Chapter Nine
Kai did not say a word as Miran marched into the cottage and shut the door without looking over her shoulder at him. A smile he’d suppressed all the way back to the farm spread across his face. Whether she admitted it or not, Miran belonged to him now. Although he would have wished it to happen at a different time, when she was happy, not missing her parents. But he could not regret it completely, for now he knew what passion she had kept hidden from him. Feelings for him alone. She would not be able to withhold herself from him anymore.
A couple of hours later, seated inside the cottage with everyone, including Colin and three additional soldiers that would accompany Kai to the Kinnear farm, Mary served them a hearty meal with eggs, bread, cheese, and ale.
Much to Kai’s disappointment, Miran pecked at her food, refusing to look at him. He would never let her forget how right they were for each other, how she’d stolen his heart with her kisses and left him wanting more. Hell, he’d beg for more if he could.
“Did ye sleep well, lass?” Mary asked, sitting beside her.
“Aye,” Miran lied, offering a forced smile. “But I did wake up in the middle of the night.”
“Tis always hard to be away from home, aye?” Mary asked. “Especially the first night.”
“I am accustomed to travel.”
“Well, not in the middle of a cold winter, I am sure. Though ye’re laird is smart for choosing such a time, for there are few travelers this time of year.”
“And fewer outlaws,” her husband offered between bites of bread.
“Sutherlands doona care,” Colin said. “If they catch wind of us recruiting soldiers for Laird Jamie, expect the earl to send someone to interfere, or at least give the appearance of doing such.”
“But shouldna there be peace between Jamie and the earl, considering the laird married his only daughter,” Silas said.
“One would hope,” Kai said. “There is peace between our families, though unofficially.”
His soldiers muttered their dislike for the Sutherlands.
“I have never known a Sutherland ye can trust,” Silas added. “They would no hesitate to stab ye in the back if it would benefit their clan.”
The men laughed.
“It is not my intention to stir up trouble between our clans,” Kai assured them. “Only to expand my laird’s army. And…” He gazed at Miran. “And to insure we can staff Lady Helen’s household.”
Miran had no choice but to enter the conversation. “I am grateful for ye letting yer daughter join us, Silas and Mary.”
“The lass is verra capable and trustworthy,” her father said. “And we know ye will keep her safe. I ask that once ye have completed yer rounds, then come back for her, for we wish to spend some time with her and see her and Craig wed.”
Miran cast Kai a questioning look.
“A perfectly reasonable request,” Kai said. “We wish your family nothing but happiness. I hope Master Kinnear will be as agreeable as you, Silas.”
After the meal was over, Miran followed Kai outside.
“Good morn,” he said to her.
“And what is so good about it, Captain?”
Her exaggerated displeasure made him chuckle. “Were you not a willing participant last night?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Ye are a scoundrel, a wastrel.”
Kai puffed his chest out. “Titles I am proud to own.”
“I dinna come out here to engage in meaningless conversation with ye, Kai. I wish to return to camp.”
“When?”
“Now, if ye please.”
None of the warmth and emotion he had seen in her eyes last night remained. This was the cool and detached version of Miran he wished would go away and never return. “But ye were expected to spend another night here, at least the day.”
“I will make it up to Mary. But for now, tis better for me to go back to camp. Doona make me beg or explain why.”
She was beautiful when her anger was aroused—as terrifying as any warrior. Perhaps she needed time to come to accept their future. Maybe her maids would provide some comfort, for it was not every day a woman surrendered her heart to a man she had sworn to hate forever.
“Very well, Miran. I will send you back with an escort. Do not make me regret it.”
“Ye have my word, Captain.”
He wanted to believe her, had no reason not to. But deep inside something gnawed at his gut—doubt, worry? He could hardly demand she stay at a near stranger’s farm while he went about clan business.
“Go and say your goodbyes to Mary and her children.”
An hour later, Kai watched her ride away with Bodmond, one of his younger guards.
“There is something between ye.” Silas unexpectedly joined him outside.
Kai looked at the man and raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
The man chuckled. “I have been married twenty years and have six bairns. Such experience gives a man the skill to see these things.”
“Then I will not deny it.”
“She is a beautiful woman.”
“Proud to a fault,” Kai said.
“She is a noble, ye should expect it.”
“I expect nothing.”
“Then ye are selling yerself short, for if what I hear about ye is true, ye should expect no less from the woman ye choose.”
Damn Colin for telling tales about his past. But he could not blame the young soldier, for serving under a former prince from a foreign land added intrigue to the story. And just as when Kai was a boy, attention and praise was what every lad wanted.
“You know who I am?” Kai asked.
“Aye, a Highlander.”
The answer pleased Kai. “There is more.”
“Aye. But nothing my wee cousin told me, if that’s what ye think. Yer story reached our ears long before Colin received the honor of serving Laird Jamie.”
Kai crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall of the stable. “The heathen soldier?”
“Aye—some call ye that—a black-eyed devil who sacrifices children to his god. Others are sensible, understand what Alexander MacKay did when he brought ye to Scotia. A man can either accept his fate and master his future or lay down and die.”
The farmer’s wisdom astounded Kai. “You are not a mere farmer.”
The man grinned. “Nay. Long ago I was a blood-thirsty warrior, hungry for English blood.”
“Did you get what you wanted?”
“Aye. Though I never talk about it. There’s nothing to be proud of when ye take a man’s life, English or no’. What I have now is worth more than a thousand English trophies.”
Kai nodded his approval. “Twould be easier to kill a thousand English than tame that woman’s heart.”
Silas slapped his back affectionately. “The best way to win the heart of a Highland lass is to let her come to ye.”
Advice Kai would not soon forget. Perhaps he had been too demanding with Miran. Maybe he was trying too hard to grasp onto something because of everything he had lost. But he had gained so much, too. Except for love—he had long-denied himself that one thing.
“Colin and yer other lads are ready to go,” Silas said.
Kai gripped the man’s forearm, still surprised by his perception. “Thank you for your hospitality and honesty. Laird Jamie will hear about it, I assure you.”