Chapter Twelve
At the McClainkeep, Ailis McAfee observed the members of the McClain clan mingling with the men who had accompanied her. Boyd McClain’s grin stood out as he wove his way through the crowd. He was the youngest of the seven McClain brothers, being only fourteen.
In a moment of joviality, Boyd caught Ailis’s eye before vanishing from sight. She inquired to a nearby clansman who dismissed her concern, saying Boyd was simply quick on his feet. Uncertain, she hesitantly nodded but couldn’t shake the lingering confusion. He had been there one minute and was gone the next.
Later, Caitlin McClain led Ailis into the great hall, filled with the scent of roasting meats and herbs. Seated at a sturdy wooden table, an unfamiliar dish was presented—meat atop something she had never seen before.
“What is this?” Ailis asked.
“Something new from far-off lands,” Caitlin replied serenely. “We call it taco meat on potatoes.”
Ailis sampled the concoction. Bold flavors danced upon her tongue, offering a brief respite from duty and obligation.
“This is wonderful, Lady McClain,” Ailis praised sincerely.
“It’s a favorite of all me sons, but Lachlan loves it the most. As soon as yer group arrived, he asked me if we could have it for the evening meal.
“I agree with him. I want this always served if I come for a visit.” Ailis didn’t ask a lot of questions about the food because she’d already been told that there were several recipes that the McClains didn’t share. She could happily eat it often, though, and she would make sure Lachlan knew she wanted to continue to visit his family, if only for this meal.
At twilight, Ailis and Lachlan walked along the loch’s edge. The water mirrored the sky, while leaves rustled and night birds called softly. “It’s so beautiful here,” she whispered. “I want to jump into the loch.”
Lachlan laughed. “I would agree, but it’s cold this time of year. Besides, I’m not sure how me men would react to the two of us looking like drowned rats after our swim.”
“Frozen drowned rats!” She couldn’t help but giggle at the idea.
“We swam here every summer,” Lachlan recounted. “After a long training session, there’s nothing better than jumping into the loch and cooling off.”
She smiled, imagining him swimming with his brothers. “Upon our return, we must address Cameron,” Ailis reminded her. It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, but they must make plans for what would occur when they were back on McAfee land, and face-to-face with Cameron.
Lachlan’s eyes smoldered like winter peat fires. “Leave it to me,” he assured her. “Cameron will not go unchallenged.”
A weighty silence fell between them before Ailis reached out, their brief touch igniting a warmth within her. He swiftly pulled her into his arms, and they shared a passionate but restrained kiss.
“Me father would not be pleased were he to see us,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “He would not. But at least there will be no more talk of ye being courted by Cameron, and he’ll have to agree to that.”
After parting, they returned to the keep hand in hand. That night, Ailis found solace in a luxurious bed—the softness enveloping her worn form as she reflected on the sacrifices demanded by duty and her obligations to the clan.
As she lay in the bed, she thought about Lachlan, wondering if this had been his bed. She knew he was sharing a room with one of his brothers, and the thought of him sleeping in the room she used filled her dreams that night.
*
Dawn broke asAilis and her companions readied for their return journey. Emerging from the keep, they gratefully accepted provisions from the hospitable McClains.
Their departure carried a ritualistic farewell, hinting at alliances and unspoken trust between clans. They traveled through landscapes of moor and mountain, heather-laden paths, and murmuring streams. The rhythmic hoofbeats marked the distance between yesterday’s warmth and the uncertainty ahead.
As twilight descended, Ailis’s family’s home appeared in the dimming light. Before its gates stood Cameron, his anticipation clashing with his stoic posture. Ailis felt his intense gaze before meeting it but refused to acknowledge him. Lachlan had stated he would deal with the man, and she would allow him to do so. She had no desire to ever speak with him again.
Firmly gripping the reins, she focused on the wooden doors offering refuge from travel and intrigue. She passed Cameron, dismissing him, and entered her home.
The wooden door to her chamber closed quietly, and Ailis drew in a breath scented with beeswax and linen. As she tracedthe tapestries depicting McAfee valor, she heard footsteps. Her sisters entered the room, their faces etched with concern.
“Listen closely,” Ailis urged. “Cameron is not who he claims to be. He’s of Clan Sinclair, and I fear his intentions are dark.”
Her sisters gathered around, absorbing the gravity of her words. In the hearth’s flickering glow, the room seemed to grow smaller.
“How do ye know?” Moira asked.
