Page 5 of A Promise Through Time

“Are ye having trouble with yer hearing? I just told ye I’ve got one.” Donal couldn’t imagine what was so confusing about that.

“Not just for one night. Ye need a lass who’ll marry ye.” Logan had become a big proponent of marriage since Sara and he tied the knot. He believed every man needed a wife.

“I dinnae wish to be married. I wish to do as I please. There are a good many pretty faces about and I wish to bed as many lasses as I can. I’ll think about marriage when I get old.”

“Yer daft. Ye dinnae ken what yer missing.” The look of disbelief on Logan’s face was comical and Donal laughed.

“I do ken it and I dinnae believe I’m missing anything. I dinnae have to answer to anyone, but myself. If I had a wife,” he lifted his hand and put up one finger and then the next as he counted all the reasons he didn’t want a wife. “She’d want to know where I was, what I was doing, why I wasnae home early enough to suit her and I tell ye she wouldnae like the answers.”He laughed. “I appreciate yer concern, but I’m no’ the marrying kind.”

“Alright. I’ll leave ye to yer debauchery, but mark my words, some day a lass will come along who’s more woman than ye ever knew ye needed or wanted. When she does, ye’ll be the marrying kind.”

He guffawed at this “Of one thing I am sure, that willnae happen.”

“Well,whenit does, remember I’m the one who told ye it would.”

“I’m sure ye willnae allow me to forget.”

The two men laughed and walked together to the well. Buckets of water were already waiting for them, placed there for their use. They splashed their faces with the water and then accepted drying cloths from Helene, who happened by just in time.

“Thank ye,” Logan said.

“Yer welcome. I was just on my way to find Dougall. Have ye seen him?” she asked.

“Aye. He’ll be along shortly,” Donal replied.

“How are ye both this fine day?” she asked.

“Well,” said Logan.

“Excellent,” chimed in Donal, still feeling pride in his day’s performance.

“Excellent? What wondrous feats have ye done to warrant that response?” Helene asked, tipping her head and regarding him with a scowl.

Donal didn’t think Helene cared for him much. Like some of the other married ladies, she always seemed to frown a bit when she saw him. He certainly wasn’t one to brag about how he spent his evenings when in mixed company, but he got the feeling that Helene knew more than she should about him. Thank goodness her husband, Dougall, and the other men appreciated him for his skill as a warrior and didn’t care about such things. Thewomen of the castle didn’t approve of his penchant for wooing, not that it was any of their business. He didn’t understand why they should care at all, but they certainly liked to hold it against him. Donal knew it wouldn’t matter to her if he had defeated every warrior of the clan, she wouldn’t give him the praise he deserved. Luckily, someone was approaching that would distract her from judging him.

“Helene! How I love seeing the most beautiful woman I ken.” her husband, Dougall, kissed her cheek and her scowl immediately became a smile. She was a lovely lass, even when she frowned at him, but when she looked at Dougall her face glowed. He wondered for a moment what it would be like to have someone look at him like that. He shook the thought away before it could take hold. He wasn’t after that particular look from a woman.

“Are ye hungry? I’ve some food waiting for ye inside,” she said.

“Aye.” He looked at Logan and Donal. “What are ye two doing?”

“Just discussing why Donal doesnae have a woman,” Logan said.

“’Tis a good question,” Helene said. “I cannae imagine why.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she turned and walked away. The men slapped him on the back and laughed again, then Dougall followed along behind her like an obedient husband, something Donal never wanted to be. Dougall, one of the finest warriors of the Mackenzie clan was reduced to following orders from a woman. He couldn’t believe it.

Donal knew Helene and the others had been poking fun at him and he didn’t like it. How dare they ruin his perfect day with their judgement? “’Tis none of yer business,” he called after them. “Now, if ye dinnae mind. I’m hungry.” He marched off to the kitchen to see what Mary had to offer, never looking back, despite the laughter coming from Logan and some of the otherswho’d joined him. Why were they always trying to marry him off? It made no sense to him and never would. He was a happy man. He didn’t need the same woman warming his bed every night. The smile he’d worn only moments ago had turned into an angry scowl. By the time he reached the kitchen his temper made him fling open the door at the same time as a young lass exited right into his arms.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said.

“Dinnae be sorry, lass. I quite enjoyed it.” It was his kitchen maid. He gave her his best smile, the one that always worked. “Where are ye off to in such a hurry? I’ve only just arrived.”

“I must go home. My mother sent word. She needs me,” she extricated herself from his arms and tried to squeeze past him.

“Ye’ll be back soon, I hope,” he snaked his arm around her waist, holding her still so he could look into her eyes. Nothing there gave him hope.

“I dinnae ken that I will,” she said, glancing back into the kitchen.

“Will ye still meet me later?” he asked, worried that this day was going from good to bad too quickly for his tastes.