“Do ye ken them?”
“Aye. They’re friends.”
“Any port in a storm,” Malcolm quipped as the rain suddenly pelted down.
They beached safely and made their way up the bluff to the Brodie keep. Cameron’s name got them inside the gates without delay and into the hall where a newly rounded Catherine Rose rushed to meet them.
“Cameron Sutherland! I never thought to see ye here.”
He held her away from him, studying her and smiling. “I’m returning to Rose for Mary,” he told her, “but the storm forced us ashore. Ye look well…and happy.”
“I am!” She laid a hand on her belly. “But ye are wet and ye must be cold. Let’s get ye warm and dry, aye?” She glanced aside as her husband entered the hall. “Kenneth, see who has turned up.”
Kenneth Brodie joined his wife and offered his hand. “Sutherland.” He glanced Malcolm’s way. “And ye are?”
“Another Sutherland. Malcolm,” Cameron said, introducing his friend.
“Welcome to Brodie,” Kenneth told them. Catherine signaled for food and drink and led them to the hearth, where the fire quickly took the chill from them and dried their clothes.
“Once the weather clears, if ye’d loan me a horse so Ican continue to Rose. Malcolm can sail back to Sutherland.”
“Of course,” Catherine answered.
Kenneth’s eyebrow went up. “Have ye yet returned the three we borrowed from yer friend on the coast near Aberdeen?”
Cameron laughed. “No’ as yet. He’ll no’fashover them. He owed me.”
“Rather a lot,” Kenneth agreed.
“We have visitors? Why did no one send for me?” Another woman’s voice rang out in the hall. Cameron turned to see a lovely honey-haired and also pregnant woman headed their way.
Catherine jumped to her feet. “Annie, ye willna believe who is here.” She made the introductions in time for Annie’s husband, Iain, to join them.
“Laird Brodie,” Cameron said, “’tis a pleasure to see ye again.”
“And ye.” Iain gestured. “Ye have met my wife, then?”
“Indeed.”
“What brings ye in out of the storm?”
Cameron told them about his trip to Sutherland and that he had his father’s approval to offer for Mary Rose.
Annie smiled. Catherine squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “That’s wonderful news!” Then she sobered. “Ach, wait. Ye have no’ yet spoken to Da about this, have ye?”
Everyone laughed, although the prospect of the interview with Laird Rose did not make Cameron feel the least bit jovial. “Nay, no’ yet.”
“He’ll be difficult,” Catherine warned.
“I understand. But he has a bride of his own now. ’Tis time for him to let Mary live her life as she sees fit.”
“Aye, aye,” Annie proclaimed, slapping her hand on the tabletop for emphasis. “’Tis past time.”
“As long as ye ken what ye are up against,” Catherine allowed.
“I learned from ye.”
“Ye ken our da well, then,” Annie added.
