Highland Courage(3)

She would never be ready. She couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t tell anyone. She wanted to keep it locked away.





Two





The Michaelmas Cattle Fair held every year during the last week of September near Inverness signaled the official end of the harvest. Warriors competed in games and tournaments to demonstrate their strength, speed, agility, and fighting skills. Merchants set up stalls selling everything from fine fabric to weapons.

Tadhg Matheson hadn’t attended the fair since his father died three years ago. His friends, Peadar and Quinn MacKenzie, and their little brother, Flan, now sat around the fire at his encampment talking. They laughed and discussed the day’s various tournaments. “Your brother Rowan held his own against Darcy Fraser today. Darcy is rather well known for his skill with a sword, not to mention the fact he has a few years on Rowan.”

Peadar grinned with pride and nodded. “Aye, but Rowan is a remarkable swordsman. He has a natural ability. It is almost as if he can predict his opponent’s movements. On top of which, he trained with Alastair MacIan. That old man was a brilliant swordsman.”

“Aye, he was at that. Ye remember how skilled his son Fingal was even as a lad, when he started training with Laird Chisholm?”

Quinn laughed. “Oh, I remember. He knocked me on my arse too many times to let me easily forget.” Peadar laughed heartily. “I’m not sure what ye are laughing at. Ye’re only three years older than me, but he got the best of ye often enough, too.”

Peadar laughed harder. “Aye, he did.”

“Well, I was older than both of ye and it took him a few years to best me, but he did several times. Rowan is every bit as skilled as Fingal. He certainly took Darcy down a few pegs today.” Tadhg glanced at his squire who sat nearby, staring broodingly into the fire. “What say ye, Flan? Do ye think ye have the same natural ability as your brother?”

Flan, clearly distracted, hadn’t been paying attention. On hearing his laird address him, he looked confused. “What natural ability is that, Laird?”

Peadar nudged him in the shoulder. “Flan, lad, what’s the matter? I thought ye would be excited to be here since ye’re a squire now. Especially after today.”

“It’s just the talk of the Frasers has me worried.”

“Oh.” Quinn nodded, seeming to understand what his brother meant.

Clearly, Quinn understood Flan’s cryptic comment, but Tadhg was at a loss. “Why do the Frasers worry ye, Flan?”

The lad shook his head, as if in defeat. “It’s Mairead.”

Peadar clearly read the utter confusion on Tadhg’s face and offered an explanation with a note of concern in his voice. “Our parents are discussing a betrothal for our sister, Mairead, while we are here. Da is interested in improving his ties with the Frasers. They are discussing it with Laird Fraser now.”

“Ye disapprove?”

“Not exactly. I understand Da’s reasons. It is time for Mairead to marry. It’s just she is less than thrilled by the prospect.”

“Marriage in general or just to Darcy Fraser?”

“Marriage,” Quinn answered. Peadar frowned and tried to clarify. “She is a bit shy and doesn’t want to leave home. I think Da is trying to arrange a betrothal with one of Lachlan’s nephews. He is hoping whoever she marries will be willing to live with our clan.”

Flan perked up suddenly, looking very excited. “Laird Matheson, ye could marry her. I’m sure ye would like her. She’s awfully small even to be as old as she is.”

Peadar laughed. “Flan, she is only one and twenty.”

“Well, one and twenty is a lot older than Annag, Rose, and Lily were when they married. She is also very pretty, Laird. Not exactly pretty like Rose and Lily, or even Annag, but she is pretty in a different way. And she is nice. Well, not always at first, as Peadar said. She is very shy, but once she knows someone, well, most everyone likes her.

“Flan, ye have just painted an atrocious picture of our sister,” scolded Peadar.

However, Tadhg just laughed. “I’m sure she’s lovely, but your Da is looking to improve his ties with the Frasers.”

Quinn clearly took the suggestion seriously. “She is lovely. What’s more, she has the skills it takes to run a keep. She would be a good wife for ye, Tadhg. Perhaps more importantly, I think ye would be a good husband for her. Ye would treat her well.”

“Quinn, I am the laird of my clan. I couldn’t live with the MacKenzies.”

Peadar approved, as well. “Nay, but your land borders ours. Ye are less than a day’s ride away and Flan trains with ye, so she wouldn’t be without any family. Ye do need to marry.”