He stuck his chest out and he smiled smugly. Then he brightened and took her hand. “I bet you do well … for a woman.”
In response she tussled his hair. “You must stop listening to the ideas of your Uncle Caelen, Crispen. It will not endear you to the ladies in the future.”
He wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue, making a gagging noise. “Girls are awful. Except you, Mama.”
She laughed and hugged him to her again. “I’m ever so happy that I’m not considered an awful girl.”
He tucked a perfectly flat, smooth rock into her hand. “Try it.”
“Very well. After all, the honor of all women rests in my hands.”
Crispen giggled at her dramatics as she elaborately lined up her shot. After a few test swings of her arm, she let fly and watched as the rock sailed far, hitting the surface and kicking up water as it bounced.
Beside her Crispen counted under his eath. “Eight! Mama, you did eight! That’s brilliant!”
“Wow, I did it!”
They hugged and she whirled him around until they were both dizzy. They collapsed onto the ground in a fit of giggles, and Mairin tickled Crispen until he begged for mercy.
On the hillside that overlooked the loch, Ewan walked up behind Gannon and Cormac, who stood watch over Mairin and Crispen. He watched as they wrestled on the ground, hearing the joyous sound of their laughter ring out over the land. He smiled and pondered how fortunate he was. He had gained so much in such a short time. No matter that multiple threats shadowed their existence. He took moments like these and held them close.
Love was very precious indeed.
Ewan trudged wearily up the stairs and let himself quietly into his chamber. Some of the fatigue dissipated and the strain he’d been under lifted away as he gazed upon his sleeping wife.
She was sprawled indelicately, facedown, her arms spread out over the bed. She slept just like she did everything else. Full out. No reservations.
He stripped out of his clothing and climbed into bed with her. She snuggled into his arms without ever opening her eyes. She was exhausted often these days, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. Neither had all the retching the poor lass had done over the last few weeks.
She had yet to tell him of her pregnancy, and he didn’t know if it was because she didn’t want to burden him with how ill she was feeling, or if she truly hadn’t yet realized it herself.
He rubbed a hand down her side and over her hip before sliding it between their bodies to rest over her still slim abdomen where their child rested. A child that represented so much hope for the future of his clan.
He kissed Mairin’s brow, smiling as he remembered her and Crispen skipping stones on the loch. She stirred against him and sleepily opened her eyes.
“I wasn’t sure you were coming to bed tonight, Laird.”
He smiled. “ ’Tis actually quite early. You just went to sleep much earlier than usual.”
She yawned and burrowed closer, twining her legs with his. “Has an agreement been made regarding Alaric’s marriage?”
Ewan stroked a hand through her hair. “Aye. Alaric has agreed to the match.”
“You’ll miss him.”
“Aye, I’ll miss having him here as my right hand. But this is a great opportunity for him to rule his own lands and clan.”
“And Rionna? Is she satisfied with the match?”
Ewan’s brow crinkled. “I don’t concern myself with what McDonald’s daughter is satisfied with. The marriage is set. She’ll do her dutyed with;
Mairin rolled her eyes, but Ewan, unwilling to be at odds with her on a night he wanted only to hold her in his arms, kissed her long and deep. “I prefer to discuss other matters, wife.”
She pushed back just a little and viewed him with skepticism. “What things, husband?”
“Like when you’re going to tell me that we’re expecting a child.”
Her eyes went soft and glowed warmly in the light from the hearth. “How did you know?”
He chuckled. “You’ve been sleeping far more than usual. You’re usually unconscious by the time I come to bed at night. And you can’t keep anything you eat down.”
She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I hadn’t intended for you to know of my retching.”
“You should know by now that you can’t hide anything from me, lass. Everything you do is my concern and I’d rather hear it from you when you aren’t feeling well.”
“I’m feeling quite well now,” she whispered.
He raised one eyebrow before capturing her lips in a long kiss. “Just how well?” he murmured back.
“I don’t know. I might need some loving to make me feel completely myself.”
He cupped her cheek and tenderly rubbed his thumb over her mouth. “By all means, we can’t have you feeling anything but yourself. The keep wouldn’t know what to do if you weren’t driving them daft at every moment.”
She balled her fist and pounded him on the chest. He hugged her tightly to him and their laughter filtered through their closed door.
Down the hall, Alaric quietly closed his door so the sound wouldn’t invade his sanctuary. He sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window at the stars hanging low on the horizon.
He envied his brother. He took such delight in his marriage and his wife. Mairin was a woman like no other.
He’d told the truth when he told his brother that he wasn’t ready for marriage. Perhaps he’d never be. Because he’d decided as soon as he watched his brother fall hard for his new bride that he’d never settle for less in his own relationship than the one Ewan and Mairin shared. Only now he wasn’t offered a choice. His clan needed him. His brother needed him. And he’d never refuse Ewan anything.