Page 72 of Highland Guard

“Lamb is called Roberta, who is not for the pot, and the cat is called Roban,” Harcourt said. “It seems the cursed cat really likes to ride around on that lamb.” He waited patiently for Brett to stop laughing. “And, aye, Benet is just who ye think but to the world he is the only son and heir of Sir David MacQueen of Glencullaich and now the heir to David’s brother Sir Nigel.”

“And why should your blood be claimed by another mon?”

“Because David saved my life. I had been attacked and was close to dying. Couldnae move, couldnae e’en do anything to stop myself from bleeding. David found me and took me in. He didnae ken who I was and I was in no state to tell him until later. I had been robbed so there was no sign of what place I held in this world. I was also just tossed on the side of a drover’s path. It took a verra long time and lots of work to get me back to my fine, handsome self.

“Naturally I wanted to repay him. He said I could give him a child and told me something we thought no one outside of Glencullaich kenned—he had been gelded by a jealous husband. He could have no children. Couldnae really bed his wife, although I think that problem came from more than the gelding. He asked me to bed his wife until she was with child. He had seen how I looked at her and, though it sounds vain, how she looked at me. The reasons he gave me, the mon who sought to take hold of Glencullaich being all David said he was, made me agree. I also thought it would nay matter to me. That I could ride away from it and ne’er think of it again.”

“But ye couldnae.”

“I did but heart and mind ne’er did. This may nay have to stand forever. Nigel is young and may find a wife, breed his own son. Then we dinnae need to be so secretive. He just wouldnae want David’s name, weel, stained in any way. Right now I can act the father just as many men do when they marry a lass with a child.” He cocked one brow at Brett who then nodded. “It will do and when the boy is old enough, I will explain it all to him.”

“We will hold faith with your promise to David. After all, we owe the mon your life. ’Tis just a verra high price the mon asked for your life but I am nay sure I would have done differently.”

“David loved the lad, treated him as if he truly was his own get. The lad could someday be a laird.” Harcourt shrugged. At that time I certainly couldnae have offered a child a future like that. But, ’tis done and I will live with it. ’Tis comforting that I can now have the raising of him and he already calls me Papa.”

“’Tis good.” He glanced toward the keep. “Think they are done with whate’er it is they were doing?”

“Only one way to find out.”

“There is ale in the great hall.”

“Then we will wait for them there.” He looked back at Benet and Joan’s two boys. “We are going inside. If ye stay out here, be careful. If ye can find one of those MacFingals they would show ye around if ye like.”

“We will be careful, Papa,” said Benet, “and we have Roban to protect us.”

Harcourt nodded and, as he and Brett walked into the great hall he had to explain why his son would think a cat that liked to ride around on a lamb would be protection. He had to pour Brett’s ale for him because he was laughing so hard.

“Weel,” said Annys as she, Joan, and Triona walked through the kitchens heading for the kitchen gardens, “’tis clean enough but verra bare, isnae it.”

“Aye,” agreed Triona. “’Tis a household of men. Be grateful for the cleanliness.”

“’Tis untouched,” said Joan as they stepped outside. “Ye dinnae need to take away anything or change anything. Just decide what ye want.”

“Verra true,” said Annys. “I can actually plan what I want and just do it without much rearrangement. Oh sweet Mary’s cow,” she muttered as she looked at what she supposed was supposed to be a garden.

“Aye.” Triona nodded and scowled at the weed-choked area. “Men. Aye, I ken there are some women about but no one who appears to ken what chores need to be done. They clean and they cook and then they go home. Only a verra few stay here.” She looked at Joan. “It wasnae safe for a lass under the last laird. I fear it will take time for the women to believe it is safe now.”

“Nay that long,” Joan said. “After all, there is a lady here now. The laird is wed and brought her home. I will get some of them to come here. Start with the ones who would verra much like to be away from home.”

“Clever.”

Joan looked at the garden and quickly grabbed Annys by the arm when she started to bend down. “Ye can tend it later. We both will. We will get my lads to help or find a few lassies from the village.”

“Aye. It can wait. What hasnae been choked to death by now will last a few more days.” Annys looked around. “I would wager there is nay a place with any flowers.”

“I think there used to be. Over here,” said Triona as she led them around the corner and to an area near the rear wall.

It took Annys a while to look through the growth that had been left to go wild to find traces of some order. “Aye, once there was a nice wee spot here. I will add reviving that to my list.”

“This is nay what ye were expecting, is it?”

“Weel, nay, but it is solid and it is defensible. I have learned the importance of that just lately. And, as Joan has said, I start anew with little in my way.”

“Just dinnae try to do it all at once.”

“Wheesht, nay. I cannae.” She slid her hand down and rubbed her belly. “I am fair sure that would be a verra bad idea.” She grinned when both women cried out in delight. “Hush! I havenae told Harcourt yet.”

“But ye are certain?” asked Joan.