Chapter 5
Shaw downed another tankard of ale, then looked up and motioned to one of the young lads of the clan who was acting as cupbearer.
“Bring me whisky,” he told the boy. “And plenty of it.” No ale was going to quench the fire in his loins that he felt after kissing his new wife.
He hadn’t thought he’d missed the closeness of a woman this much, but now his body told him differently.
Ever since Alpina’s death, he busied himself with everything else so he’d not have to think about lassies.
But four years was a long time to go without a woman in his bed.
His body ached for the company of a female.
Especially for his new wife. That kiss was something not to be forgotten.
It made him wonder what else she did with such extreme vigor and passion.
“Let’s have a drink to celebrate our alliance and the wedding.
” Cromwell sat next to him and raised his tankard in the air.
Shaw had purposely put the man next to him during the meal, wanting to keep a close eye on him since he couldn’t trust him any further than he could throw him.
The serving boy filled Shaw’s tankard with whiskey.
Shaw raised it to his lips, only stopping when he looked over the rim of his drinking vessel to see his new wife watching him.
“Aye, everyone raise yer cup to my new wife, Magna –” He stopped in midsentence when he saw the scowl on her face. One of her eyebrows lifted into an arch and her eyes bore into him. “I mean . . . Spring.”
The crowd cheered and clapped. Musicians started playing music from the gallery.
She continued to stare at him. It only made him wonder what she was thinking since she showed no emotion of any kind on her face.
This continued for several minutes and he couldn’t concentrate on anything else.
Finally, he decided to break the awkwardness between them by talking to her.
“A drink of whisky?” He held out the tankard to her. Whisky was more of a man’s drink but, somehow, he wasn’t surprised when she snatched it away from him, downed the entire contents, and handed the tankard back to him.
Shaw looked down into the empty vessel and then back to the girl. She remained stoic as if the whisky hadn’t affected her in the least.
“Have ye had enough to eat?” he asked, motioning with his head to the food on the table.
Instead of sharing a trencher made of stale bread, he’d made sure to use the metal plates for his wedding celebration.
Her eyes roamed to the bow and quiver of arrows hanging over the back of his chair.
He focused on his plate and ate in silence, very aware of his new wife glaring at him the entire time.
“Will ye be returnin’ my bow and arrows soon?” she asked, finally breaking the silence between them.
“Nay. They’re mine now,” he said, holding out his tankard for the serving boy to fill it once more. “They belonged to my faither at one time, so I dinna think anyone but me should have them.”
“That is the only weapon I’ve ever owned,” she stated.
“You mean stole.”
She frowned.
“Or perhaps, that’s no’ true, as I’m sure ye’ve pilfered many weapons in yer lifetime,” he added.
“Are ye goin’ to answer my question?” She waited.
“I’ll take ye to the armory tomorrow and ye can choose whatever weapon ye want.”
“I want that one.” Her eyes darted over to the bow again.
He lifted the tankard of whisky to his mouth, perusing her over the rim. She was much too headstrong and he could see this would be a problem. He didn’t want any trouble tonight and would have to find a way to pacify her until the rest of the Gunn Clan left his castle walls.
“Ye’ve raised a feisty daughter, Cromwell.
” He spoke without taking his eyes off his new wife.
When Cromwell didn’t answer, he realized the man had been much too quiet.
He turned in his chair to see Cromwell was gone.
He sprang to his feet, searching the room for the man.
Several of Shaw’s men got to their feet as well.
“Is there a problem, my laird?” asked Leod, from the other end of the long table. His hand wavered over the hilt of his sword as he waited for Shaw’s answer.
“Come here,” he said under his breath. Leod and Baen rushed to his side.
“Where is Cromwell?” he asked softly.
“I’m no’ sure,” answered Leod. “I wasna payin’ attention.”
“Neither was I,” said Baen. “Perhaps he took a walk to the garderobe?”
“More than likely, he’s taken it upon himself to scout out his surroundin’s. I dinna trust him. We need to spread out and find him, fast.”
He took one step and stopped as Spring got up and blocked his path. “Were ye leavin’ the celebration so soon, Husband?”
“I’ve got somethin’ to attend to, but I’ll be right back.
” He stepped around her and made his way to the door.
He’d just walked out into the courtyard when he noticed Spring following him.
The rain had stopped, but the sky was already dark since nightfall had set in.
He turned to talk to her. “I said I’d be right back, so why are ye followin’ me?
” Then he noticed the bow and arrows slung over her shoulder.
“Nay.” He shook his head in aggravation.
“I told ye, they are no longer yers.” He reached out to take the weapon back but she stepped away from him.
Spring saw her father up on the battlements and was doing her best to keep Shaw occupied so he wouldn’t spot him.
She knew if she took back the bow and arrows it would distract him enough that it would give her father time to hide or make his way back to the great hall.
Sure enough, it worked. Shaw was so focused on her that he didn’t even see her father sneaking down from the battlements behind him.
“Sister, is there trouble?” Spring’s brothers left the great hall to join them.
“The only trouble here is that yer sister doesna ken how to listen to her new husband.” Shaw snatched the bow from her, but she still had the arrows. She held up her hands in mock surrender.
“I was only bringin’ ye the weapon in case ye needed to use it,” she lied.
“To use it? Why would I need to do that?” asked Shaw.
“To hunt some more food for the feast?” asked Bodil with a chuckle.
“Nay, mayhap for target practice,” added Egil, laughing, too. “That is, if ye can see in the dark.”
Her father made it down from the battlements without being seen and hid behind a cart. If she could get Shaw to turn around and then distract him a little longer, her father would be able to make it back to the great hall without Shaw noticing.
“Here are the arrows, too,” she said, stepping to the side of him, causing him to turn away from where her father was hiding.
Then she moved close and slipped the strap from the quiver over his shoulder.
She purposely took her time and ran her hand casually down his chest in the process.
If she wasn’t mistaken, she felt a muscle flinch under her fingertips.
She glanced up to find herself looking into his hazel eyes.
There was an intense air about them and she wasn’t certain what he was thinking.
“Are ye two goin’ to kiss?” asked Egil with a smirk.
“Aye. After all, ye are married now,” said Bodil.
“We’ve already kissed,” said Spring, noticing Shaw’s eyes drop to her lips. If she kept his thoughts on kissing her, he’d forget about hunting down her father.
“Ye’d best be warned,” said Egil. “Our sister once killed a man for tryin’ to bed her.”
“What?” The connection was broken instantly. Shaw looked over at the boys. “What do ye mean?”
“That’s right,” added Bodil with a nod of his head. “She did it with that bow and arrows when she was only four and ten years of age. If she doesna feel like couplin’ with a man . . . she just kills him.” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Bodil, Egil, stop it!” she scolded. “That’s no’ true and ye ken it.”
With Shaw facing the great hall again, thanks to her brothers, her plans were ruined. His attention darted over to the cart and he stood up straighter, peering into the darkness.
“Son of a jackal, I was right,” said Shaw, spotting her father sneaking back into the great hall. “Men, I’ve found him,” he called out, storming back to the keep.
Spring reached out and punched Egil on the shoulder, followed by a punch to Bodil as well.
“What was that for?” asked Egil, rubbing his arm.
“I was tryin’ to cover for faither and ye two went and ruined it all. Now, Shaw has seen him and there is bound to be trouble. Get back to the great hall, because there might be a battle over this.”
“He thinks we’ve made an alliance, so how could there be trouble?” asked Bodil.
“Shaw doesna believe this is an alliance any more than we do.” She focused on Shaw’s backside as he headed into the castle.
“What does that mean?” asked Egil. “Ye married the man.”
“And unfortunately, I’m goin’ to have to betray him as well,” she said, feeling her stomach churn when she said it. She hurried after Shaw, wondering how she was going to talk her father’s way out of this mess.
Shaw walked in, right behind Cromwell, ready to wring the man’s neck.
“Where have ye been, Cromwell?” asked Shaw, causing the man to turn around quickly.
“Shaw.” Cromwell smiled and nodded. “I was . . . outside.”
“I see that. Would ye mind tellin’ me why?”
“I had to use the garderobe and was feelin’ lazy. So I used a tree in yer orchard instead. Forgive me, if I’ve offended ye.”
“I dinna have an orchard.” Shaw’s jaw twitched. “If I’m no’ mistaken, ye were comin’ from the battlements. There was no need to be up there unless ye were spyin’ on my defenses.”
“I just wanted a breath of fresh air,” said the man.
“Ye’ll have plenty of fresh air because I’m askin’ ye to leave anon.”
“Leave? Whatever for? The celebration for my daughter’s weddin’ has just started.”
“Da, I think Shaw is right,” said Spring, walking up with her brothers right behind her. “It might be good for ye to be gettin’ back to the clan.”
“What for?” complained Egil. “I want to dance with some of the bonnie lassies first.”
“I was hopin’ for some of those bilberry tarts I saw on the server’s tray,” added Bodil.
From the corner of Shaw’s eye, he thought he saw Spring elbow both her brothers at the same time. But when he turned his head, she was stretching as if she were tired.
“I am a bit sleepy since it’s been such a big day.” She yawned – or pretended to yawn. “I’m sure ye understand, Faither.”
Cromwell flashed an annoyed glance at his daughter. When Shaw turned his head again, he saw Spring grimacing at her father. She noticed Shaw looking in her direction, and flashed a forced smile.
“Aye, mayhap it would be good to get back to the clan. I’m a wee bit weary myself,” said Cromwell. “Boys, get the others. We’ll be on our way.”
“Wise choice,” said Shaw, nodding his head.
Shaw escorted the men to the gate personally, just to make sure they all left.
He gripped the bow slung over his shoulder, willing to use it if he had to.
Once the Gunns made it over the drawbridge, he motioned to his guards.
“Close it up for the night,” he called out.
“And sleep with one eye open. I dinna trust them at all.”
He turned on his heel to go back to the keep, bumping into Spring who was standing right behind him.
The girl was so quiet, he never even heard her coming.
Her face remained stoic and he wondered if anything ever made her show emotion.
He figured she’d say something about his comment of not trusting her clan, but she remained quiet.
“So,” he said and cleared his throat. “I suppose we should discuss what happens from here.”
“Aye. We should,” she answered.
“We’re married now,” he told her.
“We are.” The girl didn’t even blink.
“So ye’ll be . . . sleepin’ in my chamber from now on.
” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked to the ground.
“We’re supposed to consummate the marriage.
” Still no response from her. “I mean – that’s what’s required and all.
Between a man . . . and his wife.” Still silence.
“It would be advisable since it’ll also seal the alliance. ”
When she still didn’t say a word, he rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. “Dinna ye have anythin’ to say?”
Her attention fastened on the bow and arrows. Egads, this woman only had one thing on her mind. It was starting to irritate him.
“Where’s yer chamber?” she asked in a low voice.
“Come. I’ll show ye.”
As they headed across the courtyard back to the keep, he couldn’t help wondering if he was the only one just a little nervous about consummating the marriage.