Shaw felt wonderful about the fact that Spring and Donel had made amends. Every day, Shaw’s children were eager to be around Spring and she’d been teaching them how to shoot the bow and arrows. All three of his children had been getting quite good at it, but Donel had the promise of being as good as Shaw someday.
“Dinna let the tip of yer arrow drop,” Spring told Colina, gently touching the girl’s hand to show her the proper position. “And keep yer eye on the target, no’ on the arrow.”
Spring was an excellent teacher. She was also becoming a good wife. They’d spent time together the past few days, as well as spent each night wrapped in each other’s arms. Making love to his new wife was exciting, but something was different with Spring lately. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was, but it was almost as if she seemed sad instead of happy. Not that she ever showed much emotion, but ever since he’d been able to make her smile and laugh, he felt as if he wanted her to be that way all the time. Her stone-like face was back lately and she seemed more like the warrior woman he’d first met. Her walls were up again, guarding her emotions.
Something was upsetting her, but he couldn’t get her to talk about it. She seemed to always be with Donel and they were getting along beautifully. She went out of her way to help his younger children with anything from teaching them how to shoot, to accompanying them to the mews, the orchard, and even the blacksmith, teaching them about anything she could. But when it came to him, even when they made love, she seemed a little distant.
She’d never admitted it, but Shaw knew it was Spring who had been shoveling the manure from the stables when it was Colina’s punishment. Still, he didn’t say a word. He liked how selfless she was becoming. He also liked the fact his children had accepted her as their mother.
“Me, now,” said Leith excitedly when it was his turn to shoot the arrow at the target.
“Nay, that is no’ quite the right form,” she told him as he prepared his arrow.
“Show me.” Leith handed her his bow. It was a small bow made for a child and not the right size for a woman of her height. Shaw’s heart went out to her. He’d taken away a weapon she’d loved. Mayhap, it was time to reward his wife for all the good she had done lately.
“Hold up, Spring,” he said. “I have somethin’ for ye. Come with me.” He took her to the armory and collected his father’s bow and arrows and handed them to her. Her gaze dropped as she studied the weapon in his hand.
Then she looked up at him, not saying a word. Her mouth was set firm and there was a question on her brow, but she remained silent. It was just the way she’d acted when she’d first arrived at Edinvale Castle before their marriage. She also had that warrior look about her instead of the soft smile he’d seen just moments ago when she was with the children.
“Take this,” he said, urging her to hold it.
“I can use Leith’s bow to show him how to shoot properly,” she told him, doing nothing to take it from him.
“Nay, that’s no’ what I mean. I’m givin’ ye back yer weapon. For good. Ye deserve this, Spring. Please, take it.”
Guilt ate away at Spring’s insides as she heard what Shaw was telling her. All she’d wanted since the day they’d married was for him to return her bow and arrows to her. Now that he was doing just that, she felt as if she couldn’t take them.
“I ken how much yer faither’s bow and arrows means to ye,” she said, feeling a dull ache in her heart as she said the words.
“Ye mean more to me, sweetheart. Ye have proven to me that ye are a good wife and also a good mathair to my children. I’m sorry I dinna trust ye at first, but that has all changed now. I – I love ye, Spring. I want ye to have this so I can show ye my love for ye is real.”
God’s eyes, why was he making this so hard for her? Why couldn’t he just keep his emotions to himself? As much as she was flattered to hear his affection for her, she didn’t deserve it. Nairnie’s words played over and over in Spring’s head. Would this be a good time to tell Shaw that she wasn’t to be trusted, just like he’d suspected at first? Probably not. Not when he was baring his soul to her and putting her on a pedestal in such a bright light of admiration.
Like the fingers of the devil squeezing at her throat, she felt choked and unable to speak. She needed to say something to him, but her tongue felt three sizes too big for her mouth. Instead, she remained silent, unable to say a single word. If only he hadn’t called her a good wife and mother and told her he not only trusted her but loved her! How could she possibly tell him the truth now? Why had she waited so long?
She rigidly held her tears in check, fighting back the sobs that threatened to spill forth. All she wanted to do was fall into Shaw’s arms and beg his forgiveness for ever agreeing to conspire against him in the first place. She wanted him to know that she loved him, too. But there was no way she could tell him now. So, instead, she did what any good warrior would do. She pushed her emotions aside and took the bow and arrows from him and said nothing. With a quick nod of her head, she blinked away a stray tear that slid down her face. She turned away from him quickly so he wouldn’t notice. Then she headed back to the practice yard feeling just like that deceitful, greedy traitor that, somehow, Nairnie knew she was all along.
Bewilderment settled like a heavy weight in Shaw’s chest as he watched Spring walk away. He’d given her back the bow and arrows she’d coveted, and also told her she’d been a good mother and wife. He even took the chance of telling her that he loved her, which didn’t come easily to him, since he still mourned the passing of Alpina. But it was what he felt in his heart and he wanted to be honest with her.
He had thought she’d at least smile or thank him, even if she didn’t love him in return. Instead, it was as if he’d scared her away by his heartfelt proclamation. Spring had done naught but snatch the bow and arrows out of his hand and bolt away like a frightened rabbit. Or perhaps a hardened warrior. She hadn’t even said a word.
He watched her rush away so fast that she almost crashed into Leod who jumped out of the way so she wouldn’t run him over. Leod entered the armory, looking back over his shoulder as she took long, stiff strides, making her way back to the children.
“What was that all about?” asked Leod, shaking his head as he came to join Shaw. “If I hadn’t jumped aside, I’m sure yer wife would have knocked me over and walked right over me in her hurry to get out of here.”
“Aye, she doesna seem happy. I dinna understand it.”
“What did ye do?” asked Leod, squinting one eye. “Did ye insult her or curse at her?”
“Nay, I did just the opposite,” Shaw protested. “I gave her back her bow and arrows and told her I loved her.”
That made Leod burst out in laughter. “God’s eyes, ye’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
“Haud yer wheesht, Leod,” Shaw said, turning to pet a horse on the nose. “I was tryin’ to reward her for being a good wife and mathair, but she didna seem to like it. I just dinna understand. I thought she’d at least smile or be grateful, even if she didna return my profession of love.”
“It must be her warrior ways,” said Leod. “Dinna let it bother ye. As long as she’s still satisfyin’ yer needs in the bedchamber, I wouldna worry about it.”
“Do ye hear what ye’re sayin’?” asked Shaw, sitting down on a bench, rubbing his hands over his face. “And ye wonder why ye dinna have a lassie?” Shaw leaned over, putting his arms on his knees, shaking his head in thought. What had he done wrong?
“Mayhap, ye need to talk to a woman about her, instead of talkin’ to a man,” said Leod. “Ye’re right that I dinna understand the way lassies think. Nor do I ever want to.”
“There is no one I can ask about her.” He dragged a hand through his hair in thought.
“What about Nairnie?” Leod asked. “She’s usually pretty wise.”
“Nay. No’ her.” Shaw stood and paced the floor.
“Ye used to confide in Nairnie before our parents died,” said Leod. “I always thought the old woman was doolally, but ye seemed to like her.”
Shaw ignored his brother, not able to stop thinking about Spring. “It was odd, but she didna even seem happy to get her bow and arrows back. I thought she’d be overjoyed and, mayhap, even give me a kiss or a hug.” He paced back the other way. “Or at least a giggle or a smile.”
“Ye need to remember who she is,” said Leod. “She’s got the blood of Vikings flowin’ through her. Would a Viking thank ye for handin’ over a weapon they considered theirs in the first place?”
“I suppose ye are right,” he said, never having considered that. “Do ye think I scared her away by tellin’ her I love her so soon?”
“Hell, ye scared me with that word, Brathair. Mayhap ye need to slow down a little where that’s concerned.”
“But she’s my wife. Do ye really think I shouldna have said that?”
“She was a pawn in this marriage and naught but a means of makin’ an alliance with our enemy. Mayhap ye need to give her more time.”
“Ye’re right. I will.” He straightened his stance and a sense of relief filled him. Mayhap, there wasn’t anything wrong after all. “I’m sure she’s just scared but doesna want to show it. She’s probably never had a man tell her he loved her before and didna ken how to respond.”
Leod shrugged his broad shoulders and made a face. “Now ye’re soundin’ like a doolally, Brathair. I think yer problem is that ye’ve been so consumed with spendin’ time with yer wife and children lately that ye’re forgettin’ about bein’ a man. Let’s get Baen and go to a tavern for a dram of whisky and forget about all yer troubles.”
“What tavern?” Shaw asked, knowing exactly where his brother had in mind. It was a place they used to inhabit quite often.
“How about The Broken Goat?” asked Leod, just like Shaw knew he would say.
“I havena been there for a while,” Shaw admitted.
“Ye mean ye havena had the ballocks to go there after yer wife scolded ye for comin’ back drunk one night.”
“It did used to make Alpina angry when I went there, but I think it was no’ because of the drink but more because of the hoors that inhabit the place. I’m no’ sure I want to go.”
“For crissake, if ye willna go for yerself than at least go for me,” spat Leod. “I havena had a good beddin’ for some time now and I need to make a visit.”
“All right,” said Shaw, only agreeing because he needed to look after Leod. The fool was always running his mouth off once he started drinking whisky. If any of the Gunns happened to be there, Leod could make a mess of their whole alliance. Aye, he would go just to drag Leod’s sorry ass out of the tavern before he got himself into trouble.
“I hear Old Callum MacKeefe is passin’ through the area and has brought some of his Mountain Magic along.” Leod’s mahogany eyes lit up at the thought of it.
“Mountain Magic?” Shaw groaned inwardly. That was some of the most potent whisky in all of Scotland. He was sure now that Leod needed him along because this had trouble written all over it.