Page 210 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

There was silence from Ainslee and her dad, but James looked approvingly.

"An' I shall be right by yer side!" announced James, sitting up from the makeshift bed. Malcolm felt the burn of his anger bubbling up on the inside. Just thinking about what happened gave him anguish.

But to his concern, Ainslee was watching him with uncertain eyes.

"But what army?" asked Ainslee, presciently. Her brown eyes met his, and Malcolm had to work hard to restrain his feelings. At first light she was radiant, the early sun picking rays out of her hair. But her eyes remained focused.

"Whit?" Malcolm asked, taken by surprise. It was hard for him not to look at her, she was compelling, the softness of her hair curling over her shoulders. Eventually, Malcolm managed to drag his eyes back to the room.

"Ye an' whose army?" said Ainslee, pointedly. Now everyone was looking at her. In the early light, the three of them stood, and listened. Ainslee continued. "Ye ken, that I will be there to help ye... but Malcolm, I am nae a scary prospect for a platoon o' men! Malcolm, ye need an army, or at least, a body o' men... Ye canna just ride in there an' offer oot Bruce. He will slay ye dead..."

It was a bold statement, and from the silence that greeted Ainslee's sentiment, Malcolm realized there was sense. He cast his eyes about. No-one would catch them; James, Ainslee's father and Marisse all looked away.

Finally, Malcolm spoke. Deep down he already knew she was right. "James?" he said, looking to his captain. Reluctantly, James raised his head. His murky brown eyes leveled with him.

"Aye, the lass is right. On oor own, we have nae chance. But Mal, I'll still be by yer side...," he said, before adding. "Perchance we ambush him, on the roads, somewhere, where naeone is around?"

Malcolm shook his head. "Absolutely nae. We are nae common brigands!" he flashed, angrily. James looked abashed.

"Well, then, maybe I can raise a crowd, I can go back to the boat, an' get some..."

"Nae," said Malcolm, troubled. He began to walk around the room. As he did, his thoughts cleared. "Nae, nae like that. Ye dinnae understand it... Ainslee, James, I am nae some rabble rouser...nae a rogue...! I am nae going there to slay the laird, like some wee cur... I am the laird!"

His pacing about stopped, Malcolm found himself holding a recently constructed pair of tongs. Softly, he put them down, and looked back to the others.

"I ken ye are, but what can ye do to prove it?" said Ainslee, point blank. Malcolm stopped, he hadn't thought of this. Ainslee continued.

"Malcolm, I ken ye, but ye've been gone ten years, an' to most, yer already dead," she said, as Marisse nodded, her sheet blonde hair dazzling in the light. "Nae-one kens ye, an' it took me some time to spot ye!"

Ainslee moved over, watching Malcolm closely, "Ye need to find some other way...to show them..."

She was close now, near enough to touch her. Malcolm sensed her body, its heat coming closer. A small breath of her perfume came over him, leaving him transfixed.

For a moment, he paused. He had not thought of this. Then, his thoughts cleared.

"I have proof," said Malcolm, his hands going to his pocket bag. Swiftly, he rifled through his things, before drawing out the gold clan ring.

Placing it in his palm, he revealed it - its distinctive black gemstone plain for all to see. Ainslee's eyes widened.

"It...it's yers," mumbled Ainslee, and went to sit down. She sat so quietly it was hard not to surmise she was affected deeply. Malcolm's heart quickened. He had upset her.

His mind went to the ring he had given her all those years ago. It should have been this one. She should be wearing it now.Trying to stem the thoughts that were brewing in him, Malcolm's eyes flashed around.

"Aye, tis mine, an' Bruce kens it. So do the elders, an' everyone else... Trust me, when they see this, they will ken tis mine too... Which is why I must do this...!"

Shaking, Ainslee reached out to him.

"Aye, ye must," she said, as beside her James nodded his head. "But nae just yet. Malcolm, allow me... to find oot a bit more about the lie o' the land... Mal, I beseech ye... Remember, fools rush in...!"

Eye to eye, she made her point, her deep brown eyes connecting with his. Surprised, Malcolm felt their spark. And from having been certain, he now found himself a little more calm.

"Very well," he said, with reluctance. Once again, he was pacing the small confines of the smiddy shop. Here and there items were strewn about, and Malcolm could not help picking at them.

Finally, he stopped in his pacing, and, inexplicably, holding a small metal bolt or somesuch, he found.

"Very well, I will wait. Until ye come back, an' then we will hatch oor plan..."

Mister McDonald nodded, and the others sped along. It seemed like no time, but somehow they were now both very much alone. Uncomfortable, Malcolm moved backwards.