Page 39 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Shaw enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the fief. He got caught up thinking about what else needed to be done before the bonfires would be lit. Then all would join the revelry.
A sudden blow caused Shaw to land with a thud on the ground and he grunted from the force and groaned as pain throbbed in his shoulder. He shut his eyes briefly but when he opened them, he scoffed at the feeling of cold metal pressed against his throat.
“Damnation, Henny, get the hell off me.” Shaw shoved his comrade’s chest and Henny fell back a step.
Henny’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he pulled back his arm, and re-sheathed his dagger. When he stood, he held out his hand to help him rise. Shaw got to his feet, brushed himself off, and glared at his soldier. Yet he couldn’t be irritable with Henny. It wasn’t his soldier’s fault that he wasn’t paying attention this time and had left himself open to an ambush.
“Ye were not ready, Laird.” Henny tapped his head. “Something keeping ye unawares?”
“By my faith, Henny, aye, something like that.” But Shaw wasn’t about to admit to his soldier that he’d let his guard down.
“Ye never know when an evildoer will strike, Laird. Best be ready for attack at all times.”
“I did not know on this day of all days that ye would continue your efforts.” Shaw moaned and rubbed his shoulder, suspecting that he would feel the ache for the next day or two. “Go on withye and get back to your duty.” Before Henny walked away, he called to him. “And my thanks, Henny, for the reminder.”
“Every day, Laird, is the perfect day for the reminder. Beltane or nay…” Henny whistled as he marched off and disappeared beyond the trees.
Shaw continued toward his keep, crossed the bridge, and gave a silent signal to Clovis. Seeing his brethren prepare for the night’s festival brought him a sense of pride. His clan delighted in participating in celebrations. They always ate too much, drank to excess, and danced well into the next day.
His happiness for Walen lightened him too and he looked forward to his friend’s wedding. That was, until he spotted Sorsha sitting on the wall outside the keep. Her face reflected her grimness with a small pout to her usually bonny lips. He approached her.
“’Tis almost time to light the fires. What are ye about out here by yourself?”
Sorsha rose and embraced him. Her hold of him told him that something wasn’t right but until she told him what, he couldn’t imagine what troubled her so. Instead of pressing her, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
After a long moment, she pulled back. “I have had a day.”
Shaw motioned to the wall and bade her to sit with him. He made sure there was enough room for her and took her hand. Sorsha sat and kept her gaze on his face. He smiled to hopefully alleviate whatever bothered her.
“I am worried.”
“I can tell,” he said and bumped her shoulder with his. “Tell me what ye are so worried about? For we are blessed this day and shall celebrate.”
“I do not feel like celebrating because…” Sorsha squeezed his hand and nodded. “Well, I shall tell you. Poor Niahm is…ah, she told me that she is expecting a bairn. I suspect who the father isbut there is no way to persuade him to take her as a wife. What should we do?”
Shaw tilted his head and almost laughed. “Ah…Ye see, sweet wife, there is no need to despair because I have it on good authority that Walen plans to propose to Niahm this day. When the fires are lit, the priest will bless their union. All will be well.”
“However did you work that miracle?” Her smile was splendid.
“Trey and I forced Walen to admit that he loves Niahm and this is the perfect day to form a marriage union for they’ll be blessed by God and our ancestor’s Goddess herself.”
She clapped her hands and her eyes shone briefly until she lowered her face. “There is something else…”
“Are ye worried about Gillian?”
Sorsha sighed heavily and nodded. “I am. She was always a serious lass even before… Seeing her father murdered has affected her and I was not there to comfort her in her time of need. I fear she will never speak again. How can I help her?”
Shaw pulled her to stand before him and set his hands on her hips. “She will speak when she is ready. Och, I know she must have been distraught because of what she saw and that ye were taken from her. Once she realizes that she is safe and ye are here for her, she will come around. Our daughter will find joy, I make that promise to ye.”
“Our daughter? I like the sound of that, Shaw.” Sorsha used the back of her finger to wipe away an errant tear.
“Aye, our daughter. When I took her from Tor, I made a vow that I would be a good father to her, that I would protect her, and that she would find happiness. I meant my promises, Sorsha, and will do everything I can to make them certain.”
She pressed her mouth to his and he felt her tremble as he wrapped his arms around her.
“You are a good husband, Shaw, and I am in awe of your goodness.”
He chuckled and leaned his forehead against hers. “I am only good because ye are here with me. Ye make me a better man.” The honesty of his words somewhat humbled him.