'Can it wait until later?'
'You'll want to hear this news now,' he insisted. 'Laird Hugh is sending something that was left on his border. He insists you'll want to see it. Whatever it is should be here within the hour.'
'Hugh sends you a gift?' Quinlan asked his laird.
Crispin answered. 'It's more of a message than a gift. I wasn't able to get anything more specific out of his soldiers. They were worried, however, and insisted several times that their laird is not responsible. It was extremely important to Hugh that Connor understand this.'
'This makes little sense,' Quinlan muttered. 'Why wouldn't they tell you who it was from?'
'They wouldn't explain,' Crispin replied.
'Then we'll wait and see,' Connor replied.
He then smiled at his friend and, as Connor passed him on his way inside, pounded him on the shoulder to let him know he was pleased with him. Quinlan shoved Crispin in the hopes of getting him to lose his balance. Crispin held his ground and pretended boredom, but the glint in his brown eyes gave him away.
'You missed a fine time, Crispin. Aye, you should have been there to watch me wield my sword. It was a sight to see, and you would have learned a thing or two.'
Crispin laughed. 'I wouldn't have needed to touch my sword, for my hands are just as effective. Besides, I taught you everything you know. Isn't that true, Connor?' he called out.
'I do not involve myself in petty disputes, though I will admit I don't understand either one of your empty boasts. 'Tis a fact I trained both of you.'
Crispin fully appreciated his laird's candor. He watched Connor slowly make his way through the clan to the side of the keep so he could go up the steps. The two soldiers were expected to follow their laird, as it had become a ritual for them to sit at the table with Connor while he caught up on the latest happenings within the clan. They stayed back now so that the other followers could have a turn greeting him.
Both Crispin and Quinlan kept glancing over their shoulders every now and again. Crispin was puzzled, for he had been on the walkway above the wall when his laird rode up to the drawbridge and had seen that he wasn't alone then. Why was he now?
Quinlan couldn't stop smiling. He knew exactly why his laird was alone.
Crispin's curiosity finally got the better of him when Connor started up the steps to go inside the keep. 'Was your journey successful, Laird?' he shouted.
'It was,' Connor called back.
'Then you did marry?'
'I did.'
'Where might your bride be?'
Connor had assumed his wife was following behind him and was now being delayed by the clan. Honest to God, he hadn't give her another thought since Crispin began his report.
He scanned the crowd, looking for his wife. He spotted Owen smiling like a simpleton at the women surrounding him. Brenna was nowhere in sight, however.
'Why aren't you at the stables tending my horse, Owen?' Connor was halfway across the courtyard by the time he finished bellowing his question.
'Another took over the duty for me, Laird,' Owen explained with a nervous glance toward Quinlan.
Connor turned to his friend. 'Where is my wife, Quinlan?'
'I believe you left her in the lower bailey.'
The crowd scattered in every direction as their laird came striding toward the path. The look on Connor's face suggested he didn't wish to be delayed. Crispin and Quinlan followed, but unlike their laird, they weren't scowling.
'Quinlan, how were you able to tend to my stallion and return to the courtyard in such a short time?'
'I didn't tend your stallion,' he answered.
'Did Davis?' Connor asked just to make certain the stablemaster had come forward to take over the duty.
'No.'
'Then who…'
'Another more capable than Davis led your stubborn beast away.'
Connor heard the laughter in Quinlan's voice and knew there was something more to be told. He stopped worrying about Brenna being left alone with his stallion because he knew Quinlan wouldn't have been so damned happy if she'd been in any real danger.
'You forgot her, didn't you, Connor?'
'I did no such thing, Quinlan. Who was more capable than Davis? No more jests,' he warned. 'I'm not in the mood.'
'I won't jest, but you still won't believe me. Your wife took over the duty.'
'I don't believe you.'
Quinlan nudged Crispin. 'He did forget her,' he whispered.
As soon as they reached the stables, Connor pulled the doors wide before either one of his soldiers could get ahead of him to see to the duty.
The stablemaster came running. He bowed to his laird and was about to welcome him back to the keep when Connor interrupted him.
'Davis, is my stallion in his stall?'
'He is, Laird, and as content as I've ever seen.'
'Then you didn't have your usual difficulty getting him to settle down?'
'I was saved from the task by your lady. She certainly has a way with animals, Laird, but I'm sure you already knew that. She soothed the anger out of the beast in no time at all. Your stallion was happy to let her lead him to his quarters.'
Connor knew Davis was telling him the truth, as difficult as it was to believe.
'Where is Lady MacAlister now?'
'She spotted Ewan's wife giving their bairn the afternoon air. I'm thinking that was where she was headed.'
Connor nodded and walked away. He paused once when Davis called out, 'You've chosen well, Laird.'
Brenna had already left Ewan's cottage, however. While the blushing mother explained she'd been thrilled to have her mistress's undivided attention, she seemed far more interested in praising Brenna than in telling Connor where she'd gone.
'She insisted on holding the baby and didn't mind at all that he hadn't had his bath yet. She has a special way with children, Laird. My little one is usually suspicious of strangers, but he took to her right away. Your wife's a dear lass, and from England, of all scandalous places. She's thoughtful as can be. She hurried over to meet Brocca when she noticed her staring out at her through the window.'
His patience was nearly gone by the time he finally caught up with Brenna. She had already left Brocca's cottage and was just about to knock on another door when he stopped her.
She didn't look especially pleased to see him. He couldn't believe she dared to trown at him after she'd caused him so much trouble.
'You forgot me, didn't you?' She folded her arms and continued to frown at him.
Connor wasn't at all impressed with the way she tried to intimidate him. He moved closer so that she was forced to tilt her head back in order to look up at him, and then said, 'You will not take that tone with me.'
She didn't back away as he expected her to do, but she did soften her voice when she next spoke to him. 'May I speak plainly, Connor?'
'No, you may not. You may follow me back to the keep now, however.'
He turned to leave. She stood her ground.
'Are you defying me?' he asked.
'No, Laird, I'm not defying you. I am waiting.'
'Waiting for what?'
'For you to admit you forgot me.'
'I did no such thing.'
