Highland Light (3 page)

She considered reaching out to touch him and then thought better of it. Not yet. They would be home soon enough.

"Sleep well Ailene."

The words were a slight whisper which told her that he was quite close to her now. She wondered what he would do if she did reach out to him. She quashed that as inappropriate in this time and place.

Chapter 2

They started early in the morning after a quick bite of bread and water. Gideon realized they had camped quite close to the town of Glasgow. Neither Ailene nor Cadell tarried as they made their way to the ford of the Clyde River. No one spoke as they maneuvered their horses carefully through the people and carts thronging the streets. Ailene and Cadell kept Gideon and his mount between theirs as they picked their way down into the water then up the other side.

There was a drover waiting on the other side for several carts to ford the river before he took his flock of sheep across. They carefully skirted the sheep. Gideon watched the drover and his dog work the sheep. With hand signals and a series of whistles, the man and his dog kept the sheep bunched up until it was time to cross. There was a great deal of noise along with mud spattering everywhere as the animals milled around.

Well before mid-day they were away from Glasgow. When they were once again alone, Gideon felt comfortable riding forward to engage Ailene in conversation. He wanted to know in which direction they were traveling. How far they were planning to travel this day and when they would reach their destination. He also wished to get to know his wife better.

Each time he thought about her as his 'wife' he tended to shy away from the subject. There were so many things attached to the thought it was almost terrifying. He had no information on the matter, no training in dealing with a wife. Therefore, he wanted to 'scout out the territory' so to speak. Slightly anxious but more curious than anything else, Gideon proceeded.

Before they had resumed their journey in the morning, she had washed her face in the stream which he had learned was called a 'burn'. More quickly that he thought possible, she had combed out her long dark red hair and braided it. Ailene's wide mouth broke into a smile often. She and The MacGrough joked and teased each other. They had an easy relationship. Gideon began to relax around them. He was not of a mind to attempt to insert himself into their relationship but was happy to quietly observe.

Cadell had watched the lad as they readied themselves to continue on to MacGrough lands. Once they were away from Glasgow, the lad urged his horse closer to Ailene. Cadell allowed his animal to drop back a little so as to give them room. Gideon was so quiet one could easily forget he was always watching and listening. Those black eyes never stopped searching the horizon. Even when he rode next to Ailene, he still kept watch.

Cadell liked that the lad was cautious. He hoped he was as canny as he was cautious. The MacGrough clan was small. They could easily be caught between neighboring clans. The Campbells in particular were as rapacious as a sea eagle at snatching up land. They reproduced like rabbits. Campbells were constantly encroaching on other clans.

Cadell was grateful to not be in the position of the MacGregors and the MacFarlanes, both far too close to the Campbells. The other two clans were acting as buffers between MacGrough and the Campbells. It was to Cadell's benefit to have that situation continue.

Two days would see them safely on MacGrough land. Then they would need to introduce the lad to the clan. He and Ailene had kept their own counsel. He was fairly sure Gideon would be a shock to certain parties. The lad was not a Sassenach, which was in his favor. Had Ailene taken an Englishman as husband he would likely have faced a rebellion.

Looking at the lad it was difficult to put a label on him. The leader had not indicated what land the lad's father had come from, but with his mother a Jew; no one could label him a Sassenach. Cadell smiled at the thought. Certain folk he would have to face would probably be struck dumb when he let drop that little piece of information.

But the lad had quoted the good Book. He knew scripture. This was a good thing. Cadell felt Gideon would be subjected to a good quizzing by any priest. Cadell and the priest had come to loggerheads on occasion over Ailene. The priest thinking Ailene was violating certain portions of the Book, they had privately had several heated discussions through out the years.

In the end Cadell, being the head of the clan won. He would not allow strictures to be put on her as a woman. The strictures all men faced laid on them from their Maker were another matter. Cadell had not replaced the priest when that worthy man had died. They were so small supporting a priest was difficult. When they needed one, a priest was usually easy to find.

Gideon liked the look of her face. Ailene's almost russet colored eyes had surprised him. He had never seen eyes that shade of brown before. Her skin was tanned a golden brown from all the time she had spent in the sun. She was not a plump, curvaceous woman. Ailene was all angles. But those angles interested him. Her voice was another matter. The tone, the vibrancy of it slid over him like warm honey. Gideon discovered she had more of the French than she had led him to believe.

They spoke in French for a bit then switched to Latin. Gideon raised an eyebrow at that. He had not known women were taught Latin. Ailene had smiled broadly at his surprise, her wide mouth quirking up at the corners. Russet eyes wrinkled up into laugh lines as she smiled at him.

"Ye thought perhaps we Scots were an uneducated lot of savages?"

Gideon shook his head.

"No. But the few females I have encountered were not interested in learning. They were more interested in other things."

"Females?"

Ailene's voice questioned him.

"Ladies? Would you prefer that term?"

Gideon asked. He was not looking at her as he once again scanned the territory they were traveling through. Gideon turned in the saddle. He observed that Cadell dropped back a little, giving them a bit of privacy.

He turned back to her.

"Forgive me but I have little experience of women or Scots."

Ailene laughed.

"Then you have more to learn than just the Gaelic I take it?"

Gideon was a warrior, not a man used to dissembling.

"All I know is fighting. I have the usual education. I can read and do sums, but I have little knowledge of anything other than weapons and their use."

Ailene was quiet for a moment as she considered this bit of information. This husband of hers was not one who boasted. Could that mean she could believe what he told her? 'Interesting thought that'. She would need to test this a bit more before trusting him completely.

Ailene continued to work with Gideon on learning his new language. She was pleasantly surprised to find he could manage the fully guttural sound which often made the word 'loch' so hard for others.

With a shrug, he explained he spoke Hebrew, his mother's tongue. Scots had a similar sound. Ailene asked him to acquaint her with Hebrew by using a few words. Gideon was happy to do so.

"How old were you when you went to live with the Templars?"

Ailene inquired. She wanted to know as much as possible about Gideon.

"Do you want the truth or the lie I told so they would not send me to a home?"

Ailene looked at him in astonishment.

"Lied, did ye? Why wa they have sent ye to a orphanage?"

Gideon gave her his full attention. They needed to get this one falsehood of his behind them.

"When I came to them at my parents death, it had been some time since Sir David had seen my father. My father had been training me early on. I was quite young when he started but we were not in the best of positions. It was necessary for me to learn to defend myself. My mother was a source of aggravation to certain people. Compounded with their dislike of her was the fact that my grandsire had money which had passed to my mother. I told Sir David I was ten and two. That was a lie. I was only ten. I feared he would send me away as too small to be fostered by him."

"God's breath! Gideon, that makes me older than ye by two years."

Gideon laughed at her.

"So, does it disturb you terribly? I should think our ages have little bearing on matters."

He laughed harder at the look of consternation on her face. Her wide mouth now in a thin line.

"At least I am grown sufficiently to have attained warrior status, elsewise you would have not found the man you were looking for."

"I find it ta be the problem here! Ye are only a lad."

Gideon's amusement at the situation she now found herself in was not shared.

"God's teeth! And I will be tha laughingstock of the glen."

Ailene had raised her voice quite a bit and it drew her father's curiosity.

Cadell trotted closer.

"Lover's quarrel so soon?"

Ailene swung around in the saddle to glower at her father.

"This lad."

She gestured at Gideon.

"Is two years younger, ye ken? There will be no end to the comments."

"Ah well, ye will no be the first Scotswoman to wed one younger than ye. Assuredly ye will no be the last to my mind. Keep a tight lip and none will be the wiser."

Finding that her father sided with Gideon irritated her a great deal. She flicked the reins to trot her horse a length or two ahead of the men. The longer she thought about it the more the greater dimensions became clear. Her father now had a male ally. The dynamics in the family were undergoing a change. She would need to be careful that they did not form a union, which excluded her.

'Och!' But this was a complication she had not foreseen. As they moved along through the countryside, Ailene debated with herself on the best means of handling the changes now being brought into her life. In the end she determined that as things went, she could only deal with her new circumstances on a day to day basis.

They camped that night at the base of Loch Lomond at the edge of MacFarlane lands. The MacFarlane's and the MacGroughs were not at odds which was a very good thing considering the closeness of the MacGrough and MacFarlane lands.

They made a very small fire back a bit from the shore of the loch. It was sufficient for a hot drink comprised of hot water and uisge beatha, whiskey. They did not keep the fire going but simply used it for a short time to warm and to cheer. They were further north now and the higher elevation was colder than the lowlands had been. They again set up the watch schedule. Although in friendly territory, it was best to be careful when carrying the large amount of treasure concealed in Gideon's baggage.

On the morrow they would reach their home and all would rest easier. Camp was broken early. Before dusk they reached the border of the MacGrough lands. When the small fortified house, their keep, came in sight, Ailene whipped up her mount. She raced down into the glen, glad to be home.

Gideon walked his mount along side Cadell.

"Well, its no much lad, but it is ours."

Cadell breathed a sigh of relief after saying a small prayer thanking God that they had brought the whole mission off with no complications.

Gideon looked down on the burn, the fields, the small stone fortified house and the cottages dotted along a path which wandered through the glen.

"Its enough. I had not thought to ever have a home."

Cadell smiled at the lad.

"It is that. And I have loved it from birth. Ye're new to it lad, but if we can keep Scotland for Scots and keep the bloody Sassenach from stealin all we have, it is a good place to live and raise bairns."

Gideon turned to look at the older man.

"Then we shall have to keep the 'Sassenach' away. I mean to have a home and little ones to pass the land down to. This is something I never thought to have so you may be certain I shall not give this up without blood being spilled."

Cadell stuck his arm out to take Gideon's forearm in a tight grip.

"Good lad. That is wa I hoped to hear from ye."

Gideon turned his hand to grip Cadell's forearm. They sat there for a moment, the older MacGrough and the young man. Now, Gideon was beginning to feel he was a MacGrough.

Chapter 3

The well wishers and naysayers were all gone home. The drinking and feasting were over and done with. Neither the bride nor groom had partaken of a great deal of the liquor. The MacGrough had brought out a small keg of wine. That and the uisge beatha, the clan's whiskey brewed by the alewife had sent many home fairly early almost too drunk to walk home. The MacGrough had offered his large bedroom to the couple who declined. They had chosen to make their bedroom Ailene's old room.

When they retired they found a fire in the fireplace. It was in need of more wood. Gideon saw to that duty from the wood stacked next to the stone fireplace. Ailene lit two candles using a small piece of kindling.

Her nursemaid, Edeen, had tried to get her to dress in a gown 'fitting' for a bride. Ailene had declined. She explained to Edeen she planned to begin as she meant to go on. The dress was simple. The laces were easily managed from the front. Ailene stripped down to her chemise as she waited for Gideon to turn away from the fire. He straightened his face in shadow until he turned to stare at her.

Ailene put her hand on her hips lifting her chin.

"Tis time ye removed some of those things ye're wearing."

His gaze traveled from the top of her head to Ailene's bare feet.

"I suppose it is."

Gideon took off the shirt he wore drapping it over the back of a chair. It seemed to Ailene that he was taking his own good time about it. She watched as he again turned to look at her.

"Gideon, will ye no kiss me?"

He ducked his head then took two careful steps toward her.

"Ailene, I have no experience of this."

Ailene shook her head.

"Nay! Ye have never lay with a woman?"

Gideon smiled a weak little smile and shrugged.

"I can use any weapon you may name but I have never used that one on a woman."