Chapter 20

20

T he Tartan Day celebration was in full swing as Erin worked her way through the crowd. She was the lady of McCormack, and today, she felt she had earned her place. As she passed, the villagers dipped their heads in respect, and she acknowledged each of them. Her head held high; she felt like she might burst with pride.

She was not proud of herself, although she couldn't help a little reverence for her achievement. She was proud of everyone coming together and helping one another. The celebration was a clan effort, and now the day could be enjoyed by all.

She was very proud of her husband. He stood with several of his councilmen, standing taller than she had seen before, he was happier too, even if he would not admit so. His gaze was on the band playing a merry tune, with the square before them filled with dancers of all ages. The thud of dancing feet drew her attention to the group enjoying the vibrant tune from the fiddles.

She chuckled aloud to see Hayden and Scarlett amongst them, Hayden kicking up his feet in merriment without a care, while Scarlett's more reserved moves were suited to the other ladies she danced with. Hayden noticed her gaze and gave her a wave, his face flushed and happy. She made a mental note for next year not to put the whiskey stall so close to the dancing.

"Try this me lady," Fiona called to her.

Me lady! Erin smiled at the title and moved closer to the baker's wife. They had spoken in the village, and Erin had promised to try some of her bread. She took the offered oatcake, topping it with a slice of cheese. If she had tasted better, she couldn't recall it. The flatbread was warm but crisp, and the cheese had a tang to it that set everything off beautifully.

"Ye dinnae boast, Fiona. Tis the best bread in the land."

"High praise, me lady from one so travelled as yerself." Fiona's words were kindly meant, but someone had been speaking about Erin's past and for a moment, Erin felt like the world was watching her. She turned, finding only Caelan standing a few paces away, his sword a reassuring comfort as she mingled among friends and strangers alike. "Caelan, ye must come and try this."

"Aye, Fiona's bread is the talk of the village." Caelan gave her a smile and came closer to sample the oatcake for himself.

Erin moved on, keen to see everything on offer. Not long after returning to O'Kane castle, she had attended something similar to this but had spent the day clinging to her mother's side, barely daring to look a single soul in the eye. Now, she stood tall, able to stray away from the company of those she was familiar with. Erin was home; this was her castle, her people, her land, and she felt such a wonderful joy in her heart.

Erin moved onwards, considering Magnus' order for his family to arm themselves with small dirks as nothing more than his lingering possessiveness. Everyone was so happy here. Even so, she didn't stray too far from Magnus and the safety his long sword represented.

A few small children danced away from the main square, and Erin laughed with them as they twirled happily. She would never have children of her own with Magnus, but her hands locked together across her skirts, fingers entwined as she listened to their happy giggles. Then she remembered herself and what would never be, turning sharply.

She nearly walked into a brute of a man standing behind her. He caught her arm as she stumbled.

"Watch yerself, lass," came a teasing voice, his voice rich and familiar.

She glanced up at the face before her, his brow softened by the love she saw so clearly in his eyes. "Tis ye who should watch where yer going. Creeping up on a lady like that."

He frowned, considering the seriousness of her words, but her grin was infectious, and she soon had him laughing with her.

"Will ye dance?" She questioned. "Nay, that is nae becoming of a laird, but ye will try the oatcakes, for they are divine." She slid her arms around his and guided his willing feet back to where Fiona served her delicious offerings, and Caelan lurked hungrily for more.

"Come now; we're nae strangers to merrymaking," he said, his eyes meeting hers before turning to the dancing. Hayden stood to the side, panting, while Scarlett continued to lose herself in the rhythm.

"Perhaps," she conceded, her voice barely above a whisper, "but 'tis a rare sight to see ye so... relaxed."

"Relaxed?" He let out a roar of a laugh. "'Tis a day for celebration. Even beasts such as I ken how to enjoy the festivities."

"Beasts?" Erin chuckled at the memory of a time when she saw him as such "Even a beast can be tamed by the right occasion, can he nae?"

"Or perhaps by the right woman." He turned away, but not before Erin saw the blush that accompanied his confession. She smiled, keeping her thoughts to herself.

Erin's gaze returned to her new siblings, finding them done with their dancing, walking arm in arm towards the whiskey stall. Scarlett, laughed openly at something her brother said. The charming rogue seemed utterly content under Magnus' watchful eye. It was not just her opinion of Magnus that had improved by knowing him better.

"Look at them together. Ye wouldnae have expected that before." All the pair had ever wanted was a little attention, and now Hayden had found it in his family, there was no more searching for what he sought in the company of women. A little attention from Magnus would certainly continue to go a long way.

"Time is a luxury few can afford," Magnus replied. "But today, for them, I would spare an eternity."

"An eternity?" Erin's heart skipped. "Daenae forget to spare a little time for yer wife."

"Perhaps nae an eternity," he corrected.. "But a moment... aye, a moment can be spared."

"Even for a beast?" Erin teased, unable to resist herself.

"Especially for a beast," he acknowledged, tapping the hand around his arm.

Reggie skulked past the pair, and Magnus stiffened. "I need to speak with him. Could I trouble ye to amuse yerself with Hayden's company for a wee while?"

"Indeed," Erin agreed, releasing her husband from her grip. She waltzed away, knowing his gaze lingered on her, as she made her way to join Scarlett.

"Are ye drinking the distillers dry, brother?" She greeted the pair. "Ye certainly dance like a man who enjoyed more than a nip or two."

"Aye, sister, I may dance so, but nae a sip has passed these lips." Hayden assured her kindly.

"He is quite boring and will nae allow his sister a nip either," Scarlett complained light-heartedly.

"I agree with him," Erin confessed. "But the oatcakes are something I couldnae deny either of ye."

"Oh! We must have some. Come, Hayden, let's eat."

"Bring me back some. I have told ye that I am too tired to walk."

"Too lazy more like," Scarlett bantered back before walking away.

"Ye are nae lazy, are ye." Erin questioned suspiciously.

"Nay. But if I went with her, so would ye, and it would nae be right for the lady to favor one of our clan over the others."

Erin nodded, realizing that Hayden did, deep down, take his role as the heir seriously. He leant back against the brick wall, surveying the estate like a future laird. Erin found herself lost for words. Her presence changed everything for him. His position as the heir was under question as he and everyone else would expect her to bear children. She longed to offer him assurances that Magnus had not changed his mind on the matter, but she hoped he would one day see the happiness a bairn could bring and anything she said now would be a false promise.

"Ye look as though ye might be enjoying yerself, for once," Hayden teased, pulling her thoughts back to what was supposed to be a day of celebration. "If it eases ye mind, I daenae want to be laird."

"Perhaps it does," Erin conceded. "I fancy yer sister is eating all the oatcake for herself."

"Let her," Hayden quipped. "She can repay me when next she walks into the village."

Erin searched for Scarlett's form, but the green was quieter now. Clansmen stood strategically around the green, with the women and children retreating to the stalls.

"Somethin's amiss," Hayden murmured, his hand resting instinctively on the hilt of his dirk.

Erin's heart skipped a beat. Her years of captivity pressed down on her shoulders.

"All will be fine, Erin. We should alert Magnus," Hayden comforted her, but before they moved, Caelan headed across towards them.

"Ah, the lovely Erin and the gallant Hayden," Caelan called to the pair. "We should get the lovely lady somewhere safe."

"Somethin' is amiss. What do ye make of it?" Hayden enquired. Caelan's harsh pace didn't ease as he approached them. In the blink of an eye, he drew his sword, slashing the steel towards Erin. Instead of feeling the blade, Erin was pushed aside as Hayden dragged her to safety in the nick of time.

The blade slashed against Hayden's body, cutting through cloth and flesh. The scream that passed through Erin's lips rang out around the grounds. She stumbled back, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Hayden!" she cried out as the man stumbled back, clutching his abdomen.

Caelan's focus turned to her, but Hayden moved between them, armed with nothing but his short blade.

"Get behind me, Erin," he rasped, his eyes never leaving Caelan's as he ushered her behind him,

Blood seeped through Hayden's fingers as he stood guard before her. This was the moment Erin had trained for, yet she felt just as helpless as every other time a sword was pointed her way.

"What madness has possessed ye?" Hayden yelled at Caelan, but the man-at-arms was focused on Erin; Hayden was nothing more than an obstacle in his path.

"Ye ken nothin'!" Caelan snarled in response, his blade lifted to attack. Hayden blocked, absorbing the force of the blow with a backward step.

Erin was frozen on the spot as Hayden and Caelan fought. She had seen Hayden's skill first-hand in training, but he was injured, and his blade was no match against a broad sword. He blocked each thrust, but each one pushed him back, each parry lacked the force of the one before. Erin knew she had to react before the fatal blow was struck, but if she turned and ran, he would chase her down, and if she tried to get to Magnus, she had to pass Caelan to do so. fighting was also an option, but her weapon and skill was no better than Hayden's.

"Erin..." Hayden pleased. She knew he needed her to react, but she still couldn't think. She couldn't run away and allow him to bleed, or even die for her.

Hayden's foot faltered, his back near the jagged rock of the keep's wall. He had nowhere left to go. As he stumbled, the dirk was knocked from his hand. Erin screamed as she envisioned the fatal blow, but it didn't come. Caelan's blade paused against Hayden's throat. Her eyes met with Hayden's, his look pained and desperate. Finally her feet were able to move, her direction was decided, and she took a step towards Hayden. If she was Caelan's target, then she would not let him die for her.

"Step away from him, lass," Caelan ordered sharply, the blade pressing a divot into Hayden's skin, threatening to pierce the skin. Erin stepped back a pace.

Erin's mind raced, her instincts screaming at her to do something, anything. She could almost hear the ancient tales whispered by the fireside, stories where brave warriors and cunning maidens outwitted their foes. But this was no myth; it was a ruthless reality where one wrong move could mean death.

"Ye darenae harm him," Erin's words were steel wrapped in velvet, her Scottish lilt betraying none of the fear that clawed at her insides.

"Move back, Erin," Hayden gasped, his eyes imploring her to heed Caelan's demand. She had no option but to shuffle away from the man she had come to love as a brother.