She felt better once her resolve was back in place, and after they'd crossed the drawbridge, she looked at her new home with renewed interest. She smiled for the benefit of his followers. Like the sentries, they didn't smile back. They didn't frown or turn their backs on her, though. Perhaps they didn't quite know what to make of her, she thought. She would have to convince them through her good works that she was worthy of their respect.
"You've enclosed half the mountain, haven't you?"
"It isn't a mountain, but a hill, wife."
"Why, there must be thirty huts inside the lower bailey alone, yet room for thirty more. Do your soldiers train inside the walls?"
"Sometimes," he answered as he led the way to the upper bailey.
Brenna tried to see everything at once.
Just before they reached the courtyard Connor called a halt. He dismounted and turned to assist her while he tried to answer the questions the men called out to him.
He had only just let go of his wife when the crowd surrounded him. Holding the stallion's reins behind his back, he started up the last of the incline. He assumed Brenna was right behind him, and when the reins were taken out of his hand, he thought Quinlan or Owen had taken over the duty of leading the horse to the stablemaster, for they were the only two soldiers the temperamental stallion would let near.
Men and women pushed forward to speak to their laird. Brenna kept backing away so she wouldn't get trampled. The stallion didn't like the crowd pressing in on him any more than she did and reared up in protest. She grabbed hold of his reins before he did any damage to anyone, and forced the animal to back up with her. She was nearly lifted off her feet a couple of times, then was pushed backward as the disgruntled beast tried to charge her. The training her brothers had forced on her came to her assistance now. She refused to give in to the animal's intimidating antics, and she tightened her hold on his reins and jerked his head down hard. After one last moment of struggle, the horse understood she meant to get her way.
She patted him to let him know she appreciated his cooperation and led him toward the stables.
A soldier stood on the steps leading up to the entrance until his laird beckoned him forward.
"All's well, Connor."
An immediate hush fell over the crowd as they listened to the conversation. "I expected it would be, Crispin. 'Tis the reason you were given command while I was away."
The two warriors stood eye to eye as they faced each other in the center of the courtyard.
"I have good news for you. Your stepmother is waiting in the great hall to greet you."
Connor smiled. "That is good news."
"Lady Euphemia's curiosity to see your wife must have been the motivation she needed to come back to MacAlister land."
"I would assume so. Perhaps she sees this as a new beginning, though in truth, I thought completing a new fortress would bring her back. Is she well, Crispin?"
"She seems to be well," he answered. "Connor, do I address her as Lady MacAlister?"
"You do. She was my father's wife and hasn't married again."
"She's still mourning him, for she's dressed in black," Crispin told him. "There is one more matter I wish to tell you about."
"Can it wait until later?"
"You'll want to hear this news now," he insisted. "Laird Hugh is sending something that was left on his border. He insists you'll want to see it. Whatever it is should be here within the hour."
"Hugh sends you a gift?" Quinlan asked his laird.
Crispin answered. "It's more of a message than a gift. I wasn't able to get anything more specific out of his soldiers. They were worried, however, and insisted several times that their laird is not responsible. It was extremely important to Hugh that Connor understand this."
"This makes little sense," Quinlan muttered. "Why wouldn't they tell you who it was from?"
"They wouldn't explain," Crispin replied.
"Then we'll wait and see," Connor replied.
He then smiled at his friend and, as Connor passed him on his way inside, pounded him on the shoulder to let him know he was pleased with him. Quinlan shoved Crispin in the hopes of getting him to lose his balance. Crispin held his ground and pretended boredom, but the glint in his brown eyes gave him away.
"You missed a fine time, Crispin. Aye, you should have been there to watch me wield my sword. It was a sight to see, and you would have learned a thing or two."
Crispin laughed. "I wouldn't have needed to touch my sword, for my hands are just as effective. Besides, I taught you everything you know. Isn't that true, Connor?" he called out.
"I do not involve myself in petty disputes, though I will admit I don't understand either one of your empty boasts. 'Tis a fact I trained both of you."
Crispin fully appreciated his laird's candor. He watched Connor slowly make his way through the clan to the side of the keep so he could go up the steps. The two soldiers were expected to follow their laird, as it had become a ritual for them to sit at the table with Connor while he caught up on the latest happenings within the clan. They stayed back now so that the other followers could have a turn greeting him.
Both Crispin and Quinlan kept glancing over their shoulders every now and again. Crispin was puzzled, for he had been on the walkway above the wall when his laird rode up to the drawbridge and had seen that he wasn't alone then. Why was he now?
Quinlan couldn't stop smiling. He knew exactly why his laird was alone.
Crispin's curiosity finally got the better of him when Connor started up the steps to go inside the keep. "Was your journey successful, Laird?" he shouted.
"It was," Connor called back.
"Then you did marry?"
"I did."
"Where might your bride be?"
Connor had assumed his wife was following behind him and was now being delayed by the clan. Honest to God, he hadn't give her another thought since Crispin began his report.
He scanned the crowd, looking for his wife. He spotted Owen smiling like a simpleton at the women surrounding him. Brenna was nowhere in sight, however.
"Why aren't you at the stables tending my horse, Owen?" Connor was halfway across the courtyard by the time he finished bellowing his question.
"Another took over the duty for me, Laird," Owen explained with a nervous glance toward Quinlan.
Connor turned to his friend. "Where is my wife, Quinlan?"
"I believe you left her in the lower bailey."
The crowd scattered in every direction as their laird came striding toward the path. The look on Connor's face suggested he didn't wish to be delayed. Crispin and Quinlan followed, but unlike their laird, they weren't scowling.
"Quinlan, how were you able to tend to my stallion and return to the courtyard in such a short time?"
"I didn't tend your stallion," he answered.
"Did Davis?" Connor asked just to make certain the stablemaster had come forward to take over the duty.
"No."
"Then who…"
"Another more capable than Davis led your stubborn beast away."
Connor heard the laughter in Quinlan's voice and knew there was something more to be told. He stopped worrying about Brenna being left alone with his stallion because he knew Quinlan wouldn't have been so damned happy if she'd been in any real danger.
"You forgot her, didn't you, Connor?"
"I did no such thing, Quinlan. Who was more capable than Davis? No more jests," he warned. "I'm not in the mood."
"I won't jest, but you still won't believe me. Your wife took over the duty."
"I don't believe you."