Page 42 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

I n the fortnight since Mamo’s laying to rest, Sorsha had tried her best to cheer her husband.

He finally seemed to come around and was his old self.

Now Sorsha sat in the comfortable chair by the hearth where a good fire blazed.

Gillian sat on her lap and Luthor sat on the floor.

She cherished the quiet moments spent with Shaw and the children.

“Will ye tell us again about the mountain and the squirrel?” Luthor asked.

“Aye, Mama, tell us about the bun and how smart she was.” Gillian giggled.

Sorsha agreed and recited the story again. The children were enthralled by it and she loved the message the story conveyed—that no matter how big or small you were, you were just as important as anyone else.

She regarded Shaw across the great hall.

Walen had entered and quietly conversed with him.

His comrade handed him a folded parchment.

With a wave of his hand, Shaw invited Walen to sit at the table.

Shaw opened the missive and his brows lowered as he read it.

Whatever the message conveyed wasn’t pleasant.

He and Walen continued to talk but Sorsha couldn’t hear them.

A short time later, Walen nodded at whatever Shaw told him. He bowed to her and left the hall.

Shaw stood and approached. “Sweetheart, Walen and I were just talking about taking the trek to the crofters. If ye do not wish to go, I can take some men with me and be quick about it.”

Sorsha lifted Gillian from her lap, setting the child on her feet before she herself stood. The children ran off and chased each other at the other end of the hall. “I thought you wanted me to come along.”

“I do,” he said.

“Then I shall go.” She watched his face as he seemed to consider her request.

“I am supposed to meet with my allies soon so there will be no time to meet with all the crofters. We shall visit only a few and return home. I will send the sentry to convey the tax situation to the others.” He nodded as if he’d seemed to come to a reasonable conclusion.

“You did not mention that you needed to meet with your allies again so soon. Is there a reason? Can it not be delayed so that you can visit with your clansmen? I recall you saying that you met to reaffirm alliances. Was there another reason for a gathering so soon?” Sorsha hoped he’d explain that there was no intent to war.

“I, ah…forgot to tell ye that we planned to meet at the end of October. I thought I would be finished visiting the crofters och with Mamo’s passing…”

She grabbed his hand and held it. “I understand, Shaw. Was that the message you received, from your allies regarding the meeting? Are they insistent on you joining them?”

Shaw hastily shook his head. “Nay, the message was from Tor but I cannot attend to it right now. I will meet with my allies after the visit to the crofters. They will await me. We shall leave this day in a short time. I would prefer it if ye stayed here.”

Sorsha released his hand and stepped back. “There is plenty of light left this day and we can at least journey to the first croft. Perhaps we can fit in more than a few and then you can make the journey to meet with your allies. I still want to come though if you will allow me.”

Shaw took hold of her hips and pulled her body toward his. He embraced her tightly and leaned his head against hers. She hoped he didn’t disappoint her because she so wanted to go and meet his clan. As the laird’s wife, it was important to her.

He drew in a sigh and said, “I shall make ready for the trip and prepare the men. Trey will stay with most of the soldiers to protect the fief. Ye should have Enid stay with the children whilst we are away. We will leave shortly. Meet me at the stables.” He kissed her passionately, pulled away, and turned but stopped when his sister and her husband entered the great hall.

“Did I just hear ye say that ye will be leaving? Are ye going to travel to the crofters? Ye said we could come. I really want to go and it would be good for Idris to see how ye deal with your people.” Corliss stood before Shaw and waited for him to reply. “Please, Shaw, it is important to me.”

“Aye, go then and get ready. We shall leave hastily because I cannot afford a delay in our return.” Shaw passed Corliss and left the hall.

Sorsha called to the children. “Come, we are going to the kitchens. You will have your supper there this night.” She didn’t speak to Corliss and shuffled the children from the hall to the back entrance of the keep.

At the kitchen entry, she opened the door and found Edra humming while stirring a heavy pot on the fire in the cooking hearth.

Enid sat at the worktable and appeared to be slicing vegetables.

“Good day. Enid, I must travel with Shaw and wondered if you would watch the children for me?” Sorsha glanced at the children and warned, “Do not get too close to that fire. Sit yonder by the shelf.” Luthor flinched and turned away from the flames.

“Oh, Milady, I would be pleased to. I shall take them back to the keep and we will play games until ’tis time for supper. Mama has me toiling away here slicing vegetables but I would rather not.” Enid chuckled. “Mama, Milady needs me.”

“Hmm. Very well, go, lass.”

Before Enid collected the children, Sorsha approached them.

She had taken two sweet rolls from the worktable and handed them to the children.

“Gillian…Luthor… I am going to leave the keep for a few days. Mistress Enid will take good care of you. You must listen to her and be a good lad and lass.” She hugged them gently and pressed her hand on their heads.

“Go on. I want to hear nothing but good things on my return.”

The children nodded and followed Enid from the kitchen. They seemed to enjoy being with the maid. Perhaps because Enid was fun and often spoiled them with treats. Sorsha didn’t like leaving the children, but she needed to support Shaw.

“Ye look like you are about to weep, Milady.”

“Leaving them is difficult.” She returned to the worktable and stood near Edra.

Sorsha smiled. “Will you pack some food for us? We do not need anything lavish. Some ale, bread, and fruit. I am sure the men will hunt on the journey.”

“Aye, I will have one of the soldiers take a sack filled for the laird. I am sure ye must have lots to do to get ready. Safe journey to ye, Milady.” Edra slightly curtseyed and dipped as low as her aged body would allow.

“I shall see ye soon.” Sorsha left and hurried to her bedchamber.

There, she packed garments for herself and Shaw.

She added a heavy woolen tartan and grabbed cloaks for them both.

Although the day was warm, the nights might grow cold.

After she stuffed everything inside a satchel, she practically sprinted to the stables.

When she got there, Shaw stood holding the reins to his horse and another’s. “Ye can ride this mare or travel in the cart.”

She took hold of the reins and smiled. “I would love to ride on the mare. It has been a while since I rode. How far do we ride this day?” She handed Shaw the satchel filled with their garments and he tied it to his horse’s saddle.

“What do ye have in there? ’Tis bulky.” He chuckled.

“I packed some garments for us both.”

Shaw helped her mount the horse and set his hand on her thigh. “We will reach the first crofter by early evening. Then we will make camp and set off early on the morrow for the next.”

“Did Edra send a sack of food? I asked her too.”

He grinned at her. “Aye, lass, she did. My thanks for thinking of it. Och, the soldiers attending us prepared our camp and brought plenty of food. There are two carts full of necessities for our journey.” Shaw mounted his horse and led the way to the gate.

When they reached it, there was an assembly of men awaiting them, about ten or so riders. Walen was amongst them, as well as Henny. Trey appeared put out that he wouldn’t make the trek with them but stood beside Clovis and assured Shaw that their clan was in safe hands.

They rode out and passed the bridge, the sweeping hills beyond, and then entered a sparse forest of trees. Sorsha was happy to be outside, riding in the cool air of the autumn day. That she got to be with Shaw too lightened her. They needed a little diversion to help them get over missing Mamo.

Corliss and her husband rode at the back of the procession, to her relief. Sorsha didn’t want to have to speak with her, certain the horrid woman would have something negative to say, as always. She wanted to enjoy the outing and hoped Shaw did too.

Throughout the afternoon, they rode westerly and only stopped once to rest. The sky was beginning to dim and she hoped they reached their destination soon. Someone from the front of the procession whistled and all came to a stop.

“Is something wrong?” she asked Shaw.

He shook his head. “Nay, we have arrived. This is the croft of Cadger. He produces the most goods of any of our farmers…wool, hay, and wheat.” Shaw nudged his horse forward and tilted his head for her to follow.

Sorsha rode between the soldiers who stopped and moved back to make a lane.

As they got closer to the crofter’s home, her breath ceased in her throat.

Before them sat a lovely two-story stone cottage with painted shutters and a short stone wall that surrounded the abode.

It was an attractive home and idyllic. She could imagine being the wife welcoming her husband home there after a long day out in the fields.

Then she wondered if Cadger was married.

Shaw stopped and dismounted. He hastened to her, set his hands on her waist, and helped her down from her mount. Sorsha shook her feet, trying to alleviate the needles that prickled her and made it impossible to walk.

A burly bald man opened the door to the cottage and bellowed to someone inside. “We have company.” He sauntered forward and reached Shaw. “Laird, ’tis good to see ye. I was not expecting your visit but welcome ye.”