whatever burden she carried, but he could help her relax and forget her troubles for an hour or two.
Jeanette glanced over to where the three old women were holding court, clearly telling stories on each other in view of the laughter coming from those gathered around them and the mock indignation of one of them.
“The three of them, sisters, you ken, were notorious for being great beauties, drawing men from far and wide to woo them. They’ve each been married more than once.” She leaned close again and whispered, her breath heating more than his ear. “ ’Tis said they wore their husbands out—and not from nagging.” Now she raised her delicately arched pale brows at him and he could not help but smile back, pleased at her pink cheeks and playful comment.
“Now that is a legend worth striving for,” he said, glad to see a twinkle of mirth in her eyes.
Three boys approached, two of them hanging back behind their leader, wee Ian, all of five winters old.
“Malcolm,” Ian said, reaching up and pulling on Malcolm’s right arm, his small hands gripping just above the elbow, “will you show us how to fight with the ax some more?”
Malcolm couldn’t stop the wince that came even with the lad’s easy grip. He’d worked hard this day, even as his arm ached and burned.
“Not now, Ian,” Jeanette said before Malcolm could respond. “We’ve still a lot of work to do before we can leave the castle tonight, but Malcolm will come to the caves with us.”
“Aye, and I’ll need strong lads like you and your friends to help me keep watch over the women and bairns,” Malcolm said, looking Ian in the eye. “You lads will have to be trained. Do you think you can do that?”
All three little boys nodded at him, their heads bobbing with enthusiasm.
“Go find your mums now,” Jeanette said. “You’ll be leaving with them, soon. We’ll see you at the caves on the morrow.”
Jeanette and Malcolm watched the lads scamper away.
“That was very nice of you,” she said. “You have managed to turn leaving their homes into an adventure and a challenge.”
“I only wish I could do the same for you,” he said, looking over at her.
She looked around at the people gathered in the bailey. Some of the women were already up and clearing the table. Lasses were at basins of hot water, washing out the bowls and pots, while others dried them and one of Peigi’s sisters directed the packing of the dinnerware that they were to take with them.
“I have only ever lived here, in this castle,” Jeanette said quietly. “I find it hard to imagine that I will not wake up here in the morn, that I may never wake up here again.”
Malcolm leaned his shoulder against hers. “Do not give up, angel. The battle is not yet joined and from the looks of this clan, you all are determined to return to this glen and this castle. In my experience, those defending their homes are much more dangerous in a battle than those hired to fight.”
He looked about at the people of Dunlairig, most of whom he hadn’t properly met yet, and saw a spirit and strength that spoke of a pride and love for their home, but he also saw only a few warriors and wondered if they would be enough to protect this clan, and not just this night as they left the castle behind them.
He wondered if he would make any difference in their battle.
A S SOON AS it was full dark the first group left the castle through the bolt-hole. Several warriors went with them to keep them safe as they traveled, just in case there were English soldiers about. It would take each group several hours to get to the caves, for they would be walking in the dark over sometimes difficult terrain. Peigi and her sisters went with the first group so they could help organize everyone as they arrived. Jeanette would go with the last group. Forced to sit quietly lest the castle was being watched, she found herself envying those who had already left, not because they were the first to go, but
Jeanette glanced over to where the three old women were holding court, clearly telling stories on each other in view of the laughter coming from those gathered around them and the mock indignation of one of them.
“The three of them, sisters, you ken, were notorious for being great beauties, drawing men from far and wide to woo them. They’ve each been married more than once.” She leaned close again and whispered, her breath heating more than his ear. “ ’Tis said they wore their husbands out—and not from nagging.” Now she raised her delicately arched pale brows at him and he could not help but smile back, pleased at her pink cheeks and playful comment.
“Now that is a legend worth striving for,” he said, glad to see a twinkle of mirth in her eyes.
Three boys approached, two of them hanging back behind their leader, wee Ian, all of five winters old.
“Malcolm,” Ian said, reaching up and pulling on Malcolm’s right arm, his small hands gripping just above the elbow, “will you show us how to fight with the ax some more?”
Malcolm couldn’t stop the wince that came even with the lad’s easy grip. He’d worked hard this day, even as his arm ached and burned.
“Not now, Ian,” Jeanette said before Malcolm could respond. “We’ve still a lot of work to do before we can leave the castle tonight, but Malcolm will come to the caves with us.”
“Aye, and I’ll need strong lads like you and your friends to help me keep watch over the women and bairns,” Malcolm said, looking Ian in the eye. “You lads will have to be trained. Do you think you can do that?”
All three little boys nodded at him, their heads bobbing with enthusiasm.
“Go find your mums now,” Jeanette said. “You’ll be leaving with them, soon. We’ll see you at the caves on the morrow.”
Jeanette and Malcolm watched the lads scamper away.
“That was very nice of you,” she said. “You have managed to turn leaving their homes into an adventure and a challenge.”
“I only wish I could do the same for you,” he said, looking over at her.
She looked around at the people gathered in the bailey. Some of the women were already up and clearing the table. Lasses were at basins of hot water, washing out the bowls and pots, while others dried them and one of Peigi’s sisters directed the packing of the dinnerware that they were to take with them.
“I have only ever lived here, in this castle,” Jeanette said quietly. “I find it hard to imagine that I will not wake up here in the morn, that I may never wake up here again.”
Malcolm leaned his shoulder against hers. “Do not give up, angel. The battle is not yet joined and from the looks of this clan, you all are determined to return to this glen and this castle. In my experience, those defending their homes are much more dangerous in a battle than those hired to fight.”
He looked about at the people of Dunlairig, most of whom he hadn’t properly met yet, and saw a spirit and strength that spoke of a pride and love for their home, but he also saw only a few warriors and wondered if they would be enough to protect this clan, and not just this night as they left the castle behind them.
He wondered if he would make any difference in their battle.
A S SOON AS it was full dark the first group left the castle through the bolt-hole. Several warriors went with them to keep them safe as they traveled, just in case there were English soldiers about. It would take each group several hours to get to the caves, for they would be walking in the dark over sometimes difficult terrain. Peigi and her sisters went with the first group so they could help organize everyone as they arrived. Jeanette would go with the last group. Forced to sit quietly lest the castle was being watched, she found herself envying those who had already left, not because they were the first to go, but
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