In Bed with a Highlander

“Your men behaved reprehensibly,” Mairin said.

The women voiced their agreement by waving their weapons and stomping their feet. Ewan’s men looked as if they didn’t know whether to be afraid or angry.

Ewan folded his arms over his chest and looked sternly at her. “What did they do, lass?”

Mairin glanced at the other women, drawing courage from their support. Then she jutted out her chin and pinned the laird with her best impression of his scowl. It must have been a worthy impression because he lifted an eyebrow as he stared back at her.

“The women were all doing their duties, just as you expect the men to do. That idiot over there decided to test his charms on Christina and the lass refused him. He was so furious over the rejection that he began to criticize her work. You see, she was serving the soldiers their afternoon meal. Thus began an effort to belittle and demean the work of every woman in this keep. They made jests and grew louder and louder in their criticism. They bellowed at Maddie when the food wasn’t served soon enough. They complained about Gertie’s preparation when they felt the food was not savory enough or it was too cold.”

She drew in a long breath before she spilled forth the rest of her ire.

“And when Christina sought to diffuse the situation, Heath tripped her. She spilled ale everywhere and then he had the nerve to chasten her for ruining his clothing. When she protested, he slapped her.”

Mairin’s hands curled in fury as she stepped forward, her entire body shaking with rage. She pointed at the group comprised of Heath, Robert, Corbin, Ian, and Matthew. “And not one, not one of them stepped in to help her. Not one! No one moved a finger to stop his abuse of Christina. They were too busy laughing and criticizing women’s work.”

She stopped in front of the laird and poked her finger into his chest. “Well, I say if ’tis so easy and the men are so critical, they can take over the women’s duties for the day and we’ll see how well they perform the women’s tasks.”

She held her breath and waited for Ewan to denounce her.

“I would speak, Laird!” Bertha yelled out, her voice so loud that more than one woman winced.

“You may speak,” Ewan said.

“I’ll not go overlong with my comments, but hear this. As of this moment, the women are not lifting a finger in this keep. And we’re keeping Lady McCabe!”

Ewan lifted his brow again. “You’re keeping her?”

Bertha nodded. “Aye, she’s going with us. We’ll not have her chastised for her defense of us.”

To Mairin’s surprise, he smiled.

“There’s a bit of a problem with that, Bertha.”

“And what is that?” Bertha demanded.

“I’m keeping her.”

That statement caused a series of murmurs to race through the hall. Both the men and the women leaned forward, curious as to which way the laird would rule. It was clear he was displeased.

“I will not be swayed by blackmail and demands,” he said.

When Bertha puffed out her chest and prepared to launch into another angry tirade, he held up a hand to silence her.

“I will hear what both sides have to say before I render judgment. Once I do, the matter will be final. Is that clear?”

“Only if you decide the right way,” Mairin muttered.

Ewan shot her a quelling look.

The laird turned and it was the truth that he didn’t look pleased as he stared at Heath and the four younger men who stood defiantly by his side. Then he looked to Gannon, who was the most senior of all his men.

“Have you an explanation for this?”

Gannon sighed. “I’m sorry, Laird. I was not present. I was in the courtyard with some of the other soldiers. I had informed them they wouldn’t eat until they performed their maneuvers correctly.”

“I see.” He turned to Cormac, who stood to the side of Diormid and Heath. “Cormac? Have you anything to offer?”

Cormac looked furious. He glanced between the men, who stared expectantly at him, and Ewan, who also awaited his word.

“ ’Tis as our mistress reported, Laird,” he said through tight lips. “I came into the hall just as Heath tripped Christina.” Anger rippled across Cormac’s face as he glanced over at Heath. “ ’Twas not Christina’s fault. The men grew louder with their insults and when Christina offered disagreement, Heath struck her. ? God’s truth I would have killed him myself, but Lady McCabe intervened before I could act, and then my foremost concern was her safety.”

Ewan nodded his agreement over Cormac’s assessment, then looked over to where Diormid stood beside Heath. “And do you defend his actions?”

Diormid looked torn in his loyalty to the young men directly under his command. “Nay, Laird. ’Twas not the tale as he told it to me.”

“So you weren’t present for the happenings?” Ewan asked.

Diormid shook his head. “I entered the hall as Lady McCabe was issuing orders for the men to take over the women’s duties for the day.”