Chapter Twenty-Two
The Scot’s Conflict
Isla and Grif
Chapter Five
Isla visits with her grandmother Brenna and her aunt Gwyneth.
When Isla stepped inside the Ramsay keep, the first person she saw was her grandmother. “Grandmama?”
Brenna Ramsay spun around, her plait swinging behind her. “Isla? Is that ye?”
Isla grinned, her insides bursting with happiness at the sight of her.
Racing across the Ramsay great hall, she fell into her grandmother’s warm embrace, taking in the beloved scent that was distinctly her grandmother’s.
She knew it was from all the potions and balms mixed from the herb garden, but Grammy had a way of smelling like the sweetest flower in the entire garden.
“My dear lass, look how ye’ve grown! Ye are like the biggest weed in my garden, always shooting up when I’m not looking. How was yer trip, lass? Come get something to eat. Ye can tell me all about yer mother and yer sister.”
Isla had to admit that her grandmother was special, and on this visit especially, because she could be herself.
She didn’t have to watch over her sister, and they usually traveled together.
This would be the first time she’d be with her grandmother and not have Charlotte to be responsible for.
It gave Isla a freedom she seldom enjoyed.
“How is Charlotte? Tell me all.”
“Charlotte is fine, and so is Mama. But I am concerned. I told Uncle Logan I didnae wish to be here too long, I mean on this journey to the Borderlands. Mama is used to having me around to help with Charlotte. The lass needs constant supervision.”
Her grandmother pursed her lips. “Does she?”
“Of course. Ye know Charlotte, Grammy.”
“I do know yer sweet sister, and I think she might be stronger than ye believe. Though she does need ye, she’ll do better than ye think.”
“Nay, she will no’.” The brusk tone of her own voice caught Isla off guard as much as it did her grandmother. She’d clearly been around Uncle Logan too long.
“Sit down, lass. Ye’ve been with a group of men. Calm down and think before ye speak. I know what it’s like to travel with Logan, though I do love him dearly.”
“And he adores ye, Grammy.”
Despite her recent brush with the reivers, Isla loved the tale of when Logan had kidnapped Brenna Grant, now Brenna Ramsay, her dear grammy, from Grant Castle to save his brother, who had been gored by a boar.
Brenna had cured more than one family member and had gained Logan’s undying devotion ever since…
especially when she’d married his brother.
“Aye.” Her grandmother tilted her head. “I want ye to consider something, Isla. All these years ye’ve been with Charlotte, do ye not think she has learned from ye? Ye taught her all her letters, so she knows how to read and write.”
“She learned faster than anyone. In fact, I hope to find a manuscript along the way to bring her. She cherishes reading new stories.”
“I have a book I can send home with ye, a perfect one that I bought for Jennet long ago. But back to our topic. Do ye not think that Charlotte has learned other things from ye? She is Jennet’s daughter, and I will tell ye that every time Jennet was with me when she was young, she soaked up everything I told her like a sponge.
She did not let me know that, but I discovered it.
When I would see her with Grandpapa, I overheard her repeating many of the things I’d taught her, things I thought she’d ignored.
Quade would just delight to listen to Jennet because he knew where the teachings came from.
I would wager Charlotte has learned yer teachings just as her mother learned mine. ”
“Do ye think so? I surely hope so. I cannae be with her forever.”
“Nay, ye cannae. And Jennet didnae need me forever either. They are both verra bright but in a different way. I think yer mother liked to see ye with Charlotte, so she let it be. But now, I think Charlotte will be fine without ye. And besides, she has her mother and father, aunts and uncles, and cousins, too.”
It was true. Isla could not argue with her grandmother’s reasoning, so she relaxed.
Grammy had a way of calming her, of putting everything in perspective.
Just being here with her was worth all the trouble along the way.
She scanned the hall, taking in all the cozy touches that she loved—the tapestries, dried flowers, soft cushions, and fragrant rushes.
All the things that made this cold stone castle a home.
The door flew open, and Grif came through with Lewis, and Tevis tagging behind.
“Why are ye suddenly scowling?” Grammy asked Isla with a twinkle in her eye.
“No reason.”
“Ye dinnae like him?”
“We have our differences.” Though admittedly, the man was good-looking. More so than any other in the hall at present.
“What exactly are those differences?” her gran asked.
“He believes all men are smarter than all women. And more talented at anything you name. I believe every person is different, and each has their own talents.”
Grammy raised a brow at her comment, then glanced back at Grif. “My guess is if he voiced that belief out loud, your uncle Logan somehow proved him wrong and enjoyed doing it.”
Isla smiled, remembering the look on Grif’s face when Cailean fired his first arrow. “Aye, he did so, quite eloquently.”
Her grandmother chuckled. “Eloquent is no’ a word I use when speaking of Logan. Far from it.”
Reyna and her grandmother, Gwyneth, came into the hall from the kitchens, carrying a large platter of fruit and cheeses. They set the platter down on the sideboard, then joined Isla and her grandmother.
Isla greeted her aunt, and Gwyneth leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Grammy stood to greet Reyna, hugging her. “Greetings, dear Reyna. Ye look lovely, as always. Just like yer mother.”
“Many thanks to ye, Aunt Brenna.” Reyna blushed at the compliment.
Gwyneth sat down next to Isla. “How are ye feeling, lass? I could hug ye, but I think it might be better if I dinnae.” Her aunt gave her a knowing look that said Isla best tell all to Grandmama or she would.
Grammy’s attention spun back to Isla. “What is wrong, Isla? Ye didnae tell me anything had happened.” She reached for her chin, turning Isla’s cheek toward her. “Who hit ye, lass? I didnae notice because ye were hiding it from me, I believe.”
“I didnae want ye to worry. ’Tis naught.”
Reyna said, “Hellfire, it was no’ naught.” She faced the older women. “A group of marauders tried to steal both of us away. I was spared, but they got their hands on Isla.”
“And then ye killed him, Reyna. With a perfect shot between the eyes.” Isla tapped the middle of her forehead, a wide grin on her face.
Aunt Gwyneth said, “Logan told me it was a fine shot. Yer first kill?”
Reyna’s eyes misted, and she nodded, then sat down with a thunk.
And, in that voice that said never to argue with her, Grammy stated, “I’d like the details of Isla’s capture.”
Isla peered at her grandmother and gave in.
“Six men came out of the woods in the night when we were all asleep. Our men fought off four of them, but the other two grabbed me. I kicked one in the bollocks, but the other man dragged me through the forest to a clearing and tried to throw me on his horse. He hit me once, so I punched and scratched him, stalling for time.”
“And Reyna saved ye? None of the guardsmen had followed?”
“I didnae truly save her,” Reyna said. “I just fired a good shot when I caught up. Grif had been following right behind her with Grandpapa yelling at him the whole way. Grif stayed right with her and hit him a mortal strike in the throat at the same time I hit the reiver with my arrow.”
Aunt Gwyneth nodded thoughtfully. “So, it may not have been ye who killed the man, Reyna. Go with that, lass. ’Twill be easier in yer mind.” She patted Reyna’s hand. “Now, have something to eat.”
Grammy blinked and said, “Excuse me if I’ve understood this wrong, but you’re saying the guardsman who believes all men are smarter and more skilled than any woman was the same guard who saved ye, Isla?”
“Reyna saved me,” Isla insisted. But at her grandmother’s raised eyebrow, she let out a dramatic sigh and admitted, “Aye, same one.”
“Isn’t that interesting, Gwyneth?”
Aunt Gwyneth smiled back and said, “Aye, that it is.”
Isla didn’t understand. “What is so interesting?”
Grammy brushed the stray hairs back on Isla’s face, examining her bruise more closely as she said, “The first man who goes after an attacker is usually one who’s been watching the victim.”
“So?”
“So, if he was watching ye, he’s interested in ye.”
“Ooh,” Reyna said. “Grif has a crush on ye, Isla! The matrons of the clan know best.”
“Oh, please. I just wish to complete this mission and go home. I’ve no time for any of that kind of nonsense,” she grumbled.
But there was a tiny part of her that hoped her grandmother was right.
Men always went after Reyna, so it would be nice to be singled out for once.
Not that she wanted a man. But it would be good for her pride.
Grammy said, “Having a little fun with a lad takes no extra time, just makes yer journey more interesting. Do ye no’ agree, Gwyneth?”
Her aunt nodded. “Logan courted me on our journeys more than any other time. I wager ye have a boyfriend, lass,” she said with a wide smile.
Isla rolled her eyes and glanced across the great hall at Grif, surprised to find him gazing back at her. Then he did the one thing that annoyed her more than any other.
He winked.
And the two grandmothers chuckled.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Isla needs the comfort of her grandmother.
Isla jumped up and said, “My thanks, Uncle Logan.” Then she ran across the hall to look for her grandmother. She needed comforting. Spending a few minutes with her, she would be reinvigorated and ready to go.
She found her grandmother in her healing chamber off the hall. Sitting on a tall stool in front of her counter, she was pulling out jars and setting new labels on some, a tedious job that had Isla wondering what was happening with her.
Her grammy spun around at the sound of Isla’s feet on the stone floor. “Lass, ye are back already? Tell me all about yer trip. Though I could use yer help for a moment, if ye dinnae mind.”
“Of course, Grandmama. How can I help?” She moved to the healing woman’s side, pulling a tall stool next to hers.
“I wrote these labels when I was young, and now I can no longer read them. They are so small that I must relabel all the jars. My eyes arenae what they used to be, so I keep squinting. But I found myself grabbing the wrong bottle, and only discovered it because the aroma was so different from what I’d thought the jar label said.
Help me, if you please. What is the name on this one, Isla?
If ye read the labels to me, I’ll write a new one and tie it around the bottle.
“This one is mint, and this one is feverfew. Then sage and lavender.”
“Some of these have the finest aromas. Now I can see ye’re upset. Tell me why while I do my work, Isla. I’m a verra good listener.”
Isla’s shoulders sagged and she scowled. Her grandmother had never even looked over at her. “How did ye know?”
Grammy turned to look at her and said, “’Tis in yer posture and yer words. They are no’ relaxed but nervous. So, where is that young man, Grif?”
Surprised that she picked the right one, Isla didn’t bother questioning, just explained, “We’ve handfasted, Grammy. But he’s been arrested for abusing a lass while he was here.”
Her grandmother didn’t seem the least bit surprised about her handfasting but went right past that announcement. “’Tis a most ridiculous accusation. I would have heard about an attack like that.”
“Nay, I mean, he was here, but the lass was in Clan Ruffin. She claimed she was attacked a sennight ago in Kinross while he was here. We all know it didnae happen, but the sheriff wouldn’t listen.”
“Did ye tell yer uncle?”
“Aye, Uncle Logan is gathering a group to go to Pitlochry. Of course, I will go along.”
“Please be thoughtful on the journey and dinnae do anything foolish, Isla. I know ye are worried about yer young lad. And I’m verra happy ye found someone. Yer mother will be too. But listen to Uncle Logan. He’ll know best what to do.”
“I hope ye are right, Grandmama, because if he can’t get Grif out of this, I dinnae know who can.”