Page 36 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

A s the days of summer passed, peace had settled amongst his clan.

Even his sister seemed more cordial and had befriended Sorsha.

He kept busy and trained with his soldiers.

Corliss’s husband likewise joined the men on the field in the afternoons and took to practice arms. Idris made no further disparaging remarks about their ability to protect the clan, and his clansmen didn’t much bother with his brother-in-law.

Shaw enjoyed the recent days and spent time with the children and enjoyed the nights with Sorsha.

Soon the long days would grow shorter and the harvest would be upon them. It was a busy time of year with the reaping of the crops, the final shearing of sheep so their fleece would grow in before the cold season came upon them, and making preparations for the long winter.

Shaw stretched and leaned over Sorsha’s body. He set a light kiss on her lips and tried not to awaken her but her eyes fluttered open. “Good morn, my bonny wife.”

“’Tis morn already?” She moaned. “I am still tired.”

He chuckled at her sleepiness. “Ye should try to take more rest this day. Allow Enid to watch the children.”

“I shall,” she muttered and rolled to her side. She watched him as he readied for the day.

Shaw pulled a tunic over his head and tied the neckline closed. He then rolled the sleeves and wrapped a tartan around his waist. As he pulled the belt around him, he fastened it and pulled his sword from the floorboard. Once he sheathed it in the belt, he took a deep breath.

“I should go. ’Tis likely Mamo is at the graves. I will fetch her and then I will meet with Trey to go over the day’s schedule. There are also the crofters that need to be visited. ’Tis a busy time.”

“I can go and get Mamo if you wish,” Sorsha said groggily.

“Nay, sweetheart, ye keep sleeping. I’ll fetch her. I thought to leave the keep this day because the sentry reported men riding through our northern land.”

Sorsha flung her arm out and grabbed hold of his hand. “You will not war, will you?”

He hastily shook his head. “I want to make certain that whoever they were left the area. ’Tis naught to worry about.” To reassure her, he pressed another kiss on her lips. “Now, sleep and dream of me.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. Shaw grinned to himself.

His wife pleased him more than he deserved or ever thought was possible.

With quick steps, he left the bedchamber and hurried outside.

The air was warm and it hadn’t gotten too chilly overnight.

Mamo wouldn’t need her shawl. As he passed his clansmen, he dipped his chin in greeting but continued.

At the gate, Clovis shouted a greeting. “Laird, fine day. Mistress Maven left a short time ago. She did not spend the night there.”

“My thanks, Clovis. I will return shortly.” Shaw turned his gaze and searched for Henny, certain his soldier would try to sneak attack him again. The soldier wasn’t nearby so Shaw let his guard down. When he crossed the bridge, he ran into Walen who smiled in greeting.

“Where are ye off to, Shaw?”

“I need to retrieve Mamo. She’s at the graves again. I will be taking a ride later this morn if ye want to join me. The sentry reported riders passing on our northern border. I want to make sure they are gone.”

“Aye, I will ask a few men to join us. It will be good to get away from the keep for a bit.” Walen pressed his hands through his unruly blond hair.

“Is your wife perchance giving ye hell?”

“I vow that pregnant women are confounding. One minute she is smiling and full of mirth and the next sour and indignant. I think the woman has gone maddened and I could use a wee bit of time away.”

Shaw bellowed a laugh. “Aye, then meet me by the gate.”

He continued on and as he approached the small hills that led to the graves, he spotted his grandmother sitting before his grandfather’s cross. Shaw didn’t speak as he neared in case she was praying but she heard him.

With her gaze fastened on the wooden cross, she said, “I heard ye approach. Come and sit with me.”

Shaw knelt and then sat on the sparsely grassed area. “I thought I would find ye asleep again but Clovis said ye had only left.”

“When I join your grandda, I want ye to promise to erect a new cross with both our names etched on it.” She set small stones around the base of the cross.

“If it pleases ye, Mamo, I will. Come, we should return.”

“Ye know, lad, ye are so akin to your grandda. He was a good man and so are ye. I see how ye are with Lady Sorsha and the children. Ye are a sound leader too, fair, and yet tough.”

“I try to be,” he said and wondered why she was telling him such things.

“There is some strife right now concerning land rights that I want to rectify before the harvest comes. Och, I am unsure if I can. Many clans are against the Chattans, Mamo, and I find myself torn in my loyalty to my mother’s kin. ”

She patted his hand. “’Tis because ye seek to honor your mother.

Your grandda, Laird Chattan, was an honorable man unlike his sons, your own mother’s brothers.

They seek to use force to gain what they want instead of bartering.

’Tis the way of the Highlands though. Only the strong survive, I’m afraid. ”

“If my allies wish to go against the Chattans, I might have to… And then there is the truth that Geoff murdered his brother. He says he had to but to do so…to murder your own blood. What Geoff put Sorsha through and her daughter… It has taken all my will not to go to him, to confront him, and to enact vengeance for my wife and daughter.” Shaw hadn’t meant to say so much but his words spilled out as if they were a cliffside waterfall.

“My sons have never been agreeable which is why I wanted to reside here with my daughter. Shaw, all men seek vengeance when their loved ones are threatened. But I tell ye this, son, gaining vengeance’s reward can be bittersweet.”

Shaw rose and held his hand out for his grandmother. She took it and he helped her to rise. “What do ye mean, Mamo?”

“If and when ye seek your vengeance, ye may not like the repercussions.” She linked her arm with his and walked slowly beside him.

“I shall join my dearest husband soon, Shaw, and I tell ye this only to prepare ye for such. Make sure the cross is changed and I have left a small satchel of items I wish to take with me. ’Tis in my bedchamber in the small trunk beside the hearth. ”

Shaw didn’t want to agree with her because he didn’t want her to go to the afterlife.

Yet, he had no choice but to nod. Along the rest of the walk, he kept quiet.

Mamo gripped his arm a few times when they had to traverse a hilly area.

At the bridge, Mamo stopped him and peered at the glistening waters flowing rapidly beneath the wooden structure.

“Ye see, my lad, every path in life has a bridge. The journey is in crossing it, which we all must do. Allow me to do so in peace and be not saddened when I go.” She raised her eyes and smiled.

“I want ye to know, Mamo, that I appreciate everything ye have done for me. Ye took care of me when my parents died, raised me to be honorable, and loved me.” Shaw set a gentle hand on her shoulder. “If ’tis peace ye seek then ye shall have it.”

She nodded and continued. At the gates to the fief, she strolled onward toward the keep. Shaw stood and watched her, certain his Mamo planned to leave him very soon. That dismayed him more than she knew, but he understood her desire to be with his grandda.

“Laird, ye received a missive,” Clovis said and jarred him from his thoughts.

He held out his hand and quickly opened the sealed parchment.

SM– We meet with our allied brethren to discuss forthcoming plans. Meet us at the crossing of your land and ours. Yours, AM

AM… He thought for a moment and realized Alan MacPherson had assembled his allies.

Although he wasn’t in an alliance with him, some of his allies were and so he needed to be mindful of that.

Shaw folded the parchment and whistled to Trey who stood down the lane.

His commander sprinted toward him and stopped near the watchman’s post.

“Laird, what is it? Walen told me ye intend to leave to go in search of interlopers. Do ye wish me to come?”

“Aye, Trey, and we will need more men to go with us. The MacPherson wants to meet and he’s called his allies together.

We will be gone at least a sennight so pack what we will need.

Find Walen and Henny and have them come to me.

” Shaw left them and walked sprightly toward the keep.

He needed to let Sorsha know that he’d be gone for a time.

When he entered, he found her sitting by the dark hearth, sewing a garment.

The sight of his sweet wife doing such a chore lightened him.

Shaw grinned and ambled forward until he reached her chair.

He knelt in front of her and took hold of her sewing.

He set it aside on a nearby table and placed his hands on the delicate cheeks of her face.

He kissed her passionately and groaned softly when she responded ardently. Shaw forced himself to pull back. “I am leaving the keep and shall be gone longer than I thought. My allies plan to meet and the discussions may take some time. Och, I want your promise not to worry.”

She pressed her hands on his shoulders. “I will not worry.”

“I shall leave Walen and Henny here to protect ye, along with a score of soldiers. We’ll have the gates closed until my return. That might upset Mamo.”

“I shall explain to her why the gates are closed. Do we expect trouble whilst you are gone?”

“There is no reason to believe we would expect trouble, but ’tis better to be prepared.”

Sorsha set a light kiss on his mouth and shifted back. “Safe journey and return hastily, Shaw.”