Page 37 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

“I will, Sorsha.” He grabbed a satchel from the peg by the entrance of the keep that he kept there in case he ever needed to make quick travel.

Shaw pulled the large strap over his head and hurried to the kitchens.

Inside, he rummaged through the shelves and packed some foodstuff for his journey.

Mistress Edra entered and after he explained about his departure, she handed him two flasks of ale and an empty one for water.

“Worry not for Milady or the wee ones. I shall watch over them,” she said as she walked him to the door.

“My thanks, Mistress. Ye always take good care of us.” Shaw bowed to her and left, walking quickly on the lane toward the gate. Walen and Henny approached and stopped him.

Walen said, “Trey told us that we are leaving.”

“Aye, except I wish for ye and Henny to watch over my family. Will ye stay?”

His comrade groaned. “I would do as ye bade, Laird, but och ye know that I want to get away for a bit. Can we not have my brother stay? I will take his place.”

“I would feel better if ye stayed and kept Sorsha safe for me.” Shaw suspected he’d receive some backlash from his comrade.

He’d told him earlier that he wanted to get away from his emotional wife.

Still, Walen was the fiercest fighter within the Mackintosh clan and he wanted such a man to protect his family.

“I am not pleased, Laird, but of course I obey. Henny and I will ensure Milady and the children are kept safe. I wish ye safe travels but hurry the hell back.” Walen gripped Henny’s arm and they walked off.

Shaw was about to retreat to the stable to retrieve his horse when Trey came forward holding his warhorse’s reins.

He mounted his horse but didn’t wait for his soldiers.

They’d catch up to him. His horse cantered ahead and he enjoyed the peacefulness of the late summer afternoon.

The sun shone in its brilliance, with rays streaking through the leaves of the overhead trees.

Shaw often found peace in such a view, on such a ride, but this day, he hoped the meeting didn’t hold bad tidings.

Then he debated the issue of whether to tell his allies about Geoff’s crime of murdering not only his chieftain but his own brother.

Such a thing was not condoned in the Highlands.

Honor above all held its weight, especially with allied clans.

Shaw decided to wait until the meeting to rationalize whether he should reveal such a dreadful happening to his comrades.

Perhaps his allied brethren already found out about Geoff’s atrocious deed.

If that was the case, then he might have to decide whether to go against his cousin and side with the coalition.

Family or not, Shaw would have to side with the alliances.

He slowed his horse to a trot and most of the soldiers caught up to him.

Trey remained silent but watchful on the ride.

It took them almost half a day to reach the border of his land.

By the time they approached the crossing of his land and MacPherson’s, the sky had dimmed to dusk.

At the bottom of a hill surrounded by large crags, fires lit the fabric of tents that speckled the landscape.

It appeared many had shown themselves for the apparently important gathering.

Shaw stopped his horse and dismounted. When Trey jumped from his mount, he handed him the reins. “I will go and find out what’s going on. Make camp and have the men be watchful.”

Trey nodded and shouted out commands to the soldiers.

He marched off to find MacPherson and passed by many clans aligned with his: the Mackenzies, the Campbells, and the MacPhails.

None of their leaders sat with the men which gave the notion that the meeting was being held without him.

Shaw quickened his steps and found the MacPherson men a short distance away.

He hurried toward the tent of their leader and was stopped by two guards.

“I am Laird Mackintosh.”

As soon as he spoke his name, the guards rushed to pull back the tent opening.

He was waved inside and Shaw ducked beneath the overhead flap.

Inside, many candles lit the confines. It appeared cozy and calm.

No voices were raised in the debate and the conversation was amiable.

That was a good thing, Shaw suspected, since he had time to figure out how to dissuade them from attacking the Chattans.

Shaw spotted Alan MacPherson who sat upon a thick cushion at a short-legged table. Supper had been served and all seemed to be enjoying the fare. Most drank and chatted. On his approach, all were silenced and their eyes fell on him.

“Ah, ye decided to join us, Laird Mackintosh.” Alan waved him forward. “Come, there is a spot near me. Someone get Laird Mackintosh a trencher and a cup of ale.”

Before he sat at the designated place, a servant rushed forward and set a full trencher of food on the table.

Then a cup of ale was thrust into his hand.

Shaw dipped his chin in thanks to the servants and sat upon the cushion.

He folded his legs and sipped at the ale, waiting for Alan to begin his questioning.

When most had finished the meal, Alan used his cup to bang on the table.

He cleared his throat and called everyone’s attention.

“Comrades, we have come together this day to discuss what we are going to do about the Chattans’ blatant force and their desire to take over our lands.

The Camerons have reported that the Chattans have threatened to build a wall on their land so their damnable sheep might graze upon the fertile grasses that belong to the Camerons. ”

Voices bellowed objections.

“Now, not only have the Chattans tried to overtake the Cameron land, but they have threatened to encroach on our lands as well. We must put a stop to it. Then there are the rumors that Geoff killed his brother to put his plan of overtaking us into motion. Mackintosh is finally here and we can put the question to him. What say ye, Mackintosh?”

Shaw had just taken a sip of his ale and gingerly set his cup on the table in front of him.

He took his time, eyeing each man around the table.

Most were allies except for MacPherson and the Frasers, although they weren’t allied, they weren’t rivals either.

There had been no discord betwixt their clans—but that didn’t mean he trusted any of the men sitting around the table.

“Well, Mackintosh, did Geoff murder his brother? Do ye keep silent because of your relation to the Chattans? Whose side do ye wish to be on when this war is begun? Ours or your supposed family’s?”

The moment was at hand for him to speak the truth.

As much as he wanted to protect his mother’s family, he had to do the right thing.

With a nod, he affirmed their suspicion.

“I am related to the Chattans through my mother as well ye know, but she has gone to the hereafter. Her father, my grandda, would have been disappointed by what Geoff has done, not only to his own brother but also to my wife and her daughter. He deserves whatever ye wish to dole out and I declare that I am on your side—the side of righteousness.” Shaw swallowed and waited.

After a brief moment, a resounding cheer arose.

Alan held up his hand for silence. “I proclaim that it was Geoff who instigated the Cummings’ overtaking of the lands given to your sister and her husband, the Dunbars.

At one time, those lands belonged to the MacPhersons.

The Dunbars had no right to overtake our lands and we must decide how we will proceed. ”

Voices rose in a clamor of agreement. Some bellowed ‘war’ and some called for Geoff’s death. They were a bloodthirsty lot and full of vengeance. Shaw understood their need for retribution because he too wanted to seek justice for Sorsha and for Gillian, not to mention for his cousin Rodick.

“We will besiege Castle Tor and hold it until that damnable man gives himself up. We, good sirs, shall war with the Chattans at long last,” Alan said with his voice full of malice.

Shaw stood. “Before ye all hail off to war, I would remind ye that it is harvest time. Our clans will soon begin harvesting our crops and we need the food to refill our stores for winter. This is not a good time to take up arms. Our crofters and farmers need our assistance. We cannot leave for such a war which undoubtedly could be drawn out. I say we wait until our harvest season is finished. We should set a day to execute this plan.”

All watched him with interest and none voiced their objection. Some nodded in agreement.

Alan grumbled. “What ye speak is true, Mackintosh. Aye, we should handle our clan’s business before we seek to go off to war. Och, by then though the weather will be cold, and ’tis unusual to take up arms in such weather. The Chattans will not expect to be besieged.”

“Ye all want retribution.” Shaw glanced around at the men staring at him. Their heads bobbed. “Many wars are fought in the cold season. We will prevail and shall meet a fortnight after the Michaelmas feast. Will that suit all?”

Again, the men bobbed their heads.

“Then ’tis settled. We will go forth in war against the Chattans two weeks after the feast of Saint Michael. All those in favor?” Alan counted the hands raised. He needn’t have bothered since all were in agreement.

Shaw retook his spot at the table, finished the hearty meal, and drank more ale.

The night pressed on and he wasn’t in much of a rush to leave since they wouldn’t head home until the morrow.

Most had finished eating and some had already left the tent to seek their rest. He hoped to speak to Alan about Geoff’s ill deed.

Alan waved off the remaining men at the table. When they vacated, he spoke low. “I too wanted to speak to ye in private, Mackintosh. I know this must be difficult for ye, going against your mother’s family. But crimes were committed and we must seek justice.”

“I agree.” He poured more ale into Alan’s cup and waited for him to say more.

“Can ye tell me what happened? What do ye know about him murdering his brother?”

Shaw hadn’t spoken to anyone about what Sorsha had told him.

He had to make Alan understand that soon, he alone would seek vengeance against Geoff.

“My wife, who was previously married to Rodick Chattan, witnessed Geoff murder him. She walked in on their row and Geoff had stabbed him. She accused him of murder and he had her daughter taken from her with the threat that if she spoke of what happened, she’d never see her daughter again.

Then she was imprisoned for months until she was able to gain the aid of Queen Margaret. ”

“Glory be. So Geoff murders men, holds women captive, and uses children to gain his twisted desires. Aye, he deserves what is coming to him, Mackintosh.”

“I will be the one to end his life.”

Alan frowned at him and with a shake of his head, said, “His life will be ended, but och, we know not who will inflict his final wound.”

Shaw pounded the table with his fist. “It will be me. I will be the one to end his life. I want it known and ye should tell all that side with us that none are to use their blades against him.”

“Very well.” Alan shook his hand, making good on their accord.

He stood and stepped back from the table. “I am going to seek my rest with my soldiers. On the morrow, we will head out early.”

Alan held out his hand and Shaw helped him to rise. “My thanks. These old bones get stiffer the longer I sit. What is the reason ye rush home? We should spend the next day or so planning the besiegement.”

“A warm bed and a sweet wife are awaiting me. Och, I can stay a day or two if ye want to go over the strategy.” Shaw hadn’t considered that the machinations would be planned right then but it probably was best to have a sound plan in place.

Alan chuckled. “I heard the king betrothed ye.” He chortled. “But I suspect, ye are not displeased by this. We should all be as fortunate as to have a sweet wife awaiting us and warming our beds.”

Shaw regretted speaking of marriage then at Alan’s somber words. “I was sorry, Laird MacPherson, when we received word of your wife’s death.”

Alan set a hand on his shoulder. “Aye, she’s been gone nearly two years now. There’s not a day that goes by that I do not miss her. Hearing ye speak of your wife reminds me of the love we shared. Ye must hold much love for your wife to want to seek vengeance on her behalf.”

Love? Shaw bowed his head but didn’t retort to Alan’s conjecture.

Their discussion forced him to admit something he’d put off for the last months.

He’d always been infatuated with Sorsha because of her beauty, kind heartedness, and sweet ways.

That infatuation had grown to a love he’d never expected. Aye, he loved his wife.

“If ye want to go, then do so. We will prevail and come up with a sound plan of attack. Perhaps we might even beget peace for us all after Geoff is gone, God willing.”

Shaw nodded and hoped Alan’s prediction came true. Peace in the Highlands sounded good to him. “Nay, I will stay for a day or two. As ye said, I know the grounds of Castle Tor better than anyone here.”

Alan’s grin widened. “Good. We shall use your knowledge to our benefit and then I shall see ye at Braigh Loch Abar in late October.”