

  “Ye’ll learn about love, Mal. If he really loves ye, it won’t matter if ye love him back. There isn’t something ye have to do to be loved, ye are just loved for being yerself. Ye already do this. Think about it, Malmuira. Ye love Siusan very much. If she didn’t love ye back it wouldn’t diminish yer love for her. Ye’d still love her just as much. It’s the same for any kind of love. If he loves ye in a real manner, then it won’t matter if ye love him back. He will just continue to love ye.”

  Malmuira took a moment to think about what he had said, processing the information before she spoke. “Should ah tell him how ah feel?”

  “Child, ah can’t tell ye that. But ah would make certain that ye are sure ye know how ye feel before you say anything. Right now it sounds like ye are unsure of how ye feel.”

  Malmuira nodded in agreement and continued to sit, thinking about her father’s advice. He went back to his writing and they sat that way for a while. It was a comfortable silence that Malmuira loved. It reminded her of the all the times she had sat right in that seat and listened to the scratching of her father’s quill while he wrote.

  By the time she got back to the room, the other men were nowhere to be seen. They had finished up their business and left Oidche.

  “How are ye feeling, Oidche?”

  Oidche sat up and reached next to him for a drink of water. “Ah’m okay. Just need some whiskey, ah think.”

  “Ye’re not getting any, for now. Cohlm said it wasn’t a good idea. He said ye need water.”

  “Ah won’t tell him, if ye won’t.” He had a smile on his face, despite his pallor.

  Malmuira put her hands on her hips and walked over to the bed. “Ye’re impossible, Oidche Murray.”

  He winked at her and reached out and grabbed her hand. He pulled her over to the bed and down next to him. “Ah think ah need a kiss to feel better.”

  She smiled then and leaned down, pecking him on the lips. “There.”

  “That’s not the kind of kiss ah want.” He knotted his hands in her hair and pulled her face to his. Their kiss was brief, but sizzling. “Thank ye for caring for me, Mal.”

  “Ye’re welcome. Now ye need some rest.”

  “First, ah need to tell ye about the request from my men.”

  Malmuira didn’t know what Kyle had come to talk about with Oidche, so she was curious.

  “Eaunrig and Culloden support Kyle’s idea. He asked that ye be present for negotiations so ye can fill me in on what is happening. Ye can be my eyes and ears in the meeting, take notes for me. Ah don’t
think ah’ll be up for a bit and the McLeods are anxious to get back home. So ah will ask that ye stand in for me.”

  Malmuira felt concerned, but also a hint of pride that he would ask her. “Ah’ll try, but ah’m just a woman. They may be angry that ah’m there.”

  “The McLeods might, but ye’ll have my men’s support and yer faither’s.”

  She paused, thinking on it. If she were to attend the agreements then she would be able to represent both the Buchanons’ and Murrays’ best interests. “Ah’ll do it.”

  “Then ah’ll need to walk ye through what is to be expected, so ye can know when things aren’t going right. That way ye can report back to me about anything out of the ordinary. Maybe ye can even provide my men with some guidance from me, if ah have any.”

  “Now get some rest.” She covered him up and stood to leave.

  “Stay with me, Malmuira. Come lie with me and keep me warm.”

  “Ye’re warm enough,” she protested. Nevertheless, she went to the other side of the bed and climbed next to him. She lay down and curled her body around his.

  They fell asleep together and the night passed quietly. Maizy came in once to wake Malmuira and ask her if Oidche was well. Malmuira checked his head and told her he was cool to the touch. She left without anything further and Malmuira fell fast asleep.

  Chapter 10

  Malmuira felt strange meeting up with three men. They sat around a table in an unoccupied room. Kyle had brought a plate of things for them to eat while they talked. He had been busy in the kitchen, teaching the cook some of his recipes.

  Garia had been their cook as long as Malmuira could remember. Her food was delectable and filling, but she still had things she could learn from Kyle. In return she had shown Kyle some of her tricks and recipes.

  “Garia taught me yer favorite recipe, Mal.” He stuffed another tater-filled morsel into his mouth while he spoke.

  “The little buns with the egg and spice?” She hoped that was the one. It was the food she missed the most from home. Garia made them on rare occasions, when she had the time. Apparently they were very involved.

  “Aye, and michty me, that is a difficult recipe. Ye just had to like the most difficult recipe, didn’t ye?” He laughed and handed her one of the tater-filled pockets from the table.

  Malmuira bit into it and moaned in delight. It was a crunchy crust, filled with a sweet cheese and taters. “Ah don’t know how ye do it.”

  “Ye’d think he’d have a lass to wed with how good he is at cooking.”

  “Why aren’t ye married, Kyle? Ye seem like a nice enough man.” Malmuira shoved the rest of the food in her mouth, savoring the flavor.

  “Ah’ve not found the right lass yet.” He said it with a shrug as if that were the only reason.

  Malmuira found that explanation to be lacking, but left it alone. She decided to change the subject. “What do we need to talk about as far as trade goes?”

  Eaunrig was the first to speak. “Ah think we need to talk about assets and what is expected in return. Also about sustaining this trade for as long as possible.”

  “We’re all new to this when it comes to Murray and Buchanon relations. The last time there was peace we were too young to be of any help in trade agreements.” Culloden was enjoying one of Kyle’s creations while he spoke.

  “Do any of ye have experience in trade agreements at all?” Malmuira began to worry that perhaps the McLeods would outmaneuver them in their talks.

  Eaunrig leaned forward. “The Murrays don’t trade often. We aren’t as big of a clan as the Buchanons and our assets are limited.”

  “What kind of experience do ye have?” Malmuira was worried, but she hoped the men would know what to do in the negotiations.

  “Don't be worrying about it. Yer faither has been kind to us so far, and he listens to what you say. He wants peace as much as we do.” Kyle took a swig of whiskey and set his cup back on the table.

  Eaunrig and Culloden told Malmuira about all the assets they had as a clan. She filled them in on the assets available to them from her own clan and the things that her father would be likely to use in a negotiation. Kyle sat back in his chair throughout the meeting and just listened. He rarely commented or participated in the discussion, adding only a few words here or there.

  At the end of the meeting, Eaunrig and Culloden left the room, claiming they needed a break. Malmuira figured that they were headed to drink with some of the other men from the keep. Kyle got up but before he left he stopped her from leaving.

  “Ye’re a good asset to our clan. Ye have a way with words and ye’re able to work with a lot of different people. Oidche is lucky to have been wed to ye.”

  “Thank ye, Kyle.” Malmuira was taken aback by the compliment. Kyle was kind but he didn't seem like the type to give out praise.

  “Ye’ll make a good match.” He left the room without another word and closed the door behind him.

  Malmuira had taken many notes during the meeting to make sure she understood everything. She would take the notes to Oidche so he could explain anything that she didn’t understand or tell her the most important parts.

  Oidche was sitting up in bed eating a bowl of porridge that Maizy had brought to him for dinner. Malmuira entered the room and sat on the bed next to him. She pulled out the parchment she had written on and unrolled it.

  “Ah took notes for ye. Ah know ye couldn't be there, but ah wanted ye to be able to know what we were discussin’.” She handed the parchment to Oidche.

  Oidche finished his porridge and put his bowl next to the bed. “Ah haven't been more bored in my life. Ah’ve been stuck in this bed for too long. Cohlm says ah’m not allowed to leave for a while. He says it could take me a couple fortnights to heal up.”

  “Ah can get ye a book or a game.”

  Oidche reached his arm around Malmuira and pulled her closer. “Or ye could help me chase the boredom away.”

  She squealed and pushed him away, playing along with his game, careful not to bump his leg. He laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Ah talked to my faither about my choice to go with ye or stay with him.”

  Oidche sobered up almost instantly and Malmuira regretted not playing with him longer before bringing up something that would cause stress. “What did ye decide?”

  “Ah told my faither that ah think ye needed me and ah should stay with ye. There was something else.”

  “What?” Oidche had a small smile on his face.

  “When ye had a fever ye told me that ye loved me. Ah dunno if ye meant it, but ah wanted to tell ye anyway.”

  Oidche got a strange look in his eye. It looked like fear and hope mixed together. “Ah do.”

  Malmuira was stunned by his words. “Ye love me?”

  “Aye. Is it such a surprise to ye?”

  “Aye, ‘tis.”

  “Well, ah do. Ye’re bonnie and smart. Ah’m lucky to have ye as my wife.”

  She realized in that moment that she was probably the most lucky woman in Scotland. Her feelings were suddenly very clear to her. She hadn’t acknowledged how she felt about Oidche because she was afraid. When she found his horse by the loch, she had worried about him. And when she found him hurt, she had wanted to make him better. He was kind and appreciated her for who she was. He was brave, living through the death of his wife and loving again. Oidche was braver than she was. She had never been hurt, and yet she was afraid. He had more reason to fear, and yet he told her that he loved her.

  “Ah love ye too, Oidche.”

  She kissed him, sweetly, and laid her head back on the pillow. The silence was warm and comforting while Oidche played with her hair, twisting it around his fingers. She felt happy, for the first time since she left her home to marry a stranger. She felt happier than she had felt for a very long time.

  That evening, Baile gathered the McLeods and the Murrays together to start their trade discussions. Malmuira walked over to her father and the other men. “Nighean, ah don’
t have time to talk right now. Ah’m going to conduct trade agreements. Ah can meet up with ye later and we can talk then.”

  “Oidche wants me present to take notes for him. He can't be here because of his leg, but he wants to know what is going on.”

  “The McLeods won’t like this, but ah see yer reason.”

  He led everyone into the hall. They sat at a large table in there after supper, and Malmuira was the only woman present. Oidche had assured her that she would do a good job, but Malmuira wasn't so sure. She was worried that her presence would invoke the anger of the McLeods.

  “Why do you have a woman at the table?” The smaller of the two McLeods stared at her with a look of disdain across his face.

  “Ah won't be privy to any agreements done with a woman. Are ye insulting us?” The larger of the two McLeods was irate and his question came out as a growl.

  “No insult meant…” Baile tried to explain, but the McLeods jumped up in anger.

  The larger Mcleod’s face was turning red. “Have you no honor?”

  Baile was on his feet in a moment. “Ye’ll not to be insulting me in my own house.” He lowered his voice and sat back down. “She is here because she can write, and she will be taking notes for her husband, who is not present because he broke his leg the other day. She will not be participating in our trade discussions. Ah would appreciate ye treat her well because she is my daughter.”

  Both men sat down, but glared evilly at Malmuira.

  Baile began again as if nothing had happened. “Ah have asked ye both to be here, so that we can come to an agreement on our trades for the season. The McLeods have long been friends of the Buchanon clan. The Murrays wish to participate in trades as well. We wish to open up discussion about what is best for all of our clans. Each person here represents their clan, and agreements made in this room are binding. Do ye all agree?”

  A resounding “aye” from every person in the room was heard. Her father sat back down and pulled out the papers he been working on. “McLeods, we have long traded grain and other goods and relied on each other for the majority of our needs. We do not wish to anger your clan in changing any of our agreements. Our clan also hopes to keep peaceful ties with both clans.”