“Is that the kind of disrespect the MacLeods are teaching ye? It was yer Da’s dying wish that ye stay here.”
Coll inserted himself into the argument. “That’s enough. It was certainly not Da’s dying wish for the two of ye to go at it like this, or for ye to insult the MacLeods, Fearchar.” To Graham he said, “My apologies, Graham. I’m sure ye understand the last few days have been trying ones.”
Graham nodded, but said nothing.
Darach knew he needed to tread carefully here. “Fearchar, the MacLeods are our allies.”
“Then they will understand that things have changed.”
Again Coll interjected, “Fearchar, Darach, let’s give it a little time. Graham, we appreciate yer willingness for Darach to accompany ye back. However, perhaps it’s better if he stays here for a while until we’ve the opportunity to make some decisions.”
Fearchar grunted and emptied his tankard. Darach was prepared to argue but Graham caught his eye and shook his head ever so slightly.
Then Graham stared at both of Darach’s brothers. “The MacLeods would like to maintain an alliance with yer clan. We very much hope ye feel the same way and that ye will send Darach back to Curacridhe to finish his training.”
Graham’s voice was unemotional, even genial, but Darach understood the underlying threat. If ye do not allow Darach to return, our formal alliance is over. Darach hoped that would be enough to change his brothers’ minds.
~ * ~
Later that night, Fearchar jumped from his bed, burning with fury. “Get out, wench.”
“I’m sorry, Laird. I know ye’re virile. Maybe if I—”
“I said get out. I’ll take a strap to ye if ye don’t leave this instant. And if ye utter a word of this to anyone, I’ll have ye beaten for lying.”
The wench grabbed her clothes and was out the door before she pulled them on.
This is their fault, ye know. The MacLeods. Ye wouldn’t have this problem with yer intended bride.
“Aye. Their fault.”
They have no respect for ye at all. As if stealing yer bride wasn’t enough, MacLeod insulted ye by sending his youngest son.
“Insulted me.”
He would have come himself—if he didn’t have wedding guests arriving for a wedding to yer woman.
“It’s not fair.”
Andrew MacLeod doesn’t deserve her.
“Nay he doesn’t. She should’ve been mine.”
Then do something about it.
~ * ~
Darach rose early to see Graham and the MacLeod guardsmen off. Coll too was present to say farewell. Fearchar showed no such respect for the rules of hospitality.
“Graham, thank ye for coming. I know having close friends here helped Darach during this time of mourning,” said Coll.
“He is a fine young man. I do hope Fearchar changes his mind about allowing him to return to Curacridhe. I still firmly believe it is in the best interest of both our clans.”
“This was what our father requested, but I will discuss it again with Fearchar to see if some arrangement can be made.”
Darach found it hard to be as diplomatic as Coll. “I’m sorry, Coll, I suppose I understand why Da wanted me to come home and stay while he still lived. I cannot see why he would insist I stay after his death.”
“I know ye can’t, but I suspect Da wanted to bring his sons together. We have seen little of each other over the last few years, and with him gone, he wants us to lead the clan together. Still we value the alliance with the MacLeods. I’m sure we can come to some agreement soon.”
“I hope so,” said Graham. “Darach will be missed.”
Darach didn’t believe Coll’s answer. The three of them certainly were not going to lead the clan. Fearchar was going to do it alone. Coll would do his best to prevent financial ruin. Darach had no role at all.
After the MacLeods had ridden out of sight, Darach turned to Coll. “Why did ye tell him that?”
“Because I do hope we can convince Fearchar to let ye return briefly. I don’t want MacLeod to see this as an insult. We need to maintain that alliance.”
“That’s not what I meant. Why did ye say Da wanted us to lead together? Fearchar has made it very clear who leads this clan.”
“And do ye think Fearchar will be a good leader?”
“Nay, I don’t, and neither do ye, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is laird now.”
“Darach, Da knew the skills Fearchar lacked too. He did want both of us to stay for that reason. He had seen enough of Fearchar’s character to know he has the ability to ruin this clan. Da hoped we could become the tempering influence that he had been over the last few years.”
“He was the laird and I believe that is the only reason he could exert any control over Fearchar. Da was daft if he thinks we’ll be able to do anything now that Fearchar is laird.”
“Not daft, brother, hopeful. And the only sure way to fail is not to try.”
“Well then, I am going to try to convince Fearchar to let me go back.”
Darach tried to raise the subject several times that day—unsuccessfully. He understood why Coll wanted him to stay, or at least to return soon, but he could see no good reason why Fearchar had dug in his heels.
During the evening meal, Darach tried a new argument. “But Fearchar, Andrew’s wedding is just days away.”
“How does that concern ye?”
“I want to go. It’ll be a huge celebration. The feud is ending with the MacKays.”
“Aye, because they kidnapped that poor wee thing.” Somehow there was a light in Fearchar’s eyes that belied the sympathy in his words.
Darach shook his head. “Ye needn’t worry about her. She’s quite a bold lass.” He smiled. “She can hold her own with Andrew, and she’s been very good for Mairi too.”
“Why do ye care about that?” asked Fearchar, a note of suspicion in his tone.
“I like Mairi, she’s my friend and it’s good to see her happy.” Darach wanted to add that she was like a sister, but feared it might cause the topic of Clair to come up.
“And Anna? Do ye like her too?”
Darach couldn’t help but smile. “Aye. She’s a nice lass. She’ll be a good wife to Andrew.”
“Is she pretty?”
“I suppose she is. I hadn’t thought about her like that. Aye, she’s very pretty.”
As they talked Darach thought maybe Fearchar was softening. “I’d really like to go back, at least for the wedding.” Once there Darach was certain he would be able to find a way to stay.
“I said nay, Darach. I don’t want to hear anymore. Ye’ll stay here.”
Darach let the conversation drop, but Coll took it up the next day. Even though Coll wanted Darach to stay, clearly he hadn’t missed Graham’s veiled warning, because he also tried to make Fearchar heed it. “Fearchar, the sad truth is, the MacLeods don’t need us as allies and never did. Da needed them, he needed to ensure that we had unfettered access to their ports.”
“I’m laird now and I will not dance to MacLeod’s tune. I’ll manage this clan my way.”
Sadly, Darach knew that was the truth.
Coll shook his head. “I’m not suggesting that ye have to lay down like a whipped dog, but simply yanking Darach home, with no explanation and no attempt to appease them will be seen as an insult. Insulting the MacLeods is not in our best interests.”
“Then what do ye suggest, Coll?”
“Allow me to go with Darach to Curacridhe and discuss the alliance. Perhaps we can agree for Darach to stay with them a few more months before coming home.”
“Go with Darach to Curacridhe? Now there’s an idea we should consider.”
Coll looked immensely relieved until Fearchar said, “But I believe I shall go. I need ye to stay here and collect the rents. After all, the feast of St. Mark is only a few days away.”
“The feast of St. Mark is the day of Andrew’s wedding to Anna MacKay. It would not be a good time to arri
ve, unexpected, in order to discuss an alliance,” said Coll.
“We aren’t unexpected. At least Darach isn’t. He’s gone on and on about the wedding and nagged me like an old woman. Ye do still want to attend the wedding don’t ye, Darach?”
“Aye, Fearchar, but—”
“There is no ‘but.’ Laird MacLeod’s esteemed representative, his youngest son, clearly said the MacLeods hope I’ll send Darach back to Curacridhe to finish his training. They surely won’t object if I join him on the journey. And since Andrew MacLeod is marrying my intended, it seems only right that I should be there.”
Darach’s brow furrowed. “Yer intended? I don’t understand.”
Coll explained, “In February Da sent a message to Eoin MacKay, seeking a betrothal between Fearchar and Anna.”
“Aye, and the MacLeods captured her before the papers could be signed. She would have been my betrothed had they not interfered.”
“Fearchar, ye don’t know that,” said Coll. “Laird MacKay never responded to Da’s request.”
“Only because Anna was kidnapped before he could. He would have agreed.”
Coll shook his head in frustration. “Frankly, I doubt it. In early December, Laird Macaulay sought a betrothal for Bennett with Anna. Eoin declined that one because he didn’t want to send Anna to Lewis.”
“I’m not Bennett Macauley. Eoin wouldn’t have refused me.”
Fearchar’s cockiness knew no bounds. Darach believed Coll was right that Laird MacKay would not have agreed to the betrothal Da had proposed, but Fearchar was too arrogant to accept that. Darach also worried that if Fearchar was at Curacridhe for the wedding, he might cause trouble. He and Coll tried to reason with him, but it became clear that this had been Fearchar’s plan all along and there was no talking him out of it. The best Darach could hope to do was warn Laird MacLeod and hopefully limit the damage.
Fearchar chose a handful of his most loyal men—those who would do his bidding without question—and left with Darach the next day, only three days before the Feast of Saint Mark. “We don’t want to miss the wedding. I want to see what treasure was stolen from me.”
Chapter 20
Anna was walking beside Grizel along the edge of a forest.
“There are lots of blossoms on the blackberry bushes this year,” Grizel observed. “Be sure ye take that lad picking blackberries come August.”
Anna smiled. “Do ye think he and I will bring back more than ye and I did?”
Grizel chuckled. “Aye, ye were a great one for blackberries. I think there was always more on yer face and hands than in yer basket.”
“Davy will like picking berries.”
Grizel cocked her head and her eyes twinkled. “I daresay ye’ll enjoy his da kissing the remnants from yer lips.”
“Grizel!”
“Now, why are ye so shocked by that? Ye like his kisses don’t ye?”
“Aye, but…”
Grizel chuckled. “There is no reason to be bashful with me. I’ve always known yer heart, lass, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying his kisses.”
Anna smiled.
They walked a little farther, enjoying the peace of the afternoon. Eventually Grizel broke the silence. “I’m very proud of ye, lass. Ye did what I asked ye to and poured out yer love where it was needed.”
“Ye said I had to pass it on, but Davy was already well loved by the clan. His father just needed a wee push.”
“Aye, and I’m glad ye did that, but that isn’t what I meant. Yer love was needed at Curacridhe. The MacLeods, the entire clan, needed it. Feuds can end with a quill stroke, but hearts need much more. Yer love was needed for that. But more than anything else, ye needed to pull him from the ice.”
“Grizel, I had already done that.”
“Ye pulled wee Davy from the loch, but ‘twas Andrew whose heart was frozen.”
“That’s who ye meant?”
“Aye. Wasn’t that clear?”
Anna gave a very unladylike snort. “Nay, not really.”
Grizel winked at her. “Well ye know now. He was meant for ye. His heart beats with yers.
Never forget that. Ye will share lots of blackberry kisses. ‘Tis a good year for blackberries.”
Anna glanced back at the blossom-laden bushes. “Aye, it looks like it will be.”
Grizel smiled, looking very satisfied. “Give me a hug now, sweetling, it’s time to go.”
Anna hugged her, absorbing her warmth and love. “Aye, I suppose I should go home.”
“Ye are home, Anna. Look there.”
Curacridhe’s village lay just ahead, the castle not far beyond it.
“Aye, Grizel, I’m home.”
~ * ~
Anna woke the next morning to a cold, damp April day, but the warmth of Grizel’s love enveloped her, banishing the chill. She smiled to herself as she dressed quickly. Perhaps it wasn’t just the warmth of Grizel’s love. She was marrying Andrew MacLeod in three days. Representatives from clans all over the Highlands had already begun arriving at Curacridhe and her family would arrive today.
She could barely contain her excitement as she and Ena put the finishing touches on the dress she would be married in.
“Good heavens, Anna, ye’re nearly worse than Mairi today.” The grin on Ena’s face belied the severity of her tone.
“I can’t help it. It’s been nearly five weeks since I’ve seen my brothers and over two months since I’ve seen Fiona or little Adam—I missed his first birthday.”
Ena smiled indulgently. “I know ye’re excited. I would be too.”
“They’ll be here before the midday meal. Ye’ll adore Fiona.”
“Anna, I know Fiona. Or at least we’ve met over the years. She was just a child at the time, but she was at my wedding.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“That’s understandable. While not allies precisely, the MacNicols and the MacLeods were friendly, but the MacNicols and the Chisholms have been allies for many years.”
Anna sighed. “And the MacKays weren’t allies with any of them.”
“So, I’m wondering if ye’ve thought about how the first few minutes might go after yer family arrives.”
“Nay. Should I have?”
“When ye last saw yer brothers, was everyone as happy as ye are today?”
Anna gave a very unladylike snort. “Not exactly. Eoin had been forced into something he didn’t want, I had just sobbed all over him, begging him to take me home. I was so angry, given a weapon and the opportunity, I might have killed yer da.”
Ena chuckled. “I can well imagine.”
Anna blushed. “Things have changed a bit since then”
“I know they have. We’ve both gotten over being angry with Da and ye don’t hate Andrew.”
Anna’s face split in a smile, “Nay, I don’t.”
“And he’s come to his senses too. But, Anna, while things here have changed and ye’ve come to love us as much as we love ye, yer family probably hasn’t changed. Things might be tense for a bit when they arrive. The last time yer brothers saw ye, ye were heartbroken and angry, and they were not happy with the MacLeods. I expect they’ll be no happier when they arrive today.”
Anna frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that. What should I do?”
Ena laughed. “Ye don’t have to do anything. Just be yourself. Everything will be resolved with time. I just didn’t want ye to be upset or disappointed if things don’t go perfectly smoothly at first.”
Several hours later when her family arrived, Anna was extremely thankful for Ena’s insight. She waited in the bailey flanked by Andrew and his father. Graham, Davy, Mairi, Ena and her family as well as the Sinclairs stood with them.
When her brothers rode into the bailey, all three of them looked grim. If possible, Marcus, the captain of Eoin’s guard and the other guardsmen who rode with them looked even grimmer. The only person who didn’t appear ready to do battle was Fiona, who held a very happy Adam on her lap.
/> There was a tense silence for a moment until Dougal said, “Laird MacKay, ye and yer family are most welcome to Curacridhe. Please allow my stable hands to tend to yer horses and join me in the great hall for a welcome feast in yer honor.”
Eoin nodded. “Thank ye, Laird MacLeod.” He dismounted, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, Anna ran to embrace him while Aidan and Tasgall dismounted.
“Ah, sweetling, we’ve missed ye so,” said Eoin, adding, “Are ye all right?” in a softer voice.
“I’ve missed ye too and I’m more than all right. I’m very happy.”
“I’m glad ye’re happy, pet,” said Tasgall as he gave her a hug.
When Tasgall released her, she hugged Aidan. “Are ye still sick of MacLeods telling ye what to do?”
“It’s really more a case of her having us wrapped around her little finger,” said Dougal, stepping forward and offering Eoin his hand.
Eoin took Dougal’s hand but cast a skeptical glance at Anna.
She smiled and shrugged.
Dougal introduced the remainder of the family and visitors.
The only member of Anna’s family who expressed genuine warmth was Fiona. She greeted the MacLeods and the Chisholms with hugs and kisses.
Otherwise, there was a palpable tension between the two families. That was until Dougal introduced Davy to Eoin.
“Laird MacKay, this is my grandson, David. Davy, this is Laird MacKay, Anna’s brother.”
“How do ye do, David,” Eoin asked, smiling for the first time since entering Curacridhe. “Are ye the young man who my sister fished out of the frozen loch?”
Davy grinned. “Aye. I thought she was an angel.”
Eoin stifled a smile, but both Tasgall and Aidan chuckled, Aidan adding, “I can assure ye, she’s not an angel, lad.”
“That’s what my da said.”
None of her brothers could keep from laughing at that.
At Davy’s slightly confused expression, Fiona smiled and said, “They’re just jealous because no one has ever mistaken any of them for angels.
That raised a few chuckles on both sides.
Davy smiled again, slipping his hand into Anna’s. “But she is going to be my mama and that’s better than an angel.”
Eoin crouched down and smiled broadly at Davy. “Aye, lad, I think so too. And I expect Anna will be a very good mama.”
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