“Striopach,” Makenna murmured, unaware she had just called Lela a harlot out loud.
“I actually think you might be right,” Colin affirmed softly. “She’s been meeting with MacCuaig regularly.”
“How much longer are you going to stand by and watch as McTiernay destroys our way of life?” Lela shouted loud enough for all to hear.
“The only destruction and filth I’ve heard is from your own mouth, Lela Fraser. We might not like the Highlander, but MacCuaig is no better. We’ve heard rumors about how he mistreats his own people. Not a man I want to be shifting my allegiance to,” said an older man with short scrubby hair and a wrinkled face.
Lela scoffed and gave him a placating smile. “Make your choice, then, but I would rather be led by a strong Lowland laird with an army who could protect me and my clan than a weak Highlander with a handful of untrained recruits and a vulnerable wall.”
The small crowd became smaller as more turned away and resumed their duties. Still, Lela kept on. Only a few Makenna knew to be adamantly against Colin as their laird remained behind for a while before they, too, decided to leave.
Colin stood up and pulled Makenna up beside him. Conor assisted Laurel and said one word, “Interesting.”
“Aye, ’tis that. It shouldn’t be long now. As soon as Dunlop returns with Drake we’ll be ready,” Colin replied.
Makenna spun around in Colin’s arm. “Returning? I thought you said Drake was out training the men.”
“Aye, I did. I just didn’t tell you where,” Colin pointed out with a touch of self-satisfaction.
“The question you should be asking, Makenna, is what your husband is getting ready for,” Laurel advised.
Makenna crossed her arms and looked directly into her giant’s sparkling blue eyes. “I’ve no need to ask. I already know. He’s about to teach my obstinate, shortsighted clan a well-deserved lesson.”
Colin favored her with a blindingly bright smile. “Aye, wife, and I hope they are quick learners.”
Colin opened his arms, and Makenna stepped into them and held him close. “I hope they are, too,” she whispered against his chest. “For I am ready for this to be over.”
Colin leaned down and kissed her hair. “And if things go wrong, and we leave?”
“Then we leave,” she whispered back.
“Don’t worry. I don’t know if I ever told you this before, but we McTiernays are great planners. Things rarely go wrong.”
Makenna hugged Colin tightly to her. Twice in one day, she was told about the McTiernays’ ability to strategize and plan. Makenna didn’t know if that was a good sign or an omen of bad things to come.
Chapter Fifteen
“Normally, I would agree. But tonight, we want to be late. Let the festivities be well along before we arrive,” Laurel said to Makenna as she plucked furiously at Ceridwin’s dark gold hair. The intricate weave had taken almost an hour to complete, but the end effect was worth the effort. The past two weeks had been extremely illuminating, and Laurel was just starting to feel like she was making real progress.
Her hardest goal had been easily achieved upon meeting Ceridwin. The young woman had come running into the courtyard the day Drake returned, throwing herself quite unladylike into his arms.
She had a heart-shaped face, a sweet disposition, and a mischievous twinkle in her hazel eyes. She openly kissed Drake full on the mouth and cared very little if anyone admonished her for it. She was just as open with her displeasure when she found out Drake had been ordered to continue overseeing the soldiers in the fields. Ceridwin calmed only after he promised to come back and see her every few days.
When Makenna asked Ceridwin to participate in the planning of a semilarge feast celebrating Drake’s return and Conor’s visit, Laurel knew her new sister was going to be fine. Aileen’s friendship gave her a safe, honest place to turn to for questions and support, and she wanted Makenna to have the same.
The two women were like halves of the same loaf, destined to be friends. Ceridwin’s father had raised her alone, and she had often felt out of place knowing more about how to be a man and planting crops than she did about being a lady. A few months ago, her father had passed, and Ceridwin’s aunts had offered her shelter within the village. There she had met Drake, but everyone else she encountered thought her odd and uncultured for a woman of her age. As Makenna shared similar situations and feelings, the two had become fast confidantes.
“There,” Laurel said, looking at Makenna, who was standing over her shoulder, “did you see how I did that? It isn’t hard at all, just a little time-consuming. You just need to remember that trick of how to cross the pins holding the braids so that they don’t come down when you are dancing.”
Ceridwin looked in the polished silver and admired the end effect. “I don’t know if I can go looking like this. I look like a…a real lady,” she said softly.
Makenna nudged her new friend lightly in the shoulder. “You absolutely must. I cannot wait until Drake sees you.”
Ceridwin stood and turned around admiring how the gold velvet of her new gown swirled complementarily around her ankles. Never had she felt more beautiful. Her heart was pounding heavily. Drake had been away for over a week and had returned just that morning, but she had yet to see him.
Laurel waited until Makenna donned her dark green silk bliaut over her cream-colored chainse. Makenna looped her gold embroidered belt matching the stitching around the gown’s collar and sleeves twice around her abdomen, placing a decorative knot in front so that it hung flatteringly with the ends nearly touching the floor. Being careful not to crush the silk, she descended carefully onto the wooden stool and waited as Laurel placed intermittent gold threads throughout her hair. Makenna then loosely pinned back the sides of her thick red hair, leaving the rest to flow freely down her back.
Ceridwin came up beside her and sighed. “Your hair is so beautiful, Makenna. You should always leave it loose like it is now. Until tonight I think I have only seen it braided.”
Makenna reached up and touched the softened strands. She never thought so little effort could achieve this effect. Laurel had showed her how to combine certain plants and then rub minute amounts of the mixture into her hair as it dried. The effect was amazing. No longer was her hair so voluminous and frizzy it drowned out the rest of her face when left unbound. The rich red waves almost reached her waist and smelled of rosemary and lavender.
Laurel pinned the last thread into Makenna’s hair and smiled at the effect. “Yes, I believe our men will be quite pleased with their choices in women this evening,” she said, smoothing out the royal-blue gown she knew to be Conor’s favorite. “I think they have waited for us long enough.”
Laurel grinned and walked toward the door with Ceridwin close behind. Makenna stood and fought her tendency to fidget when apprehensive.
It had been her suggestion to celebrate the harvest, Conor’s arrival, and Drake’s homecoming. But it had been Colin who had requested that she invite the entire clan. She knew then he was going to use the event to carry out some part of his grand scheme. Yet no amount of coaching had persuaded him to tell her in what way. All he would say was “Wait and see.” He promised there would be no fighting and that it would be a relaxing and enjoyable time.
Makenna watched Laurel and Ceridwin disappear down the stairs. “Why do I think you will be the only one relaxed and having fun, Colin?” Makenna sighed aloud.
“Makenna!” Laurel shouted from below.
“Coming!” Makenna returned and quickly descended to join her friends.
As soon as they exited into the cool night air, several soldiers flanked them as they made their way through the mass of people gathered in the inner yard. Makenna had asked Doreen to spread the word that all were invited, but never did she think so many Dunstans would come. Even the feast following her father’s death did not draw so many out of their homes.