Chapter Fifteen
“Release him! I’ll bloody well thrash him.
” Breckin let go of his brother and turned his scowl on Eva.
“He was hurting ye.” When he saw firsthand how forceful his brother was being, Breckin had only wanted to aid her.
It seemed that he wasn’t privy to whatever it was that they were doing and now he felt foolish.
“I asked your brothers to teach me how to protect and defend myself,” Eva scoffed and marched with vigor from the water. But then she turned back and helped Connor to the bank. He hobbled next to her and she set him gently on the slope at the water’s edge.
Breckin hurried after her and stood on the beach of the loch with consternation. “Why in God’s good name do ye need to protect yourself? Is someone threatening ye? Tell me and I’ll—”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, no one is browbeating me, Breckin. I asked your brothers to show me defensive tactics for no other reason but because I am a Buchanan.”
He stared at her as if she’d gone addled. “Because ye are a Buchanan? Explain what ye mean by that, lass. Why do ye need to protect yourself?”
“You probably have many enemies, what with all the warring you do. Just look at you, covered with blood and Lord knows what else… I thought I should learn how to defend and protect myself in the event that your enemies make it past the blackened trees. Most of the women in your clan probably know how to fight and I thought…” She seemed to sink in front of his eyes as her shoulders slumped.
“Never mind, Breckin, it matters not and it was a foolish notion. Come, lads, we will go to Clare’s cottage and have our supper.
” She helped Connor to rise, assisted him by supporting his body, and walked away before he could respond.
His jaw twitched as he kept quiet. Breckin watched her leave, unsure if he should go after her or give her time to get over her pique.
He chose the latter, discarded his garments, and left them in a pile on the bank.
Then he sprinted into the water and swam a good distance from land, and enjoyed the coolness that took the heat from his body.
As he floated just below the surface of the water, Breckin closed his eyes and tried to release the tension of his mad dash home.
When he’d arrived, there was no threat as he’d suspected.
Aymer reported that a scrappy lad had delivered the message but he’d hailed off before he could get his name.
Whoever sent that message had some intent, but what?
Why would they say MacNab wanted a meeting but hadn’t?
If they wanted him away from his holding, what purpose would it have served if they’d done nothing?
He was perplexed by the event and needed to find out if he had another enemy to put to the blade.
On his arrival, he’d expected to find cottages burned, his brethren killed, and his home desecrated.
But nothing was amiss. All the buildings were intact, his clansmen and women were secure, and his holding as it had been when he’d left.
When he crossed the bridge, he’d assured himself that all was well.
Then he commanded that triple the sentry be sent out to secure his land in case the threat remained.
If there was foulness afoot, he’d be ready for it.
Once he’d been certain his clan was safe, he went in search of his wife.
That was a terrible mistake. He should have bathed and met with Aymer for his report—anything but confront Eva.
He chuckled now at the absurdity of his action.
He should have known his brother would never hurt Eva.
He was a lad, after all, and certainly not capable of really harming her.
Caden had yet to learn to put aside his emotions when tarrying or when he wielded weapons.
That was something he needed to work on with his brother.
Connor, on the other hand, didn’t allow emotions to rule him when he practiced arms.
No matter what their faults as individuals, collectively the two needed training and he’d been remiss in guiding them.
When he finished bathing, he redressed and instead of going to Clare’s as he’d intended, he sauntered toward the barracks.
The barracks were crowded since most of the men had recently returned from the excursion with him, except for the score of men sent on sentry duty.
Some rested, some caroused, and some sat quietly eating their late meal.
Breckin greeted the men as he passed, and near the back, he discarded his garments in the laundry pile and opened a trunk that held a little of his belongings.
Within, he kept a dagger that had belonged to his father, a kerchief of his mother’s, and an ornate hair comb that had belonged to Marian.
Breckin cherished these items and kept them as a reminder of what he’d lost. With a shake of his head, he placed the items back in, pulled out a tan tunic, and pulled it over his head.
Then he wrapped a clean tartan at his waist, belted it, but forwent strapping his sword to himself.
Being home afforded the protection of his brethren so he left it on the bunk he usually used.
He was now ready to face Eva. With hurried steps, he walked the lane toward his aunt’s cottage. Since he’d been gone longer than a fortnight, he wondered what his wife had been up to whilst he’d been away.
At the cottage, he pulled the door open and entered.
His family sat around the table eating their supper.
Without a word, Breckin joined them at the table and pulled a trencher toward him.
He then piled it on with vegetables, bread, cheese, and pieces of ham.
His stomach rumbled at the sight of the meal because he didn’t eat so lavishly while on the trail.
No one spoke to him when he joined them and as soon as his brothers finished their meal, they hastened from the table and retreated to their bed chamber. Connor was somewhat slower than Caden in leaving, but he hobbled away and appeared not to want to be left behind.
Clare must’ve sensed the hostility in the air because she ate quickly too.
But she didn’t leave the cottage and busied herself with cleaning up after the meal.
Breckin finished his meal and when he looked up, Eva rose and, without a word to him, walked toward their bedchamber.
Damnation, he mistook what was happening at the loch.
Surely she should understand that and give him a chance to explain.
With that thought in mind, he set his trencher atop the others in the pile for discarding and reached the chamber he shared with Eva.
He found her sitting on the bed. “Eva?”
She peered down at her folded hands on her lap. “I should go and ensure the lads are settled for the night.” She made to get up.
“Await. I…reacted poorly, did I not? When I saw Caden hurting ye, I saw naught but the need to protect ye. Och, I am gladdened to know that ye take defending yourself seriously. My ire was unaccountable.”
She stood and he stepped near her. “It is not me you should be apologizing to.”
Breckin sighed because he’d meant to make amends for his show of force.
“I will speak to Caden later. Right now, I just want to kiss ye.” He leaned close and took hold of her face.
She seemed so delicate and perhaps fragile in his hands, and yet, she’d taken to practicing defensive tactics.
His wife surprised him at every turn. Breckin set his mouth on hers and the slightest touch caused his blood to heat.
Eva pulled away and stepped back, out of his embrace. “I am gladdened you are finally home and that you appear to have suffered no injuries.”
“I am well enough. And ye, how did ye fare whilst I was gone? Did ye miss me?” He flashed a grin at her but she maintained a serious mien.
“Since you are the only person who speaks to me here, well, besides your brothers, Willa, Father Murphy, and some of the men who direct me… None of the women, though. I suppose I did miss you because it has been a wee bit lonely. I should go and make sure the lads understand that you are not angry with them. You might not realize this, Breckin, but they revere you and only want your attentiveness, just as I do.”
Before she could flee, he grabbed her arm. “Eva, what do ye mean by that? No one talks to ye? Has my clan been unkind or mean-spirited? Tell me and I will speak to them.”
She stepped backward until she reached the bed, and sat.
“I shall never belong here and understand that now. Your clanspeople are wary of outsiders and are guarded even though I have been here for some time. Surely, they know that I am your wife but… Perhaps the women in your clan are just unfriendly.”
Breckin was disheartened at the tone in her voice and sadness in her eyes. He should have done more to gain her acceptance by his clan’s men and women. “’Tis my fault, lass. I thought I made myself clear when I discussed with them that ye are my wife and they should honor ye.”
“It does not matter, Breckin, whether they befriend me or not. I really must go.”
Breckin sat back on the small bed they shared and sighed wearily. He thought he’d confront an attack on his land upon his homecoming, instead, he was challenged with an even greater force—his wife’s ire.
He left the cottage and made the rounds of checking in with the watch, gaining any reports from Aymer whilst he was gone, ensuring the training regimen was in place for the next day with Gideon, and taking in the night air. The walk about the island brought forth a calming mood.