Nate Bjorn

Chapter 14

Early morning sunrises in Scotland were beautiful. Kansas sunrises were a close second. That was the one thing Nate missed when he'd left Scotland. Now that Nate was back he couldn't get past waking up and seeing a sunrise. Zihana thought him funny, but he didn't care. Nate had dragged Zihana out of bed on plenty of occasions to watch the sunrise.

Nate's family still didn't know that he was here. No one knew except for his Grandparents, Zihana, and her family. Speaking of Zihana and her family, Zihana should be returning from seeing them. Nate had wanted to go along, but Zihana had convinced him not to come. There was something about Nate's brothers keeping an eye on Zihana or something like that.

The sunrise was gone from the sky by the time Nate headed down to the kitchen. Breakfast was never big on Nate's list. He always ate whenever he was hungry which was usually round ten in the morning. If he tried to eat as soon as he rose in the morning he would get sick. It annoyed him to no end, but he'd learned to deal with it.

The scent of warm bread wafted from the kitchen. Nate's mouth watered as he thought of warm bread and honey. The cook greeted him with a fresh slice of bread as soon as he set foot in the kitchen. They had come to expect him whenever bread was being baked. Nate sat at one of the rough hewn tables and watched the kitchen helpers' work.

A soft hand touched Nate's shoulder. Nate looked up and smiled in welcome as his Grandmother sat down next to him. One of the kitchen helpers' sat a cup of tea down in front of Birkita. Nate watched his Grandmother dip her tea bag and then add lemon with a little bit of sugar. She gave him a gentle smile before she took a sip of tea.

"What's bothering ye Nate?"

Nate shrugged. "How long much I hide out here?"

"Until it is safe for ye. Give yer Grandfather a chance. There is a meeting tonight between Clan Campbell and yer Grandfather."

Nate gave his Grandmother a questioning look. "Why?"

"The Campbells have unfinished business with yer family. It all happened years ago before ye were born. Yer parents offended the Campbells. They have been waiting for a chance to strike back."

Understanding dawned on Nate. "Is that where Zihana is?"

Birkita nodded. "Clan MacEwan are related through marriage to the Clan Campbell. Zihana has to Father asking for his help in contacting the Campbells. We should hear back from them within the next few days."

"I hope that whatever plans Grandfather has they go smoothly."

"They will. We have been putting this plan together since before ye left. It was only pure luck that Zihana found ye when she went to America. Ye have been a very hard person to find."

"Don't tell me ye have tried to have me followed," Nate said with a smile.

Humor shone in Birkita's eyes as she reached up and pinched his cheek. "Of course not. We hired a private investigator shortly after ye left to try to locate ye. He lost ye somewhere in the Midwest."

Nate laughed. "I never left the Midwest. He must have stopped looking for me."

"Well, it doesn't matter now." Birkita reached over and squeezed Nate's arm. "Ye are home now."

"I am aren't I."

"Yes and yer Grandfather and I are not letting you go anytime soon." Burkita watched the activity in the kitchen as she idly ran a finger around the lip of her tea cup. "I doubt that Zihana will ever let ye go," Burkita mused aloud.

"Ye won't have to worry about that Grandmother. I have no plan of letting Zihana slip through my fingers. I thought I lost her back when I fled Scotland. I am to keep her as close to my side as possible."

A smile touched Burkita's lips. "Ye are yer Grandfather's grandson. He told my Father the same thing when he wooed me all those many years ago."

Nate sat up curious. He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table. "Can ye tell about what he did?"

Burkita laughed as she reached up and patted Nate's cheek. "Go for a turn with me about the garden and I'll tell ye how he wooed me. Women have changed now a day, but they still like to be treated as if they are a Princess. Sometimes the old ways are best."

Nate held his Grandmother's chair as he gave her a hand up. They exited through the doorway that led from the kitchen out into the herb garden. Activity in the kitchen stilled as everyone watched the pair leave. Excited chatter filled the air as everyone got back to work. The Cook shook her head as she went back to stirring the stew she was making for lunch. It was good to see how happy her laird and lady were with their grandson. They had mourned his absence like a plant mourns the loss of the sun.

Things were going to change around her. Cook could feel it in her bones. She just hoped that everyone was ready for the storm that was sure to come. The Lady Lyon wasn't someone to mess with. She had sunk her claws deep into her Laird's son and look how all of that turned out. They had ten children who squabbled amongst each other like thieves. No wonder why little Nate had sought an escape.

A smile touched Cook's lips as she thought of how Nate had grown up. She watched him grow and had seen how hard it'd been on the Laird and Lady to treat him the way they did. Nate was strong, but he had enough hardship to deal with at home. Back in the early days of Scotland, Nate would've been disposed of by his siblings.

Lady Lyon and Lord Brodie were in for a rough surprise if they thought that they could continue on the way that they did. All of their money came from the Laird and he had the right to bypass his son and grandchildren and give control of the Clan Brodie to Nate. That is what Cook hoped that happened.

Cook began to think of contacting her cousin in the Lord Brodie and Lady Lyon household. She had a good ear for gossip and she'd be able to pass along information that Cook could tell her Laird and Lady. Cook nodded her head decisively as she bustled about the kitchen barking orders. No one messed with her Laird or his family and got away with it.