Page 30 of Bride Takes a Laird (Highland Vows & Vengeance #2)

Eilean nan Craobh, Cameron Holding

Highlands, Scotland

Late April 1261

A s the clan readied for another Bealtuinn Festival, Magnus happily directed the men to gather the seven sacred woods for the bonfires. A group of others collected the boughs for the doors and windows of the maidens within the clan. On the morrow, the great fire would send its blessings amongst the people and all would rejoice at the prospect of new life, a new growing season, and new beginnings. He looked forward to sharing a drink with his soldiers at the stone. With vengeance behind him, he would offer up his gratitude to the Goddess Flora for the unbelievable blessings he’d received.

Magnus sat upon the grassy land before the training field and watched Wyren train the soldiers. His brother regaled him with the tale of how Hale had finally slept through the night. He now understood what his brother had gone through because both he and Kendra were awakened throughout the night to tend to their bairns for many months.

Jake stood amid a group of fledglings, all of whom stared and appeared engrossed by what his brother was saying to them. His brother was apt at teaching the younger lads how to wield their swords, but even more than that, what honor and dedication meant to their clan.

Magnus held his bairn, Hugh, in the crook of his arm and was content to do nothing but watch the melee. Sigge, his faithful hound, lay beside him with his legs stretched out and his tail thumping the newly grown sprouts of grass. Magnus stroked his head contentedly.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find Kendra standing beyond him. She held their daughter. His wife had a way of tracking him down. Now she sat on the grass next to him and smiled. For a moment, he stared at her, taking in her beauty and the way her long blond tresses fell over her shoulders. Her blue eyes shone with love.

“Here you are. I thought you might have gone to visit your grandfather but one of the soldiers told me that you were here.”

He grinned knowing Kendra kept abreast of where he was throughout the day. She still was wary about him leaving the keep without telling her. But he’d promised that he would never leave again without letting her know. Soon, she’d gain trust in that.

“Aye, I visited my grandda earlier. Our lad Hugh wanted to see the men tarry so we stopped for a short rest. I was just about to return to the keep. Ye look bonny this day, wearing my grandmother’s brooch on your tartan.”

Kendra beamed at his admiration, bumped her shoulder to his, and smiled. “I am gladdened you returned it to me.” She paused, tilting her face toward the sun, and she sighed. “’Tis a beautiful day to be outside.”

“Aye. ’Tis beautiful.” He didn’t look away but enjoyed the view of his lovely wife.

She continued, unaware of his rapt stare. “I received a missive from the queen. She and King Alexander returned to England with their daughter Margaret. We shall likely have a visit from them soon. She promised to visit us upon her return from England.”

“I recall her saying that. Aye, well then, we should prepare the keep for their visit. They’ll probably bring a good amount of followers with them. Do you think they’ll betroth their lass right away or wait until she gets older? ”

Kendra drew in an awed breath but then giggled. “I should warn Ellen to prepare and hoard as much foodstuff as possible so we are ready when they come. The king has probably already betrothed his daughter. I’m gladdened our children will not be political pawns. They won’t be, will they?”

He shook his head. “Nay, not if ye don’t want them to be. I hope that Alexander considers one of Haakon’s sons for his daughter. It might very well be the thing to bring peace to the north—their marriage. Then we will not need to supply men for the war Alexander intends to start.” Magnus had given thought to such matters, but if Alexander called them forth for war with Norway, he had no choice but to supply his king with soldiers.

“That would be good tidings. I fear the day you receive a missive from Alexander calling all to arms. Speaking of war… Do you think the Chattans will leave us be now that you dismantled their wall?”

Magnus grunted. “So far they have kept to their land and the sentry reports the Chattans have not rebuilt the wall. Now that spring is here, I suspect the Chattans will crawl out from under their rocks. We shall endeavor to keep the peace but Wyren says that we are more than ready to face any threat should we need to war with them.”

“You will tell me if that happens?”

He nodded and hoped to avert war. With his life finally settled, the last thing Magnus wanted was to hail off to fight with the Chattans. He had too much to lose now. His lovely wife and sweet bairns needed him—a duty that he was more than willing to give himself to.

She pulled a missive from the seam of her overdress. “I also received a message from Linet. The news is disheartening.”

“And what does your good friend say?” Magnus moved Hugh to his lap and gently caressed the babe’s back.

“I am dismayed, Magnus, for she says that Aston sold our manor to an English knight for a paltry sum. He’s gone and left the Grahams to fend for themselves. I should have known he’d do something so dreadful. Aston is not the lad that I remembered from my youth for he is selfish and cares not about our people.”

He bumped her shoulder with his. “Ye cannot fret about it, sweetheart. It was his to part with and he hasn’t lived there in many a year. With ye and your da gone, he probably feels no connection to the land. Linet and John are welcome to come here if they are in need of a home.”

Kendra leaned up and kissed his face. “You are kind to offer but Linet says she will await the new owner and if she must leave, she will come. Mistress Gilda won’t ever leave the land. It’s where she was born and where she will depart this world. Do not laugh for that is what she told Linet. Hopefully, the new lord will appreciate her.”

Magnus envisioned the elder woman and envied the new owner of the Graham manor. Gilda worked tirelessly for those in the Graham clan. Although, his maidservant Ellen was just as capable.

Before he’d left the keep earlier that day, he’d helped his father move some heavy trunks to his parent’s new cottage, Old Angus’s abode next to his grandda’s where Kendra’s father had lived for a time. “My parents have settled in their new home. Ma says keeping a cottage will be easier than the fief.” Magnus was gladdened they left the keep because truly they needed the room for the bairns.

“I am saddened they have gone, but at least they don’t live too far away. And I’m certain that your ma will come by daily to visit the children.”

Magnus chuckled at that. “Nothing will keep her from her grandchildren. My ma mentioned that she wants to have a welcome home feast for us. Will that please ye?”

Kendra’s brows rose. “A feast? For us? I wouldn’t be displeased by it. Why though? We have been home nearly a fortnight and the Bealtuinn Festival is on the morrow.”

Magnus laughed lightly. “She wants to boast about her grandchildren. I will tell her to go forth with her plans and include our homecoming in the celebration. We should introduce our bairns to the clan and there’s no better time. They are growing akin to thistle weeds. Hugh is much heavier than Catherine.” He grunted when he lifted the bundle of his son in his arms as if he weighed as much as a stone.

She chortled at his jest. “Soon they shall be running us in circles. If we are going to have a feast, we should also honor the spring planting as well, not just our homecoming. I would like us to gather and have merriment more often. I never got to celebrate such festivals when I lived by the border. And I vow I cannot await the Bealtuinn because the last, was one I shall never forget.” Kendra shifted Catherine to her breast and quieted while their daughter suckled.

The last May Day celebration they had attended was one he’d never forget either. When he and Kendra had joined in the forest, he was sure the Great Mother, Goddess Flora, had blessed them. Magnus leaned toward her and set his mouth on hers. He kissed her with passion and all the desire that swarmed within him. It had been too long since he’d enjoyed his wife’s body. “Bealtuinn reminds me… How much longer do we need to wait?”

Kendra seemed to know what he was thinking. “All I can say about that is that tomorrow is Bealtuinn. Perhaps we can venture to the woods when night falls and be alone for a time.”

“We certainly will not be alone. The woodland shall be filled with my soldiers and their maidens. Good, it has been too long since we have been together and I cannot wait to—” Magnus ceased his thought when a soldier shouted his name and he turned to see who called. Hayden approached but he held up his hand and signaled to his soldier that he wanted no interruption. Hayden bowed, turned, and retreated just as quickly.

“Shouldn’t you find out what he wanted?”

Magnus grunted. “Nay, whatever it is can wait. I’m enjoying a moment with my wife and children which also reminds me… My th anks for suggesting that Winston serve as the new steward. Ye were right, he has a way with figures and sums. I trust him implicitly to do the job.”

Kendra giggled and leaned against him. “Your face was somewhat comical when you viewed the manuscripts in our chamber. I knew that you detested the chore and Winston showed interest when I asked him to help me. His wife is pleased that you have given him an important duty for the clan. Gloria hasn’t ceased singing your praises.”

Magnus had lingered by the training field long enough. He held out his hand to help Kendra to rise. “At least now Sigge stays with me and is not so traitorous. Although, my hound went missing when Winston went to the fields yestereve.”

When he spoke of his pet, Sigge thumped his tail and got to his feet, stretched, and butted his head against his thigh.

Kendra took his hand and stood close to him. “Sigge is devoted to you, and well you know it. Have I told you that you please me very much, and I understand there are times when you must do your duty? I took you as my husband, Magnus, a laird with great responsibility.”

“Aye, my sweet bride took a laird, but foremost I am a man with wee needs: only his wife who pleases him beyond sense and his sweet bairns. When I first beheld our bairns, I thought my heart would burst for love for them…and you. I thank ye for giving them to me. I am most content.” Magnus’s words thickened with emotion.

Kendra wrapped her free arm around him, leaned upward on her toes, and pressed a kiss on his lips. She whispered when she drew back, “I love you and always shall. As am I, Magnus, most content.”

The End.

The End