Highland Light (17 page)

Chapter 15

Ailene lay curled up next to Gideon. They were tired yet not ready to succumb to sleep. Cadell and Fenella had retired early. Gideon and Ailene had not been far behind.

Gideon absently stroked Ailene's upper arm. He had one leg draped across her legs. She pushed her bottom tighter against him. Gideon chuckled softly.

"I doubt I have the strength Ailene."

"Och, well I have no doubt that ye do, but it is too late and we need to sleep. I just want to be as close to ye as I can."

She drew a deep breath.

"Gradh, ye will be going soon."

Gideon closed his eyes as he nuzzled her ear.

"Aye. We will. I think your father has delayed just a bit due to his marriage to Fenella."

"I dinna care why the delay. I am grateful for the time."

She tried to keep the sadness she felt contained.

"I would not leave you Ailene. There is no choice."

Ailene pulled his arm around her. She did not wish to make him sad but she was not ready to give him up to sleep.

"Gideon, what does 'Gideon' mean?"

He snuggled her closer. Ailene knew he would soon drift off to sleep. She wanted to keep him talking just a bit more. She loved the sound of his voice.

"You know it is from the Bible."

His breath slid past her ear its warmth caressed her cheek.

"Aye, I do."

"Gideon means 'feller of trees, mighty warrior'. So, what does 'Ailene' mean?"

Ailene felt his body relax against her. It was becoming harder for them to escape sleep.

"Ailene means 'light bearer'."

Her eyelids closed of their own accord. The last thing she heard was his soft whisper in her ear.

"Ailene, my highland light. You light my way home love."

Cuddled together they slipped into sleep.

Cadell woke in the early morning. For a moment he wondered at the soft warm body next to him. 'Fenella'. For the first time in many years the sharp flash of loneliness on waking was gone. With a sigh, Fenella turned. A small hand searched for him. On finding his shoulder, she tucked herself under his arm. Her soft breath fluttered across his chest. Cadell felt his body respond to the feel of her against him. He closed his eyes then smiled as he reached down to tuck her close to him. Gideon was not the only happy man.

He had not realized how much he missed the closeness between a man and woman. Now and again he had taken women. There had been no closeness in that sort of coupling. Nor had he expected any. Fenella was his wife. She was warm and loving. He had been taken with her from the moment she had taken him in and put him in her own bed. The two of them had spoken for hours while he healed. Cadell had known the day Gideon had gone to find Ailene that he could not leave Fenella and her grandson.

The MacGrough was not concerned about providing the clan with an heir. Gideon was now his heir. The lad would care for and guide the MacGroughs through the years when Cadell was gone. If not for the turmoil surrounding them, he could live in this little glen in happiness until he died. Fenella moved against him. Cadell turned on his side. It was time to wake her. He had every intention of enjoying her until the last moment before leave taking.

Seumas heard the bairn's loud complaint about entering the world. He smiled in satisfaction. Edeen would be coming out of the house shortly to let him know if the wee one was a lad or lass. So long as Ailsa and the barin were well and healthy he did not care. Ailsa had already given him a braw lad and sweet lass. Seumas knew that he would be leaving with The MacGrough this time. It was his turn to go. Neill would be staying to guard those left at home.

He took a sip of the whiskey in the flask that sat at his right hand. Seumas did not mind having spent the night outside wrapped in his plaid as he waited for the birth of his third child. He thought about his life in this small glen. On the backside of the stable he had first kissed Ailsa. The first deer he had killed he had tracked for miles after just wounding it beyond the hillock to his right. His entire life was contained in this small glen. It was a good life. He hoped to have many more years in the glen of the MacGroughs.

God only knew who would return from this war. This was something he was not planning to dwell on. Dwelling on it would not help him survive. He would need to depend on his skills and those of Cadell and Gideon.

Gideon had been a surprise. There was no question in his mind that Ailene was more than satisfied with her husband. Seumas had been pleased with the lad's obvious knowledge of weapons on the training fields. Gideon's handling of the matter with the MacNab lad had impressed Seumas as nothing else could have.

Cadell's choice, or rather Ailene's choice of a successor to Cadell was more than acceptable. Now if they could only stay alive, if The Bruce could only free Scotland from the Sassenach, they might be able to stay home and enjoy life.

He heard the door open and turned his head toward Edeen.

"Ye have another son Seumas. A right lusty one, he is nursing as if starved."

Edeen reached a hand out. Without a word Seumas placed the flask in it. Edeen took a drink then stood smiling down at him for a while before she handed it back to him.

"And Ailsa?"

He asked the question most important to him.

"It went well for her. Nay problem."

Edeen changed the subject.

"Ye are leaving with them?"

"Aye Edeen. Neill will stay an I will go."

The older woman sighed.

"I hate to see any of ye leaving."

Seuman had known Edeen all his life. She had taken over care of Ailene when her mother had died. Acting as midwife for the clan, Edeen had helped bring all three of his children into the world. She was a quiet woman, always willing to help someone else. Seumas would trust his life and the life of anyone in his family to Edeen. He knew that she looked on Ailene as another bairn.

"Gideon is a braw man with a sword. Dinna worry for her sake Edeen. If ye had seen the MacNab lad...The lad neer had a chance against Gideon."

Seumas stood, he put a hand on Edeen shoulder.

"If any of MacGroughs return, among them will be the lad. None will take his life easily. Dalziel says he guards Cadell well and knows his business."

Daylight was replacing the pale light of pre dawn. Edeen shook her head.

"I dinna wish to see any of ye go into this."

Seumas gave the slight woman a hug.

"Dinna fash yerself over it. Ye ken we have no choice in the matter. I ken ye pray for us. God hears ye Edeen. Coninue to pray, mind."

She held out her hand again.

"Gie me another sip of tha whiskey, then get yer self into yer woman andbairn. God keep ye Seumas."

Edeen took a quick sip then handed the flask back to Seumas. He took the container of whiskey then went inside to become acquainted with his second son.

Edeen made her way home where Parlan waited. She was glad Parlan was too old to go to war. But if the war came to them, Parlan would stand with the other men to defend them. She felt guilty that the death of Longshanks had immediately produced a feeling of happiness in her heart. A Christian was not supposed to feel that way. Edeen had tamped down the feeling and had immediately prayed for the Sassenach's soul.

She had been happy to hear that Gideon had punished the MacNab for his treatment of Ailene. It had been a good thing that Gideon had not killed the MacNab regardless of Gideon's feelings on the matter. Perhaps leaving him alive would mean that there would be no feud to contend with. It was enought that the Sassenach raped and plundered without fellow Scots doing the same thing.

As the daylight slowly brightened the land the glen came alive. Chimneys began to pour out smoke as fires for cooking were built up. The sky above contained no clouds and the shades of blue varied from light blue to deep blue where the sunlight had yet to reach. The sun came up over the mountain in a golden flood. It spread across the glen like melted butter.

As the sun rose the children called to one another in the cool morning air. They dashed outside to tend to their chores. The younger children went to release the fowl from their pens. The older ones raced each other as they made their way to the cowpen. Two mothers stood in the doorway watching the younger bairns tag along with their kin. The little ones were not old enough to truly help but were learning as they watched. The older children were careful to keep the wee ones from harm as they went about their early morning chores.

The clear day looked to be a good one for outside work but no one made any immediate moves toward taking advantage of a day without rain. In the main hall Idelle was already busily preparing bread and porridge. Her daughter, Christal, was with her. Neill, Idelle's husband was not leaving on this day, but he was in the kitchen at the table waiting for The MacGrough.

Ainsley, sleepily adjusting his clothing, made his way into the kitchen. On seeing Christal, he raced outside to splash his hands and face with water. Neill watched the lad go with a slight grin. Idelle caught the glance Christal gave the lad as he dashed out the back door. In a few more years who could tell where their mutual attraction might lead.

Ailene felt the bed move as Gideon rose. 'Tis too soon.' She thought as she turned in the bed to watch him. Gideon did not bother to build up the fire. There would be no lazing in bed this morn. He pulled on the leather trews he preferred for war. Today he would be leaving as would her father and eight other MacGrough warriors. Ailene was grateful for the time they had been able to have together. She had to thank Alec MacNab and his impulsive kidnapping attempt for the days she and Gideon had shared.

Gideon pulled on his shirt, further mussing his sleep disordered black hair. Ailene rose and padded on bare feet over to where he stood preparing to put on his sword harness. Before he did so, Ailene reached for her comb then stood before him.

"Ye have hair long enough to braid. Do ye wish a braid?"

She moved behind him to run the comb through the dark hair carefully untangling a knot.

"I think so. I have never allowed my hair to get this long before. I suppose it would not hurt to blend in."

Ailene walked back over to the chest where she kept her brush and comb. She carefully removed a few black hairs stuck between the teeth of the comb then set them to one side where Gideon would not notice. Later she would tuck those hairs into her keepsake box. She picked up two small leather ties then turned to him with a smiled.

"Sit."

She motioned to one of the chairs.

"What would ye like? One or two braids, both sides or one?"

He sat then tilted his head back. His dark eyes watched her closely.

"What do you think? Two so as to keep the hair out of my way?"

The smile she kept pasted to her face felt a bit more natural as she leaned forward to pull the hair at his temples from behind his ears.

"Two then Gideon."

She gathered the strands, separated them then braided them tightly together. Ailene bound the ends with the leather ties. His eyes were closed, his head resting on the back of the chair. She finished the second braid, put a hand on either side of his head then leaned forward to kiss him gently.

"Ye are a handsome braw man. Ye take good care of my lad, ye ken?"

Gideon's hand went to the back of her head. He deepened the kiss then pulled her into his lap.

"Ailene, you take care of yourself. I need my highland light bright and shining. How else shall I find my way home?"

Gideon thought he could not get enough of the softness of Ailene. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close for a moment. He moved her face toward his then placed a soft kiss on her mouth.

"Come love. I need to finish dressing."

Gideon smiled at her.

Ailene rose from his lap, she took a dress from her chest. Dressing hurriedly dressed, she fixed her hair. Gideon took her hand in his. Together they went downstairs to the warmth of the kitchen.

Gideon nodded to the group in the kitchen. He had no wish to take himself to the hall. It was cozy in the warm kitchen. Christal filled bowls for Gideon and Ailene. She passed them out with a shy smile. Ailene sat on Gideon's left side so she could cuddle close without being in his way as he ate. She did not bother with the porridge. She planned to eat later. Being close to Gideon was what she wanted most at this time. There was little in the way of conversation. Everyone knew the return of those leaving for service was a vague thing, all depended on Robert Bruce, their King.

Cadell came downstairs then into the kitchen with a clatter. He was belting his plaid as he hurried in. Fenella was just behind him. She blushed furiously when she noted everyone at the table. The MacGrough sat next to Gideon. He took the food handed to him by Christal.

Gideon knew what had made The MacGrough late. He felt a sudden urge to tease his father in law. He put down his bowl and addressed Cadell.

"Good morn Sir."

Cadell swallowed the porridge he had spooned into his mouth. He turned to Gideon. Gideon noted that Cadell was smiling faintly. The irony of Gideon beating him downstairs was not lost on him.

"Aye. Tis a good morn lad."

Bright blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at Gideon. Gideon noticed that Fenella again blushed. He could not stifle the laugh that bubbled up. Gideon tried to choke it off without success. Cadell joined in. Laughter filled the crowded kitchen even Fenella joined in.

They heard footsteps in the hall. All knew the other warriors had arrived. Gideon was the first to leave the table. It was time to pack and be gone. They needed to be far into the hills before the day was over. The word from the priest had been that the King was determined to bring justice to the Comyns and their supporters.

Neill discussed several matters with Cadell, Gideon and Ailene. He would be in charge under Ailene. There were several projects, which needed to be finished, among them the tunnel and the defensive wall. Neill understood Gideon quite well when Gideon referred to keeping the glen secured. Gideon was referring to Ailene and the need to keep her safe.