Page 9 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER NINE

J ust as they were leaving the Crowley’s, the two young girls ran towards Edward. It surprised him that they each took a hold of both of his legs.

“Me name is Ada,” the youngest one said in a quiet voice.

“I’m Mary,” the other added.

Edward smiled down at them both. “It was lovely to meet ye, Ada. Mary. Perhaps I will see ye again very soon.” Edward lifted his head and looked at John and Sarah. “We will have the celebration feast fer our wedding in a month. Evelyn and I would be delighted if yer family could join us.”

“Thank ye, me laird,” John said. “It would be our honor.”

Edward assisted Evelyn back onto her horse, ignoring the same protestations that she didn’t need his help. After waving their goodbyes to the Crowley family, they got on their way.

“If ye are tae visit everyone in the same manner,” Evelyn said as they rode on, “this is going tae tak’ far longer than one day.”

“Indeed.” Edward nodded. “But then, we have plenty o’ time, dae we nae?”

Evelyn didn’t reply to that. In fact, she didn’t speak again. He had noted her guard been put carefully back in place. In the Crowley’s kitchen, he had watched her face soften for the first time since they had met. In fact, he was certain he had even seen her blush.

Now, however, she was back to her cold and distant self. As though she had the ability to turn such feelings on and off. If that was the case, she had a rare talent.

They repeated their introductions at the next farm. The lack of laughing children was evident, making the visit far more serious. The couple were not old, which made Edward wonder if the absence of children was not a choice they had made. Perhaps the poor woman simply could not have them. He had heard of that affliction before.

Over the day, they visited more and more farms. On each occasion, Edward helped Evelyn on and off the horse. He was hardly able to help himself, for the more he helped her, the longer he found his hands lingering around her waist.

The reception was varied at each homestead, but wherever they went, Edward was determined to get to know these people. His motivation wasn’t just because he wanted them to meet him as their new laird. There was another motive. A motive that derived from what he had discovered in the accounts the night before.

The afternoon crept in as they came upon yet another farm. There seemed to be no answer at the house, and thus, he and Evelyn wandered around the back of the large home in search of the occupants.

“Can I help ye?”

The voice came from their right, and immediately the two turned toward it. Kneeling on the ground in front of a bed of what Edward deduced were herbs, was an old woman, a small tool in her hand. Edward imagined her to be at least ten and sixty. Lines travelled across her face like the map he carried in his tunic. A history of the life she led with all its ups and downs.

“Good day tae ye, Madam. We are in search o’ the Allan’s.”

He was pretty certain that she was indeed Mrs. Allan, but out of politeness, and not wanting to jump to any conclusions, he took the line that she might well be a servant or maid.

“Who’s asking?” she demanded.

Edward smiled. “Me name is Edward MacGregor. I am the new laird of clan Campbell. This is Evelyn Campbell, me wife. We are the Laird and Lady Campbell.”

Even as he was speaking, the old woman’s eyes widened, horror crossed her face, and, abruptly wiping her hands on her apron, she pushed herself to stand, though evidently, with difficulty.

“Och, me laird,” she blurted, bowing her head reverently. “I am so sorry. I didnae mean tae?—”

Edward continued to smile. “Please. Dinnae apologize. Ye couldnae have kent. We are, after all, two strangers arriving at yer door.”

“I must fetch the husband,” the woman declared.

“Where is he?” Evelyn asked.

The old woman pointed behind her. “He’s in the barn moving seed, me lady.”

Edward stepped forward. “Then, I will go and fetch him. Why dinnae ye ladies go inside?”

Evelyn nodded in agreement, and before the woman had a chance to say anything else, Edward made his way across the courtyard toward the barn. The cobblestones beneath his feet were uneven as he passed a wooden-fenced pen. Chickens clucked and dug at the dirt beneath their feet, and cat sat precariously on a broken wall.

Reaching the barn, Edward peered inside. There he found an older man moving seed, just as his wife had said he was. Remaining to the side so he would not be seen, Edward watched as the man walked to the bulging sackcloth bags. Bending at the knees and waist, he grabbed the sack with two hands before twisting so the bag landed on his back. He was a short, stocky man, and in spite of his age, still very strong.

While he was impressed, Edward could not help thinking that this man surely ought to be sitting before a warm fire beside his wife enjoying their later years together.

After watching for a few more minutes, he stepped further into the barn. He did so slowly and openly so as not to frighten the man half to death.

Mr. Allan caught sight of him as he carried his bag of seed to the cart. After he had tossed it beside the others, he dusted his hands off and turned toward Edward.

“What can I dae fer ye, lad?”

Edward had to swallow a smile. He hadn’t been called lad in many years, but he supposed, given their differing ages, he still looked like a lad to someone like Mr. Allan.

“Mr. Allan,” Edward said as he approached. “Me name is Edward. I am the new laird o’ the Campbell Clan.”

For a long second, the old man looked a little stunned, but righting himself, he eagerly stepped forward and bowed. “Me laird. Aye. I heard word o’ the wedding.” The old man frowned then. “But what are ye doing so far out from the castle?”

“Well,” Edward began, looking around about him, “I thought it fitting that I come and meet those o’ whom I am going tae rule. I am worried that there might be a chance o’ dissent, given the circumstances. I would like, as far as possible, tae put a stop tae that ‘afore it even starts.”

The old man nodded knowingly. “Aye. I can understand that. And ye’re nae wrong. There are those who believe ye shouldnae be here. Nay offence,” the man added quickly.

“None taken.”

“But these are the same men who seem tae forget that our last laird was the cause o’ the mess we find ourselves in,” the old man continued. “From what I hear, he was advised nae tae go intae battle with yer people, me laird. Had he listened, things might have turned out differently.”

“We are all accountable fer our own choices,” Edward offered.

“I agree, tae an extent. But there is a great difference, is there nae, between a decision I mak’ and a decision a laird mak’s. If I decide nae tae work me farm fer a day, it will have a very small impact. Like a pebble in a great lake. A laird deciding tae go intae battle against a more powerful clan affects far more than just himself.”

Nodding, Edward said, “Admittedly, that is true. Ye are certainly wise, Mr. Allan.”

“Please. Call me Thomas, me laird.”

“Thomas,” Edward repeated. Looking behind him at the many sacks that still needed to be move, Edward inclined his head. “Perhaps I can make better use o’ me visit. I’m certain ye could dae with the help.”

Thomas waved a hand and tried fervently to protest, but Edward swiped his objections away. Passing the old man, he headed to the bags of seed and lifted them, two at a time.

“Now, ye’re just showing off,” Thomas chuckled.

Edward laughed, before depositing them onto the cart. For the next while, the two men worked together. It was only when Evelyn arrived at the barn door that Edward stopped.

“Is all well?” she asked.

“O’ course,” Edward replied, dropping the seed beside the other bags on the cart. “Thomas. This is me wife, Lady Evelyn Campbell.”

Thomas smiled widely and approached her. “Ye willnae remember it, me lady, but I met ye many years ago, when ye were still a wee lass.”

Evelyn looked a little surprised at Thomas’s words, and with wide eyes, she smiled and shook her head.

“Ye’re right. I dinnae remember it. But then, as ye say, I was a young lass.”

A strange expression crossed her face, a flash of pain, perhaps a memory. Edward could not help but wonder if, thinking about herself as a wee lass had evoked something else of that time gone by. Like, the death of her mother and father.

“Indeed, ye were, me lady. Ye were only knee-high tae a grasshopper at the time.”

The flash of pain left as quickly as it had arrived, and Evelyn beamed a smile at the old man. Edward was certain it was the first time he had seen her face light up so beautifully, and watching her, he couldn’t help but notice how his stomach lurched at her graciousness.

“Mrs. Allan has put out tattie cakes and tea. I came tae see if ye were going tae join us.”

“Och, well. Who can refuse tattie cakes and tea?” Edward declared. “Come, Thomas. I have a very strong feeling that Mrs. Allan is a rather wonderful cook.”

Thomas smirked. “And ye’d be right, me laird.”

Evelyn and Edward spent a little time with the couple before eventually, if not reluctantly, announcing that it was time they were moving on.

Once on their horses and heading back to the castle, Evelyn caught Edward’s attention.

“Can I ask ye something?”

“O’ course,” Edward replied.

“Why are ye daeing all o’ this?”

He knew exactly what she meant, but wanted her to explain herself a little more.

“What dae ye mean when ye say this ?” he said, leading Archer from the tall grass onto a dirt track.

“All this visiting, and getting tae ken these people. When I came tae Mr. Allan’s barn earlier, ye were actually lifting his harvest. What’s yer angle? What are ye trying tae accomplish?”

He half-smiled. “I dinnae have an angle, Evelyn. Is it so difficult fer ye tae believe that I want tae help these people? They are yer people, and thus, I will care fer them as though they were me own.”

He paused a beat before he realized what he had said.

“In fact, that’s wrong. They are now me people. Is that nae me responsibility as their laird? Tae tak’ care o’ them and ensure they have all that they need?”

Evelyn didn’t seem to have an answer to that. She did cast him a glance though. A look of slight skepticism. As though she was trying to decide if his words were genuine or not.

“I assure ye. As their laird, I will be as loyal tae me subjects as I would have been had I inherited me faither’s title and been made laird over Clan MacGregor.”

They rode for a little while longer with no other words spoken. He assumed that Evelyn’s silence might have something to do with her trying to decide if she believed his words. He had been silent for an entirely different reason.

His reply to her question had not been a lie. But nor had it been the whole truth either. Was she really ready for the whole truth? More than that, would she be open enough to accept it if he disclosed it to her?

Last night had already given him a glimpse of her loyalty to her uncle. Fiercely defending him, she had not wanted to hear what Edward had to say. There had been no compromise at all. But nor did he want to ruin such a pleasant day. And yet, she was going to need to know the truth sooner or later.

It might as well be now.

“Evelyn, there is something I need tae tell ye,” he began.

She glanced at him; her brows hitched in interest.

“I didnae just bring us out here today tae see the land and those who tend tae it. There is another reason fer doing so.”

“Which is?” she said, her tone clipped, as though ready to fight.

“Like I said tae ye last night, there is something wrong with the accounts. Having delved through the ledgers, it appears that all o’ our land is under delivering. So much so that I dinnae ken if we can mak’ it through the season.”

She sat a little taller on her mare, her body stiffening at his words. Instead of yelling at him this time, she instead, sucked in a breath.

“How can that be possible? Uncle Alistair always made certain everything was in order.”

“And I’m nae questioning that,” Edward said calmly. “Nor dae I want a repeat o’ last night. I dinnae want tae argue with ye. In fact, I am telling ye this because I want us tae start out this marriage being able tae be as open with each other as possible.”

For a moment, she said nothing, though he did see the muscles in her jaw relaxing. That could only be a good sign. She blew out a long breath, as though she were readying herself for something. Then she said, “So, what is it that ye are saying then?”

“I’m saying that perhaps Alistair missed something. And maybe we will never ken the reasons. I only ken that we’re in trouble.”

As they continued on down the dirt track, surrounded on both sides now with tall trees, Evelyn seemed to be lost in deep thought. At least she wasn’t arguing. At least she was trying to consider what he had said. It was progress from the night before.

Internally, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was out in the open now. Meaning that it could be discussed at some point. Perhaps not now, but soon. Even so, Edward was worried. He could ask his father for help, and it might come to that, but first he wanted to take a deeper look into the accounts to see if he could find the discrepancy. It would hardly fill his clan with confidence if one of his first decisions was to run back to his father for succor.

No. He needed to try and fix this first. If, after he had exhausted every avenue, such a thing was not possible, he would reach out to him. As much as he didn’t want to do that, nor would he allow his clan to suffer because of his pride.

I will look at the ledgers again tomorrow. There is time ? —

Evelyn’s horse suddenly halted and, acting entirely erratically, the mare began snorting and neighing in a highly distressed manner.

“Och, me god!” Evelyn cried, grabbing tightly onto the reins.

Edward felt his heart nearly stop at the sight beside him. Swiftly looking down, he watched a snake slithering across the path.

“Evelyn,” he bellowed.

The horse then panicked, trotting fitfully at the sight of the snake. It looked about ready to buck.