“Ye are probably right. But he is very strong and young. Ye promise me that ye willnae let him hurt ye.”
Skye opened her mouth to reply, but Arran approached them right then, greeted Helena, and asked, “Skye, are ye ready?”
“Aye, Arran. Astrid packed some food for us—I’ll run and get them.” And with that, she was off to the kitchen.
She wasn’t gone long before she returned with the sack of food and waterskin.
She spotted her mother and Arran talking, and their conversation looked serious. She stopped within earshot and listened.
“Skye has many good things to say about ye, ne Laird, but I fear she doesnae ken ye well enough to deem ye a good man.”
“And what makes a ‘good man,’ Lady MacKeith?”
Helena did not hesitate. “A good man controls his temper. A good man never hits a woman. And a good man would never put greed ahead of his family or his clan.”
Arran looked at his mother-in-law, and Skye wondered how he would reply. She wondered if her mother thought his pursuit of the land deeds was a form of greed. Arran could promise he’d never be violent toward her, but her mother might not believe him.
“Ye are right, Lady MacKeith. She doesnae ken the kind of man I am. But she will, and ye will too. Until then, I will keep her safe. And ye too,” he replied with conviction.
Helena nodded. “That will be enough, then.”
Skye smiled to herself. This was the closest thing to approval Arran would get from her mother. And it would have to do.
She approached them and announced, “I’m ready, Arran.”
Arran gave Helena a quick bow. Skye hugged her mother, and then Arran took her hand and led her to the stables.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Ihave a surprise for ye, Skye,” Arran said as they entered the stables.
He looked around. Though he wished someday to build sturdier stone and wood stables, these ones served their purpose. The thick, thatched roof kept out the rain and blocked the sun, keeping the inside cool in the summer. During the winter, the horses’ body heat kept the stables warm when the doors were closed.
The structure was over seventy feet long and wide enough for stalls on two sides. Wooden rails divided the length of each side, making enough stalls for over twenty of Arran’s finest horses.
Together they walked to the stall at the back of the stables. Inside was a gray dappled mare that pranced to the door when she saw Arran. He reached into his pocket and produced an apple slice that she accepted greedily. She then proceeded to nuzzle her velvety nose into his pocket, looking for more.
Skye laughed. “I thought she liked ye, with the way she pranced over here, but I see now it’s just the treats in yer pocket. She is a beauty, Arran. What is her name?”
“I’ve called her… Mare,” he said, grinning.
“Ye’ve nae named this magnificent creature, Arran? She’s breathtaking!”
She stroked the mare’s nose and then leaned her forehead against the horse’s and closed her eyes. Skye whispered to her, telling her how beautiful and regal she was and to also ignore brutish men with no common sense.
“She’s yers, Skye. Ye must be the one to name her.”
Skye looked up at her husband. “What? Mine? Are ye jesting, Arran?”
“Nay, she is yers. Callum will saddle her for ye now, and ye can think of a name for her.”
The look of surprise and joy on her face warmed his heart. He wished to surprise her and shower her with gifts again and again just to see her smile.
“I’ve already thought of one,” Skye replied. “I shall call her Iona.”
“It suits her.” He nodded with a smile.
Callum saddled Iona and then Arran’s horse.
