The Eagle

by McQueen, Hildie

  “I have wanted to kiss ye since the first time I saw ye,” he murmured between kisses.

  With one last press against her lips, he straightened and smiled down at her. “Do ye feel better?”

  Worse. She felt worse.

  “We…we should not have done that.”

  “I think we should have,” he replied lifting her back onto the horse.

  Her mind raced in all directions as they neared the keep. What had she done? Why had she responded with so much enthusiasm?

  She closed her eyes, grateful to have her back to him. Did this mean he would expect more from her? Her body perhaps. She swallowed at the thought of what to do next.

  “Stop thinking,” he murmured. “It was a kiss, that is all. I have no expectations from ye.”

  Cait blew out a breath. “Good.”

  “Ye wound my heart,” he replied good-naturedly and despite all the trepidations, Cait smiled. Stuart Ross was a most perplexing man.

  Upon entering the gates, she was thankful only a few people were about. “Please help me down. I must go inside with haste.”

  He dismounted and lowered her to the ground. “Come along. I have something to show ye.”

  “Hold him here, I will return shortly,” Stuart told a lad, handing him the reins. Then he stalked toward the stables, Cait almost running to keep up with his long strides.

  Finally, they came to the stables and he went directly to a stall. Inside was a beautiful tan and white mare. The animal was delicate and seemed sweet.

  “She is to be yers. Darach purchased it for Isobel, but Lady Ross prefers large, strong horses. So, this mare has been lingering without someone to ride her.”

  Cait reached out and ran her hand down the horse’s long nose. Then she instinctively caressed the animal’s jawline. The mare made a happy grunting noise.

  “Ye are a natural,” Stuart said with a smile. “Ensure to tell Greer ye have riding lessons today right after midday meal.”

  “No,” Cait stated firmly. “I will not.”

  With a good-natured shrug, he turned and walked away.

  As she arrived at the kitchen entrance, she saw Stuart galloping away to his hunting grounds.

  Greer clapped her hands upon Cait entering. “Bless Mister Stuart for fetching ye. I am going to scold Cora once she appears, for not being here this morning. Poor Finella does not have the strength to get out of bed.” Greer bustled from one simmering pot to frying sounds from a flat pan over the fire.

  “See about the plates and fetch the pitchers,” Greer told a maid who’d entered, effectively sending the girl rushing away. Greer was always especially stern with the younger maids. She’d told Cait it was mainly because if she wasn’t they’d begin lazy and stay that way.

  It was a long while later that just as Cait hoisted a tray of food up, Cora hurried into the room.

  Cait gave her a warning look and Cora gave her a soft nod of acknowledging she was prepared to be scolded. She blew out a breath and walked to where Greer waited with both her hands on her hips.

  “Where ’ave ye gotten off too?”

  Once the people in the great hall were served, she and Cora continued to refill tankards, while lads hurried about removing platters and such.

  “I must tell ye something,” Cora said when they went to refill their pitchers. “I was with Torac.”

  “I wasn’t sure it was my brother who courted ye.” Cait was troubled that her brother had not spoken to her in as many days.

  Cora grinned. “I wish to get to know him better. What can ye tell me?”

  It was astounding that Cora stole away with a man and knew little about him. “I do not know my half brother well. There is little free time, as ye know.”

  Placing the last empty pitcher in the kitchen, Cait picked up two buckets. “I will go fetch water,” she said over her shoulder and walked outside.

  The person she sought was standing with legs apart, sword in hand, slicing through the air in a pattern. Back and forth he swung, sweat glistening across his brow.

  “Torac,” Cait said nearing. “I must speak to ye.”

  Her brother glowered in her direction, his gaze moving past her. “What is it?”

  Once he lowered the sword, she neared. Not that she expected him to hurt her, but she wasn’t sure how to approach someone who was so intent on training. “Cora told me ye are courting her.”

  His handsome face scrunched into a frown. “Did she now?”

  “I am sure ye plan to marry the lass. Especially since Greer had everyone search for her and could not find her in her quarters.” Cait met his gaze with a pointed look. “I am sure speculations are beginning.”

  The expressions of worry that crossed Torac’s face made her want to giggle. Before he could say anything, she spoke again. “How old does one have to be to train with horses? Brice is interested but I am worried about our mother being left alone all day.”

  It was a moment before Torac was able to tear his gaze from the direction of the kitchen. “Ah…I suppose he is old enough. Why do ye bring it up, if ye do not wish him to be away from yer home?”

  “I do not want to hold him back either. I ask so that we can make a decision about it.”

  Torac nodded. “Once he is ready, I will ensure he has a place at the stables. Understand that he will have to live in the rooms there and will not go home daily. Apprentices often are the ones who handle the horses at night.”

  “I can ask Lady Isobel for a room in the servant’s quarters and share with Mother, I suppose.”

  “Ensure Brice is ready. Once he comes, he cannot simply walk away.”

  “I will.” She gave him a soft smile. “Cora is lovely.”

  His eyes narrowed, not giving Cait a good feeling.

  “One last thing, can ye acquire a mule and cart for a day? It would be helpful to take Mother to the village when I have a day of rest.”

  Her brother met her gaze. “I can see about one for ye to use.”

  Chapter Six

  When Stuart returned from hunting, it was still early in the day. He’d given up after only a couple of hours, his mind much too involved in rethinking the kiss with Cait. Like a lad, he returned to the keep hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

  Once he dismounted, he saw her. She was with another servant, both carrying water toward the kitchen.

  She looked toward him, her cheeks turned pink, and she turned away.

  When spotting her brother, Stuart went to him and told him about his idea to gift Cait the mare.

  “A horse?” Torac asked giving him a curious look and then glancing in the direction that Cait went.

  “She walks a long distance to and from the cottage. Yesterday, I was hunting and came upon her hiding from a boar. I told her we could allow her the use of a horse.”

  The warrior narrowed his eyes. “She does not require a horse, Mister Stuart. Cait can walk, or I can see about a mule and cart.”

  Not wishing to continue the discussion with her half brother, who obviously cared little about Cait’s welfare, Stuart shrugged. “Let us practice.”

  There was little doubt left in his mind that Torac was not upset about the horse, but about the fact that Stuart had noticed his sister. By the time they finished sparing, not only was Stuart drenched in sweat, but there had been a couple of times he’d wondered if the man meant to kill him.

  “Point taken,” he told the warrior, who gave him one last glare and stalked away.

  At the water barrel, he dipped a bowl into the cold water and poured it over his head. Then repeated the process, washing as much dirt and sweat as he could before going inside.

  “What was that about?” Darach neared and gave him a questioning look. “Are ye fighting over a woman?”

  “Was it that obvious?” Stuart asked watching his brother wash up. “I do not think he cares that I pay attention to his sister.”

  Darach chuckled. “I do not have to ask who the fair lass is. What do ye plan to do?”

&n
bsp; The question caught him off guard. For the moment, the only thing he’d planned was to teach her to ride so that she’d have a way back and forth from the cottage in the woods. Now he worried it would cause a problem between him and Torac.

  “I do not know,” he replied. “The cottage ye gave her family is much too far and her trudging through the woods in the early morn and late eve is dangerous.”

  His brother chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose ye should do something about it then. There is no need for the wee wench to be in any danger.” When his brother walked away chuckling, Stuart visualized throwing the water bowl at the back of his head.

  He walked past the garden then took a step back when he noticed Cait digging at the dirt with a small spade. She hummed as she worked not noticing him.

  It was time to stop the foolishness. He’d made sure she had a way to and from the cottage. He would arrange for someone else to teach her. The last thing he needed was any kind of complications in his life. There was much to do with archer training duties and plans for rotation of the guards at the northern and southern posts.

  Soon, he and his team of archers, along with a group of warriors, would be going to the southern shore to replace those on guard there.

  “Cait,” he called out much louder than he intended.

  When Cait saw him, her eyes rounded. She attempted to stand but stepped on something and lost her balance falling backward onto the ground.

  Blowing out soft breaths, she remained on her bottom with her head bent.

  “I did not mean to startle ye,” Stuart said as he neared. When she didn’t move, he noticed that she held her right hand in her left, blood seeping through her fingers.

  “Here let me help.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her to stand.

  Cait let out a shaky breath. “It hurts.”

  Stuart walked her to the water barrel and once again dipped the bowl into it, then washed the wound. It was a deep cut that would need to be stitched. The bleeding did not stop, but at least all the dirt was gone.

  “Come inside, Mother can help.”

  Pale and looking as if she was fighting not to cry, the lass allowed him to guide her to the great hall. He called out for a servant to fetch his mother and almost immediately his mother hurried to them. “Oh, dear, what happened?”

  “I startled her, and she cut herself with the garden spade,” Stuart explained. “It was not my intention. I thought she’d seen me.”

  “Poor lass,” his mother said. At the words, his brother’s wife, Isobel, arrived and pushed him away.

  “Please fetch my kit from the shelf there.” She pointed to a cabinet by the corridor. Stuart did as Isobel instructed.

  “Stuart, hold her still. The cut is long, and this will hurt.” Isobel gave Cait an apologetic look. “If ye have to cry, it’s fine Cait.”

  Stuart pulled up a chair and sat behind Cait. He held her against his chest. The lass shivered and he knew she was in great pain. The cut went from between her thumb and forefinger to the other side of her hand. It was an awful place for a jagged cut, and he knew it would cause her discomfort for a long time.

  At the first stitch Cait cried out softly, and her breathing became more irregular with each subsequent one. Each time the needle pierced her skin, Stuart ached for her.

  “I am so very sorry,” he kept repeating in her ear. Whether she heard him over the pain, he wasn’t sure.

  By the time Isobel finished stitching her hand and wrapping it, Cait was sobbing.

  “Why do ye cry?” his mother asked. “Does it continue to hurt lass?”

  Cait sniffed loudly. “With my hand cut, I cannot continue to work and feed my family. Wh-what shall I do?”

  “Do not worry about that right now,” Isobel said.

  Both women gave Stuart a disappointed look. Finally, he mouthed “What?”

  “Tell Cait what ye plan to do to help?” his mother said giving him a wide-eyed look as if there was an obvious thing to say.

  “I will get herbs that will help with the pain from Greer,” he started and when his mother motioned with her hand for him to continue, he said, “And I will take ye home to rest.”

  By the roll of his mother’s eyes and Isobel’s head shake, he’d said the wrong thing.

  “Ye should stay here where we can look after ye,” Isobel said. “Stuart will also…” She looked to him.

  Cait turned and met his gaze. His heart melted at seeing her wet eyelashes clumped together around her red-rimmed eyes. “I will inform yer mother what has happened and ensure that yer family has everything they need until ye can work again.”

  His mother’s wide smile made it obvious he’d finally said the right thing.

  Leaving the women to do whatever it was they did, Stuart went to find Anton. His squire nodded emphatically while he gave instructions for food and grain to be taken to Cait’s home and a message that she would be unable to travel home for a few days.

  Once that was completed, he sought Darach to discuss the upcoming changing of duties at the southern post. In the study he found his brothers, Darach, Ewan, and Gideon.

  With his wife in the family way, Duncan had returned to his home and was not expected to return to the keep unless there was a good reason.

  Ewan lived close enough that he could travel back and forth daily, so he was usually at the keep most of the day helping with whatever was needed.

  “A messenger just arrived,” Darach said. “Laird Maclean has died.”

  Stuart lowered to a chair. “He was right, he had only a few days left.”

  “The message also states that Lila Maclean may be visiting soon. I am sure it was one of the late laird’s wishes that she marries well.”

  “She can marry Caelan then,” Stuart said.

  Darach arched a brow. “Ye were specified. I suppose the late Maclean expects ye not to have a problem moving to Skye.”

  “I would wait until seeing the lass before making up yer mind,” Gideon said with eyebrows raised and a twist to his lips. “Do not agree to anything until ye see her, she may be homely.”

  “Looks are not what makes a marriage of convenience work,” Ewan stated.

  “Says the man who married a beauty,” Gideon quipped. He then addressed Darach. “Do not ever consider marrying me off to someone I do not find attractive.”

  Their eldest brother shook his head. “I would never consider marrying anyone off, especially not ye Gideon. The poor woman who ends up with ye will have a life of misery trying to keep ye in line.”

  Everyone chuckled, except for Stuart. His mind was awhirl at the idea of a woman traveling there to meet him and that if he did agree to marry, he would leave his family and lands.

  “Is there something to gain from an alliance between our clans?”

  Darach nodded. “Possibly. However, I feel that Lennox will remain friendly because we gave him and his men harbor.”

  “Some of his men remain here as well,” Gideon added. “Ye do not have to marry the lass unless ye wish to.”

  “Can we discuss the southern guard exchange?” Stuart said changing the subject. “What are the plans?”

  “Gideon will go in yer place,” Darach said.

  The youngest nodded in agreement. “I will be an archer for a season.”

  “Why?” Stuart argued. “It is my turn to go.”

  “Ye must remain. If ye are gone when Lila Maclean arrives, it will be an affront to Lennox Maclean. He is newly laird and attempting to fulfill some of his father’s last wishes.”

  “An arranged marriage? Honestly Darach, ye can send a message back telling him I will not marry her and save her the trip.”

  “Gideon, ensure the warriors are prepared to go in three days. Ewan, see about the archers,” Darach ordered, not meeting his gaze. “See if our cousin, Artair, plans to go as well.”

  The others dispersed, but Stuart remained rooted to the chair. “I am not going to marry Lila Maclean.”

  Darach shrugged
. “I am aware that ye are interested in the wee lass, Cait. If ye are serious about her, ye should make it known soon. Ye being betrothed will make things easier to keep from insulting the Maclean. Otherwise, ye will have to court the Maclean lass to see if ye are in fact compatible.”

  “I just startled Cait in the garden. She cut her hand and is not able to work. I do not believe this to be a good time to speak to her about courtship,” he muttered. “Besides, her brother hates me.”

  Not looking to speak on the subject any longer, Darach stood. Pushing back from the chair, his brother pulled a rolled-up map from a shelf and flattened it on the table. They used cups and other items to the edges down.

  “This area is not protected.” Darach pointed to a western portion of their lands, just below the lands that belonged to Stuart. “Can ye and some men ride out there and scout it. I do not want to post men there permanently, but if it’s a one-day ride there and back, we can add it to the patrol assignments.”

  “I will go first thing in the morning.” Stuart noted that he’d ride past where Cait lived. It would be a good opportunity to bring any other needed provisions to her mother and brother.

  His mother met him as he walked out of the study. “Ye should go speak to her.” She motioned up the stairs.

  If this was any indication of how courtship was to start, he wasn’t sure to be very good at it. Stuart went up the stairs and knocked on the open door. When she called for him to enter, he found Cait sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace cradling her bandaged hand to her chest.

  Just then Cora, one of the kitchen maids, entered and placed a cup on a small table next to where Cait sat.

  “It hurts quite badly,” she explained lifting her tear-streaked face.

  “Greer says this will put ye right to sleep. It’ll help with the pain too.”

  “I cannot stay here,” Cait said looking to the other woman. “I will go back to the room in the servant’s quarters. I do not understand why I am here.” She began to cry, and Stuart looked to the servant motioning for her to leave.