Taming the Wild Highlander 04 (32 page)

Later, Una asked,
"Is he sleeping?"

"
Nay," Edana said, though she couldn't be for certain. "He is guarding."

That earned her another dark chuckle
from him as Angus tightened his hold on her.

"
So, will you wed Seumas?"

"
I want to continue to stay with you. Serve as your companion. But if I wed Seumas, he…" Una paused.

"
He what?"

"
He would want me to stay with him."

"
Aye," Edana said. "'Twould be most reasonable that."

"
Since you will be living at Craigly Castle and at Rondover Castle sometimes, surely, it would present a problem for Seumas."

Edana thought of it for a few minutes, trying to come up with a workable solution. She wanted Una close at hand. When th
ey both had their bairns, they could help each other greatly.

"
He could serve on my brother's guard staff," Angus said, proving he was wide-awake still and listening to everything they said. "James would have to agree. Whenever we travel to Rondover Castle, he could serve to protect us on our journey. Once under Tibold's roof, Seumas could resume his service for him again in the capacity of guard."

Silence for a heartbeat and then Una said,
"Aye, that is the solution. I will tell Seumas it should work."

"
He would have to agree," Angus said.

"
He already has." Una sighed. "We discussed something similar."

"
James and Tibold would have to agree as well," Angus warned.

"
The chief has said yes," Una said eagerly.

Angus shook his head.
"Then how can James go against the plan?"

Edana smiled.

"But when we retire to our bed at night, we will be alone," Angus insisted.

The ladies laughed. Then Edana worried they may be keeping others awake who were sleeping near the tent.
"Goodnight, Una. We will talk again on our journey."

Angus sighed and Edana thought he was much relieved. Did the men never speak to each other
at night?

***

The next morning, Niall and Gunnolf helped guard the ladies while they washed up at a trickling stream running gently over moss-covered stones, the sun rising, casting a yellow and orange growing ribbon of color as it rose higher. A smattering of white clouds dotted the blue sky. The last day of their journey and it looked as though the day would be like yesterday and they wouldn't have to slog through another downpour.

Birds were chirping in the trees lining the stream, making Angus feel eve
n more lighthearted.

E
veryone seemed more chipper, knowing James would spread a great feast in welcome and they'd all have a roof over their heads this eve.

"
Did you get any sleep?" Gunnolf asked Angus, the blond, blue-eyed warrior casting him a small smile.

Angus gave him a disgruntled look.

"I could have told you what it would be like to stay in the same tent with the lasses. They canna help themselves."

Niall chuckled.
"Several men were sleeping closer to the tent to protect the lasses, then they moved farther away to get some rest before they had guard duty."

Angus shook his head.
"The lasses will have a time staying awake on their mounts for as long as they talked last eve, I fear."

"
Aye," Gunnolf said, "but I suspect you dinna wish me to take the woman on my horse for a spell if she grows too tired."

"
Una? I believe Seumas will want the honor if the lass wearies too much. Edana? Nay, the lass will ride with me. But hopefully she will be rested enough until later so my horse doesna tire," Angus said.

A
s they rode through the gorse-covered heath, the vibrant yellow flowers in full bloom, the sweet smell like a nutty fruit, filled the warm breeze as it tugged at their plaids and hair. But within the hour, Edana looked as though she would fall asleep in the saddle, her eyes drifting closed several times, her head nodding off.

Angus
stopped her. "Edana, ride with me, lass."

She looked like she was about to
object, but then she agreed. He lifted her onto his horse. Niall took her mare's reins, having been prepared to catch the lass if she had appeared as though she would fall from her mare and Angus missed her.

Seumas
and Gunnolf stuck close to Una for the same reason. The lasses who could not stop talking last eve, had not said more than a word or two to each other or anyone else they had encountered this morn, they were so tired. At least this eve, Angus would have his wife to himself. He didn't expect much talking to be going on then, either.

Later that day, they broke for a brief nooning meal near a fas
t-moving stream. They filled their flasks with fresh water and ate dried fish and bannocks.

Niall and Gunnolf had ridden ahead
, looking for any signs of trouble earlier, and finally returned. Gunnolf shook his head. "No signs of Keary or his men, but horses' droppings and the trampling of grass indicate they are no more than a couple of hours ahead of us. If that is who it is."

"
I thought they would ambush us way before this. We are getting too close to Craigly and word would reach James if a battle ensued. What is Keary thinking, if it is him?" Angus asked.

Edana spoke up, refreshed from her nap.
"Would it be like before? When he slipped around us and went to talk with my da? To ask for my hand in marriage before we arrived at Rondover Castle?"

Tibold joined them, hearing something of their conversation.
"I didna know you had already wed Angus. And in that case, he had come to
me.
James would have no say in who you married."

Then Angus shook his head.
"What if the brigand believes his men killed me back at the village? What if he intends to be there when Edana is delivered to Craigly Castle and asks you again for her hand in marriage?"

"
While she is newly widowed?" Tibold snorted and Angus assumed he had the same thought—the man was crass if he had such designs.

"
He would pretend to be unduly sad for her husband's passing, offer alliances to James and you. Mayhap pay countless visits to the lass with condolences until she softened to the notion of marriage," Angus said, thinking aloud.

"
Then we can play his game," Tibold said. "If he and his men are there, you willna show yourself. See what the fool does then."

Angus smiled.
"I like the way you think."

Niall spoke up then.
"Despite the lass's loss, I am afraid I will have to let Keary know I am next in line to marry Edana."

Gunnolf said,
"Me also. Just so he realizes that she has many suitors and no' only Keary."

Edana smiled at Angus.
"Despite what your friends say, you canna be so easily replaced."

They all laughed.

When they arrived at Craigly Castle, the portcullis still up as Gunnolf and Niall rode ahead to let James know of their plan, should Keary be there, Angus kissed his wife, then headed around the back of the castle to the gate the servants and merchants normally used. Four of Tibold's men accompanied him to ensure he didn't meet with foul play this close to home.

Angus had thought the notion
of pretending he no longer lived a good one until he had to leave his wife in the care of her father and the rest of the men riding with them while he took the servants' stairs to speak with James in private.

When he reached James
's chamber, Angus heard a babe crying in the adjoining lady's chamber. He closed his gaping mouth and turned to James as his brother bade him to enter his solar.

"
The bairn has come? Already?" Angus asked, astounded. He knew the bairn was due soon, he just hadn't realized he'd been gone that long.

"
Aye, Angus. A son with healthy lungs as you can well hear. And Eilis feels strong. Now tell me about this marriage of yours and what Keary is up to. Niall briefly explained what the rogue was about."

Angus described
to his brother most of what had gone on in a sketchy way. "Did you assume I would wed the lass?" he finally asked.

James smiled.
"In truth? I had no idea. Though from the way you had been so intrigued with Edana in the past, I assumed you might be even more so once she was full grown. So you are truly happy?"

"
Aye, but Keary isna."

James laughed.
"Well, he will have to get over it."

"
I am ready to rejoin my wife in the great hall."

James shook his head.
"Patience, brother. My advisor is overseeing the matter for me and will send word as soon as we are to join them. Come, sit, and have something to drink."

Angus couldn
't sit. He was too anxious. He wanted to show Keary he couldn't get rid of him that easily, and see his face when he showed himself—healthy and very much alive.

Edana was having a devil of a time meeting every one of James's clan who welcomed her and her da and his men as soon as they entered the keep. She was supposed to pretend to be a widow in mourning of only a couple of days, yet cheerily greet everyone who met her.

If she
'd truly been in mourning, she would have displayed the grief freely. She couldn't act both ways and be in the least bit believable.

Did everyone
at Craigly Castle know that it was all a ruse? They had to.

Only Keary and his men would not be told. She hadn
't seen him yet, but had spied a couple of the men who had been with him when he found her in the tree and his men had tried to kill the sow.

She thought the
ploy had been a good idea until now. She wished Angus would soon show up and put Keary in his place with regards to her.

Edana was somewhat an
xious to meet James. She recalled the day so long ago when he and Malcolm, Angus's two oldest brothers, had carried her back to Rondover Castle as she had fought them with all her might. She had not wanted to return to the keep after the girl's drowning, knowing full well the others would believe Edana responsible for the lass's death.

James had been firm with her, but as gentle as he could have been under the circumstances. She still felt uncomfortable seeing
him, believing he would think her nothing more than a wild hellion.

A
ny thought of that matter fled when her father escorted her into the great hall, and she came face to face with Keary.

He was unarmed and greeted her with stoicism.
"Where is your husband?" he asked, looking perfectly innocent,
the bastard
.

Her father stiffened beside her, h
is hand on the hilt of his sword, but her brothers closed in ranks behind her and Gunnolf and Niall were nearby also.

Men and women stood around i
n the hall, more of Angus's kin, she assumed, as they watched the newcomers.

"
He fought bravely," she said, and waited quietly for Keary's reaction. "Who had the audacity to fight him?"

Keary
glanced at Tibold and his sons. "I didna think all of you were escorting Edana here."

Unable to help herself, s
he smiled just a little. "My brothers wouldna have attended me if Angus had not been attacked. But when that happened, my da ensured my brothers and his men all accompanied us. 'Tis good thing that. Seven other men have asked for my hand in marriage."

"
Seven." Keary's voice almost sounded defeated. Then he frowned. "'Tis too soon for men to be asking for your hand, when you are grieving, lass."

"
Oh, aye. If Angus had been murdered, you are verra much right in your assumption."

"
Had been
." Keary's frown deepened. "I…was…under the…mistaken impression that Angus was murdered at the hand of a thief."

"
The only treasure Angus had with him was me. Had the thief intended to steal me?"

Keary looked a little puzzled. Then latching onto her words concerning having more suitors, he turned to her father.
"You promised her to me."

"
Aye, but I wasna thinking straight. Know this—" Tibold said, but he didn't say anything further as Angus stormed into the great hall, sword readied.

Many stepped back. James
's advisor, Eanruig muttered under his breath
,
his face tan, a dark beard covering much of it, black hair hanging loosely about his shoulders, and he looked just as ominous as Angus, "I should have known you wouldna wait for word from me first."