Bonnie shook her head. “Nay. We were up half the night, and Collum kept telling me it would be all right, but she just wouldn’t stop.”
“I’ll go then. I’ll be back later to see if you need anything.”
Bonnie smiled. “Thank ye. I will be forever grateful for your help.”
Alyssa decided to walk around the lake then. It looked more like a large pond than a lake to her, but everyone referred to it as the loch, so she may as well go along with them.
It was a beautiful stroll, and she enjoyed it immensely. When she reached the far end of the lake, she saw the men moving the rocks for their wall. She stood and watched for a moment before a voice behind her said. “Ye like seeing the men without their shirts?” A hand clapped onto her shoulder, and she immediately went into defensive mode.
Alyssa turned around to see a man who wasn’t wearing the McClain plaid, which was dominantly blue with some green. His was green with blue stripes through it. “Nay. I was looking for my husband,” Alyssa tried her best to sound like a Highlander, but by his face she realized she’d failed miserably.
“Ah, ye must be the new laird’s bride. I heard yer accent was as strange as their mother’s.”
“I’m not. I am married to his brother, Kendrick.” She’d thought at first to say twin brother, but that would have made her more valuable to the man as a prisoner. At least that was her fear.
“Relax, lass. I’m from Clan Campbell, and we are allies, not enemies. I’m here to speak with me cousin, Bryson. I didn’t realize Kendrick had married already. And a beautiful lass at that.”
Alyssa looked toward the men, thinking about running toward Kendrick, but she didn’t see him there. She felt better when one of the McClain men stood behind her. “Are ye here ta see Bryson?” the man asked.
“Aye. I’m his cousin, Caelan. I’ve been sent by me laird to discuss trading for some of yer oats.”
The McClain man nodded. “I will get him.” He nodded to Alyssa. “Come with me please.”
Alyssa was happy to follow the man with the same plaid she was wearing. He made her feel much safer than the Campbell who said he was an ally.
He walked straight back to the men who were working on the wall, and Kendrick walked to her. “What are ye doin’, lass? Why are ye walkin around with no guard?”
“I just thought it would be a pretty walk. Your cousin, Caelan frightened me though.”
Kendrick looked toward the loch, seeing his cousin standing there. “Why is he here?” She could see the anger on his face, and she wondered if she should try to diffuse it before he did something stupid. He was much bigger than his cousin though, and Alyssa wasn’t worried for his safety.
“He said he needs to speak to Bryson about trading for some of our oats.”
Kendrick took her hand and pulled her along behind him as he found his twin. “Caelan is here to talk to ye about trading for our oats?”
Bryson narrowed his eyes. “Did he say something to frighten you, Alyssa.”
“He did, but I’m not sure he meant to.” Alyssa felt foolish for being scared by the huge man.
Bryson sighed. “I will chat with him about scaring our ladies.”
Kendrick still held her hand, nodding to Collum to take over the training for a bit, and he led her out of the middle of his men and back toward the keep. “Ye canna just wander around, lass. Ye have ta be careful!”
Alyssa realized that his accent got much stronger when he was upset, and she sighed. “I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.”
“Ah, lass. It isna a bad thing ta do, I just want ye to be safe.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “It’s me job to keep ye safe, but when I’m working, I canna see ta ye.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll wait to go on walks when you can go with me.”
“A verra sound plan, lass.” He sighed. “I’m going ta deliver ye ta the keep. Ye stay there until I fetch ye.”
Alyssa nodded. “I will.” She was suddenly glad that though his face was very much like Bryson’s, they were easily told apart. They must be fraternal twins, not monozygotic.
He left her at the keep with one of his soft kisses that left her wishing for more. When she walked inside, Holli was sitting with her feet up. “Do you think my feet are swelling?” Holli asked. “I know it’s a symptom of pregnancy, and I think my feet are swelling.”
“They look fine to me,” Alyssa said.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Holli looked at her friend’s face and knew something had happened.
