The Clan MacDougall Series (58 page)

In order to keep from drawing any unnecessary attention, each man would be partnered with a lad. For the remainder of their journey, each would be considered father and son. Their journey would take them to towns and cities and Findley knew that the larger the group the more attention it would draw.

At first, each of the lads wanted Wee William to act as their da and guardian. They were impressed not only by the man’s size but his personality as well. Wee William had apparently entertained the lads to tears the night before with stories filled with battles well fought intermingled with winning the hearts of more than a few fair lasses. While the younger lads weren’t quite as anxious to win the heart of any lass, they were all quite eager to learn how to be as fierce a warrior as Wee William.

Wee William would stand out in any crowd. Not wanting to disappoint the lads any further, they decided that Wee William would act as uncle to each.

Patrick and Andrew were paired together for they looked the most alike. Richard would be father to Collin and Findley would be father to both Robert and Liam.

“Can I call ye da then, Findley?” Liam asked.

A breath caught in Findley’s throat. “Aye,” he answered with a nod.

If the truth were told, Findley would have liked to be a father to all the lads. His thoughts turned to the beautiful woman who was sleeping peacefully in a small, warm bed on the third floor of the inn. He wished that they were truly married and that he was lying in the bed with her instead of making plans for laying siege to a castle.

“Da,” Robert tested the word a time or two. At first he felt guilty for saying it. His parents had been good, decent people. The pox had taken them, along with his two younger brothers and baby sister, and he missed all of them more than he would ever care to admit.

It had taken Robert more than a year after losing them before he could begin to think of calling Maggy mum. He dealt with the guilt by understanding that his mum and Maggy had been friends. Under the circumstances, he doubted his mother would have been angry over it.

But to call another man da? That would take some getting used to. He decided that because he was only pretending in order to keep their identities safe and to get their Ian back, he could muddle through it for now. But once their mission was complete, he’d go back to calling the man Findley.

Once the temporary fatherhood was established and missions assigned, fathers and sons stepped out of the stables. Wee William would stay behind to guard over Maggy.

“We’ll meet back here within an hour’s time,” Findley told Wee William.

“If there be any trouble, I’ll send one of Beyton’s sons to fetch ye,” Wee William said.

“Let’s pray there isn’t any,” Richard said.

With that, the new fathers left with their new sons. It could be said that none was more proud at the moment than Findley. Even if it be for a short time. Mayhap I can prove to Maggy that I would make a good father to her lads. She might begin to see me in a different light then.

M
aggy woke to the sound of stifled chuckles and whispers. She knew those sounds well and she tried to suppress a smile. What were her boys up to now?

She feigned sleep, pulled the fur over her head and burrowed deeper into the soft bed. She knew her boys were up to something. The sweet giggles and wheests led her to believe her lads were trying to surprise her with something.

“Mum,” Liam whispered as he climbed onto the bed and over her.

She felt the weight of someone else sitting at the foot of the bed. Very slowly she opened her eyes and smiled. She found the room filled not only with her sons, but with Findley and his men as well.

This must be what pickles in a barrel feel like, all crammed in together, she thought to herself. The room seemed infinitely smaller with all the men and boys crowded in.

“What is this?” she asked as she tried to sit. Suddenly she was grateful that the weight of the boys on her fur kept her from doing just that, for she remembered that she was naked underneath it.

They were all smiling at her, even the men. Her brow creased quizzically. It felt very strange to have so many men staring and smiling. A sudden bout of dread washed over her. They’re probably tryin’ to marry me off to one of them again.

“We’ve presents fer ye!” Liam said proudly. Oh, how she loved that boy’s smile!

“Presents?” she asked. “What kind of presents?”

She imagined they must be flowers and pretty stones and the like, for her boys didn’t have a coin to their names.

Robert came forward first and held out his hand. Not expecting anything other than some small token he had found out of doors, she smiled and held her hand out.

She was delighted to tears when he placed a tortoise shell comb into the palm of her hand. It was exquisite! It seemed an eternity had passed since she had owned anything so fine.

“Where on earth did ye find it?” she asked breathlessly. Instantly she began to worry that her sons, who had proven in the past they weren’t beyond reiving something in order to impress her, might have obtained the comb through less than honest means.

“We bought it.” Robert’s beaming smile perplexed her.

“How? Ye’ve no coin!” she eyed them all suspiciously.

“Dunna worrit, mum,” Robert said. “We did no’ steal it! We earned the money mucking stalls fer Beyton and Fiona.”

Maggy’s shoulders fell and she felt guilty for assuming the worst. “Och!” she whispered. “Ye shoulda spent yer hard earned coin on yerselves, lads!”

There were so many things that her sons needed that she could not give them. Her guilt increased tenfold with the thought, for her sons needed boots, clothes and food. She had no clue how she’d be able to provide those things for them.

They had mucked stalls to earn coin and then spent it on her instead of something they needed. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared down at the beautiful comb. It was a small thing, just a comb, but the sentiment behind it was immeasurable.

“Lass, why do ye cry?” Findley asked, his voice laced with confusion.

Maggy wiped a tear from her cheek. “Because me boys need boots and clothes more than I need a comb!”

She tried to hand the comb back to Robert. “Son, ye need to return it and get yer coin back. We’ll be needin’ that to get ye some boots!”

She yanked on the fur and was able to gain enough to cover herself and sit.

Robert shook his head. “Nay! We’ve got boots!” he smiled down at her as he lifted a foot up and sat it on the edge of the bed.

“See?” he said. “We’ve all got new boots, thanks to Findley.” Robert had a very proud smile on his face.

“And we’ve new tunics and trews!” Collin offered as he held his arms out as wide as he could in the cramped quarters. The other lads followed suit.

Maggy studied each of her boys. She had not noticed their new clothing before. “Findley!” she said as she cast him a confused look. “Ye should no’ have done that!”

A broad smile came to Findley’s face. “Dunna worry yerself over it lass! We had most of the clothes in the wagons. They be used, but clean and in good repair.”

“But the boots be new!” Andrew said. “I’ve never had a pair of new boots before. They feel odd, but good.”

“That’s because they fit ye,” Robert told him.

Andrew nodded his head in agreement as he wiggled his toes inside the boots.

“We’ve more gifts fer ye, mum,” Liam said excitedly. “Collin, give her yers and Andrew’s!”

Collin had been sitting at the end of the bed. He reached behind his back and pulled out a pair of new boots for Maggy.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. “Boots fer me too?”

Collin and Andrew nodded in unison.

Maggy doubted the boys earned enough coin mucking stalls to purchase both a comb and a new pair of boots for her. She started to say something when Findley stepped forward and bent down to whisper in her ear.

“Maggy,” he said as his warm breath brushed over her ear. “Allow yer sons this moment.”

He pulled away and gave her a pleading look. Maggy looked into his brown eyes and understood. She then turned to look at the proud faces of her sons. This moment meant as much to them as it did to her, mayhap more. She nodded her head and decided to keep her protests to herself.

“I couldna be more proud of ye boys. I thank ye all. No mum was ever blessed with finer sons!”

“There be more, lass,” Richard said as he stepped forward and handed her a bundle. “This be from me and Patrick.”

Maggy didn’t know if her heart could withstand many more acts of kindness and generosity. “Och! Lads, ye should no’ be doin’ this!” she protested as she took the bundle and began to unfold it.

It was a new dress made of fine green wool! She could not suppress the smile. “Och!” she exclaimed, her heart overflowing with joy and gratitude.

Wee William stepped forward next and presented her with a new gray cloak made of warm wool. “This’ll keep ye warm fer a long time, lass,” he said as he stepped away.

It wasn’t the gifts that overwhelmed her heart with joy. It was the thought and kindness that had gone into each one.

Liam could no longer contain his excitement. He smiled as he crawled onto her lap and thrust two ribbons into her hand. One was green, the other made from a fine fabric the color of ice.

“These are from me and Ian. I ken he woulda wanted to get ye one too, so I picked one out fer him.”

Large tears formed in her eyes and trailed down her cheeks. Ian. Oh, how she wished he were here! His smile would have been as bright as Liam’s and he would have held the same bright twinkle in his green eyes. He would have enjoyed presenting a gift to her.

Liam wrapped his arms around her neck and she buried her face into his hair.

“Wheest mum,” he whispered. “We’ll get him back, I promise.” He patted her back gently. “I didna mean to make ye cry.”

Maggy shook her head. “No worries, Liam. I ken we’ll get him back soon.”

She righted herself and forced a smile to her face. “Thank ye fer thinkin’ of yer brother. That was a fine thing to do!”

He scurried off her lap and sat next to her.

“We saved the best fer last,” Collin said as he looked to Findley. “Close yer eyes!” Collin told her.

Maggy shook her head, let out a happy sigh and closed her eyes.

Findley smiled as he stepped forward and placed the item on her lap. “Ye can open them now,” he instructed her.

A gasp caught in her throat when she opened her eyes. It was a magnificent gown, made of fine silk damask. It was ice blue with silver embroidery around the sleeves and bodice. There wasn’t an ounce of practicality to it but that mattered not. It was beautiful! She could not imagine ever having a place or time in which to wear it.

Findley bent to whisper in her ear again. “When yer sons’ saw that in the dressmaker’s window, they refused to buy new boots. They insisted on gettin’ it fer ye.” He stood back a bit so that she could see his smile. “We had to buy it, elst they would have gone all winter with bare feet!”

Maggy shook her head in disbelief as she held the dress to her bosom. “Now where on earth do ye suppose I wear this? Whilst I be makin’ yer supper?” she asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Everyone laughed along with her.

“If it makes ye happy, ye may!” Robert said.

As she started to fold the dress she noticed a fine headpiece lying next to her. The white linen cap was lined with silver studs and had a long, soft white veil. It would go beautifully with the blue gown.

Findley clapped his hands together to gain everyone’s attention.

“Lads,” he began, “ye’ve things to attend to now.”

The men and boys nodded their heads in agreement. Each of the boys gave Maggy a hug as they left the room with the men and soon, Maggy was alone with Findley.

She sat still, taken aback by the mountain of gifts that were piled around her. There had been a time in her life when she had worn the finest of silks, velvets and damasks. Emeralds, diamonds and rubies had once adorned her neck, fingers and ears. But none of those things meant as much to her as the gifts that had been given to her this day.

Findley shut the door and lifted up a bag he had set next to the small table by the bed.

“Maggy,” he said. “I’ve something else fer ye.” He reached inside his leather bag and pulled out a fine silk chemise. “I didna want to give ye this in front of the lads,” he said as he held it out for her.

She was not sure what to make of his gift and she was not ready yet to accept it.

“I’ve a few foster sisters,” he smiled. “I ken ye lasses like fine things like this. I ken it be a bit intimate a topic in nature.”

Maggy eyed him cautiously for a moment before taking the chemise. It was delicate, fine and as soft as the skin of a new babe. It had been quite some time since she had worn anything like it. For a moment, she wondered how on earth Findley could have afforded all the gifts that were given to her.

“Findley, I…” she tried searching for the right words.

His face lit with a broad smile. “Think nothin’ of it, lass. I saw the shape yer other clothes were in. I imagine ’tis been a time since ye’ve been able to have anythin’ new. Every lass needs a pretty thing or two.”