Chapter Twenty-Four
The harvest celebration took place at the beginning of October.
They had been late in planning it for several reasons.
Fortunately, the women of the clan stepped in and handled most of the harvest and storing of the crops.
Since it was stored away for the oncoming winter months, thanks to the aid of Eva’s carts, the gathering could go forth.
With the possible war with the MacLarens, they hadn’t considered getting started on planning a clan gathering because most of the soldiers were busy attending to arms. The MacLarens kept to their lands, likely licking their wounds from their traitorous acts against the Buchanans and others.
With the weather growing colder by the day, Breckin wanted to celebrate before it became too chilly to be outside.
Throughout the morning, he met with his clansmen and had them assist in putting up streaming banners, building firepits along the lanes, and helping to hunt for the feast they would partake in before dusk set the sky that day.
Fires now lit the pits and sent warmth to those who stood around the short, enclosed walls.
As he ambled along the lane and ran into Gideon. “Laird, all is readied. The children seem delighted and the younger soldiers set up games for them. There shall be competitions of fete this day. Why did we not have a harvest celebration before…? ’Tis good to bring the clan together.”
“My ma and da did years ago but then I suppose it was forgotten. We will hold it every year going forward och much earlier in the season, for ’tis too damned cold.”
“I am looking forward to the cold months and being inside and bloody warm.”
Breckin stopped him from leaving when he asked, “Are the men repairing the tailor’s hut as I bid? I promised James that we would rebuild it.”
Gideon bobbed his chin. “They started yestereve and should finish this day. Lawrence put all his builders on it so they might finish before the celebration begins.”
“Good. I certainly hope my brothers have learned their lesson about lighting fires. At least they seemed to have.” Breckin turned but then his comrade stopped him by taking his arm.
“Oh, here, before I forget,” Gideon said and pulled out a creature from inside his tunic.
“This wee lad was keeping me warm. Ye wanted a kitten for Milady. Master Amos had a litter of them at his stall yestereve and I snagged one for ye.” Gideon chortled and handed him the pet, a red-haired tabby that was a good size.
He pounded his back with force and walked away.
Breckin held the kitten gently in the crook of his arm and walked hastily to the longhouse as the tiny creature mewed and made small hissing noises as it dug its claws into his sleeve. “Wheesht, cat,” he soothed. “You’ll be home afore long.”
As he entered the longhouse, he saw Eva in the kitchen area making bread. She had a smattering of flour on the bodice of her overdress and a little on her nose. He kissed it away when he reached her.
“I have a gift for ye.” He pressed the kitten in her hand. “My ancestors used to give kittens to their brides. It was thought to honor the Goddess of Love and bring joy to the bride. Or perhaps that was because her larder would then be free of vermin.”
Her eyes rounded, then softened as she lifted the small feline to eye level. “Oh, what a sweet little thing,” she cooed. And then she turned to him. “Thank you, Breckin. I shall love it, just as I love you.”
“Perhaps ye can love me a wee bit more?” He laughed when she pinched his arm.
“Of course. You are the only man I love and far more important to me than a mere cat.” She set the kitten on the floor and it scurried off to hide beneath a table.
“Come with me. There is another surprise for ye.” Breckin led her from the longhouse and continued on the well-worn path.
Alton stood with his brother Aymer at the gatehouse. He stopped to greet his clansmen. Both glared and seemed disgruntled about something but that wasn’t unusual because his brethren were known to be cantankerous.
“What is amiss?” he asked them. “Oh, nay, does this have something to do with my brothers? Have they caused some mishap or commotion? Tell me now so I might think of a suitable punishment.”
Aymer chuckled under his breath. “I saw your brothers early this morn when they’d finished their rides and headed to the training field with Gideon. They wore serious miens, Laird, and I expect the commander is setting a hefty schedule for them.”
“I saw Gideon earlier and he did not mention my brothers attending to their training. Mayhap that is good news. What then is the trouble?”
Alton set his fisted hands on his hips. “Seems Hamish was seen leaving the stables a short time ago. When I entered, I found all the reins in the stable had been tied together in knots. It will take me most of the day to unfurl them. Bollocks, no one has time for that this day. The lad pulled a prank worthy of your brothers’ renown. ”
Breckin bellowed a laugh; Eva joined in with her soft, feminine chuckle. “For once my brothers aren’t the cause of the clan’s troubles,” he told her, and she nodded, appearing pleased.
Although he wanted to head to the training fields right away to rub in Gideon’s face the trouble his son had caused, he had something more important to do.
He clasped Eva’s hand and smiled at the shine in her eyes, and they continued to walk.
They passed the bridge, the church, and the torch area until they could go no further. At the end of the lane in an open area of land before the waters of the river, sat a piece of land he’d always appreciated.
“It is beautiful here. How have I not been here before? Have you hid this from me?”
Breckin shrugged. “I kept this area to myself because… I liked the privacy and solitude of this place. ’Tis where I would come when I had thinking to do. But I deem this would make a good spot for a large manor home. I might even make it a tower with walls to protect us. What think ye of that?”
Eva walked forward and seemed to be taking in the beauty of the land. She turned and shook her head. “Breckin, I do not need a large manor home or castle. The longhouse is perfect because we are safe there and amongst our clan.”
This is not the response he’d expected. Breckin frowned. “If it’s the expense that worries ye, we have a plentiful amount of coin to build it. I want to give you a home that is befitting you, akin to your da’s.”
She reached him and took both his hands in hers.
“My da’s home was elegant…but it was also a solemn place.
I would rather use the coin to build a shelter for the ailing in the woods.
They need it more than we need a manor. Besides, I have come to love our home.
It is where I want to raise our children. ”
“If that is what ye wish, then I will see to it. ’Tis shameful that Father Murphy received word that there is no cure for those that sickened.
Father said that they need to remain isolated to impede the spread of the disease.
A physician is being assigned to them from Edinburgh and Father’s order.
He deems that prayer and perhaps a pilgrimage might offer a cure, but aye, we will build them a structure to keep them protected. ”
“I wish there was more we could do. My heart aches for them.”
Breckin pulled her soft body against his and set his head on hers. “Ye know, lass, I should have known that I would love ye that day I met ye in the market in Edinburgh. Aye, how could I not love a lass who reprimanded me for trying to save her?”
“You remember that day?”
“Of course I do. I recall thinking how brave ye were to yell at me and then hail off to save that lad from himself. Ye have a tender heart, wife.” Breckin scoffed. “The queen told me a riddle before I was forced to accept ye. It took me a long time to understand what she meant.”
“Forced to accept me?” Eva feigned affrontery with a gasp and a hand to her chest. Then she smiled.
“I wanted to hate you that day, the day of our wedding. You were taking me away from my home, my da, everything I knew. But I lived a lonely existence then. Now, I have you and am finding my way here. I am happy, Breckin.”
“As am I. Even though the king bade us to fight for the lassies’ hands, it was the women who made their choice, aye.
The queen’s interference served me well and I will make no complaint.
I remember exactly what Margaret said that day…
the riddle… ‘A dragon sits on a high cliff with her bright shimmering scales for all to see.’ That is ye, all bonny and shining with glorious beauty.
She said, ‘All bask in her beauty and she appeals to all but most fear to get too near.’ I suppose that is true because ye intimidated the hell out of me.
Then she said, ‘on the outside, she might seem unapproachable, but being a renowned warrior, I am sure that you have the intelligence to uncover the beauty within.’ She saw the goodness in ye and bade me to do the same.
I admit it might have taken me a wee bit more time to see it, och ye are kindness wrapped in beauty. ”
“Keep with those compliments and I shall let it go to my head,” Eva scoffed.
Breckin bellowed a laugh when she then eyed him coyly. “Ye know, lass, that ye do sometimes resemble a dragon. I am not faulting ye because it takes a strong-willed lass to stand up to a Buchanan.”
“You, Breckin Buchanan, are exasperating. Why did the king force you to marry? I never asked and you never spoke of it.”
“There were several reasons. He professed that I owed him a good amount of coin in unpaid taxes. Alexander dangled the brawl with the other lairds before me and knew I would want to partake in the battles. Then when I saw ye… I never laid eyes on a more bonny woman. I thought ye haughty, but once ye showed your true self, there was no denying that ye have a pure heart. My clan reveres ye as do I, Eva, for ye won our hearts and they are yours to keep.”
“I will do my best to hold them close.” She paused and lifted her head, apparently taking in the beauty around her. “At least you do not need to worry about paying coin to the king now, for you have plenty to keep our clan debt-free.”
“Aye, but there was one other thing he demanded… He bade me to join him when he confronts Norway to take the northern lands from Haakon. We will soon go to war and must go to give our arms when the king calls upon us.”
“Oh, no. I thought we might have a little peace before you start fighting again.”
“There is no end, lass, in fighting here in the north, especially when my life is dedicated to being a warrior. We have a saying within our clan: Henceforth forward, the honor shall grow ever brighter. I will never allow my clan to back down from its duty to our sovereign.”
She wrapped her arms around his body and nuzzled her face against his chest. “Are you certain you wouldn’t want to do something else? I really think farming suits you better.”
Breckin laughed because in all his life, he never envisioned being a farmer.
He also never envisioned loving a beautiful woman such as Eva and finding happiness.
But he’d done that and more. Because of Eva, the Buchanans would prosper and he’d have an enriched life.
He’d always be a warrior in his heart but now he was more: a husband, future father, brother, and laird.