McKinnon's Bride - Laird's Love Vol. 1

The Battle

Josephine and Bryce had two full days within their chamber. During that time, they ate and bathed, loved and talked. Although Erin had shared much about the other with each, the two nevertheless sought to know more in the privacy of their love nest.

On the third day, however, Donovan came knocking. Bryce had known he would, and so he tried not to be angered by his best friend's intrusion. Rather, he sighed and flicked the blankets over his sleeping wife and then prowled to the door after pulling on his tunic and breeches.

"Our allies have arrived," Donovan said, his voice low upon the silent instruction of his Laird to speak softly. "And the McGrearys and McIntyres are but a day away."

Bryce nodded and sighed. He looked back to the covers of his bed. His heart knew that, underneath them was the soft sweetness of his beautiful wife. If not for his own clan and his forebears, he had to leave her to ensure her safety. He had no doubt that her uncle would cause her harm once he learned of her warning to Bryce – if the snake didn't already know of it.

"I'll be down shortly," Bryce said, closing the door. He then walked over to the edge of the bed and crouched, running a gentle hand over Josephine's shoulder. Her soft green eyes blinked open, shining upon him.

"I must go, love," he said. "For now, you can move about the keep," he explained. "But there may come a time when I ask you to stay indoors, and perhaps, within these four walls."

Josephine nodded and reached out a hand to his face. Bryce's beard had started in because he hadn't taken the time to shave since holing up with her. It scratched against her palm as she traced over his jaw.

"Be careful," she ordered.

There was a wealth of feeling tucked into those two words, but she held them close. Though she'd given up hope that she and her husband could be more than strangers, the few days with him, combined with what she'd known from Erin, had made that hope spring up. It was more than loyalty and vows that bound Josephine to him, but she would not give it voice. She wouldn't invite the Fates to interfere with her future happiness.

"Aye, love," Bryce replied. "I will," he promised.

"I've yet to see if we've brought bairn to us," he noted, slipping his hand under the covers to her abdomen. Although he wanted time with his lass, he also felt the pull to see her heavy with his child. Without another word, though, he leaned forward and kissed her hard. Then, he rose and walked out of the room.

--

"Damned vipers," Bryce muttered as he watched the McIntyres and McGrearys set up camp. They'd come upon his land two days after the warning Donovan had received, their movements slower than what had been expected.

"Aye," Laird MacArthur stated, his eyes narrowed.

"An insult to the snake," Laird Cameron countered, his arms crossed.

"They're sending a runner," Donovan stated, pointing at a rider who was approaching. Bryce raised an unimpressed brow, but nodded and then stepped away from the ledge. The portcullis had not been sealed as yet, but would be shortly.

On reaching the grounds, Bryce walked over to the entry. He noted that the rider who approached was young, perhaps only sixteen summers. He sighed as he waited for the lad to get off his horse and approach.

"I come to speak to Laird McKinnon," the lad said, his voice only barely shaking.

"Then speak," Donovan growled from over Bryce's shoulder. The lad licked his lips and then straightened his spine.

"The Laird McGreary has been promised the Lady Josephine Montclair," the lad said, earning a round of angered yelling from Bryce's back. "And the McIntyres are prepared to take over the stewardship of McKinnon land," the boy continued. "If Laird McKinnon will put down his sword, the two clans will permit the Camerons and the MacArthurs safe passage."

"Oh, will they now?" Laird Cameron said, his lips curved, though no one would call the motion a smile.

"Aye," the lad said, completely straight-faced. Either he was a moron, or he was trained well. It was hard to say.

"Verra well," Bryce said, stepping forward. "You may tell Lairds McIntyre and McGreary that this is my response," he informed the lad, who stood taller as he listened, no doubt relieved that he hadn't been killed outright.

"They'd take my wife and my land over ma dead body," Bryce said clearly.

"Wife?" the lad asked, to which Donovan laughed.

"Aye, lad," Donovan stated. "The good Lady Josephine is mistress of what you see," he said. "An' I've promised her not to let any lackeys for the English dogs harm her home," he concluded, his voice hard.

"Go, boy," Laird MacArthur said. "And convey the MacArthurs' distaste for the clans of whom you speak."

The lad nodded, looking a little green around the ears. He mounted his horse and left. As he did, Bryce gave the signal to lower the gates. It was to be war.

On the other side of the lawn, the Lairds of the McGrearys and the McIntyres watched the portcullis lower. With sighs of resignation, they turned to their marksmen and gave the nod. They didn't need to hear the words of their rider, though they would upon him reaching camp. It was clear that the fools inside the castle walls were going to put up a fight.

While the volleys began, the lad met up with the two Lairds. He repeated the messages he'd received, ducking when the Laird for the McGreary's struck out upon hearing his bride to be had been taken by McKinnon. The woman's uncle had thought that it possible the McKinnons had taken the lass, but hadn't known for certain. Now, McGreary knew that not only had the McKinnons taken his bride, the Laird had tasted of her. It sent the McGreary leader into a rage.

Unfortunately, the McGreary temper was such that it was without reason. The knowledge that the woman who'd her uncle claimed was pure was now sullied by the hands of a McKinnon completely overcame the logic of the Laird. Instead of working with McIntyre to scale the castle and take it, therefore, McGreary gave his men the order personally.

The disjointed attack from outside was no match for the careful, planned, and combined response from inside the keep.