“Reed, we owe ye our lives,” said Shaw as soon as they got to the Gordon’s camp the next day. They’d all stayed at an inn for the night and it had taken quite long to calm down the children.
“Och, it was nothin’,” said Reed. When Spring first saw Reed when he came to their rescue, her heart jumped. Where had she seen him before? She’d spent the night in the upstairs room with Shaw’s children and hadn’t been able to talk to him, never even being properly introduced. The men had slept in the stable of the inn and Shaw had sat up all night at one of the tables in the tavern.
“Reed, what happened?” A woman ran out of the cottage with a baby in her hands.
“Maggie, everythin’ is all right,” said the man named Reed. “There were bandits on the road, but we’ve taken care of it.”
“Oh, Shaw has the children with ye. Thank the heavens they were no’ hurt.” Maggie rushed over to see them.
“Shaw, we’ve been travelin’ all day and ye’ve never introduced me to yer bonnie wife,” said Reed with a smile.
“I’m sorry,” said Shaw. “I guess it slipped my mind with all the turmoil we’ve been through on this trip. This is my wife, Magna.”
Spring’s eyes darted up to his. He knew she didn’t like being called Magna and corrected himself.
“I mean, Spring. Her name is Magna Spring, but she likes to be called Spring.”
“Spring?” asked Maggie walking over with the baby in her arms. Shaw’s children followed. “Hello, my name is Maggie. I am Reed’s wife, and this is our baby, Fia.”
“Hello,” said Spring with a nod.
“My husband has sisters named Summer, Autumn, and Winter,” Maggie told her.
“That’s nice.” She didn’t know what difference it made. Perhaps because her name was a season as well?
“Aye,” said Reed, looking at her closer. “Do I ken ye from somewhere, lass?”
Spring noticed his bright blue eyes. “I dinna think so.”
“Reed is the Demon Thief,” said Leith rubbing his head.
“Used to be,” Reed corrected him.
“He is the one I told ye about,” said Colina. “He and his brathairs are triplets. Just like ye and yer brathairs.”
“Ye are a triplet?” asked Reed.
“Nay.” She shook her head. “We are no’ triplets. I already explained that to Colina. But I do have two brothers.”
“It was a long and dangerous journey,” said Maggie, rubbing her baby’s back. “Please, come meet the rest of the clan, Spring. I have haggis cookin’ and we can all eat.”
“Haggis?” asked Reed, perking up like a hunting dog spying a hare. He beelined it toward the house with Shaw at his side.
“Can I hold the baby?” Colina asked Maggie.
“Of course, ye can. Can ye take her in the house?” Maggie gave the baby to Colina. Then she and Leith headed toward the cottage.
“Congratulations on yer marriage to Shaw,” said Maggie. “Did ye two ken each other long?”
“Nay,” Spring answered. “I’ve only kent him a few days.”
“A few days?” she laughed. “This must have been an arranged marriage.”
“It was an alliance between our clans. The Gunns and the Gordons have been enemies for quite some time.”
“Oh, ye’re a Gunn. Well, I’m glad for the alliance. Welcome to the family.”
When Maggie said the word family, it somehow triggered Spring’s memory and she knew where she’d seen Reed before. “Burnt Candlemas,” she whispered, remembering the boys hiding in the church and the one with the red hair escaping in the fire. Aye, she remembered his bright blue, bird-like eyes. It had to be him.
“What did ye say?” Maggie asked her.
“Nothin’,” said Spring, not wanting to have to tell Maggie her story of raiding a dead man when she was only ten. “I would love to taste yer haggis.”
“Then ye shall.” Maggie took Spring to the house to join the others.
* * *
It had been a long day. By the time the meal was over, the wagon unloaded, and the sun started to set, Shaw was ready to call it a night. He was still upset about the attack on the road. If Baen had been there to help him, it would have been easier to protect his family. He should never have brought the children along on the journey to begin with, but he hadn’t been thinking clearly. He wanted to please Spring. He also saw how excited his children were to be going with him to the Lowlands and didn’t want to disappoint them. His desire to be a good father almost got his family killed. Never would he make such a stupid mistake again.
He also realized there was no way he could have fought off all the men by himself since Reed and the others had not yet arrived when it happened. If Spring hadn’t picked up a bow and arrow, his family might be dead right now. Mayhap, he shouldn’t have taken her weapon away from her – even if it really was his.
“Spring, tell us about yerself,” said Reed, settling down in front of the outdoor fire with a tankard of whisky in his hand.
“There’s nothin’ to tell,” she answered.
“Spring is skilled with the bow and arrow,” said Colina.
“She beat our faither in a competition,” added Leith, liking Spring now that she’d saved his life.
“I think it’s time for bed, children,” said Shaw.
“I’ll show them where to sleep.” Maggie got up and collected the children and headed into the house.
“What about yer childhood?” asked Reed, not letting up with his questions to Spring. “Do ye remember yer mathair and faither?”
“Spring’s faither is Cromwell Gunn,” Shaw supplied the information.
“What about yer mathair? Who was she?” asked Reed.
“My mathair died when I was verra young.” Spring stood up and yawned. “I think I’ll retire for the evenin’ as well.” She headed toward the cottage.
“Reed, I think ye are upsettin’ my new wife with all yer questions.” Shaw sat on the ground, leaning back and crossing his feet, looking up at the stars. “Why dinna ye leave her alone? She still doesna feel comfortable around our clan.”
“I dinna ken,” said Reed, taking another swig of whisky. “It’s just that she seems familiar and I dinna ken why. Plus, she has a name like my sisters.”
“Just because her name is Spring, doesna make her anythin’ like yer sisters.”
“Mayhap, she’s the sister that was stolen as a baby,” said Reed. “After all, my long-lost sister’s name was Spring.”
“Do ye really think whoever abducted yer baby sister all those years ago is goin’ to go around callin’ her by her real name?”
“Nay, I guess no’,” he said, staring down into his tankard. “Still, I think I would like her to meet Annalyse and Ross.” Annalyse and Ross were the parents of Reed’s sisters. Summer, Autumn, and Winter were actually Reed’s cousins, but he and his brothers always considered them sisters since they’d grown up believing that was the truth. Reed and his brothers, Rowen and Rook, were bastard triplets of King Edward III of England. Their mother, Gabrielle, had been Annalyse’s twin – and the king’s mistress.
“Mayhap next time,” said Shaw, leaning back and closing his eyes. “Before ye start introducin’ her to the rest of the clan, I would like to get to ken her better myself.”
“Then why are ye sleepin’ out here instead of inside with yer wife?” asked Reed.
Shaw’s eyes popped open. If he slept near Spring, he was going to want to bed her. He knew the cottage was small and everyone slept in one room. Besides, he wasn’t sure how to approach the issue after what happened with them back at the castle.
“I’m goin’ to keep watch in case any bandits come after us and try to sneak into camp.”
“I’ll keep watch, too,” said Reed, resting his head against a rock and looking up at the stars.
“How do ye like bein’ married to Maggie?” asked Shaw.
“I love it,” Reed answered.
“Do ye ever miss raidin’? After all, ye had it in yer blood.”
“I had vengeance in my heart, but now I have love. Why are ye askin’ me this, Shaw? Does it have somethin’ to do with yer new wife?”
“I suppose it does.” He sat up to talk to Reed. “She’s been raised as a warrior. That’s all she’s kent her entire life,” said Shaw. “Ye shoulda seen her today on the road. She used that bow and arrows better than any man. She dropped those bandits like flies and never even batted an eyelid in the process.”
“Ye should be happy she helped. Why are ye complainin’?”
“It’s my job to protect my family, no’ hers,” said Shaw. “And I’m no’ sure I’m goin’ to be able to accept that she fights like a man. She also seems to have no emotions at all – except in bed.”
This took Reed’s interest and he sat up now as well. “In bed?” he asked. He looked over his shoulder to make sure his wife wasn’t coming. “How so? Is she -” Reed swallowed. “Is she a lioness when she makes love since she is a warrior?”
“Goodnight, Reed,” said Shaw, laying back down on the ground. He closed his eyes and felt his groin getting hard just thinking about his night with Spring. Perhaps he needed to make amends with her soon. Because if not, he was going to be miserable for a long time.