Sean kept his gaze on a few women who stood nearby. By the end of the night he’d be sure to have one of them between the bedding and himself, with his tartan their only attire. Aline, the lass he’d spent the most time with of late, watched him, and he raised a brow.
The silent message was received, given the widened smile on her lovely lips. She was curvaceous and at the same time feminine in her face and manners. Their unspoken agreement made him smile too, and he’d find her later when he was done drinking.
A smirk came, because it had been at least a fortnight since he’d had a woman. Duties kept him from many entertainments lately. Now that Grey settled down, the guard could as well. The past weeks kept them trekking through their land, visiting the outer lying farms, ensuring the crops were readied and the farmers needed no assistance.
At this time of year, Grey usually planned a trading mission, and would have the boats readied. They longed for the sea and the adventure of seeking new places to trade and the wealth it brought.
The difficult winter made travel impossible and many of the boats needed repair. Their laird didn’t seem to mind and appeared to want to stay home this spring. The Gunn clan made its prosperity through trading, but this year they would have to rely on their own food supply to sustain them.
“What has you grinning?” James asked.
He inclined his head toward the women. James turned and let out a bellowing laugh. The women giggled and spoke amongst themselves, but Sean knew what they were thinking and discussing. It was likely the same thoughts he’d had.
“I already made plans for after,” James said, flashing a grin.
Sean chuckled, for his guardsmen brothers were much alike. They liked their fights challenging, their women soft, and their drink hard.
He’d been friends with Grey long before he became laird. In fact, Sean was about seven or eight when they’d been put in the same group for training. Even before that, he’d lived at the main keep, and he and his laird were more like brothers for they’d been raised together.
Sean became melancholy, thinking of the time when they’d first met. He hadn’t been born on Gunn land and arrived with his parents when he was a wee lad at the age of two. In the early days, his mother kept him tied to her skirts and he didn’t even know he had cousins and kin.
Duff, the oldest in the group, was Grey’s commander-in-arms because he was the roughest and most intimidating. Duff wed and didn’t spend much time with them lately. That was well and good since he was so dubious.
Then there was Greer who died while protecting their laird’s lady, Bree, from a foe. Greer’s brother, Kenneth, his best friend, married a few years back to the MacQuarrie lass, and moved back home. Kenneth became laird of the McInnish clan and was too busy to visit. The only time Sean saw his friend was when he’d been given the duty of relaying messages to the McInnish clan. That duty was infrequent.
“Sean, you’re being quiet this night. What has you so engrossed in thought? Here, have more drink,” Grey said, filling his cup to almost overflowing.
“My thanks,” he said, and drank a quick sip to keep it from spilling over the rim. The liquid trailed heat to his chest, warming him. “I was just thinking about when we first met.”
Grey grinned, lifting his cup in tribute. “Aye, I remember it well. Soon after we began training. We all tried to best each other back then. Seems we fought at least five times a day.”
“Probably more than that. None of us could take Duff though. I vow he was born with skin of steel and wood in his head.”
Grey spit out the sip of brew he’d taken and laughed. “Duff, Sean meant it as a compliment not an insult. Stand down.”
Duff stood and glared, his burly arms rose with his large fists flexing. “Aye? Keep your compliments to yourself, Sean, or I’ll be giving you a fist to quiet your mouth.”
Sean’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Oh, have a drink and cease being surly. I meant it as praise.”
“There be no need to praise me. There’s a reason why I’m surly. Kait won’t let me near my bed and cosh if she doesn’t soon …” Duff mumbled a few expletives, and stalked off to find his wife.
Sean would have laughed at Duff’s lack of confidence, but he wasn’t such a good sort when it came to jests. Duff’s wife was close to giving birth and it surely caused his concern, emotions he wasn’t wont to display. They’d all have to deal with Duff’s abrasiveness until his bairn was born. Sean sure as hell hoped it’d be soon.
Grey raised his cup. “Aye he is churlish lately, but he has no reason to worry. Kait will be well. It’s strange what with Kenneth gone. I know you miss him too, and he made me miss Greer less.”
“Remember how overwrought he was when Elisa gave birth? I vow no man ever succumbed to irrational thoughts as Kenneth.” Sean stayed by his friend’s side throughout the emotional ordeal and he’d considered beating Kenneth into unconsciousness and ending his torment.
Grey chuckled under his breath. “Kenneth didn’t deem his wee wife could birth such a large bairn. I confess she worried me, too. I should’ve known she’d bear him a son.”
“Aye, and she boasted she was going to have a lass. I lost the wager with Kenneth for taking her side and lost all my coin from trading that year.”
Grey raised his cup, chugging a few sips of brew. “Serves you right. I asked him to visit for the celebration, but he has his own fields and clan to see to. It would’ve been good to see him. Now with Kenneth gone our numbers are lacking.”
Sean felt the same way. It wasn’t the same without Greer and Kenneth. “We knew one day we’d go our separate ways.”
“I didn’t. I always thought you would all stay here, except for Greer, since he was destined to be the laird of his clan. And since he died, and Kenneth had to become laird … I’d give anything to be back on the training field at the age of seven when bruises were our only concern.”
“Were that we could go back.” Sean didn’t like change, and it bothered him that something in his gut told him more was coming.
“Duff is concerned about the lack of guardsmen in the keep now. I’ll have to do something about it.”
“It’s just James, Colm and me, now, Grey. You should take on a few new guardsmen. With your bairns growing, they’ll need protection.” His laird’s family’s protection weighed on him, and he’d been meaning to discuss the issue with Grey as well.
Grey lifted his cup again. “Aye, my children never stay in the same place for long. I admit I lost them twice today. Don’t speak of it to Bree, she’d have my arse.”
“None of us can keep track of them. They have your wife’s nature, too full of vigor. May they grow anchors on their feet as they sprout.” Sean raised his cup, saluting his assertion.
“I finally agreed to have Gordy take an apprenticeship with Duff. We’ll see how it goes. There are some others that I’m considering to add to the guard.”
Sean glanced at the young warrior, Gordy, sitting at another table. Although he was a Gunn soldier, he had a bit of maturing to do, as well as gaining a bit of experience. But the lad showed courage when he protected Grey’s wife a few years back, when on a mission for the king.
Colm nudged him, “Sean, I’m thinking of marrying Kelsi.”
“Kelsi McInnish?” He couldn’t help frowning at that even though he knew Colm was interested in Kenneth’s sister. But he didn’t know it was serious. Yet now that he thought about it, Colm went to Kenneth’s clan more often lately and he was always the first to volunteer to deliver news or messages.
“A toast then, to Colm and Kelsi. May they live long and have many bairns.” Sean raised his cup again, the drink began to take effect on his sullen mien.
James gulped down his drink. “I’m off. I see Sarah looking at me. I vow I’ll get no sleep this night.” He flashed a grin before he left the table.
Colm stood and tossed his empty cup on the table. “I’m to bed. I’ve got an early ride tomorrow. In the morn, I’ll stop in bef
ore I leave in case you have any messages. I’ll return with news from Kenneth and the McInnish clan in a few days, Laird.”
Gray inclined his head before tossing it back and drinking down the rest of his brew.
Sean lifted his cup, a gesture of farewell. He was left sitting with Grey. Night darkened many a path and the clan began to quiet. The rest went off, and Sean was getting ready to seek his bed as well. The drink was beginning to make his head spin.
“What’s bothering you?” Grey asked. “You’ve been brooding all day. Every time I looked at you, you wore a scowl. We’re at a celebration; you’d think to enjoy it.”
“Nothing is wrong. Can’t a man sit and reflect without everyone believing something is wrong?” But something bothered him, and Sean couldn’t reason it.
“I know you, and this mood is unusual.”
“Mayhap you’re right. I get a sense a change is about to occur. I don’t know why. God Almighty, I detest change, but it’s coming and we should prepare.” Sean set his cup down, still holding it around the base, and shrugged his shoulder.
“Nothing’s going to change, Sean. The drink is going to your head.” Grey laughed when he punched his arm and made him spill a good amount from his cup.
“It’s been too peaceful. Something is bound to stir things up.” Sean looked toward where the women stood and noticed they had left. He decided it was probably for the best since he wasn’t good company. The last thing he wanted was to leave a woman dissatisfied with his presence.
He left his laird when Bree came and handed Grey one of his children. Sean adored his laird’s children, and doted on them. The twins had been born two years before and were finally at an age where they could converse even if it was one word at a time. The only problem with that was they had to watch what they said around them lest they be scolded by their lady.
Sean found his way to the garrison and his bed. He stripped, preferring to sleep unclothed, especially when the weather warmed. He lay upon his bunk, listening to the snores of the other men and tried to reason why he got this strange feeling. All evening something nagged him.
The night drug on and Sean lay awake, tossing and turning, and even the strong brew did little to lull him. His thoughts kept returning to his friends.
They reached an age where one should move on to the next stage of life. Sean liked his life the way it was, simple. He was pleased that Kenneth, Duff, and Colm found wives and started families of their own. He wasn’t ready to tie himself to one woman, and he was definitely not ready to be a father.
Sean didn’t have to worry about responsibilities. His days were spent guarding and his nights free to do as he pleased. He only answered to Grey as well it should be. Mayhap boredom caused his irrational thoughts?
Morning finally came and with it the dulled light of dawn, and he decided there would be no sleep for him. After donning his garments, he walked toward the sea, a short distance from the Gunn keep, where he could take a quick swim. A few men had the same idea and swam in the depths.
The scent of the sea engulfed his senses. Sean stripped and swam out, reveling in the refreshing chilly water which took the sleep from his body and mind. The hefty waves gave him a good workout and exerted him. When he’d had enough, he joined the other men on the sandy shore and began redressing.
The men went off to attend to their training duties, and Sean started off for the hall. A morning feast would cover the table and he didn’t want to miss out. His laird’s wife made the most delicious foodstuffs, and the guardsmen were always welcome at the table.
He waved to a few of the clansmen as he made his way and saw the remnants of the celebration being cleared away. Several fire pits were still erected. By noon no one would be able to tell they’d had a celebration.
The hall was noisy when he entered. Grey’s children ran around the large hall playing with the small sacks brought as gifts the last time they went trading. One of the heavy sacks flew at him, and he caught it, and tossed it back to the lad named after his brother, Greer. The wee lad even looked akin to his brother with his lanky body and dark hair.
His sister was his opposite. Aye, Grace’s light hair and profound blue eyes would indeed cause Grey troubles later when she became interested in men. Thankfully that wouldn’t happen for many years to come.
Then he spotted Sunny, his winsome niece. Her curly hair stuck out, for she must have just retreated from her bed. He smiled and waved at her. She belonged to Greer, but because he had no means to care for a bairn, Grey and Bree had taken her in and raised her. His niece had grown and now stood as high as his waist.
Sean took his seat at the table and noticed the look of pain on Grey’s face.
“Imbibe a wee too much last eve?” he asked, jesting.
“Nay, I only had one cup of brew. It’s not that.” Grey scowled at the parchment he held and didn’t elaborate.
“Then why do you appear cross?” Sean didn’t like the look his friend wore and it concerned him. There were only a handful of times when he’d seen that expression—none of them ever good.
“I received a missive bearing disheartening news.” Grey set the parchment on the table and pressed his fingers against his temples.
“What troubles you?”
Duff and Colm entered the hall and distracted him when they shoved each other so they could sit in the best seat — the one in front of the tray of sweet cakes. Sean poured himself a cup of ale and grinned at the banter between his friends.
“Let go, ye blighter,” Duff said, trying to pull Colm from the table. “Or by God I’ll break your arm.”
“I was here first, find another seat,” Colm said, grunting at the strain of thwarting Duff.
They continued to bicker over who entered first and who should have the right to sit in the prime location. As they fought, James arrived and took the seat from them. Duff tried to pry him out of it but to no avail.
James held fast to the massive, heavy table. Duff and Colm lost out and Sean chuckled at their disgruntlement.
“If you’ve no messages to relay to the McInnish, Laird, I’ll be on my way.”
Grey didn’t reply and kept his gaze on the parchment.
Colm grabbed a hunk of bread and with a wave, he headed for the door.
“I’ve news that concerns you, Sean,” Grey said sternly, calling his attention, and to his wife, he said, “Take the children up stairs.”
All ceased talking and looked at their laird, given the severity of his voice. Bree gave him a sorrowful gaze and ushered the children to the upper floor.
The hall now emptied except for Grey and the guardsmen. He waited for him to continue, but his laird didn’t seem to want to reveal the news.
Sean’s interest now piqued because he didn’t like the tone Grey used or the demeanor he presented. “Me? What concerns me?”
“Lord William, the Hume, wrote to you. I took liberty and read the missive.”
Sean hadn’t heard that name in a long time. “Why would he write me? I haven’t seen the man since I was wee, when my mother went to visit him.” He had a minor remembrance of it since he’d only been about five.
Speaking of the event made him think of his parents who died from sickness after his father returned from a trading mission, shortly after that visit to the border. Several Gunn men and their families succumbed that year. He’d been fortunate to have Grey’s father, the laird at the time, and his uncle, take him in and raise him as one of his own.
James said, “Is Lord William your mother’s brother, the one who banished her from his clan?”
Sean nodded. “Aye, the one and same. He lives by the border and is probably an English supporter. I’ll have nothing to do with the Sassenach.”
“We don’t know that, Sean. Many by the border support either side when there is benefit or cause,” Grey said, waving the missive. “I believe Hume sides with Scotland.”
“My mother and he had a falling out when he didn’t approve of her marriage. Don’t kno
w why he’d be interested in contacting me though.” He dismissed it, and took a large spoonful of pottage and added it to his bowl. The scent waffled to his nose and he couldn’t wait to taste it, for certain Bree had spiced to perfection.
“I deem you might want to read this.” Grey pushed the parchment toward him. “He sent it a few months ago and it now just reached you. Seems the messenger had trouble crossing our neighbor’s lands and reverted the long way around.”
“The messenger should’ve just thrown it in the fire and saved himself the time and trouble. I’ve no interest in reading it.” Sean frowned at the parchment as though it were poisonous.
Grey pounded his fist on the table. “He went through all that trouble to get a message to you, the least you can do is read it. Cosh you’re a stubborn arse.”
Sean swiped it from the table and began reading:
‘Nephew, I behoove ye. Attend me at the soonest for I have urgent matters, dear lad, and must speak with you. Please come as soon as you can arrange it. There is much we need to discuss. Yours – William Hume’
Sean felt himself stiffen while reading the words. He scowled at the parchment so fiercely he could verily set it on fire. His heated gaze then looked to Grey, hoping he could explain why a man he hadn’t seen since he was barely out of swaddling clothes would want to see him.
“Will you go?” James asked.
“Hell no.”
“I think you should, Sean. Hume is an important man and has influence with the king and English court. Mayhap he needs your help.”
His scowl grew fiercer. “My help? Why would I want to help him? After what he did to my mother, he dare asks for me to attend him? I care not that he has influence with the king or with the English court. None of that matters to me. He should ask someone who gives a shit for aid.”
No one spoke and Sean dismissed the conversation. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with the Hume clan. He had no cause or need to reinsert himself in their clan, he had his own.
A Highlander In Peril (Gunn Guardsman) Page 3