Page 33 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Gillian resembled her mother in her looks from her long, flowing brown hair to the rosy hue of her skin, to the shade of her bonny brown eyes. But Gillian was wee and couldn’t be as high as his waist. Her wee steps drew her closer and her movement was graceful.
She quite enchanted him so much so that he’d almost forgotten to take a breath. Sorsha’s daughter was beyond beautiful.
As she walked forward, she folded her hands in front of her and kept her gaze on Geoff. There was something in her gaze that drew his interest. Her brown eyes were widened and unblinking as if she tried to see everything around her. Gillian was afraid. Worse, as she drew closer, her fear was evident, not only in her eyes but also in the rigidness of her shoulders and gait. That a child of her age would fear Geoff suddenly angered him. Shaw wanted to chastise his cousin for scaring the lass.
When she reached them, she stopped and continued to keep her gaze fixed on Geoff. Shaw waited to hear her voice, knowing she’d sound as beautiful as the angels in heaven, but she said naught.
Geoff’s voice was as gruff as if he addressed one of his men, not at all as gentle as one would use when speaking to a wee lass. “Gillian, this is Laird Mackintosh. Ye will go with him now.”
That was all the explanation his cousin imparted.What an arse.The terrified child had to wonder why she’d go with him or who he was. Shaw knelt on his knee before her and she returned her gaze to him.
“I am Laird Shaw, lass, and am your ma’s new husband. She wishes for your return to her and I am here to take ye…” For a brief moment, Shaw thought he noted a twitch of her lips as if she wanted to smile, but she remained staid and still.
“Ye be a good lass and listen to Laird Shaw,” Geoff instructed. To him, he said, “The lass oft tells falsehoods so do not listen to her if she tells tales.”
Shaw disbelieved Geoff would say such, especially about someone the man deemed insignificant. He was certain his cousin held no regard for his niece. Shaw motioned to the lass. “Come, Gillian, we shall leave. I am certain ye wish to see your mother and I know she is anxious to see ye too.” He held out his hand but she made no move to take his. With a sigh, he took her hand and gently forced her to walk with him.
Before he left the hall, Geoff called out, “Remember our pact, Shaw. If I need your support, I expect ye to come and give aid.”
He nodded but didn’t retort. As quickly as he could, he left the castle and his men met him in the courtyard. Shaw mounted his horse and motioned to Trey to lift Gillian to sit before him. He set his arm around her small body to protect her and to keep her from falling.
“Your ma was worried for ye, lass. Are ye happy to be going to her?”
Gillian said nothing, but her wee body tensed.
Shaw wondered why she didn’t reply but then he realized the lass didn’t know him. Perhaps she was shy and rarely spoke at all. In time, Gillian would come to trust him. He’d make certain that she did, and one day, he hoped that she would be her winsome self.
Chapter Twelve
By the GreatGlen, he slowed his mount and waited for Trey to approach. Shaw handed him Gillian before dismounting. When his feet hit the ground, his comrade thrust the wee lass back to him. Gillian’s eyes remained closed, and she appeared to be sleeping. He held her and walked toward his allies who camped a short distance away. A fire lit the tree canopies and sent warmth to him as he neared.
“Set a tartan here for Gillian,” he told Trey. His comrade complied with his request and grabbed another. Shaw set the lass on it and then covered her. He hoped to reach home before night completely darkened the sky but he had to give the account of his meeting to his allies.
“Someone get Laird Mackintosh a wee dram,” Kenneth Mackenzie said.
Colin Campbell motioned to one of his men who handed him a cup and Shaw took it. He sat next to the lass and kept his voice low. “I am afraid that I called ye here for naught.”
“Och, so your meeting went well then?” Colin asked.
“Aye.” Shaw wasn’t sure how much to divulge because he was sure Geoff spoke falsely about his brother’s death and why he’d kept Sorsha’s child in his care. There was definitely something amiss about both situations.
“What did he say?” Kenneth asked.
“He claims that someone entered the castle and murdered Rodick.” Shaw took a sip of the drink and the weight of his meeting with Geoff eased. Now that he had Gillian, there were no more ties to the Chattans for Sorsha. His one wish was that he could retract his alliance with them, but it hadn’t been the moment. His main focus had been to get away with the child. Instead, he’d bide his time and if or when he was called to honor it, he’d decide whether a war was worth his pact with his mother’s relatives.
Colin scoffed and blew a harsh breath. “’Tis unbelievable. How could someone enter Tor without being noticed? What did ye witness when he rode through? Was his keep secure? How many guards were there?”
“None could get past the watch that I noted but that is not to say that they could do so easily when Rodick was laird. Who knows what the situation was then? Mayhap their security was lacking? Still, I am skeptical about it because Geoff did not explain except to say that someone stole inside and murdered his brother. He didn’t seem unnerved or anxious for vengeance.”
Trey grunted. “Surely the watch would have been alerted before the wrongdoer absconded after the deed. They would’ve easily apprehended the culprit.”
“Och perhaps they did not discover Rodick’s body in time and the assailant had already fled?” He shrugged. They may never know. “It matters not now. I thank ye both for coming,” Shaw said to Colin and Kenneth. “And for giving me aid and awaiting me. I am beholden to ye. Should ye need me, just send word. I will always honor our pact but I cannot say the same of the Chattans. Something is amiss and I am not able to trust Geoff even though he is my kin.”
His comrades inclined their heads. Colin said, “Then we shall be off.”
“I want to get home afore the night grows too dark,” Kenneth said, “Back to my warm bed.”
His allies assembled their men and set off on the lanes in the direction of their lands. Shaw appreciated their support. They’d been allies for a good many years and he trusted them, not only in the face of war, but as comrades, and men.