Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Brin looked at the group and said, “We’re so pleased to have ye all. And so grateful for all who came to assist us. Many thanks to ye all. But I do have one question. Connor, how did ye get here so quickly? We’d just sent the messenger to ye.”
Alasdair chuckled. “Because I’d just traveled from MacLintock land, and I saw a group that I knew would be trouble.
I only traveled with five, so we didn’t approach but we went to the next town and discovered they were headed to Cameron land.
As soon as I told Connor, he had his warriors ready to travel. ”
“Ye can always count on Clan Grant to send a slew of warriors,” Torrian said. “So ye are the new chieftain of Cameron Castle, Brin? I think ye’ll do a fine job.”
Brin said, “Papa likes to tell me ’tis my purpose in life, but I think my purpose is to make Ceit happy.” Ceit sat next to him and he had his arm around her shoulders while she leaned into him.
Cadyn said, “Ye’d be wise to do so. Ye have me, my sire, and my grandsire to answer to.”
That brought a line of oooh’s from the crowd.
Brin drawled, “I hadn’t considered that yet.”
Gavin asked, “How could ye no’ have thought of that? Ye had to at least considered Grandsire would be watching.”
Her grandsire marched in and took a seat near the hearth, then snorted at the comment.
“He couldn’t have thought of it, or he’d never have married ye, Ceit.
I feared ye’d never find one who would dare take on the three of us.
And aye, MacAdam, I’ll admit ye are a force to be dealt with, especially when it comes to yer women. ”
“Had I considered, I would have stilled married ye, Ceit. I think ye are my destiny, my purpose.”
“Is that what purpose means?” Alaric asked. “I’ve heard others talk about it, but I was unsure of its meaning.”
Dyna said, “’Tis what the heavens wish ye to do. Ye could have more than one purpose, but one is always more important than others.”
Brin leaned over to give his wife a kiss on the cheek. “Ceit is my first purpose, the clan second, but equally important.” Ceit snuggled against him, her seat so close they were touching.
Gavin said, “Brin, ye belong as chieftain. ’Tis yer purpose, what ye were meant to do, just like Torrian’s purpose is to be chieftain of Clan Ramsay.”
Maitland said, “Tad says the same is his purpose.” Tad was his eldest brother already in place as chieftain of Clan Menzie.
Torrian added, “I think my wife is my purpose, chieftain is second.”
Alasdair said, “I have the most unusual purpose then.”
“What do ye think yers is?” Connor asked. “Mine is Sela. I was chieftain second. Then my bairns and grandbairns. Do ye no’ think Emmalin is yer purpose?”
Alasdair said, “Nay. Emmalin is such a strong woman that she doesnae need me. My purpose was to protect Grandsire.”
Ceit looked over at her grandfather, a wide grin on his face. The old man crossed his arms and declared, “Alex needed one. I dinnae.”
Dyna was apparently not impressed with Alasdair’s announcement, glaring at him. “I was Grandsire’s protector. No’ ye, Alasdair. Derric and I found him in the cottage.”
“But I was always watching over him.”
Maitland said, “Some people deserve two protectors. We’ll agree to both of ye.”
Torrian looked at his uncle and said, “When did ye first realize yer purpose? When ye first met Aunt Gwyneth?”
Her grandfather grinned. “As I told Brin and Ceit, Gwynie is one of my purposes, but not my primary.”
“Then what?” Torrian asked.
“Ye mean who?”
“Alright. Who?”
“Who, Grandsire? I have no idea,” Ceit said. “Do ye, Cadyn? Mama?”
Her mother shouted, “Me! I’m his purpose.”
Logan snorted, “Sorcha, ye dinnae need any protection with MacAdam around. The man jumped over a cliff for ye, lass.”
Her mother leaned over and gave her father a kiss. “Then I dinnae know either, Da. Do ye, Gavin?”
Gavin shook his head.
Torrian got a smug look on his face. “I know.”
“Who?” A dozen voices chimed in to stare at Torrian.
“Brenna.”
Logan got a small smile on his face, leaned back in his chair, and said, “The day I stole Brenna Grant from her home, I became her protector. I stole her right from under Alex Grant’s nose, though he says he knew it and followed me, but I dinnae believe him.
Right from the start, there was something about her that called out to the heavens. ”
He teared up, leaning back to balance his chair on the two back legs.
“When I brought that woman through the forests, something happened that I still canno’ explain.
The path cleared so much that I knew something was up.
’Twas as if the faeries had made a path for me.
We’d just left the trail on the way north and it was overgrown and wild.
Though there were branches, it was nearly as though the path was lit up for us in the middle of the night.
We traveled in half the time it took us to get to Grant land.
“The closer we got to my brother, the more the clouds disappeared. Understand that Quade was lying near death in an abandoned cabin, his two bairns were near death on Ramsay land. But when I brought her into that cabin, and dawn broke, the sun was out stronger than I’d ever seen it.
“One of my guards said it was eerie because it was so bright. When was the sun ever that bright in the middle of a forest? I had to agree with him. I didnae argue with her because she had a gift I didnae comprehend. I still dinnae. She saved the man when I was sure he would be dead by the time I got back. Brenna Grant is the closest thing to an angel I’ve ever met.
I love ye all, but there’s something different about her.
” He stopped because his words caught in his throat.
“And she is the piece that united the Grant and Ramsay clans.”
When he was able to continue, his voice came out in a soft whisper.
“Brenna brought happiness to my brother, saved Torrian’s life and Lily’s, and brought our clan back together.
She’s given me nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews whom I adore, and healed more people I love than I can count.
Gwynie was my second purpose, but Brenna Grant was my first.”
“I miss my sire,” Torrian said.
“I do too, your sire and my own,” Connor said.
Ceit said, “I wish Uncle Quade was here with us.”
Brin added, “And Uncle Alex.”
Dyna pursed her lips and said, “I was no’ saddened when Grandpapa left us. He was ready. The oldest person I’ve ever met. And with the sharpest mind. He was ready to see Grandmama.”
Grandda sighed, “It saddened me when Quade left us, but after living with all the pain he had for so many years, it was time. And that last fall he took was verra hard on him. He never recovered from it fully. He was pleased to see his bairns grown and happy, and Brenna had all the grandbairns to fuss over. He told me the day before he passed that he was ready. I couldnae fault him. And his last words I’ll always remember. ”
Torrian looked at him and arched his brow. “Well? Ye must share now. He’s my sire.”
“He said, ‘I die a happy man, brother. My thanks to ye for the greatest favor ye ever did for me. Bringing Brenna to me.’”
No one said anything for a while, but then Maitland said, “What a tale, Logan. My thanks for sharing.”
“What is yer purpose, Maitland?”
Maitland rubbed his hands together and said, “I dinnae have one.”
Her grandfather moved over to stand in front of Maitland and said, “Menzie, I dinnae have seer talents much like others in my clan, but I see this much. Yer purpose is coming soon.”
Grandsire climbed the staircase to his chamber but stopped at the top of the balcony. He turned around and said, “Maitland, there is another woman who needs ye. Ye’ll see soon enough.”
Every face turned to look at Maitland and they all witnessed the same thing.
Tears rolling down his face.