Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (15 page)

Kate
redressed and jeered at the plaid. She decided that she wouldn’t wear it, nor
would she do his bidding. She picked it up, holding it to her face and smelled
his wonderful scent, which lingered. Just to show him that he couldn’t tell her
what to do, she folded it and placed it on the table. Dejectedly, she sat there
and wondered what had come over her. How could she allow him to touch her, kiss
her, and do those marvelously wicked things? But at the time, all she could do
was melt in his arms.

She
didn’t know why he affected her. She’d thought him to be crass and obstinate,
which he was, but he was also sweet in his own way. What scared her was that
her attraction to him couldn’t be dismissed. He’d never make a good husband.
She had to find a way to avoid him, and a way to return to England and to her
betrothed. Until she reached the king, she would have to deal with Brendan
herself. “Goddess, please help me to stay away from him.”

Upon
that resolve, she fixed her hair and went back to the celebration. A mass of
people had gathered, and she entered the hall, noticing the noise level had
risen. There had to be close to one hundred people inside. All the tables had
been moved aside, and people danced in the center of the room. Gaiety abounded,
and many toasted Bonnie. Kate skirted the dancers and saw her hostess standing
among the guests.

“Kate,
there you are. Where have you been? I’ve been looking for ye.” Julianna smiled,
her eyes shined with merriment as she watched the dancers.

“I
um … was uh …” Her face brightened.

“I
want you to meet Sara KirkConnell. Sara and I have been friends since
childhood. Sara, this is Kate, the lady who saved Bonnie.”

Sara
hugged Kate affectionately. “I’m so glad you rescued Bonnie. Julianna told me
about your adventure. We’re indebted to ye.”

“Oh,
nay, I had to make sure she reached her home.”

Gil
sauntered toward them, grinning in his charming way. Julianna and Sara gasped
at the sight of his swollen eye. He bowed slightly, and stood near Kate.

“Gil,
what happened to your eye? It was fine an hour ago?” Julianna asked.

“Oh,
Gil, you could use a little sympathy. Not that the ladies won’t give it to you
as soon as they see your bruised eye,” Sara said.

He
laughed garishly. “I ran into a … uh … a beast, aye, a great, big, hulking
beast.”

Everyone
shared a laugh at that.

“Milady,
Kate, would you take pity on me and dance with me?”

“I’d
like to dance, Gelford.” Kate curtseyed to him, and he took her hand. She
noticed that he shook his head and raised his eyes heavenward. She kept herself
from laughing.

Sara
turned, eying Julianna. “Why did she just call Gil, Gelford, Julianna?”

“Don’t
ask.”

“Kate
is very beautiful. I’m surprised that the men haven’t barraged her.”

Julianna
laughed. “I’m not surprised at all, there’s the very reason now.”

*****

Brendan
entered the hall and saw Gil holding Kate’s hand. He held it too fondly; they
skipped to the tune and turned. Gil bowed, Kate curtseyed, and they continued
dancing. Brendan’s first thought was,
I’m going to kill him
, and his
second was,
I need a drink
. He walked to the table, picked up a cup of
ale, and chugged the contents.

“Thirsty,
Brendan?” Colin chuckled, leaning his shoulder against a wooden beam.

“Aye.”

“I
saw Gil’s eye, nice shot.”

“He
deserved more than I gave him.” Brendan glared across the room. Gil held Kate
too close—it didn’t sit well. Hell, he thought, he’d better calm down. “Is
Father Tomas here yet?”

Colin
looked at him and grinned. “Aye, so when are you going do it?”

“This
night.”

“She’ll
have to agree, Brendan.”

“She
will, somehow.”

Colin
caught Bonnie as she ran toward them and threw herself at him. He moved to the
table. Brendan joined them and reached for another cup.

“Button,
your uncle needs loving. Why don’t you sit with him awhile?”

“Aye,
Papa.” Bonnie crawled onto Brendan’s lap.

Brendan
continued to watch his woman dance with Gil. She seemed to be enjoying herself,
a little too much in his opinion. Everything about Kate made him cheerful, the
way she moved, the way she laughed, and the way her eyes smiled.

“Uncle,
why are ye angry?”

“I’m
not angry with you, fairy.” He touched her chin.

“Who
are you angry with?”

“Gil.”

“Why,
did he do something bad?” She reached her hand behind his neck and gave him a
gentle pat. He frowned at the gesture, which usually made him feel patronized.

“Because
he’s dancing with Kate.”

“Why
don’t you dance with her?”

“I
don’t dance.”

“Mama
said you danced with her once. You want me to get ‘em to dance with me
instead?”

“Would
you?” He felt guilty for using his sweet niece in such a way. “Nay, never
mind.” But before he could stop her, Bonnie jumped from his lap and scurried
across the room. He watched Gil release Kate then lift Bonnie. Brendan smiled
at his clever niece. She waved to him from across the room, and he lifted his
cup in salute. He heard her giggle.

Colin
stood near his table and conversed with Julianna and Sara, but Brendan hadn’t
paid much attention to them, until he heard his name.

Sara
looked at the scene of the dancers. “Julianna, what’s going on? I can’t believe
it, I just saw Brendan MacKinnon smile.” She cupped her hand over her mouth,
but Brendan’s hearing was superb.

“Aye,
he even laughed yesterday,” Julianna confided.

“’Tis
a miracle.”

“Nay,
‘tis Kate.”

“Poor
Brendan.” Sara laughed.

Colin
shook his head at their comments and gave him an apologetic look. Brendan
didn’t let their womanly gossip bother him. He couldn’t stand to see Katie
without his plaid on, it was driving him deranged. Before marching off toward
her, he turned and looked at Colin. He reached behind him, opened the trunk,
and took out a plaid. Then he marched to her.

“I
asked you to wear this plaid.” He held the plaid out to her. Kate smiled at him
and touched his arm. He instantly unwound.

“You
did? I don’t recall.”

“Aye,
you know damned well that I did. I want you to put it on.” His tone hardened,
and he shoved the plaid at her.

She
took it. “What if I don’t do as you say?”

“Then
I’ll drag you out of here again and put it on you myself. Or better yet, I’ll
make sure the only thing you’re wearing is me and my plaid.” He waited.

She
humphed and quickly placed the plaid over her shoulder, the way Julianna wore
hers, and looked at him with fire in her eyes.

“You
look lovely.” Brendan fixed the pleat on her shoulder, placed his arm behind
her, and pulled her against him. He knew Colin was about to make an
announcement.

Colin
jumped onto the table and held up his arm, indicating his request for
quietness. The hall became still with silence.

“Clan
of MacKinnon, I stand before you the happiest man. I’m blessed with the women
in my life. My wife Jules, you’re the love of my heart. My daughter, Bonnie, I
love you, Button. And the newest member of our clan, Kate, who will be
considered a MacKinnon from this day forward. There are not enough riches in
the world to repay you for bringing our daughter back. You are a lass of valor.
For all that you endured for the sake of our child, ‘tis only right that we
call you a MacKinnon.”

Brendan
smiled at the speech, mainly because Colin had gotten better at making
speeches. But his smiled widened more so when his clan began chanting,
lass’
valor
. Katie lowered her head, looking confounded and she blushed. Brendan
leaned forward and kissed her hard for several minutes, before she thought to
push him away. She moved away hastily, before he had a chance to stop her.
Brendan heard Colin’s laughter, when he sat back down at the table. He watched
Katie speaking to Bonnie, and she’d lifted her up. Their heads touched and they
whispered. His demeanor softened, seeing them together.

A
short while later, Katie had taken a seat at the end of the table, she hummed
along to the tune the musicians played. Bonnie sat on her lap and was almost
asleep.

Brendan
nudged Colin’s arm. “It’s time.”

“Are
you certain, Brendan? Mayhap you should give it more thought and give her more
time to become accustomed to the idea. Father Tomas can come back later. There
is always tomorrow.”

“Nay,
I’m ready. I want to get it done tonight.” He advanced toward his adversary who
sat unaware for the moment. Just how would he get her to say the words? “Katie,
I need to speak to you.”

Kate
handed Bonnie to Tess and followed him. He stopped a short distance away,
waiting for her to stand beside him. Father Tomas stood by them, and he blocked
her view of the clergyman. She started to greet him, but Brendan stepped in
front of her.

“Katie.”
He turned his back on the older gentleman, needing another minute or two to
collect himself and to explain. She glared at him. He took her hand, placing
the edge of his plaid over their joined hands. Her glare turned to a chaotic
look.

“What
do you want?” She tried to pull her hand away, but he held fast.

Colin
and Julianna stood by Father Tomas, looking at her with smiles. He thought they
would give him away, but remarkably, they didn’t say anything. She turned to
glare at him again, and he squeezed her hand tenderly. Kate appeared awkward,
what with the onlookers around them. She curiously eyed him and his eyes bore
into hers, but then he looked at Colin briefly. His brother gave him a nod, as
if to say get on with it.

“Katie,
you don’t have to worry about meeting with King Henry about your betrothed. I’m
honored that you brought Bonnie home and are so brave, you have more courage
than anyone I know. I honor you by pledging myself to you this day. I’ll
protect you with my life for the rest of my days.”

“I
don’t believe I ever heard you speak so many words, Brendan.”

“Tell
me you love me.” He squeezed her hand, and kept his face serene.

“What
are you talking about, Brendan?” Kate cast him a heart-fallen look.

Brendan
knew her panic had set in. He watched her stiffen, and she glanced to those who
stood nearby. She tried to pull her hand from his, but he wouldn’t let go.

“You
love me, Katie, admit it. I want to hear you say the words.” He waited, giving
her a stern look, willing her to say that she loved him.

“Do
I? Oh, I do, don’t I? It’s because of the vision. I do love you, Brendan
MacKinnon. How is it you know and … I didn’t? I don’t know why, you are the
most arrogant man. What does my betrothal have to do with this? Oh, Goddess
help me, the king will be wrath. Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re exactly
like my vision—”

Brendan
leaned forward and kissed her, saving her from making a complete fool of
herself. And it wasn’t his usual suck-the-breath-out-of-you kiss, but a sweet
sensual one that she couldn’t help returning. Father Thomas mumbled in the
background, but she didn’t seem to hear him.

She
shoved him away and returned to the table. Loud cheers rose in the hall, and
she became embarrassed by their stares. Mayhap she wondered why they were
looking at her so strangely. He knew she believed he’d just announced their
betrothal to his clan, but he’d done more than that.

When
he asked Father Tomas to allow them say their own vows, the Father hadn’t
questioned him. All was needed was to hear her declaration of love, which was
why he’d provoked her. It had been much easier than he’d thought it would be. She
said the words and made him happy.

Brendan
sat across the hall, watching her for a long time. As he sat there, he pondered
his actions and hoped he hadn’t made a mistake. When Katie found out what he’d
done, she was likely going to become angry. It was too late now, because he’d
cast his fate. The celebration went well into the night. Many of the clan’s
people spoke to her, congratulating her on her nuptials. Some of the older
ladies touched her hair and said blessings of fertility. Thankfully, they had
spoken to her in Gaelic, and she hadn’t understood them, for if she had, she
wouldn’t be sitting so happily across the room. He almost laughed aloud when
she thanked them for their kindness.

Colin
sat beside him. “Brendan, I’m really happy for you. I know that da’s
relationship with our mother affected us, and I had never thought any of us
would marry because of it. Now here we are, all married. I’m proud of you for
doing the right thing.”

Brendan
scowled. “You’re talking like a woman again. Being around your wife has turned
you soft. Och, you’re right, I never thought I’d marry. Look at her, Colin.
She’s beautiful, intelligent, and is probably wealthy. What have I to offer the
woman?”