Chapter 25

25

Becoming A Man

W illiam left his wife's embrace and went off searching for Cameron. Dakota was coming on well, but she could not stop an able man's attack. She might be able to put off an unarmed attacker, but he worried that would not be enough.

And he did not want to be away from her for more than just that reason. He enjoyed her company, and it had been hard to be away from her when he had traveled west. How much harder would it be to be away from her this time?

And why is that? Do I have feelings for her?

William chuckled as he walked. He was asking himself if he had feelings for his wife. Yet, he did not truly know the answer. He was fond of her; that much was true, but what did that mean? And how deep did his feelings run?

William caught up with Cameron in one of the large meeting chambers, where he was finishing up a meeting with some of the captains. The meeting was concluded, and the captains greeted the Laird before they went on their way.

William raised his eyebrows at Cameron.

"A good meetin'." stated Cameron. "The men ken that there is somethin' brewin' between the English and us at the border, and they have been waitin' to get stuck into them for a long time. It's nae just the recent dealings with the livestock and crops; there's also some thievin' goin' on along the clan boundaries, and while it cannae be traced back to Conall, the men ken he is behind it."

"All right, so we press ahead with what we discussed?"

"Aye. I havenae told any of the men yet, but they will be behind ye, especially if the English are nae goin' to get involved."

"And what does yer gut tell ye about that?" asked William.

"They will see they have a pest, and they will also discover they can eradicate that pest for free."

"Aye, I feel the same. Conall might be an Englishman, but he is stealin' from them too. Have ye got what I asked for yet?"

"Soon, William. Conall might be an eejit, but he's nae daff. He'll have covered his tracks well."

"But ye are sure he's stealin' from them as well as us?"

"I daenae have the proof yet, but I am sure of it. All the main trade between both sides of the border goes through him. Of course, the large trade route goes down the other side of the country, so he kens he can get away with it as it's nae monitored as well on this side. And he only takes a wee cut each time. It's nothin' much, but over time, it adds up. That's the gossip, and I believe it. When the English find out he's been takin' a cut of each shipment that goes both ways over the border, they'll want his head."

"And they'll let me take it."

"I hope they do. Ye daenae ken with them sometimes. They might march over and take him down themselves, but it makes much more sense for us to deal with it. He is, after all, on our side of the border."

"And ye'll have the evidence?"

"Aye." Cameron gave a sly smile.

"What are ye hidin' from me?" asked William with a smile, too.

"Ye ken when Conall was first sent over the border, and ye said ye dinnae trust the man as far as ye could throw him?"

"Aye."

"And, ye ken we had some defectors who threw their lot in with him when he made promises. Nay many, mind."

"Aye."

"Well, not all of them were defectors. I thought it prudent to keep an eye on Conall, so we have some men around his castle still loyal to us. They're goin' to give us what we need."

"Cameron, ye braw and bonny man! I could kiss ye."

"Save yer kisses for after we take down Conall. This is only the first stage. He'll put up a fight if we are threatening his livelihood."

"Aye, that he will. Thanks for takin' care of this, Cameron. I couldnae have done this without ye."

"Ye were the one who selected me—possibly the most prudent decision ye made in yer early days as Laird."

"Aye, but I'm nae sure if ye are complimentin' me or yerself."

"Oh, I'm complimentin' meself," smiled Cameron.

"How is the clan lookin'?" asked William.

"I daenae think it has ever been stronger or more prosperous. They trust ye, William, and they will like ye even more if we take down that English brute. Ye take down Conall, and nothin' is goin' to come up that will ever put yer position under threat. Yer faither would be proud."

"I daenae ken if he would," mused William.

He moved over to one of the chairs around the table and sat down. He drummed on the wooden top as he often did when thinking.

"I always thought I wanted to be like him, to run the clan like him. He ruled with an iron fist, dinnae he?"

"Aye, that he did. He built the clan from nothin', and ye are taking it from strength to strength."

"He wasnae a good man, did ye ken that?" asked William.

"Nay, I dinnae ken it, but I suspected it from how people talk about him. I daenae ken if he was feared or respected."

"I feared him for a lot of me life. I daenae ken why because he hardly paid attention to me. Nor did he pay much attention to Maither. He gave everythin' for the clan. Is that a noble pursuit?"

"I daenae ken," admitted Cameron.

"He was cruel and ruthless and unfeelin'. I might have sidestepped bein' cruel and ruthless, but I daenae feel what I'm supposed to feel because of him."

"I have to warn ye. I might ken what to do in a fight, but I daenae ken squat about any of this. I never kenned me faither. I dinnae ken yers either. But I do ken our faithers mess us up in a multitude of ways."

"So, what do we do?" asked William.

"We try to be better. We be better faithers to our bairns."

If I ever get around to having one.

"He gave the clan everythin', but I daenae ken if I can do that," admitted William.

"Ye nae thinkin' of—?"

"Nay, nothin' like that. I… I've decided to go with Dakota to visit with her faither. I daenae like sendin' her off when Conall is still out there. And I daenae want to spend tie apart from her."

William felt proud of himself for admitting that out loud.

"Do ye ken what ye sound like?" asked Cameron.

He went from feeling proud to feeling angry at the comment. "What is it I sound like, Cameron?"

"Ye sound like a man who is forgin' his own path."

William took a deep breath. "Ye can be an arse sometimes, Cameron, but ye can also be the greatest of friends. What of the clan?"

"Aye, they might nae like it, but if ye follow through on yer plans, they'll all come around. Ye'll have to deal with it when ye return."

"And ye'll look after things in me stead?"

"Of course," said Cameron. "And, of course, a new bairn in the clan wouldnae hurt either."

"Aye, we'll get there," admitted William.

And I'll be a much better faither than mine ever was.