Page 7 of The Lass and the Laird

The pretty woman looked up to him and smiled. "I thank you for your rescue. I will ensure my brother understands you only tried to assist me."

Her flustered maid hurried forward and pulled her away by the hand. "Goodness, milady, what have you done?"

Declan watched the group hurry away, the younger man turned and glared at him one last time, while the others talked in hushed tones as they walked away.

Perplexed at the last few moments, he moved in front of the inn where Ian came upon him. "What happened?"

"The most curious thing. A lass asked for my rescue, then promptly kissed me. Her guards and maid found us. One pulled a sword, the other threatened with taking me before the new laird."

"The red-haired lass?" Ian watched the group as the women were assisted onto a wagon and the younger man mounted a horse.

"Aye. Addled, I think."

"Comely wench."

"True."

"But not right in the head."

"Sad thing that."

They went inside the inn and met the innkeeper and his wife, who fed them and poured ale while discussing the goings-on about town.

Declan decided to find out about the woman who'd kissed him. "Who is the fiery-haired lass who was about the square?"

"Oh, you must mean Meredith Stuart." The woman brightened at the prospect of telling a new story. "A sad tale that. Her wedding day was quite the event, many from this township attended. She married an older gentleman who promptly died three days later. It's said she slept the entire night next to him, not realizing he was no more."

Ian let out a loud guffaw that he covered up by coughing. Declan found the new information interesting. "I'm sure it must have been horrible."

The woman shrugged. "Yes, although if ye ask me, she was saved from a miserable life with that one. The man was not agreeable in the least."

For the rest of the day, Declan and Ian proceeded to meet the different vendors and shopkeepers in town. People came out of homes to meet him and he gave each his time and got to know many.

When he returned to his mount, Declan wasn't sure what to make of all the gifts people insisted he take. Arms full of cloth and other smaller things, he began stuffing them into sacks he hung from the saddle. Unable to take all he'd been presented with, he promised to send his men to pick up the larger gifts, especially a pig a woman assured him would make the best meal he'd ever had.

Mimicking what he'd seen his brother do, he invited several of the townsfolk for an evening meal.

At sundown, the great room bustled with activity. Several townsfolk were in attendance. Long, wooden tables hosted two families and another was filled with men from surrounding lands. At the fourth table, Declan ate with his men. He wasn't ready to sit at the high board alone with, perhaps, only Ian for company. It seemed pretentious to him.

Dugan reported to have found rich farmlands and groves of fruit trees on his trek that day. Well pleased by also having found a farmer with four pretty daughters, the guards asked Declan to invite the family to dinner. Declan agreed, as he'd ride out to the lands himself in a few days.

He'd yet to see the surrounding area to the south. Planned to do so the next morning. Hopefully sneak off early before Ian awoke and get away alone.

A piper played lively music and Declan watched as the people clapped. The conversations became animated as the maids served mead and ensured his guests were well served.

This was to be his home, his people. A sense of pride and purpose like he'd never felt filled him.

On occasion, his mind wandered to the woman in town. Meredith Stuart. What had brought her to kiss him? Would her brother come to him demanding explanations? He'd have to wait and see. It would be interesting to see if she'd come as well.

Certainly would be good to see the beautiful woman again.

Although the circumstances could prove to be even more awkward than their first meeting.

Chapter Four

Meredith stalked from one end of her chamber to the other. What had she done? Foolish and impulsive as usual, she'd once again acted before thinking through the consequences of her actions.

Truth be told, she didn't want to marry anyone. Now, somehow she had to convince her brother to not take the matter of what happened in town to the new laird.