Dawn Annis (13 page)

They sat for a little while reveling in the comfort of each other. Too soon they decided it was time to continue their trek. Shane lay back on his side while Kate washed her hands and face in the loch. When she finished, Kate stood up, drying her hands on her skirt. She caught Shane looking at her intently with those eyes the color of an afternoon storm. A small chill raced down her spine and she felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach. Her body warmed under his scrutiny.

“The sun shines fiercely on yer hair. Its bright color glows, ready to burst into flame.”

Shane held her eyes for a moment until she looked away.

“Lord, yer beautiful,” he said under his breath.

Kate smiled the slightest of smiles.

“’Tis about time we continue our jaunt, do ye agree?” Shane cleared his throat and rose to his feet.

“Yes, it is. We have much to see.” Kate nodded. The way he looked at her just now, she felt beautiful.

She walked toward their picnic area and gathered up the extra food, cloths and basket. Shane knelt to help her. Kate reached for some uneaten fruit as Shane did and their hands touched.

The fruit forgotten, Shane took her hand in his. Looking into her eyes, Shane brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her fingertips. He turned over her hand and placed a kiss on her wrist. Her pulse quickened under his lips. He raised his head and looked into her face. Kate melted as she stared into his eyes and her stomach fluttered. Warmth spread down into her breasts and pooled between her thighs. Her breath quickened.

Shane stood up, pulling her with him. He brought her close. Still holding her hand, he brought his arms around her, locking her against his hard frame. Kate’s head laid back. Her green eyes stared into Shane’s grey.

“Ye are so very lovely,” Shane whispered and bent his head toward hers.

Their lips touched. Caressed. Feather light. The warmth flooded through Kate’s body, her face flushed. Her traitorous breath disappeared.

“Och, lass,” Shane whispered once more and kissed her again.

His kiss was firmer, deeper with his tongue gently but persistently pressing into her mouth. Kate lost resistance. Shane pressed harder, holding her tight against him, his arm a steel band across her back, molding his body to every inch of hers. His hand rubbed her back and up into her hair. Shane kissed her passionately. Finally, he broke off the kiss and held her close to him, his breath ragged with desire.

Kate hung on to Shane’s strong arms, afraid she would fall. Feeling his hands on her, her body blazed. She had never been kissed like this before, never with such gentleness and care. Never with such passion and desire. Her own desire rising to heights new to her.

Shane bent his head to her once more. The kiss as ever passionate as the last, Kate broke this one off unable to catch her breath.

“M’lord, you must allow me to breathe.”

Shane loosened his grip without letting her go completely.

“Aye, Katie,” Shane whispered into her ear as he moved his hands up and down her body. “Ye have to breathe.”

Kate smiled as she looked at him. He shuddered as he exhaled a long breath.

Shane squeezed her until she let out a
small yelp. He chuckled again and released her. Kate smiled at him brightly.

They gathered the rest of their things, then Shane packed them onto his destrier. He grabbed a hold of Kate again, this time kissing her briefly on the nose before he lifted her up onto her horse. Kate rewarded him with a brilliant smile.

“Katie, my love, ye have a smile that rivals the sun.”

Chapter 17

Shane and Kate returned to the castle in the early evening, scattering chickens and geese as the huge horses trotted in. They’d rode around the rest of the loch as Kate finished showing Shane the discoveries she made on her many walks. They both were pleased with their progress and enjoyed a long pleasant day in the company of each other.

Shane dismounted, lifted Kate out of the saddle and set her down gently, holding her too close as she slid down the front of him. Kate blushed furiously. She made a half-hearted attempt to push Shane away, noticing the audience surrounding them. Shane glanced around and realized her discomfort. He set her from him. Grabbing her hand, he quickly led the way through the hall and into his study. Once there, he shut the door and faced Kate.

“Och, I canna think of nothing but yer lips. I have to have one more taste, m’lady.”

Color graced Kate’s cheeks as he stepped toward her and drew her into his powerful arms. His heart beat steadily against hers. He surrounded her with his heat as her lips met his.

Just as Shane was getting serious about this particular kiss, there was a knock at the door.

Shane lifted his head and growled.

Kate laughed softly at his reaction and stepped away from him. His hands on her shoulders, he winked at her.

“Another time, Katie.”

Annoyed at being interrupted, Shane moved the short distance to the door and opened it with force. Unfazed, Iain stepped into the room.

“Ye never bolt the door. . .” Iain stopped short at seeing Kate and the flush in her face. “On the other hand, maybe a good practice to begin.” Iain grinned.

“Aye,” Shane said gruffly. “Perhaps ‘tis.”

He glanced at Kate as she straightened her clothes, her face a pretty pink.

“Ahem, well. Iain, Kate, let us sit .” Shane walked to a table nearby. “Kate has shown me wondrous things.”

Iain coughed.

With a warning scowl, Shane continued. “After the years of fighting and strife, this clan has grown accustomed to hunting, gathering, and planting a bit. We’d not the time nor knowledge to explore our surroundings to find new food sources. I’m anxious to get started.”

Kate sat down next to Shane and across from Iain. Shane related to him what Kate had shown him throughout the day.

“The possibilities are endless. If all ye want to do is going to be successful, we’d have to work fast. Planting season is passing quickly,” Iain said. “The time ‘tis getting away from us.”

“All too quickly. The lads can overcome, I have no doubt,” Shane replied. “Kate, if ye would take over the vegetable gardens. Plant more of what we have. Add yer plants from the forest.”

Shane held her hand while the three of them talked, his heart sighing. Her hand felt warm.

“Recruit from the present kitchen staff and the other ladies to help ye with the additional plots.” He gently squeezed her hand. “The children can be helpful as well. The entire clan will work to help bring themselves to their feet again.”

Shane turned to Iain with the list of improvements they decided upon.

“Let’s get started clearing the fields we haven’t planted. With the stones we clear, we’ll rebuild the walls around the fields. We need to get the soil turned and the sod broken. Have the men start in the morning. Ye will have to get another group on the ditches,” Shane explained. “I’ll talk to the clan this evening.”

“How did ye want me to handle the patrols? We dinna have enough men to do both.”

“Aye, ‘tis truth. I have decided to bring the men in closer and leave the outer borders exposed.”

Iain’s eyebrows went up, surprise on his face. “What are ye thinking?”

“I’m thinking it will take fewer men to defend. There won’t be time for the Campbell bastards to get comfortable before we push back any that have had the misfortune to settle on our lands,” Shane explained.

“We’ll make it work,” Iain answered, support in his voice. “Will be fun to give them a good routing when the time comes.”

Once Shane explained his plans, he knew the clan would support him. He could see in their faces they, too, were tired of the constant battling as well as the sacrifices they saw their own families making.

Kate returned his squeeze and added her other hand to his arm.

Shane smiled.

Merta shooed the three of them out so she could have the women prepare for supper. With plans set, they made way for the evening meal.

Kate rose. “I’m going to check on Seamus. Having been gone the whole day, I want to see how my patient is faring.”

Shane held on to her hand a bit longer before he let her go.

He left to take a quick swim in the loch at the back of the castle. Iain joined him.

“So, tell me what is happening between ye and the lady?”

“What do ye mean happening between us?” Shane said with an expression of innocence.

“Och, dinna play that with me. I know ye too well.”

With an expectant grin, Iain eyed his friend and laird. Shane started to deny the budding relationship with Kate, and then stopped himself. Iain wouldn’t stop at such a puny attempt until he gave in.

“I canna get her out of my head. She’s a beauty, no doubt. ‘Tis not
just the shape of her face nor the way her soft bottom curves into the back of her thigh. When ye talk to her, she makes sense. She dinna giggle and feign ignorance. She’s not afraid to let a man know she has a brain. There’s an inner strength shining through her at times.”

“Aye, I’ve seen it when she’s with yer da. No one would ever dare to tell the old man what to do. No one that cared to live, anyway,” Iain said, chuckling. “She just orders him around and he does what he’s told. He listens to her.”

Shane nodded his agreement and continued to swim lazily in the cold water with Iain close by.

“Think what she did for my da. She raised him from the dead, she did. How could I not love her? ‘Tis not the only reason. She has strength and will. I enjoy our time together. When she talks about something she loves, like her herb garden or medicines, her face lights up. She’s bright and kind. And her wee head fits right here when I hold her,” Shane said, pointing to his heart.

Iain raised his eyebrows at the words ‘love her’. Shane did not even realize he had said it. As his friend talked about Kate, Iain watched and listened.

“Och, I’ve had my share of women in the past, have even had my head turned by one or two but never. . .” Shane shook his head and swam for shore.

Refreshed after their swim, the two men returned to the hall for the evening meal. As they walked, Shane remained quiet, lost in his own thoughts.

“Shane, ye do realize marriage may be necessary for the MacDonald to join us.”

“Aye, I do.”

“Well then, what are ye doing with Kate?”

Shane stopped suddenly and turned to his friend and cousin.

“What are ye saying? Are ye implying something?”

Iain shrank from the sudden anger in Shane’s face, his fierce reaction.

“Nay. I dinna mean anything by it. I care for the lass is all. I dinna want to see her hurt.”

Shane took in a deep breath and calmed down at once. He knew better than to question Iain’s motives. Iain was simply watching out for Kate. Something he should be doing as well. He knew a marriage was possible between himself and the MacDonald daughter. He was angry with himself, not Iain. Iain just brought his divided feelings to the surface. Feelings Shane had suppressed throughout the day. His loyalty to the clan had not changed, of course, but he battled with his desires.

Kate sat next to Shane with Iain on the other side of her. Seamus took the seat on Shane’s left and did not make comment on the different seating arrangements. He bid her ‘Good evening’ and sat down to his meal. While he said nothing to Shane or Kate regarding the change, he looked troubled.

When he caught her eye, Smithers smiled briefly with a raised eyebrow, chuckled, and went back to his meal. Kate flushed at Smithers’ teasing but also with her feeling of excited joy. Things had changed for her. She let herself feel, truly feel for possibly the first time in her adult life. She saw the world with new understanding. Love was a powerful cure for a hurt soul.

After the meal, Shane stood and spoke seriously to the clan.

“My brothers, ye are as weary of war as am I. King James has had his boot on us for more than twenty years. We all know what happened those many years ago and how wrong it was. I say the MacGregors are stalwart of character and of heart. We have ‘right’ on our side and we will prevail.”

The women clapped and the men pounded their fists on the tables.

“Now, ye know I’m not a coward and I know we have fight in us. We all do. But we have to care for the clan. The years of battle have taken their toll. Our resources have dwindled. We’ve fought so long and hard, we canna sustain ourselves much longer. I am tired of watchin’ my people go hungry and I am tired of watchin’ the wee bairns die. Our men are battle-worn. Our women, thin and tired. Our children are growing up ignorant and meager. We must start again.”

The women put kerchiefs their faces to catch a tear or two. The men agreed in hushed voices.

Shane stood tall. “The MacGregor clan has always been one to reckon with. ‘Tis still. We know the ways of battle. Let us win this fight. Win it so we may have the strength to take back what is rightfully ours.”

“Ye are good men and proud I am to be one among ye.” He raised his cup in salute.

The people responded with their own toast.

“To the MacGregor!” they shouted as one.

“Och, ye honor me,” Shane said as he raised his cup again, drank.

“I have talked with my da at length and we have agreed the way to bring this clan to her glory is to fight at home as well. I’ve come up with a plan to share with ye.”

Kate listened as Shane laid out his approach. He divided men into separate groups, telling each of their specific tasks. There were men to clear fields and fence them with the stones they found in the fields. Others would take over and break the sod. They would prepare the soil with manure and peat brought up from the bog and plant. A third group would use the old drainage system to drain some of the planting fields.

“I ask the women of the clan to join Kate in the preparations and cultivating of larger kitchen gardens. She’ll need help gathering plants from around the loch.”

Shane ended with defenses and explained his reasons for defending their inner borders, leaving the outer rims unprotected for now. He told his clan of the decision to approach the MacDonald and MacDougall clans for alliance.

“Each group will take a turn riding our borders to defend the clan. We’ll be a wee thin. I plan to ride to the MacDougall and MacDonald clans to renew our friendships there. I believe they are having as much a struggle with them Campbell bastards as we are and will relish the chance to join forces.” Shane chuckled. “Our raidin’ will be a wee bit more profitable as well if their attention is drawn elsewhere.”

The clan laughed with him. Though they made plans for farming, the clan preferred livestock for meat as well as for barter and trade. They were still Scots and raiding was part of their culture, part of their lives, and that would not end.

“Our fight willna be a short one. Will take the hard work and commitment of all of ye. I believe ‘tis the beginning of a stronger Clan MacGregor!”

Shane’s people rose. The men nodded in agreement with their laird. With cups in hand, they drank to their laird, showed their loyalty to him and his plans. Each of his men stood and renewed their personal pledge to him, giving him their promise and their commitment to him and their clan.

With warmth in her breast, Kate listened and watched as the MacGregor spoke to his clan, pleased with the commitment and loyalty as each man stepped forward with his pledge. She saw a love between men, a bond forged of family and battle. These men trusted their laird. The women and children were eager to start their part of the plan as well, talking amongst themselves and looking at her while they spoke, excitement on their faces.

Neither Shane nor his people mentioned the hated Colquhouns and she was grateful for everyone’s discretion. They did not count her amongst such company.

She was surprised to hear Shane’s intention of leaving and going to the other clans for help, disappointed Shane had not shared that portion with her. She was reminded while they would accept her help, as a guest and a Colquhoun, she wasn’t privy to all their plans.

Soon, she excused herself for her nightly stroll.

One of the women, Amelia, stopped Kate. “M'lady. Might I join ye? I’ve seen ye leave the hall every night and have often wondered where ye go.”

“I would be pleased with your company,” Kate said.

Before they reached the outer door, several other women caught up, asking if they, too, could be part of the walk. Thrilled to have the ladies accept her presence was worth missing her solitude. Perhaps the Sassenach woman could be a part of their group after all.