Chapter Four

Eli took aim, let the arrow fly, and hit the target. Then she shot another five in rapid succession. One hit the outside edge of the target, and she cursed. Loudly.

A curse she soon regretted because her grandmother appeared behind her on her horse. How had she been able to sneak up on Eli like that mounted?

"Uh-oh," she muttered, crossing her arms.

"Who are ye angry with?" Her grandmother climbed down off her horse and tethered him on a nearby bush. Eli hurried over in case she was unsteady, but she did fine this time.

"No one." She moved back to grab her bow and fired two more arrows, hitting the target square. "Why are ye here, Grandmama? I know 'tis difficult for ye with yer bad knees. Why no' stay inside?"

"Because I could see ye were upset. And ye are younger than that group of giggling young breasts in there."

Eli's shot went wide. "Grandmama! Giggling young breasts?"

"Aye. They are all the same age and ye are the youngest. I would guess they've teased ye a wee bit over the years. No one came to yer aid when they teased ye this time, so I came along. Keeps me busy. I dinnae like sitting around watching others."

Eli didn't know how to respond to that so she nocked another arrow and fired it. Hell, but her grandmother usually could judge a situation with uncanny accuracy.

"Nice shot," her grandmother said, sitting on a nearby boulder. "Who are ye mad at?"

"No one, Grandmama. Must I be angry to shoot well?"

"Nay, 'tis no' yer shooting that tells me ye are upset. 'Tis the speed at which ye raced out of the hall. I was just coming down the stairs when I saw ye leave. Someone say something they shouldnae have?" She crossed her arms, warming herself in the cool air.

"Nay, I'm fine."

"What were ye all talking about?"

Silence. Eli fired four more arrows—dead center—then retrieved them all.

"Did ye hear there is to be a patrol to the Borderlands?" her grandmother asked.

"Aye."

"Are ye going along?"

She sighed. "Aye." Then she returned to her spot. She was in no mood to discuss all that was said about Alaric Grant. She set herself and resumed her archery practice.

Her grandfather approached from behind them, calling out to her grandmother. "Gwynie, I'm going to Bethia's to see how Thea and Willum are doing. Care to come with me?"

Her grandmother shook her head. "Ye go. I'll go on the morrow, Logan."

"While ye are here, convince this one to make an alliance for us." He gestured at Eli then turned his horse and left.

As her grandfather rode away, she nocked her arrow and aimed, peeking at her grandmother from the corner of her eye to see what her reaction was.

The older woman was staring at her, but now had changed her position and leaned forward, her head tipped down, taking on that expression she knew to be Gwyneth Ramsay suddenly understanding all that had happened.

Hellfire, but why did her grandparents have to be so quick in the mind?

"So Alaric Grant is going on patrol with ye, and yer grandsire wants ye to make an alliance by marrying him? And I will guess that ye arenae entirely fond of the man."

Alaric was a bit older than she was, though she had no idea how many years. But she was only eight and ten. He could be more than five and twenty winters.

Eli's next two arrows missed the target completely. Grandmama arched a brow and grinned. "I believe I have the answer to my question. Ye need no' say another word. I see ye dinnae like him at all."

Eli threw her bow down and stalked toward her grandmother, her hands now fisted on her hips. "Why must Grandda butt into every part of my life? And why did he choose me to make the alliance? Ysenda could have married Alaric. And so could Ceit or Reyna or Isla. And what about Wenna? Why can he no' ask Wenna to choose Alaric? And if I do choose him, which I never will, but if for some reason it is forced upon me, then I suppose Grandda is going to tell me we need to have a bairn right away. And mayhap after that he'll ask me to ask the lairds to join the two clans. And then he'll want a second bairn, and a third until we get one of each, a lad and a lass. He'll have to have a chieftain and an archer, so I suppose I'll be big in the belly and ungainly for two years. Or will Grandda want me to be carrying all the time? Mayhap I willnae."

She crossed her arms and stopped in front of her grandmother, doing her best to calm her trembling lip.

She. Would. Not. Cry.

She never cried and she surely wasn't going to start over someone like Alaric Grant.

Her grandmother stood in front of her and whispered, "Ye dinnae need to do any of that if ye dinnae wish to."

"And Grandda willnae chase after me and tell me to do what he wishes?" One tear escaped, but she flipped her plait around, her tear flying off into the air in the process.

Her grandmother took her hand, unwound her crossed arms, and tugged her over to the boulder. "Ye dinnae like Alaric?" The two sat on the boulder, and her grandmother faced her.

"Nay, I dinnae. He always tries to order me around. And then he teases me if I get angry. I prefer no' to be around him. Can ye no' convince Grandda to match Wenna with him? 'Twill never be me."

"Why do ye no' tell yer grandsire that yerself?"

"I did. I did in the hall, yet he comes here and tells ye to match us somehow. I dinnae like Alaric Grant, Grandmama. I dinnae wish to marry any man. I told them all I dinnae need a man and…" She looked away to hide the tears gathering in her eyes.

"And?"

"And they all laughed at me. And Reyna asked me if I knew what they meant and…"

"And ye didnae understand." Her grandmother slid over next to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "Lass, things happen between a husband and wife. 'Tis all she meant. Lovemaking can be fun for some women. Some hate it, some love it. Did yer mother no' talk to ye about this?"

She shook her head, wiping away the tears she was unable to stop this time. "She tried a long time ago, but I told her I dinnae wish to know. I've heard other things, and I know most of it, but Reyna confused me."

Grandmama nodded. "I recall feeling the same. Ye shouldnae feel badly. They are all older than ye, and at the same stage in their lives. Lasses can be mean sometimes."

"So what do I do next time?"

Grandmother shrugged again and said, "When I was yer age, I told someone to stop talking or I'd put an arrow in their lips. I dinnae have a problem after that. If they're being rude, ye should be able to be rude in return."

Eli burst into laughter and hugged her grandmother. "Thank ye, Grandmama. But Grandda will yell at me if I do."

"Ye come see me if he does, lass." Grandmama kissed her forehead. "Men can be incredibly daft at times. Ye must learn to ignore them. Agree with them and ignore them."

"Truly?" Stunned by this answer, she couldn't believe her grandmother ever ignored her grandfather.

"How do ye think I've been able to live with Logan Ramsay all these years? I agree with him and ignore him. I do what I want, not what he wants. He thinks I listen to everything he says, but I dinnae. Never lose yer soul to a man, Eli."

"Grandmama!"

"I love Logan Ramsay for many reasons, lass. But he's no' my keeper. There's a difference. Now, I expect ye to keep this as our secret. Ye'll no' be giving my secret away to Grandpapa, will ye?"

She grinned and shook her head. "I promise."

"Come," Grandmama said. "Help this old lass get off the boulder."

Once she helped her to stand, she gave her grandmother a swift hug. "I do love ye, Grandmama."

"I love ye too, Eli. Do what makes yer heart sing, not what others tell ye to do." She walked across the meadow to her horse, then stumbled. "Hellfire!"

"Grandmama? What happened?" She hurried to her grandmother's side, not liking this at all.

"A hole in the ground. Deeper than usual. I'm fine, but my knee turned in an odd direction." She stood rubbing her knee. "'Tis a bitch getting on in years, Eli. Age isnae kind at all. I've had more trouble with my knees than I care to deal with. I hope ye have yer mind settled a wee bit. Dinnae be too angry with yer grandfather. He's just a crusty old curmudgeon. He'll always love ye. Never think otherwise."

"Are ye hale? Do ye need my help?"

"Nay, I can still make my own way. The day I cannae will be the day I move on. Fear no', I'm no' ready to leave yet. I love all my family and try to help where I can, but my eyes dinnae work as well as they used to. Ye still have good eyes. Use them."

"I will. Forgive me for all my complaining, Grandmama." Eli hung her head for all the anger she let out. "And I do love Grandpapa. I just dinnae always agree with him."

"Then ignore the stubborn old warrior. He'll get over it."

She giggled again.