Highland Light (28 page)

"Come lass, wash ye face. He will no say anything if ye say the smoke caused ye crying."

Idelle drew her over to the bucket of water near the door. She held a basin for Ailene and handed her a towel when she was ready to dry her eyes.

"Are ye with child again?"

Idelle was teasing her. Ailene found she could laugh at that.

"Nay, not yet. But no for lack of trying."

Idelle's hand flew to her mouth as she laughed.

"Well I know it! If that wa all it took, I wa have too many bairns to count."

The two women walked into the hall laughing at their private joke. Ailene walked over to the table where the men sat. She took Davie from Cadell then began to bounce him on her knee. Pondering his next move, Gideon noted Ailene presence. Gideon reached out and his fingers trailed lightly over the back of her hand. Ailene turned her hand over to entwine her fingers with his for a moment. Suddenly, she had to release Gideon's hand to grab Davie who almost dove from her lap. Ailene played with Davie as she waited for Gideon to finish his game so they might go to bed.

The morning brought clouds. A few at first, scudded across a sky that quickly turned gray as more clouds moved in. Gideon was helping several of the young men to muck out the stalls before the rain came. The last of the straw and horse manure was being forked out onto the sledge. The previous day had been spent turning the old muck pile and moving the manure to various garden plots. In the spring the turnips and kale would grow the better for it. Ian was at the horse's head holding its bridle as Crayton pitched the last of the muck onto the pile. Ian clucked at the horse. The animal began to pull the sledge. They would take the manure to the place behind the stable where it would remain until next year.

Ailene wanded into the stable. She watched as Gideon put the tools away. He hung the mucking fork up. They had already spread new straw in the stalls. The horses had been moved back in to the stable. He had his shirt off. He was working in a very old pair of trews. Ailene knew Gideon had grown a bit again. This time it was not in height. His chest was bigger she had let out the side seams of his shirts to accommodate his growth. His legs filled out the trews in a way that made her lust after him.

She put just a bit more sway in her walk as she strode up to him. Ailene licked her lips then watched Gideon's eyes light with the same want she was experiencing. Taking her skirt and petticoat in one hand, Ailene flipped them as she walked toward him. Ailene watched the slow smile widen his mouth. She wanted a fresh taste of that mouth.

Ailene was stalking Gideon as a wild cat stalked a fowl.

'Oh how ye like games, gradh'. She thought to herself as she advanced on him. Gideon backed up until he was against one of the stalls. Ailene kept her eyes on his as she advanced on him. With one swift movement, she flipped up the skirt with both hands. Gideon had one very quick glance, enough to let him know she wore nothing beneath the skirt and petticoat.

His eyes flashed back to hers. Ailene pushed her self against him. The material was crushed between them. She pulled his head down the short distance needed to capture his mouth with hers. Ailene ground her lips against his as she rubbed herself against him. She felt Gideon harden quickly.

"My hands are filthy Ailene. I can not touch you."

He had flattened his hands against the wood of the stall behind him.

"Aye. I ken that, gradh. Och, but I ken it well."

Ailene pushed her hands under the cloth that was locked between them. She splayed her hands across his abdomen. She felt the sudden tightening of muscles that allowed her to push both hands down the back of his trews.

Gideon took possession of her bottom lip. He drew it into his mouth then sucked on it lightly. As her mouth opened, he teased the corner of her mouth with his tongue. She gripped his buttocks in both hands then pulled him tighter against her.

"God's teeth! Ye two are at it again. Ailene, are ye not ah married woman with a child?"

Her father's aggravated tone broke into the charged atmosphere in the stable. Ailene broke away from Gideon's lips. She looked over her shoulder at her father. Ailene smiled at her father with a look of a delight.

"Aye, that I am and busy working on making ye ah grandfather again. Fayther go find Fenella and practice a bit."

She turned back to Gideon. Her husband smiled oddly at Cadell then shrugged.

"You raised her."

Ailene heard her father make a very rude comment. But as he turned away he was laughing.

She moved her head toward Gideon then and licked his lips. Slowly she ran her tongue across his bottom and top lip.

"Davie is with Fenella. Wash those hands an I will be waiting for ye upstairs."

Ailene turned her head to one side.

"If ye are wanting to finish this game."

"Oh, aye. I want to see who wins this one."

Gideon was trying very hard to keep his hands off her.

Ailene backed away from him then slowly dropped her skirts, slowly enough so that he could not help but see her naked body. Turning her back, Ailene walked slowly out of the stable.

Gideon watched her go as he wondered if he could walk without splitting the trews. Regardless of the manure that clung to his hands, he was forced to push on the cloth trying to adjust himself sufficiently to move. As soon as he could Gideon washed his hands then dashed up the stairs to their bedroom.

Rumors filtered down from Lorn that Robert The Bruce was finally repaying those who had tried to break him. The repayment involved another harrying. If one came to their senses before the King toally bested them he could be merciful. Those who insisted on supporting the Sassenach to the bitter end found that the end was indeed bitter. The MacGrough clan avoided involvement in that portion of the King's campaign. By design they were excluded.

It was in the fall when the Gideon had an unexpected visitor. The MacGrough war cry sounded through the glen bringing all the warriors out with weapons at the ready. A single rider came down into the glen. As the rider who held his hands out at his sides to show that he was unarmed came down the trail toward them, Gideon recognized him.

"Alec MacNab."

Gideon spoke quietly to Cadell.

"Ailene, get inside!"

He commanded. She did as he said but stayed just inside the doorway.

The horse slowly walked up to the crowd of people waiting. The animal hung its head. Gideon could tell it was exhausted.

"Gideon MacGrough, I have come ta speak with ye privately. I ha information ye need ta hear."

The man looked as worn as the animal he rode. Gideon could see that the harrying was taking its toll.

"Get down MacNab. Leave your sword harness on the horse then we will talk."

Gideon watched as the other man left his sword and the belt with his dagger on it draped over the saddle. Gideon called Ainsley forward. He directed Ainsley to water the horse and give it a bit of grain, as he walked toward Alec MacNab.

MacNab acknowedged his order to Ainsley with a nod. The two men walked down the length of the glen. When MacNab was sure they could not be heard, he turned to Gideon.

"I owe ye. My brother is dead now so I may tell ye the truth of the ambush."

Alec began. Gideon waited for him to continue.

"There was a Frenchie, ye see. He hired my brother, Angus an two other idots, ta ambush ye. I have no notion what the Frenchie wanted. He told Angus he wanted ye alive so as to question ye. What questions he wished to ask."

MacNab shook his head and spread his hands out.

"Me brother did no say."

Gideon had listened quietly.

"So it was your brother and two others who wounded me. This Frenchman is gone?"

"Och, he is. Angus took him back to Aberdeen. He booked passage to France. As well I need to tell ye that I am sorry to ha have done what I did ta Ailene. Thinking on it I did a dishonorable thing, keeping her in that filth. Me Uncle, The MacNab took ah stripe off me for that I can tell ye. If it had been me, ken, I probably would ha killed ye regardless. Thank ye for not doing so."

Gideon looked at Alec MacNab. The man was in horrid shape. God only knew when he had eaten last. His voice was pitched low when he spoke to Alec.

"Thank you for bringing me that piece of information. Might I ask you why you kept her in that cow shed?"

Gideon asked him.

"I have thought on it and God's teeth but she is ah frustrating woman! No harm meant! But she infuriated me to where I lost reason. The woman has a stubborn streak wider than the Clyde!"

"Aye. She does have that. Once her mind is made up, there is no changing it that I know of. I understand how Ailene could send one over the edge and down the other side. You are forgiven Alec."

Alec MacNab let his breath out in a whoosh.

"Well that is that then."

"I have another question for you Alec. I take it that the King is wasting Lorn?"

He drew in a deep breath and sighed.

"Aye. Ye are no part of that I see."

Gideon looked at Alec and shook his head.

"Look around you. We are a small clan. We understand what happens if there is not enough food to take us through the winter. Some will die. None here wish to be the instrument of that for those weaker than ourselves."

Alec MacNab's eyes searched Gideon's face.

"Why?"

Gideon shrugged his shoulders.

"Why should we? There is enough here for us. Neither Cadell nor myself want to be gifted with great estates. They require sacrifice, more than we wish to give. Power is a thing that eats the one who thinks he wields it."

The other man looked away for a moment.

"Well may God bless what ye do have Gideon MacGrough."

"If you need a place you may come here Alec. You must know that we do support the King as we wish Scotland to be free of the English. If you were to be here you would be expected to support him as well. But you are welcome here so long as you leave politics on the other side of this glen."

"Thank ye. I will consider that ye may be sure."

The two men walked back toward the people who had been waiting quietly. Before MacNab left Gideon announced to all that he had offered Alec MacNab a place in the clan. He made the terms of the offer known to all.

Alec MacNab rode off. Gideon went into the hall with Cadell. He did not tell everyone all of what the man had confided to him. He did say to Cadell that their suspicions regarding Kilwinning were correct. Gideon also assured everyone that those who had injured him were no longer alive. It was ended.

Ailene wondered if Gideon would tell her any more. She attempted to question him in the privacy of their room. He refused to give her any other information. Ailene left it. He had said all he intended to.

They did agree that life was good. Gideon initiated a new game. Ailene forgot all about anything but the two of them and the game they played.

Epilogue

It was the 22nd day of June 1314. In the intevening six years, Ailene had birthed a daughter and second son. Gideon had served his King as best he could. He had fought when asked to do so. Gideon was sitting on one waulked plaid. Another was wrapped around his shoulders as he sat before a fire. Tomorrow the army of Scotland would meet Edward II troops in battle at Bannoch burn. All day they had been digging pits in order to force Edward's heavy cavalry in the direction The Bruce wished them to go. His hands and arms ached. He heard the slight sound behind him and sighed.

'God in heaven, the woman is stubbon'! He thought.

The plaid in hand, he stretched out his left arm and without turning to look Gideon called out softly.

"Ailene, when are you going to come to the fire? It is late and I am tired enough already."

She hurried over then dropped down onto the plaid next to him. Gideon wrapped her in the plaid then held her close.

"How long ha ye know?"

Ailene nestled into his embrace.

"Ah well, almost from the start. I take it Cadell and Fenella have the little ones?"

Ailene folded her long legs clad in a pair of his leather trews under her.

"Aye they do. Why did ye no try ta send me home?"

Gideon hugged her close. Not only did she have his trews on she also had one of his shirts.

"I really do not know. Perhaps I was tired of seeing you cry. But I want you to promice me that you will not attempt to enter this fight. If it all goes wrong you are to go home and raise the little ones. Promice me, now!"

"Aye. Gideon, I just couldna let ye leave without me one more time. I will promice ye I will stay with the small folk. Will that satisfy ye?"

He moved to lie down and Ailene did as well. They cuddled spoon fashion. Gideon wondered if anyone noticed him curling up with what might appear to be a young man. Ailene did make life interesting.

"I will hold you to that promice love."

They witnessed the commensement of the battle that began with an encounter between the King and de Bohun. The Bruce was mounted on a palfrey, unarmed except for a battle axe. Without armor on, the king was inspecting the troops. De Bohun mounted on his warhorse and fully armored saw the King seemingly unprotected. De Bohun urged his horse to charge The Bruce. The King waited until de Bohun was a few feet away, wheeled his horse, stood in the stirrups and swung on the knight. The King's axe came down on the knight with a sound like thunder, clove his helmet and head in two. The Scotsmen roared their approval and the battle was on.

Ailene watched hoping to see Gideon and her people. She stalked back and forth as close as she could get without actually breaking her promice to Gideon. As the day drew to a close, she stared at the small knots of men here and there trying to find the MacGroughs. As night descended Ailene realized she had no idea where they might be. There was no chance that she would find them. With a dagger in hand, she wrapped her plaid around her then tried to sleep.

Gideon and the rest of the MacGrough clan had gathered quietly in the woods, as was the King's plan. They took stock of their injuries. Wounds were bound and they all tried to rest. Gideon knew that Ailene would wonder where they were but he could nothing about it until the battle was done. As much as he disliked fighting on foot and would have preferred being in the light cavalry, he had been ordered to fight in a chiltron. He would do as the King had ordered.