A smile broke out on Katie’s face. Perhaps he was grumpy because he hadn’t gotten his way the night before. Now in the soberness of daytime, she realized she’d made the right decision. Had she continued with what they’d both wanted, she’d be worrying about losing her heart to the big oaf and then having it broken when he rode off to Argyll.
Or worse, wondering if she was carrying his child and living the rest of her life in disgrace. She threw off the covers and quickly washed her face, dressed, and had Meggie fasten her hair in a braid hanging down her back.
She would have a quick breakfast and then ride to Mrs. MacDuff’s house and check on the new mother and babe. Then she would see about finding cottages for her clan members who’d already arrived and those who were still on the way.
Feeling energetic with the sun shining brightly through the window in her bedchamber, she left the room and made her way down the stairs. Evan was sitting at the table eating breakfast when she arrived. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Good morning, Katie.” He rounded the table and pulled out her chair.
She nodded and felt the heat rise from her middle to her face as she sat. ’Twas daunting how he affected her. His curly dark-red hair was still damp from his bath and held back in a queue with a piece of leather. His linen shirt did not conceal the rock-hard muscles in his arms as he moved. His trews hugged his sinewy thighs, tucked into boots. “Good morning,” she mumbled.
“Did ye sleep well?” Evan took his seat and picked up his fork.
“Aye.” She reached for the platter of food, placed cheese and an apple on her plate, then added a scoop of porridge to her bowl before drizzling a bit of honey on it. The teapot was still warm, so she poured herself a cup. “I see ye like coffee in the morning?”
“Aye.”
Silence grew as they ate. An awkward silence, to be sure. She tried her best to ignore the man, but he was definitely affecting her appetite.
Evan wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it alongside his plate. “I want to finish up the tenant visits this week, so we need to get started as soon as ye are through.” He leaned back in his chair and regarded her. “Alasdair told me more of yer clansmen arrived while we were with the young MacDuffs yesterday.”
“Was Mrs. Brody able to find rooms for them?”
“Aye, but this cannot continue, lass. I checked the castle’s food supply, and while it’s quite hearty, these people need to get into their own houses and start producing for themselves.”
“I ken. Many of them will have brought what they need to hold them over until they can grow their own food. Once they’re settled, I’m assuming they’ll head to the market in the village, where they can sell their wares.”
“When yer finished, meet me in the library.” Evan walked toward the door but stopped. “God’s toes!” he roared. “What the devil is this?”
…
Evan stared at his feet as what seemed like a dozen brown and white puppies ran in circles, barking and yelping like a bunch of Scottish warriors. Two nipped at his boots, and one tried to climb up his body but kept slipping off.
Katie joined him, the joy on her face a stark contrast to his annoyance. “Oh, look at the wee sweet puppies!”
He turned to her and scowled. “What are all these animals doing in the castle?”
“I dinnae ken.” She bent and took one of them in her arms. “But aren’t they wonderful?” She looked up and smiled at him, and all his anger melted…until one of them gripped the top of his boot with its teeth and pulled. He shook his foot, and the animal rolled over and over, sat up, and shook its head.
“I told ye, no animals in the castle.”
“These aren’t animals. A goat is an animal, and that is now in the stable. Puppies are pets.”
Evan leaned forward, coming face to face with Katie. “Puppies grow into dogs. Dogs are animals and dinnae belong in the castle.” He waved at the group, who were still barking frantically. “Move them to the stables.”
Just then, Gavin came racing toward them and laughingly picked up one of the puppies. “Can I keep one?”
“Nay.”
“Aye.”
Katie and Evan stared at each other. “At least one can stay,” Katie countered.
“And what makes ye think whoever brought them here is willing to give one to the lad?” Evan shook his foot as another puppy bit the toe of his boot.
“Because my clansmen are nice, generous people. Whoever owns them would be delighted to give one to Gavin.”
“And I would be delighted to see them all in the stable.”
“Oh, here’s the naughty little puppies.” A woman of about forty years stood in front of them, shaking her head, her hands on her hips, watching the chaos of the animals.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Fraser.” Katie offered the woman a bright smile. “I’m so glad ye were able to join us.”
“Aye. And yer forty puppies,” Evan groused.
The woman threw her head back and offered a hearty laugh. “Aye. I’m sure it seems like forty, but ’tis only seven pups.”
Katie waved her hand at Evan. “Mrs. Fraser, this is Laird MacNeil. My laird, this is Mrs. Fraser, a former Stirling clan member who married into the Fraser clan but has since returned to us.”
The woman looked confused. “I thought this was yer family’s estate? The MacDuffs?”
Katie took the woman by the arm and moved her off to the side. “There is a story about that. But for now I think it’s best if ye gather up the puppies and take them to the stable.”
“Ach, of course.” Mrs. Fraser looked over at Gavin, who still held one of the puppies in his arms—all the love a small boy shows for a pup on his face. “Ye care to help me, Gavin? I cannot get all these pups into the stable myself.”
“Won’t we need a box or something to keep them in?” Gavin looked over at his sister. “They might run away if they’re in the stables.”
“If only,” Evan mumbled.
Katie nudged him in his ribs and addressed Gavin. “I am sure the laird can think of something we can build to house them so they don’t run away.” She looked up at him, the determination in her eyes enough to make him smile. “Isn’t that right, my laird?”
He ran his hands through his hair, pulling strands from his queue. “Aye. But first we have visits to make.”
“Then Mrs. Fraser will have to keep them in her bedchamber until ye can build something.” Her smug look annoyed him.
“I have a better idea. We go visiting, and one of yer handy clansmen can build something for the animals.”
“That’s a good idea, isn’t it, Katie?” Gavin, apparently wanting to keep the peace, looked at her eagerly. “Maybe Alasdair can help.”
Evan ran his palm down his face. He knew when it was time to let go. “Aye. Isn’t Alasdair supposed to be watching ye?”
Gavin looked confused. “Watching me?”
Katie coughed and scowled at him. “Alasdair is not watching ye, Gavin. He’s just making sure ye don’t get lost in the new castle and grounds. He thinks ye need a friend.”
“Aye.” Alasdair strode down the corridor and placed his hand on Gavin’s head. “And I was right there”—he gestured with his head—“talking to Mr. MacDuff, with my eyes on ye the whole time.”
Alasdair grinned at Evan. “Nice puppies, eh?”
“Did ye ken about this?” Evan waved at the puppies, who had apparently worn themselves out and were now all sound asleep in a pile.
“Aye, I did.”
“I’m so sorry, my laird. My dog decided to give birth along the way. I thought we had more time.” Mrs. Fraser fidgeted with her skirts and looked back and forth between him and Katie.
“’Tis all right, Mrs. Fraser. Nature tends to do things on her own schedule.” Katie smiled warmly at the puppies, and he knew he was in trouble. The lass seeme
d to have a soft heart for not just people but animals. Animals that should be kept out of the castle. A dog or two he would allow, but a goat and a horde of puppies? Nay. ’Twas time to put his foot down.
He was turning to Katie to lay down the law when she looked up at him, eyes gleaming. Her lovely lips in a slight smile. “Isn’t that right, Laird?”
Evan squeezed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Alasdair’s snort brought him up short, and he glared at his brother. “Ye can build a cage or whatever ye wish to keep these puppies secure.” He raised his voice and looked Katie, Mrs. Fraser, Gavin, and Alasdair in the eyes. “In the stables. Do I make myself clear?”
Several mumbled ayes followed.
“Now, Mistress Stirling, we must depart.”
“Oh dear; I just remembered yer brother said Mr. MacDuff was here. I must speak with him.” Katie rushed off before he could stop her. Then, like the fool he was where the lass was concerned, he trailed behind her to the door where MacDuff and two other men stood talking.
“How is yer wife and the bairn this afternoon, Mr. MacDuff?”
Two bloodshot eyes looked back at Katie. “Freya is a bit worn out, but the bairn seems fine. Especially if measured by the strength of his lungs.”
Katie smiled and placed her hands on her hips. “And ye, Mr. MacDuff. How are ye feeling? The last time I saw ye, ye were hugging an empty whisky bottle.”
The man’s face grew red, and he looked down at his feet. “Aye. I apologize for that, mistress. ’Twas a bad thing for me to do with Freya suffering so, but so hard to listen to her cries and not be able to do anything for her.”
Katie placed her hand on his arm. “It might make ye feel better to ken that just about every husband I’ve ever encountered during a childbirth used the same method to dull the pain.”
“Thank ye. Also, I want to thank ye for helping my wife out. She was scared and even though Mrs. MacCabe delivered many a bairn in her day, Freya was a bit concerned that she was getting on in years.”
“I’m glad everything went well. I’ll stop by and see Freya sometime today to make sure everything is as it should be.”
The man nodded his thanks and turned to leave.
Katie called him back. “Go to the kitchen and ask Cook to mix up the drink I told her about for those feeling poorly after a night of drinking. ’Twill help with yer headache and upset stomach.”
The young man grinned at her, his cheeks growing rosy. “Aye. Thank ye, mistress.”
“We must be off now, Katie. ’Tis growing late, and I want to visit as many cottages as we can. We have to move these people into their own homes.” Evan opened the door to find at least twenty people coming up the path, dragging cows and goats, along with a mess of bairns carrying cats and tugging on dogs.
Chapter Sixteen
Katie studied the crowd of people trooping up the pathway and glanced sideways at Evan. His expression was not hard to read, and she needed to jump in before the steam coming out of the man’s ears led to an explosion.
She walked up to the group, her arms open in welcome. “Fàilte, everyone. Welcome. I’m so glad ye made it safe and sound.”
“Not too sound, Mistress.” Mr. Adam Stirling walked up to her, twisting his cap in his hands. “My wee lad fell out of a tree this morning trying to rescue his sister’s kitten, and I think he might have broken something.”
“Ach, nay.” Katie hurried toward the cart with young Brandon lying there, his wee face twisted with pain. “Brandon, love. What did ye do?”
She didn’t need to turn around to ken the sigh that almost blew the hair off her head came from Evan. “Lass, we need to leave.”
She closed her eyes and drew on her patience. “It won’t take me long to examine the lad and fix him up. No more than an hour.”
“An hour! God’s toes, it’s already well past noon.”
Katie rounded on him. “I am a healer. What would ye have me do, my laird? Allow the poor bairn to suffer while we have tea and biscuits with the neighbors?”
His expression went from anger to resignation. “Nay.” He ran his fingers through his hair. More strands were pulled from his queue. He might as well unfasten the whole thing. She did wonder how the man still had locks on his head for the amount of times she’d seen him do that.
“Ye can go by yerself.” She turned as if to dismiss him, but he grabbed her shoulder and turned her back to him. “One hour. Then I will drag ye out of the castle. Ye ken?” The anger had returned.
Silence fell from the group as they all eyed this large man who was threatening their mistress. Grumbles erupted from some of the men, and a few of them fisted their hands and looked as if they intended to inflict physical harm on Evan. For as grateful as she was for their protective reaction, she kenned that it would surely take more than a few farmers to fell the Highlander.
She held her hand up to the crowd. “Nay, ’tis all right.” She turned to Evan and, trying very hard to not look as though she wanted to throttle the man herself, held out her hand. “This is Laird Evan MacNeil.”
At the raised eyebrows that greeted her statement, she quickly added, “’Tis a slight misunderstanding about the ownership of the castle that the laird and I are working out.”
The clansmen looked back and forth between her and Evan. Katie continued, “’Tis more important for us to get wee Brandon taken care of. The rest of ye can see Mrs. Brody, the housekeeper, who will find a place for ye to settle.”
“I thought we would all have our own cottages,” Mr. Michael Stirling called out from the back of the group.
“Aye, ye will. But it won’t be right away.”
Evan stepped in front of her. “I am yer laird. Ye will listen to what I say because time is growing short for the things yer mistress and I need to accomplish. We are visiting with the local tenants and villagers to see how many empty cottages there are for ye to move yer families into. In the meantime, ye will have to stay in the castle. If there are no more bedchambers, ye will have to make due with the floor in the Great Hall.”
Grumbling started again, and Evan held up his hand. “Cease! Ye will listen to all I have to say.” Mothers pulled their children close, and the men stood taller. But no one looked as if they planned to naysay their laird. Silence reigned.
He nodded and continued. “Ye will bring no animals into the castle. Ye will leave them with Mr. MacDuff in the stable.”
“What about my kitty? She always sleeps with me. She will cry.” Her eyes filled with tears, Amelia Stirling, sister to Brandon, clutched her kitten and almost fell over backward, attempting to look up into Evan’s face.
Evan turned to Katie, absolute terror written on his face. Apparently, the man was big and blustering, but when it came to a wee lass’s tears, he was terrified. Big oaf.
“Aye, I am the laird’s brother, Alasdair. I will help ye all get settled.” Alasdair, who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, knelt in front of Amelia. “Ye can keep yer kitty with ye.” He looked up at Evan. “Isn’t that right, laird?”
Evan nodded briefly and turned on his heel, striding through the Great Hall toward the library, a trail of loud grumbles left behind. Just as he reached the library door, he shouted over his shoulder. “One hour!”
Despite her best intentions, ’twas more like an hour and a half before Katie joined Evan in the library. An empty whisky glass sat on the desk in front of him, but his eyes were focused on a ledger. He turned the page, then looked up at her. “Are ye ready? Is all well with the lad?”
“Aye.”
He slammed the book shut and stood. “Ye fixed him up?”
“Aye. It was broken, so I had to calm him down, then stabilize the arm. Poor lad. ’Tis going to be verra hard for his mum to keep him from moving it.”
When they arrived at the stable, ’twas in chaos. Alasdair and Gavin were attemptin
g to put together some sort of cage for the puppies, who ran all around with MacDuff chasing them from the doorway with a broom. “Get away from there, ye bloody animals!”
“Mr. MacDuff, language please.” Katie scooped up one of the puppies and deposited him on a stack of hay, only to have him race once again for the door. Several of the newly arrived children were attempting to calm their animals, who were screeching and wailing in a new place.
Mrs. Fraser raced after the pup and lifted him above her head, cursing him in Gaelic. Hopefully, the young children had not yet learned the language. Or at least, those words.
Evan looked as though he was ready to bellow loud enough to bring the roof down. He stomped over to his horse and waved Mr. MacDuff off. “I’ll tack him myself.” Katie followed suit, and when they were finished, they left the stable, leading the horses through a web of bodies and confusion.
Evan helped her onto her horse, jumped on his, and rode off as if the demons of hell were on his heels. It took her a few minutes to catch up to him, and she was out of breath when she did. “Whatever is wrong with ye?”
“Wrong with me? I live in chaos. The noise is enough to drive a man off the edge of a cliff. How do ye stand it?”
Katie shrugged. “I dinnae concern myself with disorder.”
“Disorder! The entire castle and stable are a madhouse of pandemonium. I’m sure Culloden was quieter.” He kept up his rapid pace, which made it difficult for Katie to hear him, but she thought that’s what he’d said.
She didn’t try to ask where they were headed, just followed his lead. Eventually, they rode over a hill and before them, spread out, were dozens of cottages dotting the hillside. Their thatched roofs glowed in the sunlight. The whitewashed walls and white sheep grazing the area gave it a look of an artfully painted picture.
They both slowed their horses. “’Tis verra relaxing,” she said.
“Aye.” Evan sat back in his saddle. She could see his body easing as he gazed out at the sight. He turned to her, a grin on his face. The first one of the day. “After the chaos we just left, warriors attacking the castle would be relaxing.” With a laugh, he moved forward. But at a much slower pace.
A Scot to Wed (Scottish Hearts) Page 11