“Aye, I was there. Besides the two of us, Maddie’s dear maid, Alice, who has since passed on, was also present. So was my sister Brenna, who now lives with the Ramsays.”
“Enough of this foolishness, Laird,” said Solas, who was red in the face. “When the first bairn was born, what did you name him? Jake, was it not? Then it’s Jake.”
Alex looked at Maddie. “We did not name them until much later. I do not recall myself which one came out first.”
Taran stood up, banging his hand on the table. “Here, here, Laird.” His frustration was evident in the way the words spewed from his mouth, spittle flying everywhere. Taran had sat as the head of thedearbh finefor some time now. He was as old as dirt, according to the lads of the clan, and his long beard wasa testament to his age. “We need not hear the details about women’s work. Just tell us who was first.”
Jamie could not believe the spectacle in front of him. All these years, he’d been told he was the second born. His sire had planned this perfectly. Of course, everyone knew the lads looked nothing alike—Jamie was fair, and Jake was dark-haired—but no one could openly accuse the laird of lying.
His father said, “I’ll ask their mother. Maddie, what say you?”
“I was verra busy trying to deliver the second one to pay attention to the first. I cannot answer that. And we could not decide on names. We never even thought about it ‘til after the bairns had been brought downstairs into the hall and then back up to me. Then we decided to name the dark-haired lad after Alex’s sire, John, because he had the same coloring, and the light-haired lad after my sire, James, for the same reason. It had naught to do with who came out first. John became Jake, James became Jamie, and there you have it.”
Taran bellowed. “Again, must I hear about issues that took place inside a woman’s chamber? I care not to think on it. Just tell us who was first. The clan’sdearbh finecommands you to reveal the truth.” He sat down and stroked his grizzled beard as he awaited the laird’s response, his beady eyes aimed directly at him.
Alex said, “Please calm down, Taran. With all due respect, I tell you this because in my eyes, it does not matter. Maddie feels the same way. We did not pay close attention because she’d had a dagger at her throat minutes before the bairns were born. But here is what I’d like to present to you. Our sons are two verra different men, and this past year has illustrated as much. Jake is the type of warrior who focuses on the big issues, while Jamie is more likely to concern himself with details. Jake is an expert on knowing how to do what’s needed immediately, while Jamierecognizes what is needed in the long-term. They are two verra different leaders, and I believe we are best served by having them both lead our clan. Just as my two brothers, who have both been invaluable to me, are verra different, so are Jake and Jamie. Together, they will be more powerful.”
Jamie looked into Jake’s eyes as he thought about what his sire had said. He could see the truth of it. Was his brother appraising him the same way?
“He makes a valid point,” Uncle Brodie said. “They worked well together both at our fight with MacNiven and Hew Gordon at Castle Dubh and in the battle with Baron Crichton.”
“But it was Jake who led the battle against the baron,” Solas argued. “I saw him do it. He was at the forefront of the battle all the way.”
“True,” Nicol said, “but it was Jamie who saw our laird go down and who called for our warriors to protect him. He was farther back. Jake had no idea our laird was injured.”
Uncle Robbie said, “And if it had been up to Jake and me, my brother would not be here. He would have died within a day’s time. Jake and I wished to allow you to die in peace. ‘Twas Jamie and Brodie who said to take you to Jennie’s, and your sisters are the reason you are still here.”
Taran waved to Jake and Jamie, summoning them over to the dais. Jamie’s head was spinning. What would come next?
Taran stood when they came to a stop in front of the dais. “Lads, would you accept our decision if we ask both of you to step into your sire’s position as laird of Clan Grant?”
Jamie glanced at his brother, unsure how he would take this. They’d both believed their entire life that when the time came, Jake would become laird. He’d wait to see what his brother said first. It would be his choice.
Jake thought for a moment, then said, “Aye. I trust my brother’s judgment. We often have different ways ofapproaching a problem, but we always seem to come to terms. I think the clan would benefit from having two lairds.”
Jamie was shocked. He was about to be named chief of Clan Grant alongside his brother? Many times over the years, he’d thought of becoming the laird instead of his brother, but alongside him? The possibility had never occurred to him. He thought it was a sound plan.
“Jamie? Your brother accepts. We must hear from you.”
Jamie nodded. “I am honored to be included. I would accept on one condition.”
The elders looked aghast that he would consider making a demand of the elders.
“I’ll hear that condition, Jamie,” his sire said.
“On the condition that when you are strong enough to take the lairdship back, we will relinquish it until we are again needed.”
His mother pulled a linen square out of the folds of her dress and dabbed her eyes.
“Accepted,” Alex said.
Taran banged the table and said, “How many are in favor of this, say aye.”
A chorus of ayes greeted him.
“Nays?”
Silence.
