Ceci Giltenan(36)

“Och, laddie, I fear I’ll be giving ye plenty of practice at that particular skill,” she said, adopting Bridie’s manner of speaking.

“Will ye now?” he asked, all humility forgotten. “Then perhaps I shall give ye some practice at a different skill? It is, after all, the least I can do in anticipation of your kind tutelage.”

She giggled as he captured her lips and lowered her gently to the ground. The giggles transformed rapidly to moans of carnal pleasure as he plundered her mouth with his tongue and caressed her lush breasts. He gloried in her sensual response to every kiss and caress and she returned his attention in kind, stoking his desire for her. He realized how much he relished her delight. He had bedded his share of women and believed he never left them unsatisfied, but this was different. Her ecstasy became his own, and he had never experienced anything to match it.

After their exquisite joining, they lay silently in each other’s arms as if neither of them wanted to break the enchantment of the moment, until one of the horses whickered softly, the noise bringing him back to the present. “As much as I hate to end this,” he said, propping himself on his elbow beside her, “I suppose I shall have to take ye back.”

“I suppose so,” she agreed. “But feel free to waste your day with me anytime the notion strikes ye, Laird.”

“Cheeky wench.”





Twelve



After the extraordinary day they spent together, Niall sought her company much more often. Several days later he waited for her at breakfast again.

“More surprises?” she asked.

“I thought ye might like to see more of my land, perhaps meet some of the MacIan farmers.”

“How much more MacIan land is there?”

“Ye can ride for several hours in any direction without leaving our holding. Most of the farmers live in small clusters scattered throughout our land. My men-at-arms serve sentry duty to ensure the safety of the whole clan, but I, too, make regular visits to make sure all is well with them.”

“And here I thought you only built walls and trained warriors,” she teased.

“Ah, my clever lass, ye do have a few things to learn. The warriors may be our clan’s strength and protection, but the farmers are its sustenance, so they are every bit as important.”

After breakfast, they rode out again with an escort, this time traveling northward. After they had ridden a while they neared a small field of oats. “You do have grain fields. I wondered because I haven’t seen any until now. I’m sure you saw that Cotharach was surrounded by fields of wheat and barley.”

“We do grow some grain and a few other subsistence crops, but the Highland environment is very harsh. Not to mention the fact that our land isn’t well suited to growing much. We rely heavily on animal products, mostly wool, for income, with which we buy other things we need. A hail storm has little effect on our sturdy Highland beasts, but it can completely destroy a field of grain.”

“I see. I guess that makes raiders an even bigger problem.”

“Aye, it does. Even the loss of a few animals to raiders can devastate an already poor clan.”

~ * ~

When they reached the first small cluster of crofts, the farmers and their families stopped their work to greet their laird. Niall introduced her, but the farmers and their families seemed cautious around her. She tried to draw some of the women into conversation while Niall spoke with their husbands, but while they were not disprespectful, they were guarded. Not wishing to make them uncomfortable, Katherine let it go. Instead she watched Niall’s interactions with his clansmen and saw a completely different side of him. After they remounted their horses and rode away, she commented, “You are different somehow when you talk with the farmers.”

“Ye are different when ye gather herbs, but how am I different?”

“I’m not sure exactly. At Duncurra you are every inch the laird and military leader. You are firm and decisive You tolerate nothing less than absolute respect and your clansmen willingly give it.”

“Of course they do. I always consider the needs of the clan first. My clan knows my decisions reflect that, so I have earned their respect. Was it not so at Cotharach?”

“Do you really need to ask that question? My uncle thought of himself first in all things. My clan feared him, they didn’t respect him. He gave no thought at all to the farmers unless they didn’t produce enough to suit him. He told them what he wanted and punished them if they didn’t deliver. He certainly didn’t seek their opinions.”

“No matter how I may wish to demand it, nothing I say will make the rain fall or the sun shine.”