One & Only (6 page)

CHAPTER THREE

In plain sight, Grey Gunn stood at
the base of the rise.

He wanted his men to see him
observing the training. Their valiant effort could be seen from the distance in
which he stood, too. There was much to accomplish before the mist absconded to
the flat field. The young warriors had a plethora to learn before he’d take
them to battle. Duff, his commander-in-arms, and his closest friend, trained
the lads for hours this day. Though Duff didn’t have the patience which Greer
possessed, he hadn’t lost his fortitude yet. Greer, his third in command, and
the most effective with a bow, never shouted at the lads. Duff could learn a
lesson from Greer in that regard.

The day went to hell and hound when
the sky darkened and thick clouds rolled in. Soon heavy rain would fall,
clearing the field of its mist, but also making it impossible to continue the
training session. Winds began whipping off the sea, sending a salty taste in
the air. There wasn’t much time, and still they had to go through all the
defensive movements. The young warriors had yet to improve in that matter.
Nevertheless, they certainly boasted when it came to offensive tactics.

Grey knew they’d only mimicked the
more practiced warriors. Mayhap he should let them train together and have his
experienced warriors give the lads a taste of humility. That would take away
their overconfidence. Arrogance was unimpressive when the young warriors
couldn’t back it up with defense on the battlefield. They had much to learn and
yet he couldn’t be prouder of them. Soon his men would all be seasoned and then
he would have no worry of warring with other clans.

When Duff had enough and frustration
finally wore him down, he left the field and turned the lads over to Greer’s capable
hands. He stomped from the field and stood next to him. His scowl attested he’d
indeed lost his patience. “Shall we call it a day, Laird?”

“Aye, they’ve been at it since early
this morning and put through the basics. The sky is about to open. There’ll be
a brisk wind this night.”

“A wee brisk wind would be welcome
after this day.” Duff whistled a shrill sound, calling a halt to the exercises
and at once the young warriors stopped their lessons and trotted toward the
incline.

As Gordy, one of his warriors in
training passed by, Duff grabbed hold of the young lad’s tunic. The lad grew to
a manly height, but he didn’t have the muscles of a warrior yet. His arms were
a bit scrawny, definitely not strong enough to hold a worthwhile sword. Gordy
shook his light brown mane of hair and his eyes bulged with a look of fright.

“Where are ye off to? I told you I
wanted to speak to you about your absence. You were gone for days. Ye have some
explaining to do.”

The lad could barely get the words
out, “I … I asked … James gave me permission to visit my cousin. It was of
import and … He said not to bother ye or our laird.”

Duff cuffed him on the side of the
head. “Your laird is standing right there, lad. Have some respect.”

Gordy nodded, bowed, and then
lowered his gaze to his feet.

James and the rest of his guard
sauntered toward them and joined the circle, each smiling and seemingly
interested in what was happening. Duff drew their interest when his voice rose.

“James,” Duff called, “did ye give
this clootie a pass to visit relatives?”

James laughed at Duff’s insult and
stepped between he and Gordy. Grey thought James might be trying to protect the
lad from Duff’s anger.

“Aye, a messenger came and said he
had important news for the lad. I allowed him to go. You and Grey went hunting
and I didn’t think you’d care.”

Grey nodded. “All’s well then.”

“I’ll just take my leave.” Gordy
turned but before he could step away, Grey called him back.

Duff smiled, a rarity, still the
corners of his mouth gave a slight twitch. “Where are your manners, Gordy? Ye
don’t walk away from your laird without permission. He hasn’t given it yet.”

“I … I apologize, Laird. May I be
excused now?”

“Not yet,” Duff said, blowing a
frustrated sigh. “Your laird wants to know what this news is and of what import
is it?”

Grey raised a brow at Duff’s baiting
the lad. “I can speak for myself, Duff.” He shoved his long-time friend in the
chest and moved closer to Gordy, somewhat protecting him from his overbearing
commander. “What is the important news, Gordy?”

Gordy swallowed hard, which went
observed by all the guardsmen standing around him. They pressed in; all waiting
to hear what he would say. Gordy became nervous and tried to back up a step,
but Colm was behind him and shoved him forward. The lad bumped into Kenneth who
shoved him in return.

“You’ll look at me when I address
you, lad, not at your feet.” Grey had enough fooling around. There were clan
matters to see to and he didn’t have time to waste standing around baiting a
lad, even if it entertained his guards.

His brutish guard reveled in scaring
the younger lads, and hell if he wasn’t stronger and meaner than each one of
them, he might have been intimidated too. They could be formidable even when it
hadn’t called for it. Gordy surprised him for the simple fact that he stood his
ground.

“Laird, I’m not sure ye want to hear
the news.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

The lad impressed him when he looked
him in the eyes and said, “My cousin told me that the MacHeth Laird sent for a
bride.”

His guardsmen immediately spat on
the ground. Just hearing the name of MacHeth caused their ill-mannered
disrespect. Well-deserving disrespect too, in Grey’s opinion. He didn’t know
what to make of this news.

Duff took a step forward,
essentially cutting off any chance of the lad’s escape. “That is news. Who is
the poor lass he’s to marry? She’s probably one of the Dunmore lassies.” The
Dunmore clan wasn’t greatly respected, yet they were neighbors of sorts.

Gordy’s face turned red and he
appeared chagrined by their questioning. The MacHeths were the most hated clan
by the Gunns and the lad looked to be holding something back. Grey motioned for
him to speak by waving his hand, beckoning him to be forthcoming.

“I was told the lass is from the
border area. She is traveling to MacHeth land even now. My cousin told me she
carries great wealth.”

Greer hooted with laughter. “You
hear that? The lass has great wealth. She is what is of value, lad. But Laird,
you won’t let that son-of-a-whoremonger have the wealth will ye?”

“What say you, Laird?” Duff asked,
raising an inquisitive brow.

“To what?” Grey knew exactly what
Duff was asking. He couldn’t let any poor lass end up with the dastardly
MacHeth. She’d be going to the son of the devil who preyed on the young and
innocent.

His guard stared at him, waiting
with expectation for him to continue. Grey took his time assessing their faces.
Duff always wanted to do something daring and was ready for the challenge.
Greer and Kenneth, brothers, always wore the same face. They smiled no matter
what the situation and relished a good fight or a good woman. James, Sean, and
Colm frowned, a testament they didn’t like hearing of any lass in danger. Hell,
half the women in the clan chased after the men. They were always available to
any lass in distress or not. His guard patiently waited for him to come to a
conclusion.

“Before I decide if it’s worth my
time, tell me, Gordy, what value does she bring besides herself?” Grey almost
laughed when he noticed his guardsmen nodding.

Gordy’s voice cracked on his first
word. “Salt. She brings trunks of it, Laird. My cousin told me she is from a
prosperous family. The lady is known to be a—”

Duff shoved his chest. “Be a what?
Are ye insulting the lady?”

“A good cook, Laird, aye. My cousin
is traveling with the lady and they will take rest at the Abbey near the
crossing before moving on. They have a long journey.”

“Laird, you could use a good cook.
Anna’s cooking is atrocious.” That came from Colm.

The guards laughed, but his comment
didn’t amuse Grey. Though he had to admit he’d hoped for a good meal at least
once during the sennight. The lass’ cooking was horrible. Each night he’d make
excuses not to have to eat the fare. He and his guard had even taken to hiding
the fare so her feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Truth be told, he’d rather eat bark
from a tree than Anna’s cooking.

“Are ye smiling, Laird?” Greer
asked.

“Well, damn me, I am … cheerful at
the thought of not having to eat Anna’s cooking. Och the thought of snatching
MacHeth’s bride brings me more joy.”

Duff grunted. “Payback, aye, Laird?
A bride for a bride?”

The men’s mood instantly changed.
They went from jesting and joyous to sullen and solemn. Each wore a grave face
and their bodies tensed.

“We don’t know if MacHeth was
involved in Albrey’s disappearance.” Grey grew somber too. He hadn’t spoken
Albrey’s name in so long; it felt odd speaking it.

They had no proof that Kenneth
MacHeth took any part in what happened to Albrey Mackay. Yet right afterward,
the clan had an uprising and Kenneth declared himself laird. All Mackay
followers had no choice but to submit to MacHeth or flee into the hills. Grey’s
own father was hard-pressed to take action since no one could prove anything.

To make matters worse, Albrey’s
family blamed the Gunns for her disappearance because she’d vanished on their
land. All hope of any alliance though was out of the question. The Mackays
promised Grey a bride and never followed through. Grey knew only one person who
would harm the lass and that man was Kenneth MacHeth.

Grey swore he would never marry when
Albrey disappeared. Deep down, he felt he’d failed in his duty. He promised to
protect her and yet she had been taken. Of course, he’d been young then,
certainly not old enough to protect a child. He was a child himself. But a
promise was a promise though, and to him, he hadn’t kept his word.

There was no trace of Albrey. Grey’s
father, God rest his soul, took him on a journey to search for her. They even
went to England and stepped foot on that soil to look for her, even though his
father avowed never to do so.

“How much time do we have, Gordy?”
Colm asked.

“You have a few days, at best. My
cousin said they would be traveling slow because of the trunks.”

Kenneth grinned and raised his brow.
“She must be a delicate lady. What I want to know, lad, is … How bonny is she?
Did ye get a look at her?”

Greer and James grabbed Gordy’s
arms, provoking him to tell the truth.

“Aye, I did see her, but only for a
few seconds when I met my cousin at the door.”

“Well, what did she look like?” Duff
asked.

“The smells coming from within were
heavenly, Laird. Made my stomach ache to have some of her food. Never smelled
anything like that before. My cousin gave me a bowl of pottage. I swear my
tongue tasted heaven. Whatever she put in it, was the best thing I ever ate.”
Gordy kept his expression serious.

Greer smirked. “We don’t want to
hear about the food, Gordy. We want to know about the lady. Was she comely,
shapely, did she have good sized breasts? Come, lad, details …”

“I got a peek at her and she is very
bonny. She has golden hair. It is long and wavy, looks like silk. But what
struck me was when she turned and looked …”

All the men stood silently staring
at the lad, hanging on his every word, mouths agape. Grey became disgusted by
their behavior. “And?”

“Did you blush like a wee lassie,
Gordy?” Greer asked, punching Gordy’s arm. “Aye, you’re greener than our
pastures. Did she bring ye to your knees? I bet she did.”

“Nay, of course not. I thought an
angel was peering at me. She has the prettiest eyes I ever saw. They are bluer
than the sky. Her voice is soft and sounded like an angel’s.”

“Och, then she may be more valuable
than salt,” Kenneth said in jest.

The warriors released Gordy’s arms
and after bowing to him, he took off. Hell, the lad hadn’t even waited to be
dismissed. Grey decided to forgive him. He’d be running too if he was in
Gordy’s boots.

It was then that the sky decided to
open and rain began falling hard. Grey welcomed the cool rain on his skin, as
did his men, who walked beside him as if it were a mere shower. Heat from the
day cooled in an instant when the fat raindrops cut through the thick air.

As he ambled toward the keep, he
said, “We leave at first light. Greer, you’ll be left in charge whilst I’m
gone. See to the preparations.”

“Why me, Laird? I want to see the
lady.”

He raised an eyebrow in silent
question of Greer’s disobedience. “Do you honestly think Duff will be left
behind? I trust you’ll see to things whilst we’re away.”

Greer accepted the position with a
nod and a grunt, but he gave Duff a killing look.