Shane lifted his head and growled.
Kate laughed softly at his reaction and stepped away from him. His hands on her shoulders, he winked at her.
“Another time, Katie.”
Annoyed at being interrupted, Shane moved the short distance to the door and opened it with force. Unfazed, Iain stepped into the room.
“Ye never bolt the door. . .” Iain stopped short at seeing Kate and the flush in her face. “On the other hand, maybe a good practice to begin.” Iain grinned.
“Aye,” Shane said gruffly. “Perhaps ‘tis.”
He glanced at Kate as she straightened her clothes, her face a pretty pink.
“Ahem, well. Iain, Kate, let us sit .” Shane walked to a table nearby. “Kate has shown me wondrous things.”
Iain coughed.
With a warning scowl, Shane continued. “After the years of fighting and strife, this clan has grown accustomed to hunting, gathering, and planting a bit. We’d not the time nor knowledge to explore our surroundings to find new food sources. I’m anxious to get started.”
Kate sat down next to Shane and across from Iain. Shane related to him what Kate had shown him throughout the day.
“The possibilities are endless. If all ye want to do is going to be successful, we’d have to work fast. Planting season is passing quickly,” Iain said. “The time ‘tis getting away from us.”
“All too quickly. The lads can overcome, I have no doubt,” Shane replied. “Kate, if ye would take over the vegetable gardens. Plant more of what we have. Add yer plants from the forest.”
Shane held her hand while the three of them talked, his heart sighing. Her hand felt warm.
“Recruit from the present kitchen staff and the other ladies to help ye with the additional plots.” He gently squeezed her hand. “The children can be helpful as well. The entire clan will work to help bring themselves to their feet again.”
Shane turned to Iain with the list of improvements they decided upon.
“Let’s get started clearing the fields we haven’t planted. With the stones we clear, we’ll rebuild the walls around the fields. We need to get the soil turned and the sod broken. Have the men start in the morning. Ye will have to get another group on the ditches,” Shane explained. “I’ll talk to the clan this evening.”
“How did ye want me to handle the patrols? We dinna have enough men to do both.”
“Aye, ‘tis truth. I have decided to bring the men in closer and leave the outer borders exposed.”
Iain’s eyebrows went up, surprise on his face. “What are ye thinking?”
“I’m thinking it will take fewer men to defend. There won’t be time for the Campbell bastards to get comfortable before we push back any that have had the misfortune to settle on our lands,” Shane explained.
“We’ll make it work,” Iain answered, support in his voice. “Will be fun to give them a good routing when the time comes.”
Once Shane explained his plans, he knew the clan would support him. He could see in their faces they, too, were tired of the constant battling as well as the sacrifices they saw their own families making.
Kate returned his squeeze and added her other hand to his arm.
Shane smiled.
Merta shooed the three of them out so she could have the women prepare for supper. With plans set, they made way for the evening meal.
Kate rose. “I’m going to check on Seamus. Having been gone the whole day, I want to see how my patient is faring.”
Shane held on to her hand a bit longer before he let her go.
He left to take a quick swim in the loch at the back of the castle. Iain joined him.
“So, tell me what is happening between ye and the lady?”
“What do ye mean happening between us?” Shane said with an expression of innocence.
“Och, dinna play that with me. I know ye too well.”
With an expectant grin, Iain eyed his friend and laird. Shane started to deny the budding relationship with Kate, and then stopped himself. Iain wouldn’t stop at such a puny attempt until he gave in.
“I canna get her out of my head. She’s a beauty, no doubt. ‘Tis not just the shape of her face nor the way her soft bottom curves into the back of her thigh. When ye talk to her, she makes sense. She dinna giggle and feign ignorance. She’s not afraid to let a man know she has a brain. There’s an inner strength shining through her at times.”
“Aye, I’ve seen it when she’s with yer da. No one would ever dare to tell the old man what to do. No one that cared to live, anyway,” Iain said, chuckling. “She just orders him around and he does what he’s told. He listens to her.”
Shane nodded his agreement and continued to swim lazily in the cold water with Iain close by.
“Think what she did for my da. She raised him from the dead, she did. How could I not love her? ‘Tis not the only reason. She has strength and will. I enjoy our time together. When she talks about something she loves, like her herb garden or medicines, her face lights up. She’s bright and kind. And her wee head fits right here when I hold her,” Shane said, pointing to his heart.
Iain raised his eyebrows at the words ‘love her’. Shane did not even realize he had said it. As his friend talked about Kate, Iain watched and listened.
“Och, I’ve had my share of women in the past, have even had my head turned by one or two but never. . .” Shane shook his head and swam for shore.
Refreshed after their swim, the two men returned to the hall for the evening meal. As they walked, Shane remained quiet, lost in his own thoughts.
“Shane, ye do realize marriage may be necessary for the MacDonald to join us.”
“Aye, I do.”
“Well then, what are ye doing with Kate?”
Shane stopped suddenly and turned to his friend and cousin.
“What are ye saying? Are ye implying something?”
Iain shrank from the sudden anger in Shane’s face, his fierce reaction.
“Nay. I dinna mean anything by it. I care for the lass is all. I dinna want to see her hurt.”
Shane took in a deep breath and calmed down at once. He knew better than to question Iain’s motives. Iain was simply watching out for Kate. Something he should be doing as well. He knew a marriage was possible between himself and the MacDonald daughter. He was angry with himself, not Iain. Iain just brought his divided feelings to the surface. Feelings Shane had suppressed throughout the day. His loyalty to the clan had not changed, of course, but he battled with his desires.
Kate sat next to Shane with Iain on the other side of her. Seamus took the seat on Shane’s left and did not make comment on the different seating arrangements. He bid her ‘Good evening’ and sat down to his meal. While he said nothing to Shane or Kate regarding the change, he looked troubled.
When he caught her eye, Smithers smiled briefly with a raised eyebrow, chuckled, and went back to his meal. Kate flushed at Smithers’ teasing but also with her feeling of excited joy. Things had changed for her. She let herself feel, truly feel for possibly the first time in her adult life. She saw the world with new understanding. Love was a powerful cure for a hurt soul.
After the meal, Shane stood and spoke seriously to the clan.
“My brothers, ye are as weary of war as am I. King James has had his boot on us for more than twenty years. We all know what happened those many years ago and how wrong it was. I say the MacGregors are stalwart of character and of heart. We have ‘right’ on our side and we will prevail.”
The women clapped and the men pounded their fists on the tables.
“Now, ye know I’m not a coward and I know we have fight in us. We all do. But we have to care for the clan. The years of battle have taken their toll. Our resources have dwindled. We’ve fought so long and
hard, we canna sustain ourselves much longer. I am tired of watchin’ my people go hungry and I am tired of watchin’ the wee bairns die. Our men are battle-worn. Our women, thin and tired. Our children are growing up ignorant and meager. We must start again.”
The women put kerchiefs their faces to catch a tear or two. The men agreed in hushed voices.
Shane stood tall. “The MacGregor clan has always been one to reckon with. ‘Tis still. We know the ways of battle. Let us win this fight. Win it so we may have the strength to take back what is rightfully ours.”
“Ye are good men and proud I am to be one among ye.” He raised his cup in salute.
The people responded with their own toast.
“To the MacGregor!” they shouted as one.
“Och, ye honor me,” Shane said as he raised his cup again, drank.
“I have talked with my da at length and we have agreed the way to bring this clan to her glory is to fight at home as well. I’ve come up with a plan to share with ye.”
Kate listened as Shane laid out his approach. He divided men into separate groups, telling each of their specific tasks. There were men to clear fields and fence them with the stones they found in the fields. Others would take over and break the sod. They would prepare the soil with manure and peat brought up from the bog and plant. A third group would use the old drainage system to drain some of the planting fields.
“I ask the women of the clan to join Kate in the preparations and cultivating of larger kitchen gardens. She’ll need help gathering plants from around the loch.”
Shane ended with defenses and explained his reasons for defending their inner borders, leaving the outer rims unprotected for now. He told his clan of the decision to approach the MacDonald and MacDougall clans for alliance.
“Each group will take a turn riding our borders to defend the clan. We’ll be a wee thin. I plan to ride to the MacDougall and MacDonald clans to renew our friendships there. I believe they are having as much a struggle with them Campbell bastards as we are and will relish the chance to join forces.” Shane chuckled. “Our raidin’ will be a wee bit more profitable as well if their attention is drawn elsewhere.”
The clan laughed with him. Though they made plans for farming, the clan preferred livestock for meat as well as for barter and trade. They were still Scots and raiding was part of their culture, part of their lives, and that would not end.
“Our fight willna be a short one. Will take the hard work and commitment of all of ye. I believe ‘tis the beginning of a stronger Clan MacGregor!”
Shane’s people rose. The men nodded in agreement with their laird. With cups in hand, they drank to their laird, showed their loyalty to him and his plans. Each of his men stood and renewed their personal pledge to him, giving him their promise and their commitment to him and their clan.
With warmth in her breast, Kate listened and watched as the MacGregor spoke to his clan, pleased with the commitment and loyalty as each man stepped forward with his pledge. She saw a love between men, a bond forged of family and battle. These men trusted their laird. The women and children were eager to start their part of the plan as well, talking amongst themselves and looking at her while they spoke, excitement on their faces.
Neither Shane nor his people mentioned the hated Colquhouns and she was grateful for everyone’s discretion. They did not count her amongst such company.
She was surprised to hear Shane’s intention of leaving and going to the other clans for help, disappointed Shane had not shared that portion with her. She was reminded while they would accept her help, as a guest and a Colquhoun, she wasn’t privy to all their plans.
Soon, she excused herself for her nightly stroll.
One of the women, Amelia, stopped Kate. “M'lady. Might I join ye? I’ve seen ye leave the hall every night and have often wondered where ye go.”
“I would be pleased with your company,” Kate said.
Before they reached the outer door, several other women caught up, asking if they, too, could be part of the walk. Thrilled to have the ladies accept her presence was worth missing her solitude. Perhaps the Sassenach woman could be a part of their group after all.
Chapter 18
When the ladies finished their walk, Kate excused herself and went to her room. She undressed, put on her nightgown and climbed into the bed. It had been a long day, full of surprises. She let out a long happy sigh. She still felt Shane’s touch on her lips and her body. Remembering, she shivered in delight and a bit of fear.
Did she dare trust her feelings? Or his, for that matter?
She didn’t know. Her heart ached. She wanted to believe Shane cared for her. To believe the burgeoning love she felt was returned. Her excitement made her stomach tip and she shivered again, smiling. Kate snuggled down beneath the quilts, warming herself in the chill with pleasant thoughts and dreams.
Drifting off to sleep, a knock at the door woke her. She sat up. Shane? She hoped so. She jumped up from the bed. She grabbed her robe, stuffed her arms into it and closed it tight beneath her chin. She rushed to the door. Once there, she slowed herself, forcing herself to steady her breathing and pounding heart. She opened the door a crack and peered out into the hall. Indeed, it was Shane standing outside her door.
“M’lord, to what do I owe this honor at such a late hour?” Kate said with a brief smile.
“M’lady, please forgive my intrusion. I was just now able to break from the lads and their plans. I dinna believe I’ve ever seen them so excited. ‘Tis like new lifeblood is running through them. I wanted to say ‘goodnight’ to ye and tell ye what a truly wondrous day I had in yer company.”
Kate seemed to contemplate her bare feet, and then looked up at Shane, shy.
“Thank you. I, too, enjoyed the day.”
“Would ye mind if I joined ye for a wee bit? Just to talk to ye,” Shane asked, putting his hand up in a surrendering gesture. “I dinna mean to disturb. If yer uncomfortable . . .”
Kate smiled as she open the door a bit wider, allowing Shane to step into the room. It wasn’t proper, him being in her room. All sorts of assumptions could be made if anyone saw him enter her chambers. However, she didn’t care. She found herself in extraordinary circumstances. From finding herself in a homeless state, to her kidnapping, to her acceptance by the clan, to her finding herself a new home. Nothing about her life right now was proper.
“You are not disturbing me and I don’t feel uncomfortable. I am sure if I had anything to worry about, it would have occurred by now.”
Shane stepped inside and walked over to the fireplace.
Kate followed.
“Shall we sit here by the fire?” Kate stirred the embers and added more wood.
“Aye, ‘tis still a wee bit chilled in this old house. Will be warming up soon enough and then we’ll welcome the cool the stones have to offer.”
Shane sat in one chair putting his booted feet on the nearby hassock. Kate sat in the other with one foot resting underneath her.
Shane stared into the fire for so long; Kate considered he may have changed his mind, deciding not to speak with her after all. Glad he had come, she used the time to admire his handsome face. Burnished by the firelight, his eyes observed something past the fire and into a realm unknown to her.
She didn’t want to be alone. She didn’t want to be without Shane. When the feeling came over her, she wasn’t sure. She only knew it to be true. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to feel his arms around her. She wanted to feel warm and safe, to feel loved.
When she watched her fill, she asked quietly. “Are you well?”
Shane started from his reverie and turned his head slowly then smiled.
“Aye, I’m fine. I was just thinking about a sweet lass I know just a wee bit about. I admire her a goodly amount though she is a mystery t
o me.”
Kate laughed. It occurred to her Shane was speaking about herself. She shifted and leaned against the back of her chair, bringing her other leg up.
“Thank you for the compliment, kind sir.” Kate lowered her chin in an acknowledgement to his words of praise. “I am no mystery. Just a very simple woman caught up in a situation through none of my doing.” Kate paused. “Well, I suppose some of it was my doing. I should have told Iain straight away Sidney had died, leaving me penniless and there was no ransom to pay. I suppose that would have made things much simpler. Knowing Iain as I do now, he would have just let me be.” Kate held up one finger. “I did not know Iain then. For all I knew, he was going to kill me if he did not receive his demand.”
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