Page 74 of Bride takes a Scot

Declan gazed at his soldier and bellowed a laugh. “What I see is a man who definitely took a wee bit longer to recuperate than he should have. I’ve never seen him smile at a woman like that.”

Isabella giggled. “Trevor is a good man, and I am pleased for him. Now we need to find a suitable woman for Slone.”

Declan scoffed. “No woman in her right mind would put up with his surliness.”

“I accept that challenge, Husband, and will find the prettiest lass for him.”

“I doubt that because there is none prettier than ye.” Declan bellowed with more laughter but quieted when the musicians ceased, and their leader called for silence.

“What are they doing?” Isabella asked.

“I asked Bang to play a special song for us. Those three men… They are all named Bang because their mother did not know what to call them. She and her husband had no coin for playthings for their lads when they were wee and so she let them play with cauldrons and heavy metal spoons. Watch…”

The three brothers strolled to the center of the gathered clan with their drums hanging on their hips. Children of the clan followed in their wake. Noah joined the lads and lassies. Declan and Isabella stood to better see them. The Bang Brothers, as they were called, started playing. Their beats began softly and wee by wee raised to a rousing sound. Isabella’s eyes widened and her lips parted in awe as she watched the innervated affect the beat of the drums had on the people that danced around the brothers. The children, along with Noah, skipped and shouted in glee to the banging. His eyes beheld Noah, who appeared happier than he’d ever seen him. His lad skipped around the Bang Brothers, his face filled with delight.

“I have never heard such music,” she yelled loudly enough for him to hear.

Declan grinned for he’d suspected his wife would appreciate the raucous music. She was too excited herself, outspoken, and she took his breath away. Now Isabella spun, jumped, and tried to get him to join her in a maddening dance. But then the intense tempo of the beating of the drums ceased abruptly. Everyone quieted for a moment. The wind whipped at the pennons and Declan waited for the clamor of the crowd. It came in moments as all shouted, roared, and cheered.

“That was incredible,” Isabella said. “Do they play like that often?”

“Rarely these days. The Bang Brothers have aged but they have been teaching their sons to play with such vigor. They only played this day as a favor to me.”

“I enjoyed it. Thank you for asking them to play. Oh, look, there is Noah. I am pleased to see him playing with the other lads.”

Declan shifted his gaze to his son and smiled. “Aye, but he is of age and should begin his warrior training.”

Isabella set her hand on his upper arm. “Not yet, Husband. He has missed much of his childhood and needs more time to run and play. Can you not await another year before he begins his training?”

“I do not see the harm in awaiting another year. We’ll wait.”

She looked at him lovingly. “You are being so agreeable.” Isabella gave him a soft peck of a kiss on his cheek. “I am going to talk to Rhona and will return shortly, husband, don’t move,” she said and walked off toward his sister.

Declan retook his seat and refilled his cup with ale. He hadn’t been so relaxed but now that he put behind him the turmoil of Murray’s plan to desecrate his clan, he had accepted that the dark days were behind him.

Anse sat next to him and grunted. “I vow those Bang Brothers put on a show, do they not?”

“Ye seem displeased, cousin. What has ye scowling like the devil?” Declan poured a cup of ale for Anse and handed it to him. “Drink and enjoy the fanfare.”

Anse chuckled. “I always enjoy it when those men play. ’Tis like my heart is clashing against my chest and that it will erupt.”

“Then what has ye so grim?”

“I do not know how to tell ye this…”

Declan frowned at his cousin and shoved his shoulder. “What is it? Speak.”

“Your wife…she did the unthinkable. I vow I do not wish to get her in trouble but… She gave me your father’s sword and told me to keep it. I don’t think she realized it was your da’s sword but thought it was yours. Milady said that ye gave her permission to give away your things. I tried to give it back to her and bade her to return it to the keep, but she wouldst not listen. I returned it to the wall in your hall, just so ye know.”

Declan rose. “Why would she try to give away my sword, or rather my da’s sword?”

“She said she was starting a war.”

“Damnation, the confounded woman.” Declan didn’t bid farewell to Anse but sprinted off to find his wife. He marched through the crowds of his clansmen and spotted her standing with Rhona, by a barrel.

When he reached her, he grinned and grabbed her and lifted her over his shoulder. She gasped and squealed at him to put her down. His clansmen chortled. Near the keep, he set her on her feet, and she ran with him in his sprint inside their home. He chuckled because his wife had the same idea as he had.

She tried to speak to him, but he shushed her. Isabella wanted a war and he’d do his best to give her what she wanted. When he got to their bedchamber, he forced open the door, gently swung her inside, and slammed the door behind him. He paced before her and couldn’t find the words to stress how surprised he was that she intended to give away his sword. She stood with her arms folded and peered at him.