“Buchanans?”
“Aye. And the MacGregors. The MacFarlanes and the Campbells are allies, so they are the MacGregors’ rivals too.”
“But we arenae on great terms with the Campbells. That’ll put Mòr in the middle.”
“We havenae been on safe ground with the Campbells because of the MacGregors. If we ally with the MacFarlanes and, in turn, with the Campbells, then the MacGregors will have to look elsewhere for land. Let them go to the Buchanans.”
“Ye seem to have thought of everything.”
“I had plenty of time during ma ride here.”
“Rab, I’ll always stand beside ye and Kitty. Ye two should have married three years ago. Father willna be pleased, and Mother willna be able to show how ecstatic she’ll be to have Kitty as her daughter-by-marriage at last. But the clan still wishes ye two could marry.”
“Cullen told me that the other day. I had nay idea.”
“The only person who doesnae realize why ye took Katherine as yer leman is Katherine herself. Everyone kens ye’ve been pining for Kitty. It didna surprise anyone when ye chose a woman with the same name and the same dark hair. It’s also how I kenned ye could never have serious feelings for Katherine. It’s always been Kitty.”
“It has, and it always will be.”
“Ye should go before someone spots us.”
“Does Katherine really nae ken? I assumed she figured it out from the start and accepted it.”
“I’m certain she suspects it. But she hasnae accepted it. What woman wants to ken the mon bedding her wishes she were someone else? It’s easier nae to.”
“It was never ma intention to hurt her, even if I kenned I used her.”
“Neither she nor I are saints considering what we just attempted.”
“True. But I’m glad she has ye, and I’m glad ye love the lass ye’ll marry.”
“What will ye do?”
“Douglan, I canna tell ye. If ye ken, Father will only blame ye for nae telling him and stopping me.”
“Likely. But dinna come back without Kitty as yer wife. If ye do, ye’ll never get another chance with her.”
Rab nodded, and the brothers embraced. It was hardly the brief trip home Rab planned. As he joined his men, he watched Douglan make his way back to Katherine’s croft. He mounted Bolt and guided the men through the forest to a spot where they could make camp at the edge of MacLaren land.
“What was that aboot?” Cullen asked as they tethered their horses. “We watched Douglan come out of Katherine’s croft, and he barely had his plaid wrapped around his waist. How is he still breathing?”
“Dinna concern yerself with what goes on between ma brother and me,” Rab warned. Cullen raised his hands and stepped back.
“Ye ken we’re loyal to Douglan, but ye will be our laird one day. Our loyalty is to ye before him.”
“What happened is our business, and we are both happy with the outcome. That is all ye need to ken. Ma brother and I are as close as we have ever been, and I am happy for him.” Rab patted Bolt’s neck before placing his bedroll beside the fire. He quickly organized the men into watch shifts and was asleep before the first man posted.
* * *
Even more weary and covered in dirt than they were when they arrived at Edinample, Rab and his men tied off their horses in front of the monastery in the village of Dunblane. It took the men a day and a half to ride to Dunblane, but it was only an hour to Stirling. Rab shook his plaid, attempting to knock some of the dust from the wool. He smoothed his hands over his hair and tugged at his leine’s neckline.
“Nervous as a virgin,” Cullen teased.
“Why are we stopping?” The youngest guard, Herbert, asked.
“I have something to do.” Rab’s piercing, ice-blue eyes bore into Herbert until the younger man glanced away. “Cullen, with me.”
Rab trusted no one in the group more than Cullen. They’d known each other since before either could walk or talk. Their mothers shared stories of their heated hair tugging matches as babies. Rab always teased that he’d clearly won since Cullen started balding in their early twenties. He hadn’t explained the purpose for their visit home or to the chapel, but Rab knew Cullen suspected why he’d seen Katherine and why they were now searching for the village priest. He also assumed Cullen had worked out why Rab wasn’t angry at his younger brother, despite what they’d all seen.
