One & Only (12 page)

“Nay, it isn’t. You are tempting
me.”

Why he sounded so angry was beyond
her. “I did not mean to tempt you.”

“You’re doing a whole lot more than
that, lass,” he said, kicking his horse into action.

CHAPTER nine

By early morning the sun peeked just
above the rise of the trees. Bree was overheated wearing traveling garments and
wished she could remove something. The air grew tepid earlier than it had the
day before. She ignored her body’s aches and pains, but couldn’t ignore the
stickiness she felt. Grey moved back on the horse, giving her a few inches of
space, but even that didn’t help. She was sure he did it because he was as hot
as she was.

They traveled slowly, and according
to Duff would have arrived at the Gunn keep the day before had she and Cait not
slowed them. Bree couldn’t imagine how they traveled if they thought they had
ridden slow. If anything, she was glad they were forced to ride at a leisurely
pace consider the heat but she couldn’t wait to arrive, mainly to be off the
horse.

As she looked ahead, she saw a large
wall encasing a slope and within it atop the highest spot stood a large
structure. All sorts of plant life surrounded the insets along the wall,
beautiful shrubs and flowers made it appear less ominous. She had to remind
herself that his home was a warrior’s keep. Inside couldn’t look as grand, and so
she tried not to let her expectations get the better of her. Surely, his home
wasn’t as homey and appealing on the inside as was the outside. Grey had no
wife to attend such matters. Yet for all she knew, he could have a mother or
female relatives who took care of such matters.

Once they crossed the portcullis and
gatehouse, a plain stoned entrance, Grey continued on to the stables where he
helped her down and gave directions to James for the care of his horse. All
around her were small cottages with thatched roofs. Each home had planted
gardens and a banner with a raised fist holding a sword in a circle, on each
door. There were words written on the banners, but she couldn’t understand what
they said.

“It is beautiful here and well taken
care of, Grey. What does that say?” she pointed at one of the banners.

“In peace and war, our clan’s motto,
what we live by.”

“Are you at peace or war now?” she
couldn’t help asking.

“War.”

“Oh. I was afeared you were going to
say that.” She didn’t mean to sound dejected, because she’d hoped they were at
peace. “Which is your cottage?” Bree began walking toward the line of homes,
hoping he didn’t live in the monstrosity at the top of the hill.

“I live there,” he said, pointing to
the large structure atop the slope.

The wooden façade was foreboding.
She swore there were buzzards circling the top spiral. Looking to the highest
point, she did see a large bird of some sort there. “Oh, God. Where will I
stay?”

“With me.”

“I was afeared you were going to say
that.”

He smiled, but it didn’t make her
feel any better. “Bree, it’s not as bad as it looks. The weather has taken the
color from the wood. It does look old, but it’s not that aged—mayhap twenty
years or so. My da built it when he became laird. Inside is comfortable.”

Duff helped Cait down and they began
walking toward the fief. Her friend seemed amiable to being there and she
grinned when Duff didn’t move away from Cait. Mayhap he was getting used to the
idea that Cait wanted him. He wasn’t so gruff or surly when he looked at Cait
now. There seemed to be an attraction between them.

Bree was apprehensive as they
approached the building and took the steep stone steps to the upper floor where
massive doors led to the inside. Grey held the door for her, grinning as though
he had a secret.

She stepped inside and was standing
in the great hall, a massive chamber where the laird entertained company. Bree
was afraid to look, but when she did, she was pleasantly surprised.

“You do not need my trunks, do you?”

Grey watched her closely. “Nay, we
do not need them. But if it pleases you to give them to me, I’ll gladly
accept.”

“Nay, a bargain is a bargain and so
far you have kept your end. Your home is lovely and well furnished.” She
couldn’t get over what she was seeing. “You must be wealthy to afford such
luxury.”

“Our clan takes to the sea and we
often trade for what we need. We do well enough. I take it you expected
something different?” He took her hand and led her farther into the room.

Bree turned and everywhere she
looked were banners sewn so beautifully. Some had their clan’s motto, other’s
beautiful images of the sea. There were cushions, pillows, and even a tapestry
or two. The stairs leading to the upper floors flanked an ornate oak banister,
which was elegantly carved with scrolls and leaves. Her own father’s fief
wasn’t as richly decorated. Compared to Grey’s home, her father’s fief was akin
to a country home in the woods.

Cait tapped her shoulder, but Bree
couldn’t stop looking. The furniture was as elaborate, finely crafted and gleamed
with a shine. A massive table with etched legs sat in the middle of the hall
and above it was a crude iron-chained candleholder containing at least a dozen
hefty candles. Situated around the room were seating areas and light shown
through the narrow window casements. Chairs had plush cushions and all were
covered in the fabric of the Gunn plaid in dark rich colors of blue and green.

“Bree, we should get settled.”

“Oh, aye, we should.” Yet her feet
wouldn’t move. She was content to look at the abode with silent reverence.

Grey chuckled and took her hand, and
led her to the table. There were at least sixteen chairs around the table,
enough to fit more than a family.

The Gunn guardsmen came inside as if
they were happy to be home, each smiling. They weren’t as fearsome as they
first presented, and now she wasn’t so fearful of them.

“Milady’s trunks arrived late last
night. We loaded the trunks in storage, laird, except for milady’s personal
trunk with the herbs. Should we have it brought here?” Greer asked. “I thought
she would want her herbs.”

“Aye, take it to the kitchen. Bree
will be staying here. Bree, this is Greer, he’s Kenneth’s brother, and my
second in command and a good friend.” Grey turned and headed to the buttery
across the room.

“’Tis a pleasure to meet you,
Greer.” She curtseyed to him.

Greer smiled and was devilishly
handsome. She quickly looked at Cait, but she only had eyes for Duff. He nodded
to Duff and gave a glance to the other men before returning his gaze back to
her.

“Laird, she’s prettier than a field
full of heather.”

“I’d appreciate you not noticing,
Greer,” Grey said, from across the room.

“Is she cooking tonight?” James
asked. “I’m starved.”

Each of his men grinned, looking
like a pack of hungry wolves, and she thought they might be trying to influence
her when their smiles turned to pouting looks. Cooking brought happiness to her
and she enjoyed making feasts, especially if her food brought pleasure to
others.

“I would be pleased to cook for you.
You do you not have a cook, Grey?”

“If you can call her that, aye.
She’s young and hasn’t learned how to boil water properly,” Duff answered for
Grey.

“Bree, if you want to teach her, we
wouldn’t object.” He returned to the table at took the seat at the end, nodding
to his guard who awaited him. He set a drink in front of Cait and handed one to
her. Once he was seated, his men took their seats.

“Grey, I would be pleased to show
her how to cook.”

Two women came in the hall. One was
holding a little girl. When the child spotted Grey, she wiggled until the woman
released her. She ran and jumped on Grey’s lap. The little one wore a big smile
on her cherub-like face.

“Who is this?”

Grey tried to answer, but the little
girl kept turning his face wanting all of his attention.

“She’s his daughter,” Duff supplied.

Bree thought he’d said he hadn’t
married. Yet he hadn’t said he did not have children. The little girl got her
way when Grey finally hugged her close. She contentedly put her head on his
shoulder and smiled at him.

“I don’t think she’s mine, but a
woman, Janice, came and claimed she was. I never saw the woman before. The lass
can’t hear, apparently, so don’t expect her to answer ye.”

“Grey, she’s adorable. You need not
explain.”

“Aye, I do. I couldn’t let the woman
leave the lass with someone in the Dunmore clan. They’re all mean-spirited
dogs. Who knows what would have happened to the lass if I sent her away with
the woman.”

“I see.” Bree tried not to smile.
Grey revealed much about himself by telling her that.

“Did you say Janice, Laird?” Greer
asked, with a look of consternation on his face.

“Aye, you were here, remember? She
came right before we left to get Bree.”

Greer shook his head. “Nay, laird, I
went to see to matters. Remember, you told me I’d be in charge when you left. I
was handling assignment duties. I never saw the woman.”

“I suppose I forgot to tell you
about it.”

“And when did she say ye fathered
this child?” Greer looked perplexed and Bree wondered why he was so concerned.

“The summer solstice, a few years
back. Keep in mind, we’d found the keg of brew the elder’s hid. Knocked us on
our arse, it was so potent. I was so drunk during the celebration that I don’t
recall how I got to my chamber. There was a woman there. That I recollect.”

Greer groaned.

Everyone’s heads turned and looked
at him expectantly.

Grey finally asked, “What’s
bothering you, Greer? Explain now.” His tone implied he wanted answers and he
wasn’t willing to wait for them.

Bree hadn’t heard Grey sound so
stern until now and she became concerned for the young man. Surely Grey
wouldn’t hurt one of his guard, but his expression certainly alluded that he
would and could.

Greer stood and walked around the
table, pacing in deep thought. He couldn’t seem to stand still and was beset
with worry. “I … well hell, I was … You weren’t with her, laird. I was. Janice
and I … I was drunk too and thought to use one of the rooms upstairs. You came
in and got in bed with us.”

All the men laughed and hooted. Bree
kept her expression serene, not wanting to show how humorous the conversation
was to her. Grey must be mortified by it. He didn’t say a word and looked as
angry as falcon guarding its kill.

“So I took you back to your bed,
Laird, and left you there, and returned to Janice.”

“Remind me to kill you later. So,
that’s how I got there. Why would she accuse me of fathering her child?”

Greer frowned. “She had eyes for you
all night. I convinced her to be with me. Janice was quiet taken by the drink
by then. Mayhap she thought I was you, Laird.”

Not one of the men laughed at that.
The affront of his words wasn’t appreciated, particularly by Grey who looked
like he’d swallowed a thorn bush.

“Congratulations to ye, Greer,
you’re a father,” Colm shouted, breaking the sudden tension.

Greer sat in the nearest chair,
speechless.

“I have a niece,” Kenneth said,
slapping his brother on the back. He then went to the child and lifted her in
his arms. He grinned and seemed thoroughly pleased to be holding her. The girl
squirmed in his arms and he had no choice but to return her to Grey.

Bree realized at that moment that
the men within the Gunn clan were endearing. They certainly weren’t as evil as
the MacHeth.

The child continued to hold Grey and
Bree thought he looked appealing holding her so tenderly. The girl obviously
was already attached to Grey and that gave Bree an idea.

“Are you married, Greer?” Everyone
turned to look at her when she posed that question. The hall suddenly became
quiet.

“Nay, milady, I only live to serve
my laird. Never been interested in marrying.”

“Would you be interested in marrying
now?” she hedged.

“Are ye asking?” Greer grinned and
winked at her.

Grey stood, jarring his chair and
disturbing the girl. She cried out and he instantly settled her by patting her
back. “Greer, get the hell out. Bree, you cannot marry him. I forbid it.”

“I wasn’t proposing, Grey. I only
thought that if Greer didn’t have a wife or anyone to care for her, you could
keep her. She does seem to like you.”

Grey nodded. “If Greer is agreeable
then she can stay here.”

“Aye, I haven’t a clue what to do
with a child, let alone a little lass like her. Besides, Laird, you have more
experience with young lassies than I do. What’s her name?”

His guard must have found Greer’s
comment amusing and laughed.

“That is not funny, Greer. Her name
is Sunny.”

The two women who brought Sunny
inside, stood behind Grey’s chair awaiting instruction. Bree watched them with
interest. They spoke low to each other, covering their mouths, obviously
remarking on Greer’s sudden fatherhood.