Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
She's good with them.
Alpin stood in the shadow of the village blacksmith's shop, arms crossed, watching as Mhairi knelt beside an elderly woman examining a swollen ankle.
Even from this distance, he could see the careful way she probed the injury, the gentle questions she was asking, the reassuring smile she offered.
The woman patted Mhairi's hand and said something that made her laugh.
He should go back to the castle. Should let her work without hovering like some overprotective.
Movement at the edge of his vision made him go still.
Three men, wearing MacDougal colors but moving wrong. Too purposeful. Too focused. Their eyes were fixed on Mhairi with an intensity that made every warrior instinct Alpin possessed scream in warning.
He pushed away from the wall, his hand already moving to his sword hilt.
The men reached Mhairi just as she was helping the elderly woman to her feet. One of them, tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar running down his neck, grabbed Mhairi's arm.
"Come quietly, lass, and no one gets hurt."
Mhairi's eyes went wide with shock. She tried to jerk away. "Let go of me!"
"Ashcombe's waiting." The second man moved to her other side, reaching for her. "And he's not a patient man."
Alpin was already running.
He covered the distance in seconds, drawing his sword as he moved. The sound of steel leaving its sheath made all three men's heads snap toward him.
"Step away from her," Alpin said, his voice deadly quiet. "Now."
The scarred man's hand tightened on Mhairi's arm. "This doesn’t concern you, whoever ye are. The lass belongs to––
Alpin's sword was at his throat before he could finish the sentence.
"She belongs tae nay one." Each word was ice. "And I'm Laird Alpin MacDougal. Ye're wearin' me clan's colors on false pretenses, threatenin' a woman under me protection, and standin' on me lands without permission. So I'll tell ye one more time, step away from her."
The man released Mhairi's arm immediately. She stumbled backward, and Donnach appeared from the cottage doorway, pulling her behind him protectively.
"We were told––" the second soldier started.
"I dinnae care what ye were told." Alpin's blade didn't waver. "Where did ye get those colors?"
"Bought them off a trader two days ago." The third man was younger, barely twenty, and his hands were shaking as he raised them in surrender. "We're just following orders, me lord. The Duke of Ravenscar said––"
"Ashcombe sent ye." It wasn't a question.
"Aye. Said to retrieve his property."
Alpin moved.
His sword flashed in the afternoon sun as he disarmed the scarred man with a quick twist of his blade. The weapon clattered to the ground. Before the others could react, Alpin had his dirk out, the blade pressing against the younger soldier's ribs.
"She's nae property," Alpin said softly. "And the next man who calls her such will lose his tongue. Am I understood?"
"Aye," the young one gasped. "Aye, me lord, understood."
Villagers had gathered now, forming a loose circle around the confrontation. Alpin could see several of his actual warriors, the ones he had sent with Donnach and Mhairi, pushing through the crowd, drawing their own weapons.
"Duncan!" Alpin called. "Take these men into custody. I want them questioned, then escorted tae the border with a message fer Ashcombe."
"Aye, me laird." Duncan moved forward with two other warriors, roughly binding the false soldiers' hands. "What message?"
Alpin looked at each of the captured men in turn, makin' sure they understood every word.
"Tell Ashcombe that if he sends men ontae me lands again––in me colors or any other disguise––they'll be returned tae him in pieces.
Tell him that Mhairi Munro is under MacDougal protection, and that protection is absolute. And tell him..."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle. "Tell him that if he wants tae discuss this matter, he can request a formal meetin' like a civilized man instead of sendin' kidnappers in the night."
The scarred soldier spat blood. "The duke will not stand fer this insult."
"Then let him come himself instead of sendin' others tae dae his work." Alpin sheathed his sword with deliberate calm. "Now get them out of me sight."
As Duncan and the others dragged the prisoners away, Alpin finally allowed himself to turn toward where Mhairi stood with Donnach. Her face was pale, her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
But she was standing steady. Not collapsed, not hysterical. Just watching him with those grey eyes that saw too much.
"Are ye hurt?" he asked, crossing to her.
"Nay." Her voice was remarkably calm. "They didnae have time tae dae more than grab me arm."
Alpin's jaw tightened. Even that was too much. "Let me see."
She extended her arm without argument. There were red marks where the scarred man's fingers had dug in, but no broken skin. The sight of those marks made Alpin's vision blur with rage.
"I'm fine," Mhairi said, seeming to sense his fury. "Really. Ye stopped them before––"
"They shouldnae have gotten close enough tae touch ye." Alpin forced himself to release her arm gently. "The guards should've been watchin' more carefully. Should've noticed them sooner."
"Ye were here. That's what matters." Mhairi's voice softened. "If ye hadnae been..."
She didn't finish, but she didn't need to.
They both knew exactly what would've happened if Alpin hadn't been in the village. If he hadn't seen the fake soldiers approaching. If he'd stayed at the castle like he'd originally planned.
"Come." Alpin gestured toward the village center where a low stone wall provided seating. "Sit with me fer a moment. Let yerself breathe."
Mhairi allowed him to guide her to the wall. They sat side by side, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. Around them, village life was slowly resuming, the brief excitement over, people returning to their tasks.
But Alpin could feel Mhairi shaking beside him.
"It's the fear leavin'," he said quietly. "After battle, after danger passes, the body finally allows itself to react. Let it happen. Dinnae fight it."
"I'm nae weak." The words came out fierce despite the tremor in her voice.
"I ken. Ye're the strongest person I've ever met." Alpin shifted slightly closer, offering silent support without caging her in. "But even the strongest need to let themselves feel afraid sometimes."
They sat in silence for a while. Gradually, Mhairi's shaking eased. Her breathing steadied. The color returned to her cheeks.
Children's laughter drifted from a nearby cottage yard where a group of them were playing some complicated game involving sticks and a leather ball.
"They're so carefree," Mhairi observed, watching them. "So innocent."
"Aye. That's how it should be." Alpin followed her gaze. "That's what we're protectin'. Their right tae be children without fear."
"Is that what ye think about? When ye make decisions as laird?"
"Always." He watched as one child tackled another, both tumbling into the dirt with peals of laughter. "Every choice I make affects them. Their futures. Their safety. It's a weight that never leaves."
Mhairi was quiet for a moment. Then: "Ye're good at it. Bein' laird. The way yer men respond tae ye, the way the villagers look at ye, they trust ye completely."
"They trust that I'll dae what's right. Daesnae always mean they agree with me decisions."
"But they follow anyway."
"Aye. Because even when they disagree, they ken I'm actin' in their best interests." Alpin turned to look at her. "That's the difference between a laird and a tyrant. A tyrant demands obedience. A laird earns trust."
Before Mhairi could respond, the group of children suddenly erupted into loud argument.
Their game had apparently reached some kind of impasse, with half the group shouting one thing and the other half insisting on something completely different.
"That's nae fair!"
"Is too!"
"Ye're cheatin'!"
"Am nae!"
The argument grew louder, more heated. Finally, one of the older children, a girl perhaps ten years old, spotted Alpin and Mhairi on the wall.
She marched over with the determination of a seasoned warrior.
"Me laird," she said, her tone utterly serious. "We need yer help."
Alpin raised an eyebrow. "Dae ye now?"
"Aye. There's been a dispute." She gestured to the other children, who had followed her over.
"I see." Alpin kept his expression grave. "Is it serious matter?"
Mhairi made a small sound that might've been a suppressed laugh.
"Aye, me laird. Will ye judge it?" the girl pressed. "Ye're the laird, so yer word is final."
Alpin glanced at Mhairi, who was now openly smiling despite the tension of moments before. "What dae ye think? Should we hear this case?"
"I think we have a duty tae ensure justice is served," Mhairi said solemnly, though her eyes were dancing with humor.
"Very well." Alpin stood and moved to kneel in the dirt so he was at eye level with the children. After a moment's hesitation, Mhairi joined him. "Present yer cases."
The children all started talking at once.
"One at a time," Mhairi said firmly, and remarkably, they all quieted. "Jamie, ye first. Tell us what happened."
Jamie, a scrawny boy with dirt smeared across his cheek, stepped forward. "I kicked the ball, me lady. Kicked it hard, right between the posts. That's a point, everyone kens that. But then Finn," he shot a glare at another boy, "says he touched it first, so the point daesnae count."
"And did he?" Alpin asked. "Touch it first?"
"I dinnae ken! I was watchin' the posts tae make sure it went through!"
"I see." Alpin turned to Finn. "And yer version?"
Finn shuffled his feet. "I think I touched it. Me hand was right there, and I felt somethin', but it was happenin' so fast..."
"So ye're nae certain?" Mhairi asked gently.
"Nay, me lady. Nae completely certain."
Alpin and Mhairi exchanged glances. Without words, they reached the same conclusion.
"Here's what we're goin' tae dae," Alpin said, addressing all the children.
"The rule in uncertain situations is this: if the player who claims tae have blocked the ball isnae certain he touched it, the point stands.
That's fair tae both sides, it daesnae punish Finn fer tryin', but it also daesnae take away Jamie's point on uncertain grounds. "
The children considered this.
"That seems fair," the girl who'd first approached them said finally.
"Aye," another child agreed. "Finn tried his best, but if he's nae certain..."
"The point counts!" Jamie crowed, then immediately offered Finn his hand. "Good try though. Ye almost had it."
Finn shook his hand without rancor. "Next time I'll get it fer sure."
And just like that, the dispute was settled. The children ran back to their game, argument forgotten, laughter resuming as if nothing had happened.
Alpin and Mhairi rose from their kneeling positions, brushing dirt from their clothes.
"Well done, me laird," Mhairi said with exaggerated formality. "A most wise judgment."
"I had excellent counsel." He smiled at her. "Ye're good with them. The children."
"They're easier than adults. More honest." She watched the game resume. "And they recover from conflict so quickly. I wish we all could dae that."
"Some conflicts are harder tae recover from than others."
"Aye." Mhairi's expression grew more serious. "Like kennin’ that Ashcombe is so determined to get me back, he'll send men in disguise ontae yer lands."
"He's desperate. That makes him dangerous, but also sloppy." Alpin gestured to where Duncan was still questionin' the prisoners in the distance. "Those men willnae be the last, but now we ken what tae watch fer. And every failed attempt weakens Ashcombe's position."
"How?"
"Because it shows he's willin' tae break laws, tae use deception, ae send men on missions that could start wars between clans.
" Alpin's voice was thoughtful. "That kind of behavior makes him unreliable in the eyes of other nobles.
Eventually, his allies will start questionin' whether he's worth supportin'. "
Mhairi absorbed this. "So, what dae we dae now?"
"Now?" Alpin looked around at the village, at the children playing, at the normal life continuing around them. "Now ye go back tae learnin' from Donnach. And I go back tae the castle tae increase security and send messages tae our allies. We keep livin', keep buildin', keep movin' forward."
"Despite the threat?"
"Because of the threat." He met her eyes. "We daenae let fear stop us from livin', Mhairi. That's givin' Ashcombe exactly what he wants."
From across the square, several villagers were watching them.
An older woman nudged her companion, whispering something that made them both smile. A farmer nodded approvingly.
Alpin noticed their expressions—the way they looked between him and Mhairi with something like approval. Like they were seeing something that pleased them.
He realized what they'd just witnessed: him and Mhairi kneeling together to settle the children's dispute. Working as a unit, deciding together, supporting each other's judgment without question.
Acting like partners.
It felt... right.
"I should get back tae Donnach," Mhairi said, though she made no move to leave. "He'll be wonderin' where I am."
"Aye. I’ll wait, we’ll return tae the castle together." Alpin didn't move either. "But Mhairi?"
"Aye?"
"Ye did well today. With the patients, with the children, with keepin' yer head when those men tried tae take ye." His voice was warm with pride. "Ye're becomin' part of this community. They're startin' tae see ye as I dae, as someone strong and capable and worth protectin'."
Her cheeks flushed. "I'm just tryin' tae survive."
He stepped back, putting proper distance between them before he did something foolish.
"Thank ye. Again. For bein' here when I needed ye."
"Always," Alpin said.
And meant it with every fiber of his being.