She supported Connor on one side and Caden supported him on the other. He seemed capable of hopping along. When they reached the guardhouse, Aymer ceased speaking to the man he stood with and rushed forward.
“Milady, why did ye not send Caden for me? I would have come and got Connor.”
“We are headed to the loch.”
Aymer knelt on his knee and Connor got on his shoulders. “’Tis a good day to be by the loch and many have sojourned there. This has to be the hottest day but fret not, for the heat shall not last long.”
They walked together toward the opposite end of the island where a stream met the mouth of the loch. Some of the clan’s people had had the same idea and swam in the shallow areas by the bank. The lads pulled off their tunics and belted tartans at their hips. Caden ran in a sprint into the water, splashing with force all those nearby. Eva laughed when he fell and sank beneath the surface.
Aymer carried Connor into the water. “Go easy now, lad, and do not reinjure yourself.”
Eva set the tartan she’d wrapped around her waist earlier on the ground and slipped off her slippers. She already felt cooler but still hastened to the water. She was glad that she’d worn one of her less-fancy gowns now because this one was about to get wet. She hoped it didn’t get ruined. But it was still long and kept her from rushing into the water like Caden. With slow steps, she moved until the water finally reached her waist. Then she ducked down and thoroughly doused herself.
“Oh, this is pleasant.”
Aymer laughed from the water’s bank. “I need to get back to my duty, Milady.”
When Eva turned back to him, Aymer was gone.
“Now is a good time to practice, Milady. I will show ye some defensive movements,” Caden said and swam toward her. “It will not hurt as much if ye fall in the water.”
“Oh? You think you can make me fall?” She teased him and he chortled loudly. Eva wanted to learn and Caden seemed enthusiastic about teaching her.
“Ye need to come at me like this,” Caden said and showed her how to sneak attack him. “Try to capture my arms.” As she went for him, he grabbed her and tossed her to the side and she fell into the water. Repeatedly, they performed the tactic, and still, she was unable to thwart him. But Eva wouldn’t give up and tried again. “Ye are getting it, Milady. Have another go.”
Suddenly, she heard Breckin’s voice. He ran into the water, gripped Caden’s arm with force, and flung him away from her, then he grabbed his arm again to keep him from fleeing. His face reflected his ire and Caden cried out.
“Sweet Mary! What are ye doing, Breckin? Why are ye attacking Caden? Release him at once!” Eva stood with her hair dripping on her face and her hands set on her hips. Her glare surely let him know that she was displeased with his abrupt arrival.
Chapter Fifteen
“Release him! I’llbloody well thrash him.” Breckin let go of his brother and turned his scowl on Eva. “He was hurting ye.” When he saw firsthand how forceful his brother was being, Breckin had only wanted to aid her. It seemed that he wasn’t privy to whatever it was that they were doing and now he felt foolish.
“I asked your brothers to teach me how to protect and defend myself,” Eva scoffed and marched with vigor from the water. But then she turned back and helped Connor to the bank. He hobbled next to her and she set him gently on the slope at the water’s edge.
Breckin hurried after her and stood on the beach of the loch with consternation. “Why in God’s good name do ye need to protect yourself? Is someone threatening ye? Tell me and I’ll—”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, no one is browbeating me, Breckin. I asked your brothers to show me defensive tactics for no other reason but because I am a Buchanan.”
He stared at her as if she’d gone addled. “Because ye are a Buchanan? Explain what ye mean by that, lass. Why do ye need to protect yourself?”
“You probably have many enemies, what with all the warring you do. Just look at you, covered with blood and Lord knows what else… I thought I should learn how to defend and protect myself in the event that your enemies make it past the blackened trees. Most of the women in your clan probably know how to fight and I thought…” She seemed to sink in front of his eyes as her shoulders slumped. “Never mind, Breckin, it matters not and it was a foolish notion. Come, lads, we will go to Clare’s cottage and have our supper.” She helped Connor to rise, assisted him by supporting his body, and walked away before he could respond.
His jaw twitched as he kept quiet. Breckin watched her leave, unsure if he should go after her or give her time to get over her pique. He chose the latter, discarded his garments, and left them in a pile on the bank. Then he sprinted into the water and swam a good distance from land, and enjoyed the coolness that took the heat from his body.
As he floated just below the surface of the water, Breckin closed his eyes and tried to release the tension of his mad dash home. When he’d arrived, there was no threat as he’d suspected. Aymer reported that a scrappy lad had delivered the message but he’d hailed off before he could get his name. Whoever sent that message had some intent, but what? Why would they say MacNab wanted a meeting but hadn’t? If they wanted him away from his holding, what purpose would it have served if they’d done nothing? He was perplexed by the event and needed to find out if he had another enemy to put to the blade.
On his arrival, he’d expected to find cottages burned, his brethren killed, and his home desecrated. But nothing was amiss. All the buildings were intact, his clansmen and women were secure, and his holding as it had been when he’d left. When he crossed the bridge, he’d assured himself that all was well. Then he commanded that triple the sentry be sent out to secure his land in case the threat remained. If there was foulness afoot, he’d be ready for it. Once he’d been certain his clan was safe, he went in search of his wife. That was a terrible mistake. He should have bathed and met with Aymer for his report—anything but confront Eva.
He chuckled now at the absurdity of his action. He should have known his brother would never hurt Eva. He was a lad, after all, andcertainly not capable of really harming her. Caden had yet to learn to put aside his emotions when tarrying or when he wielded weapons. That was something he needed to work on with his brother. Connor, on the other hand, didn’t allow emotions to rule him when he practiced arms.
No matter what their faults as individuals, collectively the two needed training and he’d been remiss in guiding them.
When he finished bathing, he redressed and instead of going to Clare’s as he’d intended, he sauntered toward the barracks. The barracks were crowded since most of the men had recently returned from the excursion with him, except for the score of men sent on sentry duty. Some rested, some caroused, and some sat quietly eating their late meal. Breckin greeted the men as he passed, and near the back, he discarded his garments in the laundry pile and opened a trunk that held a little of his belongings. Within, he kept a dagger that had belonged to his father, a kerchief of his mother’s, and an ornate hair comb that had belonged to Marian.
Breckin cherished these items and kept them as a reminder of what he’d lost. With a shake of his head, he placed the items back in, pulled out a tan tunic, and pulled it over his head. Then he wrapped a clean tartan at his waist, belted it, but forwent strapping his sword to himself. Being home afforded the protection of his brethren so he left it on the bunk he usually used.
He was now ready to face Eva. With hurried steps, he walked the lane toward his aunt’s cottage. Since he’d been gone longer than a fortnight, he wondered what his wife had been up to whilst he’d been away.
