His stepmother smiled, though. Her expression was as warm as always.
They drew up on the road just a few feet distant.
Then Rae beckoned him over.
Reluctantly, Ailean lowered his trowel and cast Fife and the others an apologetic look. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
Wiping dried mortar from his hands, he crossed to his father.
He felt at a distinct disadvantage, dressed in dusty, dirty braies, while his father appeared cool and calm.
“A nice day for a ride,” he greeted Rae and Kylie, flashing them both an easy smile that masked his tension.
“Who knows how long this fine weather will last?” Kylie spoke up before her husband could. “We must make the most of it.”
“And we will,” Rae reassured her with a smile. However, his expression grew stern once more when it settled upon his son. “Nonetheless, we have much to keep us busy at present.” Hepaused then, a groove etching between his brows. “Yer brother has taken on roles that ye should be occupying yerself with.”
Rae gestured then to the large patch of ground east of where they’d halted, where small pavilions were being erected. In two days, Dounarwyse would host summer games—archery, tug-of-war, horse races, and strength competitions. It was a welcome reprieve from work for the locals. People would come from miles around to either participate or enjoy the spectacle.
Ailean tensed. Indeed, a lot of work had gone into organizing it. A job Lyle hadhappilytaken on. Maybe he should point that out.
“I require yer presence in the hall tomorrow morning, Ailean,” the chieftain went on. “There are several minor disputes that need settling. I will be holding an audience … and ye shall join me.”
Silence fell.
Under normal circumstances, Ailean wouldn’t have thought twice about agreeing. And he wouldn’t deny the chieftain now. But the edge to his father’s voice made his hackles rise. It was as if he thought his son idle and useless, in need of being reminded of every responsibility—that he had to be wheedled and bullied into tasks. And this attitude only made him drag his heels more.
He’d thought he’d left adolescence far behind, but something in the way his father treated him dragged them both back in time. Suddenly, Rae was an irate father and Ailean a surly youth.
“I’ll be there,” he said curtly, unable to hide the irritation in his voice.
“See that ye are,” Rae replied.
His gaze shifted past Ailean’s shoulder to the partially repaired wall of the granary store.
“Ye have toiled hard these past days,” he said then, his tone softening slightly. “And it’s good for a laird to work alongside his men … but the real work is with me, son.”
Next to Rae, Kylie’s brow furrowed. She cast her husband a warning look, but he wasn’t focused on her—only on Ailean.
“I enjoythiswork,” Ailean replied, his tone sharpening.
He knew he shouldn’t bite. He should merely nod and let his father ride on. But he couldn’t help himself. The old man really got to him. “If I’m honest, I prefer it.”
Rae snorted, favoring him with a disbelieving look. “Ye only say that because ye were born into privilege. Not every man gets to wield a claidheamh-mòr and fight for king and country. Not every young man gets to spend his days as he pleases. The lives of those born into humbler families are not so fortunate.”
And with that, his father gathered his reins and urged his courser on.
Kylie cut her husband another look—of chagrin this time—before her attention flicked to Ailean. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed.
Then she, too, was off, urging her mount forward to keep pace.
Ye don’t need to apologize for him, Ailean thought, irritated. He’d wanted to say so to his stepmother, but he didn’t wish to embarrass her or draw attention to what she’d done.
However, he bore responsibility for this too. The pair of them were like two stags during rutting season these days, locking horns at every opportunity. It was a game of dominance. Both red-blooded males—one in his prime, the other struggling with the idea of letting go of the reins of control.
Ailean watched his parents disappear to the south, the horses’ hooves kicking up dust behind them.
It wouldn’t be long before a storm erupted between him and his father.
