Weak, he collapsed on top of her, his lips against her neck. Within minutes they both fell asleep.
Two weeks later Stephen’s prediction that the MacGregor would hate Bronwyn came true.
Stephen had spent that two weeks learning from Bronwyn’s men. That one disastrous cattle raid had shown him the need for learning to fight in the Scots manner. He learned to run, to use the heavy Claymore. He could slip in and out of his plaid in seconds. His legs grew brown and weathered, and he didn’t even mind the cold when the first snows arrived.
As for Bronwyn, she watched him suspiciously, only relaxing her guard at night when she was in his arms.
Stephen had changed so much in the last few weeks that it seemed a long time since that cattle raid when Bronwyn had scratched her initial on her enemy’s shoulder. The first sign Lachlan MacGregor gave of his anger was when he burned three crofters’ houses on the northern estates.
“Was anyone hurt?” Bronwyn asked weakly when she heard the news.
Tam pointed to a young man standing amid the ruins. He turned, and on his cheek was branded an L.
Bronwyn put her hand to her mouth in horror.
“The MacGregor said he’d brand all the clan before he’s finished. He said he nearly died from blood poisoning from the wound ye gave him,” Tam continued.
She turned away and walked back to her horse. Stephen stopped her.
“You needn’t worry that I’ll lecture you,” he said flatly when he saw her face. “Perhaps you’ve learned something from this. Now it’s my turn to settle the matter.”
“What are you planning to do?” she asked.
“I’m going to try to meet with the MacGregor and settle this once and for all.”
“Meet with him!” she gasped. “He’ll kill you! He hates the English more than I do.”
“That’s impossible,” he said sarcastically as he mounted his horse and rode away from the smoldering ruins of the houses.
An hour later Chris was agreeing with Bronwyn. The two men, who had come to Scotland looking so much alike, were now very different in appearance. Chris still wore the English dress—a heavy velvet jacket lined in mink, satin breeches, and tight, fine woolen hose. But Stephen had changed completely; even his skin had
darkened. His hair hung past his ears, curling around them in a becoming manner. If anything, his legs were even more muscular from his daily sprints with the Scotsmen.
“She’s right,” Chris said. “You can’t go knocking on the door and ask to see the MacGregor. I’ve heard some of the tales of what he’s done. You’d be lucky if he killed you right away.”
“What am I supposed to do then? Sit back and watch my people branded, burned out?”
Chris stared at his friend. “Your people?” he asked quietly. “When did you become a Scotsman?”
Stephen grinned and ran his hand through his hair. “They’re good people, and I’d be proud to be one of them. It was just Bronwyn’s temper that caused this mess. I’m sure it can be straightened out.”
“Did you know this feud has been going on for hundreds of years? Every one of these clans is at war with one of the others. It’s a barbaric place!”
Stephen merely smiled at his friend. A few months ago he’d have said the same thing. “Come on inside and let’s have a drink. I got a letter from Gavin yesterday, and he wants me to bring Bronwyn home for Christmas.”
“Will she go?”
Stephen laughed. “She’ll go whether she wants to or not. What about you? Will you come with us?”
“I’d love to. I’ve had about all I can take of this cold country. I don’t understand how you can move about when half of you is bare.”
“Chris, you should try it. It gives a man a great deal of freedom.”
Chris snorted. “The freedom to freeze off my finer parts isn’t exactly what I want. Maybe you can tell me where to do some hunting. I thought I’d take some of your men and mine and see if I could get a deer.”
“Only if you promise to take some of Bronwyn’s men too.”
Chris gave a little snort of derision. “I don’t know whether I should be insulted by that or not.” He stopped at Stephen’s expression. “All right, I’ll do as you say. If there is any trouble, I guess it would be better if I had a few of your bare-legged men near me.” He smiled and put his hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and we’ll have fresh venison.”