Page 5 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Eva

Dyna watched Eva arrange her stance and her bow before she set herself to fire again at the target. She hadn’t been training that long and had learned quickly, but she was definitely off this morn. “Your elbow, Eva. Lift it or your arrow will go up into the trees.” This day, she couldn’t hit any target.

Eva cursed, something Dyna hadn’t heard before.

“You wish to stop, Eva? You don’t seem yourself this morn.”

Eva fired her arrow, which missed by half a horse. She dropped her bow on the ground and stared at Dyna. “I’m distracted. I apologize.” The truth was she was a terrible archer, no matter how much she tried. “I don’t think I’ll ever get any better at this.”

“What’s wrong? Anything I can help with?”

She grumbled under her breath, then decided to tell Dyna the truth. Perhaps she had some insight as to how to make her brother change his mind about betrothing her. “Lennox wants to marry me off to someone.”

Dyna appeared surprised. “Did he choose someone yet?”

“Sloan offered for me, but I don’t wish to marry him.”

“Sloan? He’s a fine man in my eyes. You surely could do worse. Come sit with me for a moment.” She pointed to two tree stumps.

Eva flopped onto the stump. “And now Mama agrees with him.”

“You are not interested in Sloan at all?”

She shook her head, afraid to speak or the tears would flood her cheeks. “Were you forced to marry Derric? Was Eli forced to marry Alaric? Is that how everyone does it?”

Dyna’s eyes widened. “Nay. No Grant or Ramsay lass has been forced. My great-grandmother, Elizabeth, made my grandfather Alex promise not to force any of his siblings to marry. Told him it was wrong. One sister married a Ramsay, so she refused arranged betrothals for the entire Ramsay clan. And his sister Jennie did the same for Clan Cameron.”

“Truly? You are so fortunate.”

“What about your mother? Doesn’t she agree with you?”

“Nay, she wishes for me to marry Sloan because he’s a chieftain and he lives nearby. She doesn’t care how I feel about him.”

“Do you know him well?”

“Aye. He’s too stubborn. He always has an opinion on things. He’s bossy and gruff. He thinks he can do numbers better than anyone. And he doesn’t believe in anything unless it’s directly in front of him.”

“Ah, I think I recall a bit of that conversation. He said there’s no such thing as faeries or seers, didn’t he?”

“Aye. How could you speak with him if he denies your abilities? Everyone knows Tora is a seer now. Even Magni says so.”

“Some people are a wee bit more stubborn than others. It doesn’t bother me that he doesn’t recognize my abilities, so please don’t let it bother you. Some men are hard to convince.”

“Most men.”

Dyna arched a brow at that comment. “I’m sensing that this is more than believing in seers. Something you wish to tell me about most men?”

Eva shook her head and stared at her boots. “Nay. I just don’t have any luck with them. Any man I’ve ever been interested in refuses me.”

“How do you know that they refuse you? Are they that direct?”

“Nay, I have Alycia ask for me.”

“The same Alycia who is here now?”

“Aye. She asks and tells me they don’t want me. Is it my appearance? Is my hair too wavy or is it my nose?”

Dyna’s expression changed to one of surprise. “Nay, you are a beautiful lass. You have the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. There is the possibility that they refuse because you are the chieftain’s sister. I had trouble because my father was the finest swordsman in all the land.”

Eva tipped her head in question.

“Connor Grant was second in skills after my grandsire Alex Grant. No man would come near me because they feared they’d be tested by my sire, like Logan tested poor Cailean. They were all afraid of him, so I had to find my own husband.”

“How did you meet Derric?”

Dyna laughed. “That’s a story for another day. Ask Derric because he tells it better, but I met him when I flipped him onto his back and set my boot on his chest. He says he was smitten with me after that.”

“Where were you?”

“Not on Grant land. We were searching for the English who were after my grandsire. Derric was working with King Robert. Perhaps you need to look outside your castle.”

Eva didn’t always believe her sire had chosen the perfect man for her. There were days when she dreamed of finding a nice man on her own, one like Alaric, to have a relationship like Eli and Alaric had, but she didn’t see it happening. It was best for her, given her past, to not set her sights on any man. It was unlikely to happen for her. She’d never find out who her sire had thought was the ideal husband for her, and no one wanted the chieftain’s sister, so she’d be a spinster living alone at Dounarwyse Castle, though now she hoped to have some nieces or nephews to love.

Someone let out a squeal, so Dyna stood, looking toward the gates. “Oh my goodness, I think the group from Clan Matheson is here. We can finish this discussion later, if you like. But trust me that it is not your appearance, Eva. It is more likely that most guards fear Lennox. He has that intimidating stare that makes some lads shrink away. You can keep practicing as you wish, but I need to greet them. They’ve come a long way, all the way from Black Isle.” Then she shouted, “Look, Brigid brought wolfhounds! We’ve been waiting for them.”

A man behind Brigid opened a crate and a pile of puppies flew out, two larger dogs with them. Eva had never seen anything so adorable, and she’d always wanted her own dog, but Lennox had said there weren’t enough dogs on the isle. Eva followed Dyna out to the gates, watching as a beautiful older woman hugged Derric and Dyna.

Then Logan came flying out of the keep, bellowing, “Get out of my way, that’s my daughter, and I need to hug her and then bring her to see Gwynie.”

Dyna called out to Eva and said, “Logan’s daughter Brigid and her husband Marcas have arrived. Join us for a brief repast, Eva, before you take your leave. Visit with the pups. Bring one home with you, if you like, though Marcas will insist you take two, I think.”

Eva joined them and was introduced to Brigid and Marcas Matheson. Another happy couple, or so she guessed. She decided to follow them in so she could ask questions. If all the Ramsay women were able to choose their own husbands, she wanted to know how they went about it.

She followed the group, surprised to find a pup bumping her feet. “Oh my, are you not the cutest thing I’ve ever seen?” She bent down and picked up the wee pup, snuggling and brushing its soft brown fur.

Marcas said, “The smallest of the litter has found you. I think it’s a sign that she belongs with you. Though I would only send her along if you take her older brother. They’ve been inseparable since her mother set the pups free.” He bent down and picked up another dog three times the size of the first one. “Meet Goldie, the wee one in your arms, so named because she has this shock of gold fur amid the brown and gray strands. Her protector is Shadow because he’s always following someone.”

“I would love to take both home with me.”

“You are welcome to the pair. You live nearby?”

“Aye, the next castle.”

“Here, allow me to clean up the pups and ready some food to take with you while you go inside for a visit.”

Eva handed Goldie to Marcas and turned back to the keep. She then followed Brigid inside, even when she stopped to look at her mother by the hearth. “Mama, you look so much better.” Hurrying over to her mother’s side, Brigid stopped short when her mother let the blanket drop to the floor, her stump of one leg now visible. “Do I, Brigid? It’s not pretty, but it doesn’t pain me the way it used to.”

Brigid fell to her knees in front of her mother, her hands feeling through the soft leggings. “I’m sure it was hard for you, Mama, but you are still here. I feared we lost you. Who helped you? I know it wasn’t Aunt Brenna or Aunt Jennie.”

“Doiron, the MacVey healer. We stayed with them until I healed, then came here. I wanted to do it in private.”

“Whatever you needed is what we all needed. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, Mama. I’m glad Da brought you here where no one else would bother you. I know how private you are about some things.”

Overcome by the love flowing from Brigid to Gwyneth, it nearly brought tears to Eva’s eyes.

Brigid continued, “I love you, and we brought along an odd contraption that Jennet and Ethan created for you.”

“How does it work?” Logan asked, coming up behind Brigid.

Marcas walked through the doorway, carrying their bags. “It is quite crafty. There’s a strap to go over her shoulder to hold the thing on. It looks almost like a leg without a foot. More solid than just a peg, but there is a way to tighten it. You probably won’t wear it all the time, but it will get you to a garderobe or the kitchens when in need. Jennet even managed the few stairs to the keep with it on.”

Brigid chuckled. “Jennet has tested it so many times it’s a wonder it hasn’t broken.”

Eva took a seat at a nearby table, watching everything transpire. Gwyneth Ramsay was indeed an inspiration. Losing her leg had to have been quite an ordeal, yet she still kept up her archery skills.

Logan seemed harsh at times, but never with his wife.

The group finished their greetings, and Dyna insisted they sit for a brief repast. Alycia came down the staircase waving to her, so she waved back, but then her friend headed into the kitchens while Elvard played with Sandor.

The conversation covered everything that had happened.

Brigid asked, “Maeve is here with the new bairn? I cannot wait to meet him.”

“Aye. She and Maitland are in the tower so we don’t wake the babe. They fuss over him all the time. He’s precious,” Dyna said. “Have you heard his name?”

Brigid shook her head, her eyes widening. “Do tell.”

“Alexander Drew Menzie Grantham.”

Brigid gasped, then said, “I love it. Oh, I love it so much!”

Logan came over and took a seat across from Eva while the others babbled on and on. “Have you ever heard the story of how those two met, Eva? It’s a great one.”

“Nay. Please do tell.” She couldn’t wait to hear another love story, a tale about true love where the couple chooses each other instead of an arranged marriage.

“He kidnapped her.”

Stunned by this revelation, she leaned forward. “Truly? Tell me more.”

“They had a curse on Clan Matheson because everyone became suddenly sickened. Marcas had lost his wife and couldn’t handle the thought of losing his bairns, so they went in search of healers. He snuck into Clan Ramsay one night, thinking he was abducting Brenna, but took Brigid by mistake. Jennet slept in the same chamber back then, so he took Jennet too. Foolish lass volunteered because the two were inseparable at the time.”

“And he forced her to marry him?” She couldn’t imagine that Brigid would accept that. “And you let them?”

“Nay,” he said with a wide grin. “She fell in love with her captor. Not an unusual occurrence. And Jennet fell in love with his brother. We had to go to Black Isle for two weddings. They only leave for holidays, but both lasses became healers, so they were needed there.”

A tall lad came in carrying a large crate and set it down on the table next to the group eating. “There, Mama. See if Grandmama likes it.”

“My grandson Hawk. He’s a giant, is he not?” Logan asked, the pride in his eyes evident. The man may have seemed overly harsh, but he loved with his whole heart.

Hawk was a giant. He had brown hair that he kept just below his ears and green eyes.

Marcas stood and pulled the contents out of the crate and held it up for all to see. Logan strode right over to it, studying it. “Hellfire, but Jennet and Ethan did a fine job on this, Gwynie. Try it out.”

It took a while, but Gwyneth was finally able to arrange it quite right and took a few steps with it. The expression on her face let them all know how pleased she was. “There is a small problem, but it could be a big problem.”

“What?” Brigid asked.

“It hurts. It could rub a sore into the stub. Can we adjust it?”

Eva watched as four different people tried to adjust the straps to fix the problem, but from where she sat, that didn’t look like the issue. She made her way to the basket next to the hearth and pulled out a small squirrel fur. Returning to the group, she asked, “May I?”

“What are you doing?” Gwynie asked.

“I think the problem is because your stump isn’t level. If you attach this to one part where your leg connects, I think it will even out, make up for the uneven part of your stump.”

Brigid said, “Here, I’ll fix it, Mama. I think Eva is right.” She fussed over it and Gwyneth tried it out, stopping to turn to Eva.

“My word, you fixed it, lass. Many thanks to you.”

Marcas came over and clasped her shoulder. “Well done, Eva. What clan are you from?”

“MacVey. Excuse me, but I have to go. Thanks to you, Dyna, for the lessons.”

“Allow me to go with you,” Marcas said. “I’ll get the dogs ready to travel and give you the food we’ve used with them. If you have any questions, we’ll be here for a sennight, at least. After that, Maitland has raised many pups. He can help you.”

Eva headed out with Marcas, surprised to see Goldie run straight for her, Shadow behind her. The two lunged for Eva as soon as she kneeled.

Finally, an animal that liked her that she could fuss over.

Anything to help her stop thinking about earls and betrothals.