Chapter Thirty-Six

Logan

Logan closed the door, a grin on his face. "Good work, laddie. You have a fine memory, but I'm no traitor. I'm her grandfather." He pointed to Eli as he made his way into the middle of the group. "And I'm afraid I know most of these people."

People he'd missed desperately.

He'd have to listen to all their anger and their accusations, but he did what he'd had to do—take care of his Gwynie.

He couldn't live without her. It was that simple.

"Logan," Maitland called out, making his way over to him to clasp his shoulder before giving him a big bear hug.

"That's enough hugging and all that. I know you all missed me, but the lad's right. I have news to give you, so we can celebrate at a later date."

Magni moved in front of him and stared up the rugged man. "You are Logan Ramsay?"

"Aye, laddie. Why do you ask?"

"Because you're supposed to be mean. And you're smiling now. And isn't your wife the archer? Did you not train the best archers in all the land?"

Logan chuckled, loving all the stories and how they'd exploded, completely beyond the truth, but that was how legends were made, and even if he were being modest, he and Gwynie were legends.

He clasped the lad's shoulder and said, "Come. Sit down because I have to tell the adults what I've learned. Especially him." He strode over to Thane and shook his hand. "Logan Ramsay, MacQuarie. Pleased to make your acquaintance. There are men who plan to attack your castle at nightfall tomorrow."

"What?" Thane asked, standing to face Logan but not moving.

"What the hell, Logan?" Dyna barked at him. "That's a hell of an entrance."

Now that he had their attention, and they'd all shut their mouths about missing each other and all that nonsense, he grabbed a goblet of ale and a meat pie from a platter still on the table and sat down. Logan took one bite and said, "Let me know when you're all ready, and I'll tell you what I've learned."

He waited for everyone to settle, but one stopped him. He set his food down, looking up at the lass who stood in front of him, legs braced apart, arms crossed in front, gaze narrowed. "You want something, Elisant?"

She nudged his boot. "I'm waiting for my apology for lying about where you were going. For not attending our wedding."

"We were there, and you know it."

"Still waiting." Her pursed lips told him she had a wee bit of Gwyneth Cunningham in her. He'd seen that exact look on his wife's face many times over the years.

"You can save all that for your grandmother."

Alaric stepped behind his wife, took her shoulders, and ushered her to a seat. "He has something important to tell us, so let's save this for later, wife. I'm all for tying him up until he apologizes, but there might be more at stake right now. Thane wants to hear the explanation."

"Glad to see someone can control her, Grant," Logan said and rolled his eyes.

"Grandfather!"

If he kept it up, he knew there was a distinct possibility he'd find an arrow aimed at his bollocks, so he decided to stop teasing the lass. She was young and had all those emotions and feelings rolling around inside her. He hadn't groomed her to be tough enough yet.

"All right, Eli. Calm yourself, but I do have important news for all of you." He stood, pacing in front of the group. "Ulchel MacDougall hopes to take Duart Castle back for his brother. He was ostracized from his clan because he attacked a local lass, and he thinks if he takes the castle, his brother will allow him back in. But he also believes that if he takes over MacQuarie's land first, he will have those guards to help him take Duart back, and then, with his brother's assistance, he'll take over the entire isle, as Magni said …"

"How do you know my name?" Magni asked, staring up at him.

Logan gave him the most honest answer he could. "Because I know everything about Scotland, lad."

Thane said, "Magni, please go sit with your sister."

"I'd like to meet the lass, Magni."

Magni led him over to her and said, "This is my sister, Lia."

"She's not your sister, but it is lovely to meet you, Lia." He took a moment to assess the lass carefully. He wasn't yet ready to admit to the others exactly what he'd learned about her, but he did wish to take in her presence himself.

"She is too my sister."

"Och, my mistake, lad. Of course she is." He ruffled Magni's messy hair. The lass looked to be five or six but had a presence of a hundred more years.

"Have you a wish, my lord Ramsay?" she asked, her fingers fanning the skirt of her green gown.

"That's the same green color my wife prefers for her leggings. It's the exact color of a forest in spring."

"It is my preferred color too. Dyna and Sylvi were kind enough to allow me to wear Sylvi's gown since she prefers leggings. When Magni and I ran away, I had no clothing but what I was wearing, and after living with the Garvies, well…it was not fit to wear again. The Corbetts graciously shared their clothing with both of us. This is my favorite gown. Your wish?"

He narrowed his gaze at her because he couldn't quite figure out the lass, and there'd been less than five people in his life who he couldn't assess instantly.

But she was different.

"No wishes. I'm a happy man, Lia. Take care of Magni."

Magni shouted, "But I take care of her. It's my job."

Logan patted the boy's head and said, "Of course you do. My mistake."

Thane asked, "With all due respect, could we return to the details of the attack on my castle, if you please?"

"Of course," Logan said, taking a seat again. "MacDougall has about a score of men he's hired with the coin his brother gave him before he banished him from Clan MacDougall. They are poorly trained, have paltry weapons, and only exist for coin. Most are English."

"Say no more," Maitland said with a snort.

"On the morrow?" Thane persisted.

"The plan is to attack during the evening meal."

"Then I guess we'll be leaving." Thane looked to Maitland to see if he had any suggestions.

Maitland said, "Alaric and Eli will go with you. Dyna, Derric, and I will stay here. What about the bairns?"

Magni shouted, "I'm going with Thane."

Thane said, "Nay, Magni. I'm going to leave you and Lia here. I cannot worry about you during an attack. And I wish to help Tamsin too."

Maitland said, "I would recommend leaving just before dawn. You'll be home near high sun to ready your men. Traveling with a woman at night would not be advisable."

Logan added, "Leave the bairns here. You can retrieve them later. This castle has a thicker curtain wall."

Alaric looked at his wife and asked, "Are you ready for another battle, Eli?"

"I'll sit on the curtain wall with my bow aimed right at the ugly troll's chest."

Logan said, "Gwynie and I will stay here. I'll bring her at first light. I'll take my leave now. We'll be early enough for porridge, Granddaughter. Be prepared. Gwynie will be hungry."

He headed for the door, and just before he was ready to leave, Eli appeared next to him, her hand holding the door open.

"And Grandsire, there's a new rule in this castle. No banging the doors. I wish to keep our new place in good condition. Have you never seen the dent in the wall in the Ramsay great hall?"

Logan snorted and glanced over at his granddaughter with a smirk. "The wall is made of stone."

She arched a brow and glared at him.

She couldn't be serious, could she? Logan leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I mean it, Grandpapa. I love you dearly, but no more door-slamming."

Hellfire, but he was proud of the lass. She was as bullheaded as he was. Gavin and Merewen had raised her right.

He grinned and only had one thought.

He couldn't wait to tell Gwynie.