Chapter Thirteen #2
Most likely forgetting he was on a horse, Gavin hopped up and down on his seat. “Aye!” His demeanor immediately changed as his chin dropped to his chest. “Nay. I dinnae think Katie will allow it.”
“No worry, lad. I am yer laird, and for that matter, yer sister’s laird as well.”
Gavin continued to look glum. “My da was laird before he died, but Katie still did what she wanted. She never listened to him.”
Evan held in his laugh, certain Katie had ignored whatever her da wanted.
She was truly a spirited lass, and he imagined she’d been a handful to manage.
However, he didn’t want to say anything against the old laird, even though the lad had to learn the difference between a laird who took his leadership seriously and those who pushed it off onto someone else.
His sister should never have been left with all the responsibilities.
“Aye. Yer sister said as much. However, with yer da getting on in years, he depended a lot on Katie, so she probably made more decisions than most lasses her age.”
“But yer not getting on in years? Are ye?”
Evan choked back a laugh, since the lad seemed verra serious. “Nay. I think I have a few good years left in me.”
“That’s good, ’cause I like ye. I like that ye are teaching me to ride; and when will ye teach me how to use the dirk?”
Evan laughed again. “Dinnae ye think ye learned enough today? Look at how well yer riding that horse.”
Almost as if he’d forgotten, the lad looked down at the horse, then back up at Evan. “Aye. I am riding a horse.”
After another ten minutes of easy companionship when Gavin pelted him with numerous questions, Evan turned them back toward the castle.
Tomorrow when he took the lad out, they would do more than just walk the horses.
Gavin had already gained a bit of confidence, and that was a good thing.
He would make sure that before he left for Argyll, the lad would be on his way to becoming a mon.
Leave for Argyll? He’d wanted that ever since he’d learned about the inheritance.
Get the MacDuff lands under the watchful eye of a competent and honest land steward and then back to his own clan who needed him.
Now, the idea of leaving Katie behind made him a bit uncomfortable, especially in his trews. He shifted his position on the horse.
Not that he had any less confidence in her ability to do the job, but his body hummed when she was near, and he wasn’t certain at this point what he wanted from her.
God’s toes, he knew what he wanted, but she was a gently raised young lass, and nothing short of marriage would be permissible to get her into his bed.
With his hand on Gavin’s shoulder, Evan walked the lad from the stable after teaching him how to rub down his horse and see that he was comfortable with enough water and food.
The lad hopped on one foot and danced around him, still pestering him with questions.
Truthfully, he enjoyed it. It had been a long time since a bairn had looked up to him.
It felt good.
They were no sooner in the house and headed to the kitchen when a pounding on the door had him turning around.
After telling Gavin to find Cook to give him a snack, Evan wandered to the front door where Colum was stationed.
A young mon stood on the doorstep, pale as could be and sweating. “I am seeking Mistress Stirling.”
“Aye. I can summon her. Who are ye?”
“Finn MacDuff.” He barely got the words out. “My wife, Freya, is having a bairn. She’s screaming her head off, and I dinnae ken what to do.” He looked like what he wanted to do was jump on a horse and ride as far and as fast as he could. This must be the lass Mrs. MacCabe had told them about.
“Did you fetch Mrs. MacCabe? The healer?”
“Aye, she’s on her way, but she told me to hurry here and ask Mistress Stirling to join her.”
“Wait here.” Evan took the stairs two at a time to the next floor, then rounded the corner to the solar. Katie was there with several other women. They seemed to be sewing and chatting away.
When she saw him, Katie dropped her sewing and jumped up, her hand at her throat.
“What happened? Is it Gavin? He was thrown, wasn’t he?
I told ye not to take him riding.” It must have been the look on his face that threw her into a dither.
Before he could say a word, she rushed past him down the stairs and ran smack into Gavin, eating a meat pie.
“Ach, look at ye. Where does it hurt?” She placed her hand on his forehead as if he had a fever.
“What?” The lad barely got the word out over the mouthful of pie.
Katie dropped to her knees. “Where does it hurt? Ye shouldn’t be walking around.”
Gavin looked up at Evan, who placed his hand on Katie’s shoulder. “Katie, the lad is fine. ’Tis young Mr. MacDuff who needs ye. His wife is having her bairn.”
She dropped her head on her chest and took a deep breath. “Oh. Thank ye.” Then she seemed to see the young husband for the first time. “I apologize, Mr. MacDuff. I will get my things and hurry to yer house. Just wait for a minute so ye can direct me.”
“Wait a minute.” Evan grabbed her hand as she made to hurry off. “Ye cannot go by yerself. I will go with ye.”
“What? I certainly ken what I’m doing.”
“Aye. I’m sure ye do, but until this Armstrong situation is fixed, I will accompany ye when ye leave the castle.”
“Do ye think he’ll come after me?”
“Aye. Dinnae ye?”