Free Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] by Border Wedding Page B

jug, he added, “I’d count myself lucky to sire such a family.”
    “First ye ha’ to bed your bride, aye. And later, ye’ll no be forgetting our Rosalie,” Murray went on. “She’ll need a husband one day, too, so if ye’ve any young noble friends as would like to try raiding my herds, ye can send them along to Elishaw when she’s older.”
    “Perhaps you will explain something to me,” Wat said amiably. “You have a fine herd of your own, so I must wonder why you raided mine. Reivers usually raid because they seek beef or milk for their families. You need nowt that I can see.”
    “Some seek adventure,” Murray said with a twinkle.
    “Do you think that’s what I did? In troth, sir, I was ale-shot and angry, and came only to reclaim what was mine. My lads named you as the likely thief—forgive me if the word is harsh—but the tracks led us straight to Elishaw.”
    “Aye, sure,” Murray said cheerfully. “I thought ye might come, for I’d seen ye at the races. I did think my lads would ha’ to lie in the heather at least one night for nowt, though. Sithee, I’d seen how much ye’d been drinking and thought ye’d sleep a night first. And then mayhap . . .” He shrugged.
    Wat frowned but lowered his voice as he said, “Did you mean this to happen then? To trap me into marrying the lady Margaret?”
    Murray’s frown matched his. “Nay, then. ’Twas later I decided to offer ye that. I’d ha’ hanged ye, for ye’ll no deny ye’d ha’ taken my beasts along wi’ yours.”
    “But why should I not have, if only to teach you not to take what was mine?” Wat heard his voice rising and warned himself that a battle, even of words, would gain him only more trouble. When Murray chose not to reply, he said more calmly, “I beg your pardon, sir, but surely you understand my confusion. You still have not said why you took them in the first place.”
    “’Tis a simple matter o’ sharing the hardship,” Murray said soberly. “When trouble comes, ye who live at a distance from the line ha’ fair notice and can easily move your beasts and families out of harm’s way. My beasts, on the other hand, nearly always serve to feed the invading army or raiders that precede it. This time, I chose to exact help from men who dinna keep a close eye on their beasts. Ye’d left yours untended in Rankilburn Glen.”
    “Theft is hardly a way to share trouble,” Wat said indignantly.
    “But ’tis only fair, ye’ll agree, that the same folks shouldna ha’ to feed the English army each time merely because they ha’ the misfortune to lie in their path.”
    “If you thus provide them with more beef, I suspect some would say you’re supporting them, not just falling victim to them,” Wat said, knowing Douglas would certainly say so.
    “Ah, but ye see, they simply take what they want, as they will,” Murray said. “This time my lads will drive my beasts north, leaving yours for the English to find so they willna go looking for mine. Ye’ll just be sharing the hardship this once.”
    “The plain fact is that many who find themselves in Hotspur’s path or that of any other English warriors do manage to move their beasts and families out of harm’s way, and without stealing from their neighbors, or from folks who live nearly twenty miles away.”
    “Aye, well, mayhap ye can raise the matter at the next wardens’ meeting,” Murray said. “But for now, lad, though I’ve enjoyed our discussion, ye should eat your dinner. I canna doubt ye’ll be needing your strength to see to your duty.”
    Resisting the urge to grind his teeth or growl at his host, Wat fixed his attention on his food.
    Since the moment Sir Walter had leaned forward and caught her eye after his audacious retort to her father’s teasing had nearly made her laugh aloud, Meg had caught no more than a glimpse of one hand or arm as he dealt with his meal. She heard his low-pitched voice and her father’s, but except for a word here and