Part 45 (1/2)
Sin laughed. ”Perhaps.”
”Have you any more word about the MacKaids?” Alexander asked.
Lochlan shook his head. How he wished to find them. And he would. He wouldn't rest until they paid for what they had attempted to do to his family.
”None of my men have found a trace of them,” he said to Alexander. ”Have yours?”
”Nay.”
”That sits ill with me,” Sin said. ”I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of them.”
”Most likely not,” Lochlan concurred.
”So what should we do?” Alexander asked. ”I've notified my cousin what they've done, and he has issued an order of execution for them, but until they're caught...”
”There's not much we can do,” Braden said.
Sin finished off his tankard of ale and poured more. ”Sure there is.”
”What?” Braden asked.
”Marry Lochlan off.”
Lochlan shoved playfully at Sin's arm. ”You're drunk.”
”Is he?” a feminine voice asked.
They looked up to see Sin's wife, Caledonia, approaching the table.
She moved around the side of the table until she was behind Sin's chair. Looking down at her husband, she gave him a chiding, gentle smile. ”I had a feeling my wayward husband was spending far too much time down here.”
Sin looked a bit sheepish.
”Come, my lord,” she said, taking Sin's hand. ”We have a long journey home tomorrow, and I promised my brother Jamie that we would be back in time for his birthday.”
Sin kissed her hand, then rubbed it against his cheek.
Lochlan was amazed by the gesture that was so alien to Sin. He was glad to see his brother so well suited with his wife.
Sin was another one he had never expected to see happy. It did him good to know life had finally treated his elder brother kindly.
”Good night, gentlemen,” Sin said, rising to follow after his wife.
They pa.s.sed Maggie in the entranceway.
Lochlan smiled as she came forward, eyeing the three of them suspiciously. He remembered a time when he had contemplated her death and had wished many vile things upon her.
Now he was glad he had refrained from the urge to kill her.
”Look lively, Braden,” he said to his, youngest brother. ” 'Tis your turn to have your ears boxed.”
Braden scoffed, ”My sweet Maggie knows better than to box my ear, eh, love?”
There was a saucy sway to her hips as she approached the table. ”It depends on if you've done anything to have them boxed for.”
She smiled sweetly at Alexander and Lochlan. ”Do you mind if I steal him away from you?”
”Not at all,” Alexander said.
Braden got up, swept her up in his arms and headed for the stairs at almost a dead run.
Lochlan watched them leave, his heart light at his brother's antics. No doubt Maggie would be gifting him with another niece or nephew soon.
”So,” Alexander said once they were alone. ”Have you any plans to take a bride?”
Lochlan swirled the ale around in his cup as he considered that. In truth, there was no woman in his heart. He doubted if there ever would be. But still, his duty commanded him to take a bride.
There was only so long he could put off that particular responsibility.
”Mayhap one day,” he said quietly.
Alexander arched a brow at him. ”Aren't you a little old now not to be looking?”
Perhaps he was. But Lochlan had too many things that demanded his time, and marrying a woman sight unseen wasn't something he relished.
”To everything there is a season.”
Alexander laughed at that.
Footsteps sounded outside the room, followed by the main door opening and closing.
Lochlan and Alexander exchanged puzzled frowns.
It was far too late for company.
An old servant entered the hall with a youth behind him. The boy hadn't quite reached his majority.
Dressed in rags, the boy carried a weathered satchel.
”Forgive me, my lord,” the old servant said to Alexander. ”The lad said he had news of Lysander.”
Alexander motioned the boy to come forward. ”Is there a problem?”
The boy hesitated, then shrank back. He looked warily at the servant, then to Lochlan.
”Speak, lad,” Alexander said patiently. ”No one will harm you.”
Still the boy looked doubtful. ”I have word, my lord. This man came to our village and he told me I was to bring this to you.”