In Bed with a Highlander (McCabe Trilogy #1)(78)

She stopped in front of the laird and poked her finger into his chest. “Well, I say if ’tis so easy and the men are so critical, they can take over the women’s duties for the day and we’ll see how well they perform the women’s tasks.”

She held her breath and waited for Ewan to denounce her.

“I would speak, Laird!” Bertha yelled out, her voice so loud that more than one woman winced.

“You may speak,” Ewan said.

“I’ll not go overlong with my comments, but hear this. As of this moment, the women are not lifting a finger in this keep. And we’re keeping Lady McCabe!”

Ewan lifted his brow again. “You’re keeping her?”

Bertha nodded. “Aye, she’s going with us. We’ll not have her chastised for her defense of us.”

To Mairin’s surprise, he smiled.

“There’s a bit of a problem with that, Bertha.”

“And what is that?” Bertha demanded.

“I’m keeping her.”

That statement caused a series of murmurs to race through the hall. Both the men and the women leaned forward, curious as to which way the laird would rule. It was clear he was displeased.

“I will not be swayed by blackmail and demands,” he said.

When Bertha puffed out her chest and prepared to launch into another angry tirade, he held up a hand to silence her.

“I will hear what both sides have to say before I render judgment. Once I do, the matter will be final. Is that clear?”

“Only if you decide the right way,” Mairin muttered.

Ewan shot her a quelling look.

The laird turned and it was the truth that he didn’t look pleased as he stared at Heath and the four younger men who stood defiantly by his side. Then he looked to Gannon, who was the most senior of all his men.

“Have you an explanation for this?”

Gannon sighed. “I’m sorry, Laird. I was not present. I was in the courtyard with some of the other soldiers. I had informed them they wouldn’t eat until they performed their maneuvers correctly.”

“I see.” He turned to Cormac, who stood to the side of Diormid and Heath. “Cormac? Have you anything to offer?”

Cormac looked furious. He glanced between the men, who stared expectantly at him, and Ewan, who also awaited his word.

“ ’Tis as our mistress reported, Laird,” he said through tight lips. “I came into the hall just as Heath tripped Christina.” Anger rippled across Cormac’s face as he glanced over at Heath. “ ’Twas not Christina’s fault. The men grew louder with their insults and when Christina offered disagreement, Heath struck her. ȁ God’s truth I would have killed him myself, but Lady McCabe intervened before I could act, and then my foremost concern was her safety.”

Ewan nodded his agreement over Cormac’s assessment, then looked over to where Diormid stood beside Heath. “And do you defend his actions?”

Diormid looked torn in his loyalty to the young men directly under his command. “Nay, Laird. ’Twas not the tale as he told it to me.”

“So you weren’t present for the happenings?” Ewan asked.

Diormid shook his head. “I entered the hall as Lady McCabe was issuing orders for the men to take over the women’s duties for the day.”

“And do you commend his actions? Do you stand by them?” Ewan asked.

Diormid hesitated before finally saying, “Nay, Laird. I am shamed by them.”

Then Ewan turned to Bertha. “You may take the women and retire to your cottages. Or however else you’d like to spend your day of leisure. Robert, Corbin, Ian, and Matthew will see to your duties.”

Mairin frowned at the omission of Heath, but the cheers from the women prevented her from voicing her displeasure.

Equally explosive were the shouts of dismay from the four Ewan had sentenced to the women’s work. They looked so appalled that it was all Mairin could do not to smile her satisfaction.

Bertha beamed at Mairin. “Come, lass, you must celebrate with us.”

Mairin turned to leave the hall with the women when Ewan cleared his throat. Slowly she turned around and peeked up at the laird. Surely he wasn’t angry with her. Not after having heard the full story.

His expression was still stern as he crooked his finger at her. With a sigh, she left Bertha to go to her husband. The women remained in the hall, either curious over what the laird wanted or to defend Mairin from reprimand. Mairin wasn’t sure, but she was grateful for their support.

When she was a respectable distance, she stopped and folded her hands in front of her. “You wanted me?”

He crooked his finger again, and she huffed as she moved even closer. He stretched out his finger and touched her chin, prodding until she was looking directly up at him.

“You have instructions for me, Laird?”

“Aye, lass, I do.”

She cocked her head farther back and waited for his order.

His fingers trailed over her chin to her jaw where Heath’s fist had grazed her. Then he delved into the hair over her ear, his hand cupping the back of her head in his possessive grasp.

“Kiss me.”

font size="+1">CHAPTER 30

Mairin was so relieved that she threw herself into Ewan’s arms and fused her mouth hotly to his.