“There’s yer brother!” Alasdair said as Katie added food to the lad’s plate. “I remember him from when we first arrived, but I haven’t seen him since. Where have ye been hiding yerself, lad?”
Gavin looked up at his sister, and she said, “Gavin, ye remember Laird MacNeil and his brother, Mr. Alasdair MacNeil.”
The boy ducked his head, a slight blush rising to his cheeks. He was of a slight build and no doubt would fill out as he grew, but now he looked as though a strong wind would knock him over.
“’Tis a pleasure to see ye, finally.” Alasdair stuck his hand out to the lad.
Gavin looked up at Katie, who nodded at her brother. “Go on, Gavin, take Mr. MacNeil’s hand.”
The boy gingerly reached out and took Alasdair’s hand but quickly pulled it back.
Evan and Alasdair exchanged glances. The boy apparently had had no guidance from a mon who would never have allowed such meekness. The lad’s father had fallen down on this job as well as managing the lands.
Evan placed his finger under the lad’s chin and raised his head so he could see into his eyes. “Gavin, ye need to learn to meet new people.”
Katie pulled the boy back. “’Tis all right. He will be fine. Just give him a little time.”
Once again Evan turned to his brother. Being raised by his sister had not given Gavin the toughness he needed as a mon. True, he was only ten years, but by the time Evan had reached that age, he could hold his own with his broadsword, hunt and kill wild game for the dinner table, and take on lads twice his size in a tussle.
His da had demanded it of him and Alasdair. No namby-pamby under my roof, he would bellow. Yer a Scot, not a Sassanach. And dinnae ever forget it.
The steeliness in the lad’s sister’s eyes told him everything he needed to know. Katie was the strong one, and had protected the lad from life. Even though Evan didn’t intend to be in Fife much longer, while he was here, mayhaps he could teach the lad a thing or two.
Evan rose and regarded Katie. “We must be off, lass. There are many places to visit today and many tenants to speak with.”
She looked distressed. “Since Gavin has finally joined us for a meal, cannot I stay while he eats his breakfast?”
Evan rose to his full height and glared at her. “Nay. Ye are coming with me.” God’s toes, was this how she raised the lad? Did she feed him by her hand, also? With the way she treated him, it was like the lad was still in leading strings.
“The lad will be fine.” Evan turned and walked from the room, expecting Katie to be right behind him. Instead, he turned and there she was on her knees in front of the boy, hugging him.
Evan growled and bellowed. “God’s toes! On yer feet, Mistress. ’Tis time to say goodbye and leave the lad.” With those words echoing off the walls, he marched through the front door and to the stables, grumbling all the way.
Chapter Eleven
Katie scowled at Evan as they mounted their horses to continue with their tenant visits. Didn’t he realize it would take some time for Gavin to feel secure? It was the first time he’d even felt comfortable enough to join them for a meal. He’d been taking his meals in the bedchamber they were sharing. The man had no heart. That was the only explanation. He’d probably been born at this age—had never been a lad himself.
“Ye could have given me a wee bit of time with my brother.”
He turned to her. “Ye coddle the lad. He’ll never be a mon with such soft treatment.”
How dare the man judge her! He knew nothing about her or her brother. She was the only mother Gavin had ever known, and they shared a special bond. Da hadn’t spent time with the boy, saying it pained him too much to gaze upon Gavin because the boy had cost him his beloved wife.
It had been up to her to give Gavin all the love he wasn’t getting from his da. For as many times as she’d admonished her da over that, he had never taken an interest in being a parent. As little interest as he’d taken in being a laird. He’d merely shaken his head, sighed, and poured another brandy.
“I dinnae coddle him. He needs special attention because my da dinnae take an interest in him.”
Evan snorted. “And it shows too.”
She drew herself up. “What does that mean?”
He rode for a few minutes, ignoring her question. Just as she thought she’d need to repeat it because his hearing must have disappeared right along with his heart, he said, “The lad needs to learn to be a mon. Refusing to shake hands with my brother and gazing at his lap like some wee lass at his age is disgraceful. Ye should be ashamed of yerself for allowing it.”
All the motherly instincts in her rose up to strike the person attacking her brother. Had they been riding at a slower pace, she would have jumped from her horse onto his and pummeled him. Instead, she counted to ten—if she did indeed wreak havoc on her laird, she could very well find herself and her clan homeless.
She swallowed several times and ordered her heart to cease pounding and her stomach muscles to unclench. After taking a deep breath, she said in her most reasonable voice, “And what do ye ken of raising a lad? Do ye have several of yer own that ye can hold up as examples?”
“I dinnae need to have examples to hold up to ye except for myself and my brother. My da raised us to be men. If one of us had acted so meek when meeting a new person or cried when someone left us for a few hours, he would have thrashed us and then ordered us to muck out the stables for a spell.”