He nodded slightly but enough for her to see his chin move. “Just my promises to God, not the rest.”
Eva wrapped her hands around his torso and settled her cheek against his chest. “Unshield your heart now, Breckin, because there is naught you can do about the past. There is no reason to hold guilt or responsibility for what happened. But you are too bull-headed to realize that, yes?”
Breckin closed his eyes and settled his head next to hers. “Aye, perhaps I am.”
“Then your future might be damned,” she said with all seriousness.
“Aye, ’tis, if ye will not cease harping on me about it. Do not be so sullen or ireful with me, lass. What happened before… I cannot let it go and will not.” He continued to hold on to her even though she tried to pull away.
After a quiet moment between them, he shifted his face until his lips met hers. He kissed her gently and continued to hold her. She would get him to soften his heart toward her, and somehow, she would take away the pain of his losses.
Chapter Seventeen
Clangs of metalrang in the air as a field full of warriors practiced arms. Breckin ambled past the sparring partners and began to give feedback on their methods when his commander whistled to him from the far end of the field. With haste, he marched forward and met Gideon.
“What goes?”
Gideon appeared put out about something and glared across the field. “Ye see them… I vow to the heavens that they do not intend to follow the rules.”
Breckin squinted his eyes and found his brothers sparring a wee distance from them. “I see naught amiss. They are training…”
Gideon shook his head. “Nay, they are supposed to be by the quintains this morn, not grappling on the ground with the other lads. If I did not know better, I’d say they instigated the brawl betwixt them and the others.”
Breckin whistled loudly and called his brothers’ attention. They walked toward him, each shoving the other, seemingly in a dispute about their fracas. Connor ambled along with a slight limp but seemed to be healing. His brother had only been given a reprieve from convalescing the day before and since then had remained outside except for sleep.
When they reached him, Breckin settled his fisted hands on hiships and glared. “Do ye mind telling me what ye were doing?”
Caden bobbed his head. “’Tis naught but a wee disagreement, Laird.”
“Oh? A disagreement about what?”
Connor pulled Caden back and stepped forward. “One of the lads made fun of Milady and so I walloped him. Aye, blackened his eye but good because he deserved it.”
“Made fun of how?” Breckin motioned to the other lads to stay where they were.
“They said unbecoming things, Breckin, and we would not stand for it.” Caden spat on the ground and pulled his brother back. “One of them said that she was too bonny to be married to ye and that she probably was addled or lacked an intelligent thought.”
“Another made some crass remark about her bosoms. Aye, so we walloped them,” Connor added.
“I appreciate ye sticking up for Eva, lads, but ye need not. I will speak with them. If ye hear more unbecoming things about my wife, ye will tell me or Gideon. Ye will not take your fists to your brethren. Understand?” Somehow Breckin managed to show patience on the outside while he gave the instructions to his brothers, but inside, he was furious.
His brothers nodded.
“Perhaps a wee bit of time in the stables will do ye both good. The paddocks need cleaning. Ye will groom your horses and Eva’s as well. Then exercise the horses for they’re growing fat. That’ll keep ye busy for a time. When ye finish with those chores, return to the longhouse. Eva could probably use your help. She is still going through the carts.” Breckin watched them sprint off and then he turned to his commander.
“That punishment is but a reward, Laird. Aye, did ye see their smiles as they scampered away?” Gideon chortled.
“What do ye mean? Why would they be pleased with having tomuck out the stalls?” Breckin was perplexed by his comrade’s observation.
“Alton has a hard time keeping the lads out of the stables. Ever since they found out the horses were theirs, they tend to them throughout the day. They’re anxious to begin riding, och Alton will not let them, not without permission from ye.”
Breckin could’ve laughed. Indeed, he’d rewarded his brothers instead of punishing them. “I am gladdened they found something to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Perhaps on the morrow, I will allow them to ride their horses. This business with the other lads… I am uncertain how to handle it,” he said, daunted.
“Ye see… I knew the lass would be a distraction but oh, what a bonny one she is.” His comrade snickered with laughter.
“’Tis unbecoming, Gideon, to gaze overlong at my wife or to notice her beauty.”
“I apologize, Laird, och I cannot help it and neither can the men or lads. I suppose I should punish them and have them do some heavy lifting so their lips will stay firmly shut.” He motioned toward the opposite end of the field where she was passing. As she did, all of the soldiers ceased sparring and stood staring, some surreptitiously, others openly. “Can a man not enjoy a moment of pleasure?”
