Free Highland Light by Cherime MacFarlane Page A

quickly decided against it. Christal was the object of Ainsley's attention lately. It would not be good if they became too close.
    She chuckled at the thought. Up until her wedding night she would not have given the matter a second thought. Ailene understood a good deal more about relationships now than she had before Gideon. A picture of him to surfaced in her mind. She shook her head then went back into the kitchen.
    They would light the fire in the hall for the boys later. There was no real reason to do so at the moment. Without the men there would be no big meals and no necessity to keep the hall warm and ready for them. Ailene set about making oatcakes for the lads.
    That night Ailene slipped into bed thinking about Gideon and the other men as she did so. She said a prayer for them all. The rain was still falling. It would be a cold night for them out in the forest if they did not have shelter. They would be spending many a damp night in the heather and gorse.
    Ailene was glad the men had the waulked plaids to cover themselves. The tales of the hardships The Bruce had already endured again came to mind. Hopefully things would be a bit better now. She wished more clans would declare themselves for the king's banner. That she could only pray for.
    Something of Gideon's scent lingered on his side of the bed. Ailene moved into his space. It was cold comfort. She wanted her husband. With a sigh she curled up in the bed and tried to relive every moment of their short time together. Ailene thought about the other seventeen women who would be sending their husbands off too soon. Seventeen other women in Scotland, newly wed, might be feeling as she did now. With a sigh Ailene tried to sleep.
    It was three days later when Caelan and Ainsley ran back into the glen from a hunting expedition. Wide eyed and slightly out of breath, they pointed back up the glen. Ainsley managed to gasp out that MacNabs were on their way into the glen.
    Ailene ground her teeth. MacNabs were kin to Comyn and were surely seeking information. If they discovered that MacGrough supported Bruce, they would likely take that as an excuse to pillage. This was something she had expected might happen. If not the MacNabs, it would have been the MacNaughtons.
    Ailene just had sufficient time to send Caelan down the glen to alert Iver, Lachlan, Hern, Reed, and Seumas to the arrival of their uninvited guests. Ailene did have her bow and quiver just inside the big heavy wooden door of the keep.
    The lead horseman rode his horse up and made a show of pulling it up. The animal stamped it hooves as it shook its head from side to side.
    "Good day to ye! I would speak to MacGrough."
    The man brought his horse under control quickly. Ailene stood on the stone step of the keep. She would not invite the man in. Ailene did not believe this young man was The MacNab.
    "Good day to ye, sir. My fayther is no here. He and my husband are awa."
    The young MacNab clansman eyed her carefully.
    "And where might they be awa to?"
    "Well sir, they are awa Glasgow way. Tis spring sir and tis time to buy and sell, ye ken?"
    The young man looked around. He noted the warriors with their sword hanging down their backs and spears in hand, making their way up to the house. The five MacGrough warriors were joined by the three older men. There were four MacNabs. MacNab's animal snorted as it threw its head into the air.
    "This is a friendly visit, ye ken?"
    The clansman again turned his attention to Ailene.
    "Och, aye. What is it ye wished to discuss with me fayther? I am chatelaine and if there be anything I may help ye with?"
    Ailene continued to keep the smile on her face. The young man blurted out.
    "Have ye any lambs ye wish to sell?"
    Ailene laughed.
    "Nay sir. We are no selling sheep at this season. In the summer we may decide to part with some muttton. Come back then and we shall see. For now we wish to increase our flock and will no be parting with tha creatures."
    The clansman turned and