Circle Of Honor Part 10

THE SPRING PLANTING was well under way and the lambing nearly over. As he finished his morning rounds, overseeing the work of those who kept the castle fed and clothed, Adam breathed a sigh of relief. Relief that was quickly replaced by anxiety as he remembered that today was grievance day. The day when the laird sat in judgment to settle differences among the folk.

He'd attended many of these quarterly sessions over the years, sitting next to his father. But today he acted as laird in Angus's place, and he prayed for wisdom as he settled various disputesa" someone's pig had trampled a new garden, a dog had attacked a child, and the owner refused to tie it up.

Several couples, accompanied by smiling parents, asked permission to marry. All in all, a satisfying day's work and easily handled. By late afternoon the cases dwindled and Adam rose to stretch. Bracing his hands on the lintel above the fireplace, he stared into the newly lit fire and counted his blessings.

Scuffling feet and a male voice raised in anger let Adam know he'd started counting too soon.

He turned to face the entrance as James Mactavish and his daughter walked slowly toward him. The girl leaned on her father's arm, her face averted except for a pain-filled glance at the young man following them. Gavin Shaw moved to her side, but James batted him away with a snarl.

The boy clenched his jaw and his hands twisted his bonnet into an unrecognizable shape. A moment of pure defiance flitted across Gavin's face before he regained control. And then his features dissolved into anguish.

Alarmed at the woman's condition, Adam motioned for Morogh to bring a bench for Tyra. She couldn't be more than fourteen or fifteen, but her face appeared old beyond its years. What manner of evil brought her here today?

Gavin was several years older than Tyra, and if memory served Adam, the two were courting.

And James didn't approve. That explained the animosity between the two men, but not Tyra's demeanor. She appeared as cowed as Gwenyth that day he'd brought her to Moy. Adam hoped his suspicions would prove false, but all the signs were there.

As Morogh helped Tyra to the seat, Adam noticed her bruised eye. She seemed to be in a world of her own making, barely aware of her surroundings. Adam locked gazes with Morogh, and he knew his own scowl matched the older man's.

"Fetch my mother, Morogh." As the man moved off, Adam motioned for James and Gavin to approach. James was nearly bursting with indignation and scowled at his laird. Gavin had eyes only for Tyra.

Fearing he knew only too well the answer, Adam asked the girl's father, "What has happened to Tyra?"

"Look at her," James bellowed. "Can ye not see the ghaoil's been mistreated?" He grabbed Gavin, who did not resist, and shoved him forward. "And here's the beast that done it."

Gavin shook his arm free of James's hold and looked Adam straight in the eye. "I did not harm her. Never. Please, my laird. She needs a woman. She needsa""

"I ken what my own daughter needs, and it isna you," James roared.

A m.u.f.fled sob from Tyra brought all three men's attention to her. Gavin went to her, fending off James's blows as the enraged father tried to pull the boy away.

"Enough, James," Adam ordered.

The man had the good sense to calm himself, to Adam's relief.

Gavin sat next to Tyra, and she curled into his arms, clinging tightly to him. Gavin crooned words of comfort as the girl sobbed quietly.

Just as Gwenyth had dampened Adam's sark with her tears on the ride to Moy. Perhaps he should have told Morogh to bring Gwenyth as well, for she would understand how the girl felt. But he thought better of it, wanting to protect Gwenyth from unpleasant memories. Adam would spare her such pain and instead, use what he'd learned from her to help Tyra.

But first, he must find a way to prove Gavin's innocence; the boy simply wasn't capable of such behavior. "It's obvious the boy cares for her, and she for him, James. Why do you accuse him?"

"He's been sniffing about since before she came of age."

"Has he asked to marry her?"

"Aye."

"Is she willing?"

"To marry? Aye. But I said she must wait, and being a good colleen, she's denied him, and so he took what he wanted. I'll not let her marrya""

"Da." Tyra's voice barely cut through her father's rhetoric. She had regained control of herself, although she still clung to the young man beside her.

"Silence, daughter."

Adam could see he must settle this quickly, before James ruined his relationship with his daughter and forced her to choose between him and Gavin. "James, why don't you simply have them marry? 'Tis the usual way these things are done."

"Would you give your daughter to a man who would force her? Ach, yer too young to understand."

Adam shook his head. James wasn't thinking straight or he'd remember Gwenyth's troubles. But Adam would not remind him. Surely it couldn't help a woman's recovery if people dragged out the telling of her ordeal on every occasion. Best to stay with the problem at hand.

"Why are you so sure young Gavin is guilty?"

"Who else could it be? He took what she wouldn'ta""

"Da." Tyra's voice was stronger this time. "Gavin did not do this."

"Then who did?" her father demanded. "Name him."

Tyra looked to Adam. "He wore a mask."

Before Adam could reply, James said, "A likely story, to deflect the blame from this man you claim to love."

Adam watched as Tyra clutched Gavin's hand. The lad entreated her with his eyes and shook his head.

Tyra raised her hand to his cheek. "Aye, Gavin." She stood with his aid, and Adam saw her draw on an inner strength, much as he imagined Gwenyth had done when facing Leod that day.

Gavin shook his head once again, but she ignored him, giving her attention to Adam. "My laird, Gavin would take the blame rather than have me dishonor my father."

"Hush. No more, Tyra," Gavin begged.

She straightened, staring at her father. "He has no need to take what I would willingly give."

James sank down on the bench beside his daughter as realization dawned.

Adam understood how it felt to be falsely accused and he admired the young man for accepting the accusation rather than besmirch his lover's name. Once again a wounded woman came to the rescue of an innocent man. His admiration for the female gender rose several notches. G.o.d had certainly crowned his creation with a worthy creature.

Adam cleared his throat. "Clearly Gavin would have no cause to beat Tyraa"unless he's done so before?"

Mactavish seemed to be absorbing the honor of the boy's intentions. "Nay, he has not," James grudgingly admitted. "Hard to fault a man who would go to such lengths to protect his woman's honor," he muttered, his anger noticeably abated. "But you shouldna have touched her without the priest."

Relieved to see the tension ease, Adam asked the couple, "Aye, that must be remedied. Are you willing to marry?"

"Aye," Gavin said without hesitation.

In a voice so low Adam barely heard her, Tyra asked, "You still want me? After what has happened?"

"Aye, I do."

Did Tyra feel less desirable, less lovable? Unworthy? And more to the point, did Gwenyth suffer similar doubts?

Adam remained thoughtful as he said, "Then, when Tyra is ready you shall." He turned to James. "They will marrya"as laird I order it done as soon as Tyra feels up to it."

James said, "As you wish." He gazed tenderly at his child. "I'm sorry for my temper, la.s.s."

Tyra smiled for the first time in these proceedings. "Yer forgiven, Da."

Adam thought it likely that even though Tyra and Gavin would struggle for a time, the support of family and friends might soften the blow.

Tyra laid a hand on his arm. "Could we marry now?"

Gently Adam inquired, "So soon?"

She nodded. "I have need of comfort only Gavin can give me." She regarded her father with a tender smile, and after a brief hesitation, James nodded in scowling acquiescence.

Adam patted James on the back, relieved the older man had come around. Morogh had returned with Eva. "Tyra, go with my mother. She can tend to you before you see the priest. We'll have a wedding before this night is done."

Somewhat subdued, James said to Gavin, "I'm still angry with you for not waiting for the vows. But you'll have to answer to G.o.d on that, not me. If you swear you love the la.s.s, I'll not object to you as Tyra's husband."

Gavin appeared visibly relieved. "I do love her, Mr. Mactavish, more than I can say. It would grieve me to come between you and Tyra. I will ask G.o.d's forgiveness for loving her without his blessing."

"Aye, well then. Ye best take good care of my daughter." James offered his hand, and Gavin shook it, the bargain sealed.

Adam relaxed. He need not fear for Tyra and Gavin. But he renewed his vow to catch the animal who was ravishing Chattan women.

James and Gavin spoke civilly to one another, if not warmly, while they waited for Tyra. And Adam had reason to hope they would overcome today's heated words in time.

Eva and Tyra returned, and Morogh reported that Father Jerard had gone north to tend a parish there and might not return for weeks. So Adam administered the handfast vows, vows that would bind them until a proper marriage could be arranged. Vows as binding, for a year and a day, as any words by a priest.

The very vows Adam had spoken with Gwenyth.

Adam didn't envy Gavin the task of helping Tyra heal. The boy would need patience.

But at least his wife loved him.

Did Adam want Gwenyth to love him? Her strength of character and temperate disposition would make her an excellent wife for the laird of a fractious clan. Aye, it would please him if she could come to care for hima"to care for him as he feared he was coming to care for her.

That revelation drove Adam from the small group of celebrants to the solitude of the parapets. Standing high above the earth, he allowed the stillness of the night to seep into him and soothe him.

The days were growing longer as summer approached. By midsummer's eve, there would only be a few hours of darkness each night. He thought of midsummer three years ago, when he'd first answered Bruce's call to fight. When he'd still had full use of his arm and had taken life for granted.

Like many highlanders, Adam had partic.i.p.ated in occasional cattle raids, some of which had met with violence when the kine's owners objected to the lifting of their property. Methven had been his first battle, but Dalry had been his first taste of battle against fellow highlanders where the stakes had gone well beyond ownership of a few cows. And even if he'd returned home whole, he would never thirst for combat again.

Sweat broke out on his forehead as he recalled the sight of horses and men fallinga"the sounds of their screams and the smell of blood. Gordon's face as his horse went down. The shock of the blow to his shoulder, and how he'd fought on despite the pain. The misery of knowing then, and afterward, that his night of celebration had cost the life of a friend and nearly cost the lives of his king and queen.

By all that was holy, he would do whatever it took to avoid such bloodshed again, not only for himself, but also for his clan. G.o.d had spared his life, and Adam firmly believed that he had done so for a purpose. To that end Adam had honored his vows of chast.i.ty and refusal of strong drink. In time G.o.d's purpose would be revealed.

As his memories receded, Adam became aware of his surroundings. Twilight settled over the loch as he gazed at this land he called home. From this spot on the castle battlements, he could see much of the sh.o.r.eline.

The noise from the adjacent village did not reach him here, and all Adam could hear was the chirping of crickets and the night calls of birds.

A gentle breeze soothed him, bringing with it the rich smell of water and loam. Newly planted fields and a faint whiff of early blooming honeysuckle completed the scents of late spring.

Away in the distance, a calf bawled for its mother. Her answering call a.s.sured Adam the young one was safe.

The ordeal with James Mactavish had sorely tried Adam's patience, but he was pleased with his handling of the problem and with the outcome. Morogh had pulled him aside and praised him, saying Angus himself couldn't have done better. Though Adam was uncomfortable with the comparison, he took pride in the compliment.

Aye, imperfect as he was, G.o.d loved him, had blessed him far beyond what he deserved. G.o.d had forgiven him; maybe the time had come to forgive himself.

As the sights and sounds of the night drifted to him, Adam knew peace and contentment such as he hadn't felt in months. He rested his hands on the cool stone of the wall and closed his eyes, letting the breeze and G.o.d's presence wash over him.

After all she'd been through, would Gwenyth ever find such peace? Could she find it here, surrounded by strangers and reminded constantly by his very person of her ordeal?

Approaching footsteps intruded, but he ignored them, hoping they would turn away.

They didn't.

"Adam?"

Nathara.

He didn't want to hurt or offend her, but neither did he want her company. He hung his head, then realized his mistake when she began to ma.s.sage his shoulders and neck. Her familiarity chafed him, but he held his tongue.

Nathara leaned closer and her chest grazed his back. "I doubt your wife does this for youa"she doesn't touch you at all, does she?"

Adam shrugged her hands away and twisted about to face her. "Enough. My relationship with Gwenyth is none of your concern."

"She's afraid of you, the silly woman. I can see it in her." She sidled closer. "But I'm not," she purred.

He moved away. "What do you want from me?"

Flicking her finger at his sleeve and pouting prettily, she answered, "I should think that is obvious."

He blew out his breath. "Aye, there's nothing subtle about you, is there?" Even her vivid coloringa"blue-black hair and ice blue eyes set against pale skina"set her apart as a creature to be reckoned with.

"Not a thing," she crooned, rubbing against him again.

Gently he set her aside. "I have a wife, Nathara. What you tempt me with is wrong."

"What good is a wife who won't share your chambers?" Softening her tone, she wheedled, "You have needs, Adam. And I can satisfy them."

A moment of weakness a.s.sailed him, but it departed as quickly as it came, and so did temptation. Perhaps the hours he'd spent in prayer had done some good.

When he didn't respond, Nathara demanded, "What do you see in her?"

A very good question.

But the answer came easily. He saw a beautiful woman who, in unguarded moments, looked at him with longing, as if she wished their situation could be different. He saw a soul in need of healing. A woman he could love, were he brave enough to claim her.