03 - The Wicked Lady (39 page)

"I told you I would be here," Trevor replied, stepping away from Kristen.

"What is this about?" Kristen asked, confusion made her frown.

"Today, yer husband is going tae prove he's mon enough for ye," Ian said as he looked at her.

"I dinna understand." Kristen looked at her grandfather with surprise.

"Since Trevor never asked me properly for yer hand, I've challenged him tae compete against these fine Scottish lads."

"He doesn't have tae," Kristen protested.

Trevor glared at Ian. "Yes, I do."

Ian chuckled. "Then, I suggest ye go and get dressed, or have ye not noticed ye are dressed differently from the rest?"

"Are you going to wear one of those skirts?" Hagan asked.

"It appears so." Trevor frowned.

Hagan laughed.

Trevor took him by the hand. "Come on young man," Trevor pulled Hagan along with him. "If I can wear a dress so can you."

Ian showed them to a tent where he had clothes laid out for them.

Kristen wasn't sure how she felt about any of this until Trevor emerged from the tent. She stared at him, feeling very proud to have him in the Johnstone colors. For some reason, Trevor looked so much bigger in the tartan. And Hagan was adorable, even though he was frowning and brushing his kilt with his hand. 

Trevor took Hagan over to where the other children were playing, and Kristen and Keely followed their grandfather.

Some fifty yards in front of them, the first game had begun. Two big men nodded to Ian, then moved over to speak with him.

One had to be the barbarian Keely had spoken of. Kristen found she agreed with her sister's description. He had brown hair that hung way past his shoulders and very dark brown eyes. He was as tall as a mountain and his body just as wide, and he certainly had a glimmer in his eye as he looked at her twin.

"
'Tis a fine day for the games, Ian," the second man said. He had blond hair and eyes as green as the grass they stood upon. He was no small man, either.

"I'm glad ye could come, Malcolm." Ian swatted Malcolm on the arm.

Malcolm peered around Ian, then straightened, his expression startled. "What have we here? Ye have two of the same," Malcolm remarked, his eyes never leaving Kristen.

"Malcolm Scott and Gillionan McDougald, I'd like ye tae meet my granddaughter, Kristen."

Malcolm immediately stepped in front of Kristen. "Where has Ian been hiding ye, lass?" He took her hand. "I do believe I've lost me heart."

"Then I suggest you find it quickly," Trevor said, moving beside her, and glaring at Malcolm.

"And who might ye be, Englishmon?" Malcolm asked with a frown.

"Her husband."

Malcolm swung around to Ian. " 'Tis unfair, Ian. Ye been promisin' the winner of the games could have a kiss from yer granddaughter."

"Kristen has been without a husband for awhile. We were not too sure Trevor was coming. But being that he has agreed tae participate in our games, the offer still stands. The winner of all still gets a kiss from either of my granddaughters." Ian's smiled widened as he watched Trevor. "Ye havena changed yer mind, have ye?"

"I haven't," Trevor assured him. "Let's get on with it."

"Wait." Kristen tugged on her grandfather's sleeve. "Trevor doesn't have tae prove anything tae me."

"Aye, but he does tae me," Ian stated with his hands on his hips, looking very much like the Laird that he was. " 'Tis been three months since ye've last see him." Ian looked pointedly at Kristen, his brow arched. "And if he'd asked me properly before he wed you, he would have tae have prove himself tae me."

"But--"

"Stay out of this, Kristen," Trevor snapped. "It's time that I demonstrate to your grandfather that I can beat any of these Scottish lads."

"We'll see about that, Englishmon," Malcolm stated, then stalked over to where the game was being played.

Ian and Trevor followed Malcolm and Gillionan. No one had ever been jealous over her, and the thought filled Kristen with wonder. Trevor had most certainly acted jealous. Did that mean he did care for her, or was it just that she was his possession? Perhaps, he'd come to tell her he wanted a divorce. After all, he'd said they had to talk. Somehow the day didn't seem as bright as it had before.

Keely punched her sister in the side.  "What did ye think of Gillionan?" she whispered.

"He's a fine one," Kristen admitted, trying to shake off her gloominess for her family's sake. "I think he likes you."

"I hope so. He makes my knees go weak," Keely admitted with a giggle.

"Aye, I know the feeling," Kristen confessed as they followed the men to the playing field. "What is this game they are playing?"

"
'Tis the stone toss."

"That doesn't look like a stone tae me."

" 'Tis a big stone," Keely said, but Kristen noticed her twin's gaze had settled firmly on Gillionan. "About sixteen pounds, I believe Grandfather said."

"What do they do with it?" Kristen asked with a wry smile, knowing her sister would rather watch Gillionan flexing his muscles than tell her about the game.

"That board there is a toe board," Keely finally said, her eyes still on Gilllionan. "They canna go past it. They take the stone, place it on their shoulder and under their chin. Then they whirl around and throw the stone. They get three throws, but only the longest counts."

Kristen watched as Malcolm picked up the huge round stone. "This one's for ye, lass." He nodded toward Kristen, and winked.

Kristen couldn't help but smile. He really was being brash. But the minute she smiled, Trevor frowned.

Malcolm's throws were good. Each one further than the last.

The next five men came nowhere close to Malcolm's distance.  inally, it was Trevor's turn.

Malcolm looked at Trevor. "I believe ye'll have a tough time, Englishmon. I'll be enjoying the kiss I'm tae receive from ye wife."

"Like hell you will," Trevor ground out as he picked up the stone with very little effort and placed it on his shoulder.

Kristen was surprised at the muscles she saw in Trevor's arms when he lifted the stone. Then she remembered she'd first seen Trevor aboard a ship where he must have done some heavy work. He was just as brawny as the other men.

Trevor's first shot fell half the distance of Malcolm's shortest toss.

"Got tae do better than that, Englishmon," Malcolm taunted.

Trevor didn't bother to respond. His second shot was disqualified because his toe went over the line. This time he swore and Malcolm laughed.

The muscles tightened in Trevor's jaw as he picked up the stone again. He paused before he threw, making sure he had the stone position just right. Kristen held her breath, as he concentrated very hard. Suddenly, he spun around and heaved the stone and sent it soaring through the air. The crowd hushed as the rock sailed by them to land six inches further than Malcolm's.

Kristen applauded and cheered, which produced a big smile from her husband. Maybe the day would turn out well, after all.

The games went on all afternoon. Some Trevor won and some Malcolm won. It was as if they the only competitors.

During a break in the men's competition, Kristen and Keely decided to check on Hagan. On the way, they passed a group of ladies playing a game.

"What are they doing?" Kristen asked, pointing to a group of laughing women.

"They're tossing the Wellie."

"It looks like a boot to me."

Keely laughed. "It is. I was told the game started when the men would come home from the fields, and would enter the house with muddy boots, tracking mud onto the freshly washed floor As ye can imagine, the women who had been hard at work all day scrubbing the floors were so angry that they grabbed up the boots, chased the men out of the house, and threw the offending boots at them."

Kristen laughed. "So now 'tis a game tae see who can throw the boot the farthest?"

"That's right." Keely nodded. "Would ye like tae play?"

"Nay. I've had no experience thus far throwing anything," Kristen admitted. "The truth be told, I dinna feel much like a wife."

"Ye've not had a normal marriage, thus far." Keely squeezed Kristen's arm. "It will get better."

They found Hagan playing with ten other children.

Hagan looked up and, spotting his sister, ran to her. "I don't have to go, do I?"

"Nay, I was just checking to see what ye were up to."

"They have all kinds of games," Hagan said, the excitement showing in his eyes. "They're going to teach me to hurl the Haggis. They like to throw everything." Hagan looked around. "Where is Trevor?"

"He is still competing with the other men. Right now they are resting."

"Is he winning?"

"Aye."

Hagan giggled.

"What's so funny?"

Hagan motioned for his sister to bend down so he could whisper. "Trevor said Hell would freeze over before he lost to a Scot," Hagan informed her, then ran back to his friends.

Kristen shook her head and then wandered over to where Keely stood. The music played, and they watched the Scottish dancers dancing around the swords. But no matter where she went in the crowd, her mind was on Trevor.

Soon it was time to eat. They spread out blankets and some food and were joined by Trevor, Ian and Gillionan. They feasted on roasted chicken and crusty bread prepared by the cooks.

"Ye've proven yerself well," Ian said to Trevor. "However, Malcolm got
the best of ye the last game. Are ye worried?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a crafty old buzzard?"

"I believe I've heard that from ye." Ian chuckled.

Kristen marveled at what she was seeing and hearing. Her grandfather and Trevor were actually joking with one another. Maybe after the talk she had with her grandfather he had softened, but that still didn't explain Trevor's change. Before she'd only heard him say bad things about the Johnstones. What was going on that she didn't understand?"

Trevor leaned back on his elbows "What is the next event?"

"
'Tis the caber toss. The hardest game of all. It carries twice the points."

Trevor had an odd expression on his face as he asked, "When?"

"Half an hour. We'll give everyone's meal a chance tae settle a wee bit," Ian said as he got to his feet and stretched his back. "If ye'll excuse me, I'd best check on the rest of our guests."

After Ian left, Trevor leaned over and whispered something to Keely. She nodded her head in answer. Then he looked at Kristen. "I'll see you at the next game," he said, then got to his feet.

Kristen watched him go. She didn't understand her husband at all. She wanted to ask Keely what Trevor had said to her, but her twin got up and left with Gillionan.

Kristen put away the food and folded the blankets, then she made her way to where they would have the caber toss. She stared at several long poles and shook her head.

"What's wrong?" Keely ask.

"I dinna see what they are going tae do with those logs. They look heavy."

"Aye, about one hundred and twenty pounds. I dinna see how they throw them either, but they do. Look the first mon's ready."

The
y watched him throw his caber. It hit the ground and fell backwards.  He swore and moved off.

"What's wrong?" Kristen whispered.

"They must toss the caber end-over-end so that it lands with the bottom or small end pointed directly away from the contestant."

"I dinna see the point. How did they come up with such a silly game?"

" 'Tis the same thing I asked. Grandfather told me it started when the men were clearing the forest tae make fields. They were so many streams tae be crossed that the men would toss trees across the streams so that one end was on each bank. Those who couldn't toss the trees correctly ended up with wet feet all day."

Kristen laughed. "Let's hope Trevor can keep his feet dry."

He was next.

She couldn't believe how easily Trevor lifted the caber, his muscles straining with the weight of the thing. His toss was perfect. But so was Malcolm's. They went back and forth several times, until Ian finally declared a tie.

She hurried to congratulate her husband, but Trevor turned briskly in the other direction and disappeared, leaving her filled with disappointment.

Tears stung her eyes as everyone gathered round so that Ian could present the awards. Everyone except Trevor. Was he angry that she would have to kiss Malcolm, too? Maybe he didn't care and had returned home.

Malcolm eyed her from across the field as the men cheered him.

Kristen swallowed hard. She'd simply kiss him on the cheek and it would be over with . . . she hoped.

She scanned the crowd. Where was Trevor?

Ian stepped up on a small platform.  "I'm proud to announce that our overall winners are two. Malcolm Scott and Trevor Claremont." Ian turned to Malcolm. "Seeing as I dinna see Trevor at the moment, ye can collect ye reward first. Which of my lovely granddaughters do ye choose for ye kiss?"