Page 20 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Sloan

Sloan came out of the lists and spoke to Miles, who was headed to the gates. “What’s got you unsettled, Miles?”

“Ingelram says he can’t find Rinaldo again, so I’m going to look down the coastline.”

“You check the stables, see what horses are gone, and I’ll find my sisters. See what they have to say.” He trudged inside, wiping the sweat from his brow and sheathing his weapon. His men were getting better with their weapons, but he hadn’t seen his brother anywhere today. Perhaps his sire knew where he was. He hated having to keep track of a grown man, but someone had to do it.

He stepped inside the hall, noticing his two sisters near the hearth. “Marta, have you seen Rinaldo?”

“Nay, and I have not seen Da either. Have you seen him?”

“Aye, he was watching us at the lists for a while. You know how he likes to watch so he can tell me they aren’t strong enough or that I don’t work them hard enough, but he left before he could give me his daily criticisms.” Miles and Ingelram also listened to the old man’s critiques, though Eva’s refusal had sent his father into other rages too.

Sheona said, “Go clean up. You’re all sweaty and your tunic looks like you rolled in the sheep’s pen.”

Rowan said, “I’ll go look for Grandsire, but I’m not going outside the wall.”

“Stay inside the wall,” Marta said.

“My thanks, Rowan. I’ll return in a few moments.” Sloan took the stairs two at a time and entered his chamber, glad to see a fresh basin of water there. The serving lasses knew he came in a mess in the middle of the day. After washing up and donning a fresh tunic, he headed down the stairs and out the door, waving to his sisters. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

He headed to the gates to confer with Miles, see if he’d learned anything about his brother or if he knew where his father was.

“What have you learned?”

Rowan said, “I can’t find Grandsire.”

Miles said, “I still have no idea where Rinaldo is, but I did learn something that won’t make you happy, Chief.”

“About Da?”

“Aye, the old chieftain took a horse alone, told the stable lad he was headed to Clan MacVey. Said he needed to have a chat with Lennox about his sister.”

Sloan groaned, not caring that everyone heard him. “Will the man not leave it be? I’m going after him. Mayhap they’ve seen Rinaldo.” He had a gift to bring Eva, so he attached the wrapped parcel to his saddlebag, then mounted.

“Isn’t there a big festival at Clan Grantham this eve, Chief?” Ingelram asked as he joined the two. “If so, I’d bet Rinaldo is there. His horse is missing, and you know he likes festivals.”

“Ingelram, I’m going to see Lennox, then I’m heading to Clan Grantham. Aye, there’s a party this eve and you’re probably right. Let Rinaldo get his fill, but I have to stop Da before he embarrasses me so much that I’ll never go outside these walls again.”

Miles said, “Everyone knows where your father’s words come from. Not from you, but from an old chieftain who is missing his wife.”

He patted Miles’s shoulder and said, “I hope so. I won’t be back for a while unless I have to escort my sire home. In fact, Ingelram, I’ll take you with me so you can escort him. He’s known you for a long time.”

Ingelram smiled. “Longer than he’s known you, Chief.”

The lads brought out a saddled mount for Ingelram, so the two departed without another word, his mind on what possible situation he was about to find. His life had surely turned into a mess of late. Rinaldo was up to something, but no one had been able to uncover where he was spending his time. His father reminded him daily that he was doing a terrible job with the clan and that he needed to do things differently. Nay, not some things. Everything. Every blasted thing he did of late was wrong. The clan continued to grow and prosper in his eyes, but not in his sire’s view.

Then there was Eva. He’d finally had the courage to ask for her hand in marriage, only to be rejected by the lass. He’d loved her for so long that the stake she’d driven into his heart by her rejection was not going to be pulled out easily. And Rinaldo offering to MacKinnis for him nearly put him over the edge. What else could go wrong?

He had an inkling he was about to find out. His father was on the run.

Then he reminded himself that everything on the isle had improved in so many ways that he’d had hope for a fresh start soon. Thane and Lennox were both newly married, both with thriving clans, and Clan Grantham had so many friends from the outside that nothing would ever happen to hurt them.

He loved his land, he loved his clan, he even loved his sire and his brother, adored his sisters, but there was only so much a man could take.

Ingelram asked, “The clan is doing well. Don’t let your father convince you otherwise.”

“You do a fine job reading my mind, Ingelram, and I thank you for your kind thoughts.”

Nothing more was shared between the two men along the path until they approached Clan MacVey. Ingelram asked, “Who do you think he is after—Lennox or Eva?”

“Hellfire, if the man has the gall to go after Eva, I will be blistering his ears with all my thoughts. Mayhap I’ll box them too. It’s none of his business, though he thinks it is.”

“I’m thinking he’ll go after Lennox.” Ingelram nodded as if to convince Sloan he was right.

Sloan sighed. “I hope it’s Lennox he’s after. Lennox can handle him. Eva can’t.”

On their approach, the gates opened quickly, Sloan looking up at Jasper on the wall. “You were expecting us?”

Lennox approached the gates, a wide smile on his face. “Oh, we knew you’d be here.”

“Then why didn’t you stop the daft man, Lennox? You didn’t leave him with Eva, did you?”

“Hell nay. He’s arguing with my mother.” He chuckled and said, “I noticed you coming, so I thought to stop and forewarn you, but please don’t stop them. I’m loving every minute of watching those two go at it. You have to enter quietly so you can listen before you pull him away.”

Sloan could only think of one thing to say. “Hellfire.”