“Thank you. That means a great deal to me.”
“And don’t think that you’ll need to ask me if you can invite them. Dun Ringill is your home now.”
“You ken that was exactly what I was thinking. You say you don’t read my mind.” Abigail pursed her lips, then smiled when Ronan pulled his in sheepishly. “I rather like it. I like kenning you ken me.”
“I’d say I ken you quite well now, lass.” Ronan’s smile grew wolfish, and he waggled his eyebrows.
“That you do.” With a quick peck, they dressed and left the chamber, Ronan headed toward the lists and Abigail to her chamber to change.
Fourteen
Ronan swung his sword at Kieran, who ducked, spun, and blocked the next swipe. Ronan sidestepped as Kieran thrust his blade at him, the flat side of his own sword coming to push Kieran’s away from underneath. The two lairds had been sparring the entire morning, the battle of wills only somewhat casual. Ronan knew Kieran was testing him, and he was determined to prove himself to Abigail’s brother. He was intent upon reassuring Kieran that Ronan could protect Abigail. It was important to both men.
“Will ye return to Dun Ringill before Christmas?” It was the first time either of them spoke after silently battling one another for hours.
“I dinna have a choice.” Ronan fought not to sound out of breath. The effort it took to regulate his breathing and to fight Kieran left none for Ronan to think about how he sounded. “I’ll have to go back at least once if for nay other reason than to be sure Abigail’s home is ready for her.”
Kieran drew up short and stepped back. It was the first time he’d heard anyone refer to somewhere other than Stornoway as Abigail’s home. They’d never thought of Stirling as her home, and he’d realized soon after Abigail returned from the Chisholms that no one referred to their keep as Abigail’s home. It was jarring to think Abigail would no longer claim his home as her own. When he’d taken Madeline to Inchcailleoch Priory, he’d been so furious that he couldn’t imagine Madeline ever calling Stornoway home. She’d lived at the priory for nearly five years before marrying Fingal Grant and moving to Freuchie Castle. He lowered his sword and studied Ronan. The MacKinnon laird matched him in size, and he knew Ronan’s reputation as a warrior and just leader. He had to admit that he was happy for his sister, even if he was unprepared.
“Kieran, I love Abigail,” Ronan spoke in a reassuring tone. “I hope ye can grow to trust me with her happiness and her safety.”
“I ken ye do. Maude said ye spent the entire night looking at Abigail the same way I look at her. If ye feel even an ounce of what I feel for ma wife, then ye are a blessed mon. Abigail hasnae always been an easy woman to get along with, but she’s matured a great deal in the past two years. Promise me ye’ll have patience with her. She isnae an experienced chatelaine.”
“I promise ye. Abby and I spoke aboot that this morn. She’s nervous, and she intends to work with Maude while we’re here. Our housekeeper, Bethea, will take Abby under her wing.”
“Ye refer to everything as ours. She hasnae even stepped foot there.”
“What is mine is hers.” Ronan shrugged. It seemed simple to him.
“And what will yer people say when she doesnae arrive immediately prepared to take over running the keep? When they learn she wasna a maiden?”
Ronan looked around and tilted his head toward a space where no one else fought. He would admit what most of his clan had figured out years earlier. The two men walked to the wall encircling the training field.
“We both ken the expectations are different for women than for men. But until last night, I—” Maybe it wasn’t so easy to admit out loud that he had no experience. Ronan shrugged again and gave Kieran a look he hoped could communicate his meaning.
“Ye hadnae?”
“Nay. I hadnae. Dinna fear it doesnae work. It’s just fine. But I’d taken to heart something ma father told me aboot ma mother’s welcome to Dunakin, her first home among the MacKinnons. I didna want ma wife, whoever she might be, to have the same experience if there were a cast of women already acquainted with me.”
Kieran nodded, his lips drawing in. “Maude had a single experience with that while still at Stirling. I would have protected her from that if I could.”
“I told Abby once she figured out that I wasna experienced. Her lack of maidenhead means naught to me. We’ve talked aboot it more than once. I likened her to being a widow when the Bruce told me. Her first husband is gone and nae coming back. She’s worried aboot what people will think, and I admit I’ve worried aboot what ma own people think aboot me. I’m certain most ken. But I will stand by her side nay matter what anyone says, and I will defend her honor till ma last breath. I willna tolerate anyone speaking against her, especially for something that she believed was honest and legitimate.”
“I’ve kenned yer reputation and ye for years,” Kieran replied. “I trust ye with ma sister, but if ever ye break that trust—if ever ye break her trust—I will make yer death so long and painful that ye will beg the Lord to take ye. But I willna let ye go. I will torture ye in ways I havenae even come up with. I will make sure ye meet the Devil with little more than yer bones.”
“Is that what Lachlan told ye?”
“Something like that. But he cursed far more. I would too if yer wife and mine werenae so close.”
Ronan turned to find Abigail and Maude huddled together as they approached, their arisaids pulled over their heads. He felt the cold air, but it didn’t bother him. He knew his larger frame and bulk made it easier for him to withstand the temperature, but he wasn’t keen on Abigail remaining outside after nearly a fortnight of travel. He looked back at Kieran and nodded. “If ever I fail either of ye, ye willna have to catch me. I will turn maself over to ye.”
Ronan looked back to see Abigail’s eyes widen at his words before her brow furrowed. As Kieran stepped forward to bring Maude into his arms and shield her from the wind, Ronan did the same for Abigail.
“It’s too cold out here, lass,” Ronan said as he rubbed Abigail’s back.
“It is a wee brisk,” Abigail nodded. “We came out to tell ye we’re headed to the village. Maude has a family she needs to visit. Two of the weans were injured playing, and she’d like me to watch how she tends them.”
“Will ye take at least two of ma guards?”
