Page 27 of Tempting the Highland Captive

Lucas grinned at that and nodded. “Aye, always ready for a good hunt. Any special reason?”

“Lammastide celebrations.”

At that Lucas’ grin widened. “It has been a long time since we have held such festivities here. Ye’ll be callin’ the clan together as in the auld days?” he asked Amelia.

“Aye, for the harvest and the rents,” she answered nodding, she could feel herself frowning despite her best efforts not to do so.

“Ye dinnae seem pleased with the notion,” Lucas observed.

“One o’ the elders spoke o’ the oathtaking.”

Lucas’ grin faded and his face hardened. “The only oath I will be takin’ is tae ye, lass, and nae other.”

“I agree,” Ron replied.

Lucas relaxed a bit at hearing the words and he sighed through his nose. “What do ye plan tae do about it?”

“I dinnae ken,” Amelia answered, her frown deepening. “I dinnae ken how tae explain the delay when such an event would strengthen the clan from any external perspective but weaken it in the future when Ron is gone.”

Ron shook his head. “Whether I was here or nae, they should only be givin’ their oaths tae ye as their rightful laird. Yer faither put ye in a difficult position when he named yer husband as laird in his place. I dinnae understand.”

Amelia reached out her hand and took his in reassurance and gratitude. “I thank ye both for yer support.”

“We speak but the truth.” Ron gave her hand a squeeze and brought it to his lips to kiss, then let their hands fall back to his side, still intertwined. A few of the warriors smiled at seeing it and Amelia blushed.

“The fighting men o’ the clan are with ye, lass. Kyall here has been an instrumental part in changin’ their hearts and minds in yer direction. He speaks well o’ ye at every turn,” Lucas informed her, “but I dinnae ken how they will feel when ye are all that is left.”

Amelia nodded her head in understanding. “I need tae prove myself tae them as a warrior. Show them that I am nae just a woman, but a leader o’ men.”

“Aye, that would go a long way tae showin’ them what ye can do.” Lucas nodded. He had been training her to fight since she was a little girl, but they had done so in secret so as not to anger her father or the elders. “When ye have healed enough, I think that the time has come tae show them on the training field now that there is nae one tae stop ye.”

Amelia nodded. “I would do so now if I could do yer trainin’ justice with this leg,” she gestured toward the offending appendage in frustration.

“Once ye are healed, lass, and nae a day before.” Lucas gave her a stern no nonsense look, and she smiled.

“Nae a day before.” Amelia looked over at Ron to find him smiling down at her with a look in his eyes that made her blood sing with desire.

“Ye ken how tae fight?” he asked, moving closer to her side, his body brushing up against hers.

“Aye.” She nodded, barely able to form the word as his hand traveled the length of her arm.

“I will look forward tae ye showin’ me yer skill,” he murmured soft and low for her ears only.

Blushing crimson, Amelia took a step back and nearly fell over a rock protruding from the ground. Ron reached out and caught her sweeping her up into his arms as if that had been his plan all along and that she had not just fallen embarrassing herself. He brought his lips down to hers and kissed her soundly for all to see. A cheer went up among the men and a few ribald suggestions were shouted for Ron’s benefit before he let her go setting her back upon her feet.

Lucas cleared his throat. “Right then,” he mumbled and turned to shout at the men to get back to work. Turning back to Ron, he lifted his brow in challenge. “Care tae show yer lady what ye are capable o’?”

Ron grinned and nodded. “Oh, aye,” he accepted, then helped Amelia lower herself onto the grass away from the offending rock that had tripped her. He entered the training field to face off against Lucas, and Amelia’s heart raced in anticipation. She knew that it was not a fight to the death and that no one would be seriously injured, but she also knew that Lucas did not hold back when he trained. His opponents often limped their way off the field.

Amelia need not have worried. The two men were well matched for one another, with Ron being a bit better than Lucas, but Amelia would never have said so and risk her guardsman’s pride. She cheered them on laughing with delight when one or the other performed an extraordinary move. The other warriors stopped their own training to watch, and wagers began being tossed around the training yard, some for Lucas, others for Ron. It was good for the soul to see her people engaged in such comradery. She hoped that the coming gathering at Lammastide would be as reassuring.

* * *

True to his word, once the village had been rebuilt to a livable condition, Ron threw himself into the harvest and the preparations for Lammastide. Though the fire had left its mark upon them all, the anticipation of a clan gathering had everyone abuzz with excitement and hope for the future. The subject of oathtaking had been brought up by the elders once more, but Amelia and Ron had managed to sidestep it for the moment claiming that it was too soon, and that the clan should have a chance to get to know their new laird first. It was an avoidance tactic, but it would work in the short term.

Amelia, Ron, and all the clansmen and women within a reasonable distance from the castle village assisted with the first of the harvest. Ron and Lucas took some of the younger men hunting and brought back deer, hare, and ptarmigan. The older men helped with the butchering of the lambs. Everyone helped with the apple and spring barley harvest, with the winter barley planting soon to follow. Maggie was kept busy in the kitchen garden with various root vegetables and berries. The older women combed the forest for mushrooms, keeping their eyes open for possible sources of honeycomb. It was a busy time for the clan, with hard work performed by all, but there was an air of thankfulness to the work that lightened the burden.

“Thankfully, the fire did nae destroy the year’s oat crop in the granary,” Amelia noted to Father Jacob as she stood to wipe her brow. She and the priest were helping Maggie with the garden. The oats had been harvested earlier in the summer and were a major staple for human and animal foodstuffs alike. To have lost it would have meant a very bad winter for one and all.