Read Online Caelen's Wife: Book One - A Murmur of Providence (Clan McDunnah Series 1) by Suzan Tisdale - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Suzan Tisdale
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nightmare of losin’ another wife or babe. ’Tis guilt that kept ye even from namin’ yer son and ’tis guilt over no’ bein’ there for them that keeps ye so rooted in the past.”
It mattered not to Caelen that Burunild spoke the truth. Guilt, remorse, and grief had kept him from naming his son. It also kept him from ever considering taking another wife. But he’d rather have his eyes pulled out of their sockets by rats than to admit such to his grandminny.
“I thank ye fer the cider and bread,” he said as he pulled the door open. “I’ll be quite busy fer a time. I’ll send someone to look in on ye.”
Burunild called after him. “If ye do no’ rid yerself of that guilt, Caelen McDunnah, ye’ll die all alone! A sad, lonely man!”
Ignoring her, he left the cottage, quietly shutting the door behind him.
His grandminny was correct in one regard. He would die alone. But he’d not die sad or lonely. Aye, he’d have regrets and tried to convince himself that no man could leave God’s earth without them.
A ngry with his grandminny , Caelen left her cottage and headed back toward his keep. He’d have to consume vast amounts of whisky in order to forget the conversation that had just taken place. However, getting drunk was out of the question. He’d need to keep his wits about him if he were to get himself out of this current predicament.
Caelen’s gut told him his men were innocent. Someone wanted it to appear that the McDunnahs had stolen McPherson sheep. But why? To what end? Who would want the McDunnahs and McPhersons at war with one another? None of it made sense.
Since he could not find the answers amongst his own people, mayhap they lie with the McPhersons and there was only one way to find out. He went in search of Kenneth.
H e had found Kenneth in the main gathering room, going over plans for their new granary with several carpenters. Caelen tried to feign interest in the plans, but his heart was not in it. His grandminny’s words reverberated in his mind. It was difficult to push her words away, for, as much as he hated to admit it, they were nothing but the truth.
Once they finished discussing the new granary, Caelen pulled Kenneth into his private study.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about our problem,” Caelen told him as he poured ale into two cups.
“Which one?” Kenneth asked as he took a cup. “The fact that ye let a wee lass best ye? The fact that same lass has bewitched ye? Or the fact that someone wants us at war with the McPhersons?”
Caelen sighed angrily. “Why is it everyone believes I letFiona win? And why is everyone convinced she has bewitched me?” He tossed back the entire mug of ale and slammed the empty cup down onto his desk.
Ignoring his cousin’s anger, Kenneth pressed onward. “Well, ‘twasn’t me that allowed a woman to best me, to draw first blood. I be no’ the one besotted with her.”
Stunned, he could not speak for several long moments. “Besotted?” he growled. “Has this entire clan gone mad?”
Kenneth shrugged his shoulders. “If the clan has gone mad, ’tis because their chief has.”
“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?” He was growing weary of the accusations that he was besotted or bewitched. If anything, he was quite bewildered at how his people had formed such conclusions.
“It means that I saw how ye looked at the woman. I saw with me own eyes how ye stared after her as if ye were a man dyin’ of thirst. ’Tis why ye let her win.”
“Oh for the love of God!” Caelen shouted. “I did no’ lether win!”
Kenneth set his cup down, crossed his broad arms over his chest and stared at his chief. “The Caelen McDunnah Iknow, would have drawn first blood in one swipe of his sword, just to prove he could do it.”
“But ’twas no’ a man I was up against!” What had they expected him to do? Slice her throat from ear to ear? What good would that have done?
“Nay, ’twas no’ a man ye were up against,
It mattered not to Caelen that Burunild spoke the truth. Guilt, remorse, and grief had kept him from naming his son. It also kept him from ever considering taking another wife. But he’d rather have his eyes pulled out of their sockets by rats than to admit such to his grandminny.
“I thank ye fer the cider and bread,” he said as he pulled the door open. “I’ll be quite busy fer a time. I’ll send someone to look in on ye.”
Burunild called after him. “If ye do no’ rid yerself of that guilt, Caelen McDunnah, ye’ll die all alone! A sad, lonely man!”
Ignoring her, he left the cottage, quietly shutting the door behind him.
His grandminny was correct in one regard. He would die alone. But he’d not die sad or lonely. Aye, he’d have regrets and tried to convince himself that no man could leave God’s earth without them.
A ngry with his grandminny , Caelen left her cottage and headed back toward his keep. He’d have to consume vast amounts of whisky in order to forget the conversation that had just taken place. However, getting drunk was out of the question. He’d need to keep his wits about him if he were to get himself out of this current predicament.
Caelen’s gut told him his men were innocent. Someone wanted it to appear that the McDunnahs had stolen McPherson sheep. But why? To what end? Who would want the McDunnahs and McPhersons at war with one another? None of it made sense.
Since he could not find the answers amongst his own people, mayhap they lie with the McPhersons and there was only one way to find out. He went in search of Kenneth.
H e had found Kenneth in the main gathering room, going over plans for their new granary with several carpenters. Caelen tried to feign interest in the plans, but his heart was not in it. His grandminny’s words reverberated in his mind. It was difficult to push her words away, for, as much as he hated to admit it, they were nothing but the truth.
Once they finished discussing the new granary, Caelen pulled Kenneth into his private study.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about our problem,” Caelen told him as he poured ale into two cups.
“Which one?” Kenneth asked as he took a cup. “The fact that ye let a wee lass best ye? The fact that same lass has bewitched ye? Or the fact that someone wants us at war with the McPhersons?”
Caelen sighed angrily. “Why is it everyone believes I letFiona win? And why is everyone convinced she has bewitched me?” He tossed back the entire mug of ale and slammed the empty cup down onto his desk.
Ignoring his cousin’s anger, Kenneth pressed onward. “Well, ‘twasn’t me that allowed a woman to best me, to draw first blood. I be no’ the one besotted with her.”
Stunned, he could not speak for several long moments. “Besotted?” he growled. “Has this entire clan gone mad?”
Kenneth shrugged his shoulders. “If the clan has gone mad, ’tis because their chief has.”
“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?” He was growing weary of the accusations that he was besotted or bewitched. If anything, he was quite bewildered at how his people had formed such conclusions.
“It means that I saw how ye looked at the woman. I saw with me own eyes how ye stared after her as if ye were a man dyin’ of thirst. ’Tis why ye let her win.”
“Oh for the love of God!” Caelen shouted. “I did no’ lether win!”
Kenneth set his cup down, crossed his broad arms over his chest and stared at his chief. “The Caelen McDunnah Iknow, would have drawn first blood in one swipe of his sword, just to prove he could do it.”
“But ’twas no’ a man I was up against!” What had they expected him to do? Slice her throat from ear to ear? What good would that have done?
“Nay, ’twas no’ a man ye were up against,
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