Caelen's Wife, Book Three

by Suzan Tisdale

  “I think ye’ll make a fine chief,” Caelen said. “And I do no’ say that only as a way to gain everyone’s approval. Ye’ve a good head on yer shoulders, Collin, and ye’ll do Clan McPherson proud.”

  Fiona’s heart swelled with pride and happiness over Caelen’s honest and heartfelt words toward her brother. Had they not been surrounded by her family and advisors, she would have flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. Instead, she came to stand beside him and quietly slipped her hand into his. “I agree with Caelen,” she said as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

  “I’ve given it much thought,” Caelen went on to say. “Fiona and I will marry this day, but if yer agreeable, I would like us to stay on here until we can find out who be responsible for the attacks and murders.” He gave Fiona’s hand a tight squeeze.

  “And who would we be takin’ orders from? Ye?” Richard barked out.

  “Richard!” Fiona snapped, her patience with the man growing quite thin. “That be enough.” She took a deep breath, lowered her voice and said, “I appreciate yer concern. I still be yer chief. Ye’ll take orders from whomever I tell ye. Caelen is bein’ quite generous by offerin’ us his men, his protection, as well as his help in findin’ out who killed Bridgett and Stephan and Mildred.”

  Richard glared across the table at her.

  “If yer only concern is who ye might be takin’ orders from, then I will speak with the rest of our clan,” Fiona told him. “Do ye have any other objections? Do ye object to Collin bein’ chief?”

  “Nay, I do no’ object to Collin,” he ground out.

  Fiona had a feeling there was more Richard wanted to say, perhaps I object to Caelen but thankfully, he kept that opinion to himself. She turned her attention back to the rest of the room. “We have always spoken freely to each other,” Fiona reminded them. “I do no’ want that to change now. If anyone else objects, either to me marryin’ Caelen or Collin bein’ chief, speak now.”

  Furtive glances were cast between her family and advisors. Caelen did not miss the unspoken messages. “I want ye to ken that I will always treat Fiona with respect. And ye will always have the support of Clan McDunnah. We shall always be allies.”

  Seamus gave a nod of his head. “Even ye, Richard, have to admit that it be a good match. Clan McDunnah be a good, strong clan, and we may need them when we find out who murdered our people.”

  Richard snorted his disgust. “I do no’ have to admit anythin’. I only hope Fiona kens what she be doin’.”

  “I do, Richard. I ken quite well what I’ll be givin’ up as well as what I shall gain, what the clan shall gain. This is no’ a decision I made lightly.” Fiona squeezed Caelen’s hand and sent a silent prayer above that no one else in her clan would be as angry as Richard.

  4

  The meeting with her family and advisors had taken longer than Fiona had anticipated. By the time they left her private study, her clan was well on their way to being too far into their cups to make a decision, no matter what Isabelle believed. Besides, she did not want to present the proposals in front of the visiting clans. As far as she was concerned, this was a private matter and would remain thus until her clan made their decision.

  Much to Caelen’s disappointment, ’twas decided they would wait until morning to bring the proposals before her clan. Because it was important to Fiona that she gain their approval, he agreed that they would wait.

  “But the moment we be done, we will step into yer tiny chapel and go before the priest,” he told her as they entered the gathering room.

  “I’ll tie the priest to a chair to ensure he does no’ leave,” Fiona replied cheekily.

  Caelen raised a brow and said, rather mischievously, “I think I might like to tie ye to our marital bed fer a few days and—” his words were cut short by Alyse calling for Fiona. Fiona made a mental note to remember to ask Caelen later just what he had in mind.

  Alyse was positively beaming as she made her way toward Fiona and Caelen. Bhruic was following fast on her heels. “Fiona, I canna thank ye enough!” she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Fiona and pulled her in for a hug.

  “We canna thank ye enough,” Bhruic corrected, his speech slightly off, no doubt from too much ale or whisky. Bhruic wrapped an arm around his new wife and pulled her to his side.

  Alyse smiled up at her husband. “Aye, we are both verra grateful to ye, Fiona.”

  Caelen stepped forward, taking a protective stance next to Fiona. “May ye have many years of happiness.” While his words may have been sincere, the scowl he offered to Bhruic was another matter.

  Bhruic ignored Caelen’s scowl and thanked Fiona again for her generosity. He gave a slight bow at his waist before pulling his new bride away and toward their table.

  “Really, Caelen,” Fiona said after the bride and groom left. “Did ye have to be so rude?”

  Caelen gave her a look that said he had no idea to what she was referring. “I believe I wished them many years of happiness. How was that rude?”

  “The way ye looked at Bhruic, as if ye wanted to rip his head from his shoulders was rude.”

  His face lit with a rather devious smile. “I would.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes and wondered if he would always be this obstinate. “I do no’ ken why. I did no’ marry the man, therefore ye should hold no ill feelin’s toward him.”

  “The mere fact that ye almost married him makes me want to kill him. I’ll no’ apologize fer hatin’ the man or fer wantin’ to see his head on a pike. ’Tis only natural fer me to feel that way toward any man who came close to takin’ ye away from me.”

  Fiona raised a brow. “Will ye always be so jealous?”

  Caelen leaned in and whispered into her ear. “Aye, I will, fer yer mine.”

  The way he said ‘mine’ sent an exciting thrill up and down her spine. She realized then that if any other man were to infer such a thing, to claim her as his own, she might very well have run her broadsword through his heart. ’Twas quite different with Caelen, for she knew he did not mean she was his possession, to control and do with as he pleased. Nay, ’twas something far less harsh and less threatening than that. Fiona was his, the possessor of his heart.

  With the gathering room filled to capacity and spilling out into the courtyard, Fiona and Caelen were not left alone for more than a few heartbeats. No one, save for her family and advisors, knew that on the morrow, Fiona would ask for her clan’s blessing and approval to marry Caelen and appoint Collin as chief. She very much would have liked to quit the room and take Caelen to her bedchamber, but ’twas impossible.

  Music and laughter filled the space and lifted her spirits. She prayed their good humor would last through the morrow when she would gather them here and make a formal announcement. One after another, her clanspeople stepped forward to remark how lovely the wedding had been and how much they were enjoying the feast. She believed most of them came forward to catch a closer glimpse at Caelen, who had not left her side since he’d taken her from the kirk earlier in the day.

  After a time, the room grew warmer and warmer, the chatter and music louder, to the point that Fiona began to feel rather lightheaded. She was about to ask Caelen if he’d like to join her out of doors for some fresh air, when Radner McPherson, grandfather to Conner and Maggie, stepped forward. He was an older man, with thinning gray hair and a slight stoop to his back. He and his wife, Alana, had taken in the two children after the murder of their parents. Fiona took one look at the man and knew he was not here to celebrate.

  “Fiona,” he said, his voice laced with worry.

  Fiona stepped forward and wrapped her hands around his. “Ye do no’ look well, Radner.”

  “Just tired. Could I speak to ye alone fer a moment?” he asked as he cast a look at Caelen.

  “We can,” she told him before turning to Caelen. “I would truly like to step out of doors, Caelen. It be verra warm and loud in here.”

  Caelen looked concerned. He took Fiona’s hand in h
is and led the way through the crowd of people, out of the gathering room and into the cool evening air. Radner followed closely behind them.

  The cool air felt good against her cheeks. As she took in slow, deep breaths, Caelen guided them away from the steps and toward a quieter spot in the courtyard. “Are ye well, Fiona?” he asked with a furrowed brow and voice filled with concern.

  “Aye,” she answered with a smile. “’Twas simply far too crowded and hot.”

  Radner finally made his way through the small crowd and approached, looking quite weary. He was reluctant to speak in front of Caelen.

  “Radner, Caelen is a verra good friend and ally. Ye may speak freely in front of him,” Fiona said.

  He gave Caelen a long look, sizing him up.

  “Ye have me oath of confidence,” Caelen said.

  Radner appeared comfortable with Caelen’s promise of silence. “It be me grandchildren, Conner and Maggie. Well, Maggie more so than Conner.”

  Fiona’s heart ached for the two small children and all they had endured. It was quite difficult for her to imagine what torment and hell they had gone through the night their parents were murdered. Her heart told her ’twould be something the children would never truly recover from.

  “I take it they do no’ fare well,” Fiona said.

  Radner’s eyes filled with sadness and grief. “Nay, they do no’ and neither does me wife. Mildred was our only child, ye ken. Alana is sufferin’ a great deal at losin’ our daughter.” He choked back his own tears before going on. “Mildred came to us late in life. Alana doted on her, adored her as a child and no woman was ever more proud at how a daughter grew into a fine woman. I thought that havin’ Conner and Maggie would help ease her pain but it has no’. Conner tries to be brave, but he’s just a boy. And Maggie, well, she has no’ uttered a word since that night.”

  “I be so sorry fer yer loss,” Caelen said. Fiona took note of the sadness in his voice but also saw his jaw tic. There had been no time to fill him in on the events of that night. All that he knew were that two people were dead and two children had been left as orphans.

  Radner’s features softened somewhat as he looked up at Caelen. “Thank ye, McDunnah.”

  “Radner,” Fiona said as she again took his hand into hers. “I fear it will take a verra long time before the pain begins to fade. What can we do to help?”

  Radner cleared his throat and Fiona could sense he was fighting some inner battle. Reluctantly, he broached the subject. “I do no’ ken what to do, Fiona, fer me grandchildren or me wife. Alana sits by the window each day, just starin’ out as if she expects Mildred to walk down the path. And wee Maggie, I just do no’ ken what to do fer her. She cries out all night, no’ sayin’ a word, just whimperin’ and cryin’. I try to comfort her, but she will no’ let me. And Alana just sits by the window like she canna hear her. I do no’ ken what to do.”

  The ache in Fiona’s chest increased a thousandfold as she imagined poor Alana sitting by the window and little Maggie crying out. Poor Radner was doing his best to keep what was left of his family together. The responsibility had to be overwhelming.

  “Radner,” Fiona said in a soft, low voice. “Mayhap we need to give yer wife time to grieve. Mayhap havin’ the children there reminds her too much of yer Mildred. Would ye mind if we brought Conner and Maggie here, to the keep? Just until Alana is better.”

  Radner’s shoulders sagged with relief. Fiona had sensed that he wanted to ask all along, but might have felt too guilty. “’Tisn’t that I do no’ want me grandchildren, Fiona—”

  Fiona stopped him with a gentle squeeze of her hand. “Of course no’, Radner! I ken how much ye love those wee babes.” She smiled at him before turning to Caelen. “When Conner was born, ye’d have thought no other man had ever been a grandfather before. Radner was the proudest man I’d ever seen.”

  Caelen smiled thoughtfully at Radner. “I look forward to meetin’ them.”

  “Radner, I will send someone to help ye bring the children here this night. I’ll have a room prepared next to mine. And ye may visit them every day if ye wish.”

  His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. The guilt at having to admit he couldn’t fix his wife or grandchildren was plainly evidenced in his forlorn eyes.

  “I thank ye, Fiona. I swear someday that I’ll repay yer generosity.”

  Fiona smiled before giving him a good hug. “Do no’ worry it, Radner. We’re all family and this is what family does.”

  He broke the embrace, thanked her once again, and left.

  Fiona began to head toward the keep when Caelen stopped her with a hand on her arm. He had a very odd expression on his face, one she couldn’t quite discern. Then she realized mayhap she should have discussed the matter with him before offering her home to two small children. Caelen would be her husband on the morrow, if things went as she hoped. She would have to get used to discussing things with him before making decisions that would affect both of them.

  “Och, Caelen! Please fergive me fer no’ discussin’ the matter with ye. I fear I’ve no’ had to discuss matters with anyone else fer a verra long time.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “I fear ’twill be somethin’ each of us will have to become accustomed to.”

  “Ye do no’ mind me bringin’ the children here, do ye?” It will no’ matter if ye do, but still, I feel inclined to ask.

  “Of course no’, Fiona. But ye need to ken that I be no’ verra good with children.”

  She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. The image of Caelen — fierce warrior, clan chief to over five hundred people, and rumored to be insane — bouncing a child on his knee was laughable.

  “Do no worry it much, Caelen. They be small children, quite tame in fact,” she said with a grin. And as far as I ken, they do no’ bite,” she said playfully.

  He pulled her against his chest and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “What of ye, Fiona? Do ye bite?” he asked as he pressed his lips against her neck.

  She sucked in a gulp of air as her skin turned to gooseflesh. “Nay, I do no’ bite, but I have been known to nibble.”

  Isabelle and Mairi helped to ready a room for Conner and Maggie. ’Twas a serviceable room with two small beds that sat facing the small hearth. A wooden chest in which to put their belongings sat under the window that faced east. Isabelle found a chair and placed it in front of the fireplace. The clanspeople had rallied around the children days ago, as soon as word had spread about the death of their parents and loss of their home. Clothes, shoes, and even a few toys had been given to them, so they were not now completely without possessions.

  Knowing no amount of clothes, toys, or good will could ever replace their parents, Fiona was determined to make life for these children as warm and loving as possible, even if she were leaving soon.

  Caelen had grown rather quiet, standing near the window as Fiona and her sisters-in-law flittered about the room doing their best to make it as comfortable as possible. Occasionally, Fiona would chance a glance at her betrothed only to find that his eyes looked vacant, as if he were far away from here. She would wait until later to ask him about it.

  The celebration below stairs was still in full swing, and would undoubtedly last well into the early morning hours. While Seamus, Andrew and Richard were left in charge of the festivities below, Collin and William brought the two children above stairs through the back staircase.

  What Fiona saw when the children stepped from the shadows of the hallway and into the light of the room broke her heart. Conner looked gaunt, as if he hadn’t eaten in days and the weight of the world rested on his nine-year-old shoulders. And Maggie? She’d always been so bright and bubbly, but now, her eyes no longer held the twinkle and brightness of a wee little girl. Instead, her eyes were dull, almost lifeless.

  Fiona made a silent vow then, to take the lives of those men responsible for destroying two young, innocent lives.

  Conner was clinging to Maggie’s hand, though Fiona do
ubted the little girl even realized it. William placed a gentle hand on Conner’s shoulder. “Do ye remember yer chief, Fiona?” he asked the little boy.

  “Aye,” he whispered softly. He cast a look about the room.

  Fiona went to the children and knelt before them. “I be verra glad that yer here, Conner, Maggie.”

  Conner’s eyes brimmed with tears while Maggie continued to look lost and unaware. Fiona placed a reassuring hand on Conner’s arm. “Are ye hungry, lad?”

  Conner shook his head and whispered, “Nay.”

  Fiona glanced at the people who filled the small room. “William? Collin? Escort yer wives below stairs. I’ll tend to the children now.”

  No one argued and quietly, they left Fiona and Caelen alone with the children. Once the door closed behind them, Fiona turned her attention back to Conner and Maggie. “Are ye certain yer no’ hungry?” she asked as she led them toward the hearth. “We’ve plenty to eat here.”

  Fiona wanted to say or do something, anything, to help the children feel both welcomed and at home. Other than feeding them and loving on them, she didn’t know what else to do. She glanced up to see Caelen still standing near the window. His expression was a combination of sadness and anger, which was exactly how she felt. Still, he remained silent and unmoving.

  Fiona sat in the chair in front of the fire and tried to lift Maggie to her lap. The little girl shrugged away Fiona’s gesture and took a few steps away.

  “She does no’ speak and she does no’ want to be held,” Conner said as he stood beside Fiona and stared across the room at Caelen.

  She wasn’t about to force the little girl to do anything she didn’t want to do. Hopefully, over time, the child would learn to trust again and mayhap speak. “Conner. Maggie. I’d like ye to meet Caelen McDunnah,” Fiona said as she nodded toward her silent partner.

  Conner scooted a bit closer to Fiona, no doubt a bit fearful of the large, quiet man with the scars. Fiona wrapped an arm around the boy and drew him in closer. “Caelen be a good man, Conner. But he is no’ used to bein’ around children.” She leaned in and whispered into the little boy’s ear. “I think he be afraid of ye.”