Page 5 of Never Fall for a Highlander

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, thinking about his da.The mon was a well-loved laird as well as a da.Robin had been devastated when the mon he’d thought as invincible died from a wasting disease four years ago when Robin was twenty summers.

A warrior should no’ die in his bed.He should die on the battlefield, and he kenned his da was angry near the end of his life.He’d told his oldest son that he felt like a failure because he dinna give Robin the training he should have.Not wanting to make his da any angrier, Robin dismissed his da’s concerns, but kenned in his heart he wasna ready to take on the role of laird.

He'd fumbled in the beginning, still mourning his da, but he sought the assistance of the Clan Council who were older clan members and had known his da well.He still felt inadequate at times, especially when he had to also see to the care of Craig, Finn, Mairi, and Kendra.Although he was certain both Craig and Finn would give him a hefty one to the jaw if they knew he considered them his responsibility.

The Clan Council offered advice that Robin took for a while.‘Twas only recently that he’d begun to resent their no-longer-needed advice.

He didn’t fool himself into believing he felt confident enough to lead the clan, but lately the Clan Council had begun to push him toward selecting a wife from another clan.

“Ye have a responsibility to yer clan.Ye need heirs and alliances.We’ve had several betrothal requests and ‘tis time ye considered one of them.”

After several minutes of listing his short-comings in his head, he left his solar and entered his bedroom.He stripped his clothes off and climbed into bed.Resting on his back, his hands behind his head, he allowed his thoughts to drift to Helena.

He’d had his bed warmed plenty of times with some of the lasses in the brooch and the village, but he’d ne’er gave any of them a second thought after they went their separate ways.He knew he would need to find a wife one day and start a family.He had two brothers behind him, but he still felt it was his duty to provide his own heirs, and not depend upon Craig and Finn.And, as the council continuously pointed out, marriages between clans was a solid way to grow alliances.

Why he reflected on marriage now while his thoughts were consumed with the luscious body of Helena Ross rattled him a tad.He was certainly not in a position yet to take on the responsibility of a wife and then eventually a family.And when he did, marrying someone he either never met, or only spent a day or two with, had no appeal.As foolish as it sounded for a Clan Chief, he wanted to choose his own wife, and maybe even find her appealing in both looks and behavior.

He'd seen too many clan daughters at various gatherings to know there were many among them who would make his life miserable.

He punched his pillow and told himself to get to sleep.They were to leave first thing in the morning, and he would not make a good leader and warrior if he was half asleep as they rode into battle.

And a battle he was sure it would be.The Gunns had stepped over the line more than a few times in the past moons, and now attacking a village, ‘twas time to rid themselves of the reivers.

He hoped ‘twould not turn into a war with the Gunns, but ‘twas always a possibility.It would be foolish of The Gunn to challenge him since the Mackays were much bigger, stronger, and better trained than just about any other clan in the Highlands, save the Sutherlands.

He turned again and tried verra hard to get the image of Helana Ross out of his mind.She was, indeed, a bonnie lass.But Craig had better keep his hands off her.He would warn him again in the morning.Helena was their guest and he wouldna allow anyone to tempt her into their bed.Not even himself.

‘Twas more than a few hours before he fell into a fitful sleep.

Chapter three

Still uncomfortable sharing a room with Jena and her husband, Helena slept lightly and was awake before dawn.She silently dressed and crept out of the room to the sound of Blair’s snoring.

Unsure what to do with herself and thinking that most likely the cook would already be in the kitchen preparing the morning meal, she grabbed one of the torches along the wall and headed downstairs.Mayhaps she could get a cup of tea and a Bannock.It would be good to meet the cook, also, because she was always the best person to get information about the clan.

Loud voices greeted her as she stepped into the great hall.Dozens of warriors had gathered, their claymores strapped to their backs.A few who were closer to her also carried a sgian-dubh as well as knives tucked away in various places.

The laird was at the dais, speaking to the group.From what he said it sounded as though they were headed into battle.She shook her head.Men always seemed to be waging war.Then ‘twas up to the women to put them back together again once they returned.

That reminded her that one of her first duties was to find the midwife who had scared her sister and hopefully convince the woman to allow Helena to supervise Jena’s bairn’s birth.She would find the healer as well so she could introduce herself and offer some services while she was here.

The laird stopped speaking and looked around at the crowd of men.As his eyes swept the area, he caught hers, moving past and then coming back to her.He stared at her for a few seconds and concerned that she might be where she dinna belong, she turned and headed to the kitchen, most likely like all clans, at the back of the keep.

The wonderful, familiar scent of baking bread led her right to the kitchen.A cheerful looking woman, round in the belly with a flushed face, and a smile on her lips looked over at her.“Ye must be wee Jena’s sister.”

Helena nodded.“Aye, I am Helena Ross.”

The woman stopped placing Bannocks on a baking paddle and wiped her fingers on her apron.“My name is Maude and as ye can see, I am the cook for the brooch.”She grinned at Helena.“Jena was verra excited when she kenned ye were coming.She said ye were a healer and a midwife.”

“Aye,” Helena said.“I do some of both.I started out as a healer with my Aunt Dorathia at Sutherland, but I soon decided I preferred midwifery.‘Tis such a wonderful thing to bring a new bairn into the world.”

The woman returned to her duties.“’Tis true.I’m thinking yer sister is much better off with ye instead of midwife Beatrice who spends most of her time telling young lasses how horrible the marriage bed is and even worse what the result of the marriage bed activities is.She believes as the church taught years ago that a woman must suffer when she brings a bairn into the world.If her screams are no’ loud enough the woman and the bairn are cursed.”

“That’s horrible!”Helena said.“Jena mentioned that the midwife had terrified her.I’m verra happy to be here to help.”

“Ye might want to make a visit to Aline, also.”She slid the paddle of Bannocks into the oven.“She has a bothy down the road on the western side of the brooch.She’s our healer and I think she would be happy to make yer acquaintance.She is a verra nervous woman, and she only recently took over for her mam who passed away a few weeks ago.I’m no’ sure how much Aline learned from her mam.”

Helena’s eyes grew wide at that information.“And she’s the only clan healer?”