“It’s fine,” Kyle corrected. “We don’t mind waiting for him to be well enough to ride.”
“Speak for yourself,” Culloden argued.
“Culloden, mind yer place. We’re here for Oidche as men of the future clan chief.”
That silenced Culloden.
“Malmuira, would ye like to stay for our talk? Ye’re welcome to stay.”
“Ah’ll stay, but only because ah don’t want Oidche convincing ye that he is better and can ride to the keep.”
Kyle laughed loudly at this. “Sounds like something he’d try.”
Malmuira followed them into the room and sat on a chair in the corner.
Oidche smiled at her before he began to address his men. “Ah needed to get ye all in one place and talk to ye.” He was sitting up in a chair by the hearth, and the men stood around him. “Ah wish for ye to return to the keep. Me faither will need yer help with running things in my absence.”
Kyle protested almost immediately. “Ah won’t leave ye, Oidche.”
“Kyle, ah didn’t think ye’d want to. Ah would ask that ye remain here with me until ah can ride home. Eaunrig and Culloden, ye can ride out in the morning.”
“Aye, sounds like a good plan.” Culloden’s eagerness to be on his way was written all over his face.
“Give my faither me best and assist him as ye can, please.”
They both nodded and left, leaving Kyle and Oidche to talk.
“Ah’ve noticed ye’re interested in a lass here in the keep.” Oidche held up his hand before Kyle could protest. “It’s no use arguing; ah’ve known ye too long, Kyle. Just be sure ye’re honorable while ye’re here, although ah don’t expect anything less from ye.”
Kyle nodded silently and left the room without another word.
Chapter 12
Oidche had been resting as much as possible, and when he couldn’t, Malmuira had ensured that he wasn’t pushing himself too hard. The leg was now able to bear his weight, but he still had pain. Every time he got his full weight on the leg he would grunt and groan.
“Ye can do it, Oidche.” Malmuira encouraged him while they walked to the garden outside.
“Ah’m in pain!” He snapped at her in a tone she wasn’t used to.
She held back tears at the harsh voice. She kept her eyes cast down as he continued to lean on her until they got to the bench in the garden.
She tried to avoid looking at him, to hide the hurt in her eyes, but he must have seen it. “Ah’m sorry, Mal. Ah don’t mean to snap at ye. Ah’m just irritated with being in pain all the time.”
She nodded and swiped at her eyes. “Ah know. Ah don’t mean to cry.”
He put his hand on her cheek in a gentle gesture. “Ah’m sorry to make ye cry.” He kissed her cheek.
“Ye have to meet with Cohlm today. He said that ye might be ready to ride back to the Murrays’ keep.” She had a mixture of fear and dread at leaving the safety of home, but knew that this was the next phase in her life.
“Aye, ah’ll meet with him. Ah need to get back home. My faither needs me.”
“We’ll rest and then head back to see him.”
Oidche stood. “Nay, let’s head back now. Ah don’t need a rest. We only walked from the room. That’s not far at all.”
Malmuira didn’t reply, choosing to keep her mouth shut and just assist him back to the room.
Cohlm was already waiting for them when they arrived. He sat in the corner chair reading from the book he carried around with him.
“Oidche, ye’re looking a bit peaked. Let’s look at that leg and see how it is.”
Oidche sat down on the bed, lifting his leg up onto the bed. The ankle and lower leg were swollen and red. Cohlm gently lifted the knee and began to massage and prod at different areas of the leg. Malmuira saw Oidche wince a couple times, but he did not show any other sign of being in pain.
Malmuira noticed what looked like a grim look on Cohlm’s face. She had seen that look on his face just before her mother passed away. She felt a bubble of fear in her belly, but tried to remain calm.
“Oidche, ah’m not sure how to tell you this.”
“What is it?”
“Ah don't know if your leg will ever get better. It seems that the bone set crooked. Ah haven't had this happen a lot, but when it does, the person tends to lose the ability to run or walk without a limp. Ye’ll certainly not be able to fight again. ‘Twill give you great disadvantage.”
Oidche’s face could have been carved out of stone. “Thank ye.”
Cohlm sat for a moment, then gathered together his things and left the room.
“Leave me be, Malmuira. Ah need some time alone.”
Without another word Malmuira got up to leave. She couldn’t stop the steady stream of tears that were falling down her face, but she didn’t wipe them away until after the door had shut. She didn’t want her husband to see her sadness and her fear.
Oidche didn’t speak to Malmuira all that day. They had slept near each other, but he had not touched her or held her. She missed his arms around her and the warmth and comfort that his body provided. The morning was just as quiet as the previous evening, with Oidche focused on packing things for the ride back to the keep.
After he had packed everything up, he touched Malmuira’s hand. She stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. He had a very serious look on his face.
“What’s wrong, Oidche?” She touched the crease in his brow.
He took her hand in his and spoke quietly. “Ah know ye wanted to stay with your faither and sister, and ah want to give ye that chance, even though ye said earlier ye wanted to stay with me. Ah want ye to be happy. Why don't ye stay with yer faither?”
She felt shock and fear in her heart. Did he not want her anymore? He still hadn’t claimed her to be his own. Most of the physical affection had stopped when his leg broke. She thought it was because of his injury, but now she wondered. Maybe he wasn't interested in her anymore. Perhaps the lifestyle he had led before he met her was more enticing.
“Ye don’t want me anymore?” She whispered because anything louder would have left her sobbing.
Oidche stiffened visibly and a concerned look filled his eyes. He squeezed her hand lightly in his. “Nay lass, that’s not it at all. Ah’m still very much in love with ye and ah want to be with ye. But ah may not be able to provide ye with what ye deserve.”
He had certainly confused her. What he was saying did not make any sense. How could he not provide for me?
“What do ye mean?”
“Ye deserve a man that can fight for ye and protect ye. Ye heard Cohlm. Ah may not be able to use my leg and ah may have pain for the rest of my life. Ah can’t expect ye to stay with me now. Ah’m a cripple.”
She wanted to laugh, but she knew he wouldn’t understand. “Ye think ah deserve better, Oidche? There is no one better. Ye are the best man ah know. Ah don’t care if ye can't use your leg. Ah’m married to ye. Ah promise to stay with ye no matter what, till death. Ah love ye, Oidche.”
He grabbed her waist and pulled her tightly to him in a tender embrace. His lips found hers. It was a kiss that left her deeply satisfied in a way she had never felt before.
“Ah love ye too, Mal.” His deep, husky voice cracked with emotion and she saw gratitude in his eyes. “Ah just want what’s best for ye.”
“Ye are what’s best for me, Oidche Murray.”
He kissed her again, then took her hand and kissed her palm. “Let me take ye home then, wife. Let me grow old with ye and raise bairns with ye.”
“Ah couldn’t think of anything better.” She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the ring she had been carrying around with her since she first left her keep. “Oidche, ah want to give ye this ring. My maither gave it to my faither on their wedding day. It means a lot to my family and my faither wanted me to give it to you.” She put the ring in his hand.
“That means a lot to me. Ah have seen how often ye hold it in yer hand. Ah think it brin
gs ye peace.” He slipped the ring on his finger and entwined his fingers with hers. He kissed the back of her hand.
“Oidche, we need to stop.” They hadn’t rested for over two hours and she could tell by the look he was trying to hide that Oidche need a break.
“Ah can go a bit farther. Ah don't need to rest.”
Malmuira tried a different tactic. “Ah’m not feeling well. Can we please break for a moment?”
Oidche looked at her with what she thought was suspicion, but agreed. “Aye, we break for a time, but then we need to get movin’ again.”
Kyle winked at her from behind Oidche’s back. He must have also noticed that Oidche needed rest. “Ah’ll get the horses to the creek. Ye just stay with Mal. Have her drink water.”
Oidche let out a deep breath and got off the horse, wincing from the sudden weight on the injured leg. Even when he took it slow and tried to keep most of his weight off of the leg, she saw him in pain, more often than not.
She spread out a cloth across the ground that she had brought with her and got out the food she had brought for them to eat. A loaf of dark bread and some dried fish. She handed a flask of whiskey to Oidche. “Faither sent this for ye.”
He took off the stopper and tasted the liquid. She could tell it was a good batch by the way that he closed his eyes to savor the flavor. “Yer faither makes the finest whiskey in all Scotland.”
“And ye’ve sampled them all, have ye?” She teased to lighten his mood.
He laughed. “Seems that way.”
Kyle returned with the horses and sat down to eat with Oidche and Malmuira.
“So who’s the lass ye’ve got yer eye on?” Malmuira had been curious since she found out he was interested in somebody.
“Ah guess ah’ll have to tell ye at some point. It’s Garia, the cook. She’s lovely. Just lovely.” He had a dreamy look in his eye when he said her name.
“That’s wonderful, Kyle. She’s a sweet woman.” Malmuira loved Garia and had always thought of her with high regard. She had begun working in their kitchens at a very young age, and seemed like a part of Malmuira’s family. “She taught me how to cook some when she came to our keep, and she used to sneak me pastries from the pantry. She’s a bit older than ye Kyle, though.”
“Only by five years, and that’s not much. She’s still bonnie.”
Oidche had a smile on his face that spoke of the friendship and brotherhood he felt for Kyle. “Ah’m happy ye found someone, Kyle.”
“Aye, but she hasn’t said she’ll have me yet.”
“Did ye ask, friend?” Oidche leaned back, adjusting his leg to help with the pain.
“Ah did. Ah asked her before ah left. She told me she would send word soon, but needed time to think on it.”
“A wise woman,” Malmuira commented.
“How so?” Kyle seemed dubious.
“Waiting to decide that it is what she wants.”
“But at her age, does she really have a choice?” Oidche asked, incredulously.
Malmuira felt a wave of anger, but attempted to quell it. “Aye, she has a choice. My faither will care for her for the rest of her life, if she chooses. She doesn’t need Kyle to care for her. She wants to ensure that she will be a good fit for him.”
“Ah’m grateful for it nonetheless; she’s a fiery woman.”
“Ah still think it would be smarter for her to wed if she has the option. ‘Tis best for women.” Oidche said the remark with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Why? Why is it best?” Malmuira couldn’t quell her anger for much longer.
“Men care for women. It’s the way of the world.” He seemed confident and sure of himself.
“When ye were injured, ah cared for ye.” She knew she had a valid point.
“Aye, but men are meant to protect and provide for their women.” He was sitting straight up, his jaw set.
“Ah can protect myself, Oidche. Ah don’t need a man to protect me.”
“Women are frail and need protecting. Everyone knows this. Why must ye go against it?” Oidche was getting irritated now. Malmuira could tell by the way he raised his eyebrows and the pitch of his voice.
“My faither taught me to be strong and ah have been! Ah’ve been stronger than most, raising my sister and living without my maither. Ah volunteered to marry ye. Did it to save my clan more death and bring peace. Offered to marry a man that ah had heard was not interested in marrying and one ah never thought ah could be happy with.”
Kyle decided the horses needed more water and wandered off, away from the heated discussion.
Oidche face looked sober and serious. “And now?”
Malmuira took his hand in hers. Furious as she was, she still had a heart full of love for him. “And now, ah know that ah will never be happy without ye.”
He kissed her passionately, sweeping her up in his arms. It was short, however. Kyle came back after the horses had their fill of water… or more likely after he couldn’t hear their voices anymore and knew they were no longer arguing.
They all finished their food and were back on the road, on their way to the Murrays’ keep.
It took twice as long to get back to the Murrays’ keep as it had to get to the Buchanons’. Although Oidche wished to power through the pain, he was often unable to keep up. At first, Malmuira had wanted to prove to him that women were just as capable, but soon realized that the only way to get him to rest was to tell him that she needed to stop. He would stop because she asked for the rest, but not if she told him he needed to rest.
Besides, Oidche was loving and kind to Malmuira. She couldn't ask for a better man to be married to. And while she wanted to believe that she was just as strong as Oidche, she had no desire to go to battle the way that he had so many times. If anyone else heard the way that she had spoken to Oidche and Kyle about the strength of women, she would be ostracized. She knew Kyle and Oidche would tolerate her ideas, but she also knew to try and keep them to herself. Her father had also taught her to be mindful of the opinions of the people around her.
When they reached the Murrays’ keep, she realized she had forgotten just how large it was. Almost the size of the Buchanons’ and they had half the populous. This late in the season, the leaves on the trees were starting to turn a light shade of yellow, verging on gold. The leaves hadn't started to fall yet, but they would soon. The late season chill had not yet started, but the evenings were cooler than the day.
They rode straight to the stables where the young stable hand met them to help unsaddle and unpack their weary horses. “Lad, help the lady first.”
She respected his pride and the need for him to make sure that she was cared for. The lad helped her by removing the saddle and the bags off of her horse and leading her mare over to an empty stall. Malmuira waited while the men took care of their horses, and then followed them into the keep. Their belongings would be brought in by the staff.
“Mal, ah need to meet with my faither. Ye can head back to our room and ah’ll be along shortly.” Kyle and Oidche headed off in the direction of his father’s chambers and Malmuira headed to her room.
When she entered, a warm sight met her eyes. Mae was straightening the room, hanging fresh flowers near the head of the bed. “Malmuira!” She squealed and ran over, throwing her arms around Malmuira in excitement.
“Mae! Ah missed ye so.” Malmuira hugged her even tighter. “Ah have so much to tell ye. Ah really did miss ye.”
“Ah missed ye too, Mal. Ah have a lot to tell ye too. Ye’ve been gone so long. Ah didn't think ye would be gone that long. Ah heard what happened to Oidche. Ah’m glad ye’re okay and he is too. How’s Siusan?”
Malmuira felt her heart sink. “She’s well. Ah miss her already.”
“How’s yer faither faring without ye?”
“Oh, he’s alright. Seems Maizy has been caring for Siusan in my absence. She left her husband.”
“Good for her. Scary though.”
“Aye, but my faither has cared for her a
nd in turn she is caring for Siusan.” Malmuira began to undress, and Mae assisted.
“Ah’ll bet that’s a relief on yer heart though, Mal. To know that Siusan is being cared for well.”
“Aye, ah was worried about her. My faither is wonderful and cares for her, but she needs a woman’s influence.”
Mae continued to help her get into a lighter and more comfortable dress. It smelled much better than the one she had been traveling in. “Ah need a bath, Mae. Can ye make that happen before tonight?”
“Aye, Mal, ah’ll take care of it.”
Mae left the room to get what she needed for the bath. Malmuira decided to lie down on the bed and within moments had fallen fast asleep. The cares and worries she had felt about Oidche, Siusan and her father melted away in a restful sleep.
“Mal…Mal, wake up.”
She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, a kiss on her cheek and then a sweet kiss on her neck. She slowly opened her eyes and stretched.
“Ye’re so bonnie when ye sleep.” Oidche was sitting on the bed next to her. His hand ran up and down her sides while she stretched awake.
“Thank ye,” she replied with a happy sigh. “Ah didn’t know ah fell asleep.”
Oidche scooted back on the bed when she sat up. “Ye’ve been asleep all day, but the feast is near and Faither asked if ye would be there. He wanted to be able to talk to ye some about the trip. He also wanted to thank ye for the notes you took for me while ah was injured.”
“Aye, ah can be there.” She was about to get out of bed, but Oidche put his hand on her leg, holding her in place.
“We have some time before we have to leave.”
She felt a catch in her throat and a wave of butterflies in her belly. “Oh?”
“Aye.” Oidche grabbed the clip that held her hair and pulled it out, shaking her long locks from where they were tied up. He ran his hand down her jawline then down the side of her neck. She felt a shudder tear through her.
Given to the Highlander Page 12
