Highland Wolf (Highland Brides, #10)(64)

Claray nodded, but mentally struck that chore off her list. They had decided that since they had no idea how the poison had been distributed to the clan twenty-two years ago, it was better to be safe than sorry and get rid of the wooden containers. They needed to purchase more wine and beer anyway to tide them over until they could make their own, and the liquids would come in their own butts and casks that they could then reuse when they were set up to provide for themselves.

That thought made her wonder when Payton and Laird MacKay would return. The two men had ridden out with two dozen men, and a great deal of Conall’s coin, to purchase beer, wine, herbs, cheese, flour, vegetables and livestock for the castle. Now Claray just had to worry about pots, pans, skillets, cauldrons, knives, spoons, ladles, a mortar and pestle, etc.

Oh, and a cook, she thought with a frown.

Unfortunately, while most of what was needed in the kitchens was metal and not prone to wood rot, those items had disappeared over the years that the castle was empty and needed to be replaced. The only reason they hadn’t been added to the list of things for Payton and Laird MacKay to purchase was because Conall had suggested they wait to see what her mother had packed away for her. There was no sense buying it and possibly ending up with duplicates of different objects. Since her things were supposed to arrive soon, she’d agreed.

“Oh, look! Six wagons, Claray! Goodness, I can no’ wait to see what’s in them.”

Claray grinned at that happy cry from Kenna as the other woman rushed down the stairs to join them.

“Do ye ken what all yer da sent?” Kenna asked.

“Nay,” Claray said, and then admitted, “Well, aye. Some. Conall said Da was sending me clothes and the furniture from me bedchamber. He also said me mother packed away linens and such to gift me with when I married, but I’ve no idea what all that includes,” she admitted.

Kenna nodded, and then glanced past her and grinned. “Here comes Conall. He’s looking cranky.”

Claray turned to follow her gaze and bit her lip when she saw her husband’s expression. He was looking exasperated and irritated and the way he kept scowling over his shoulder at the four men following him told her why. He was not taking at all well to being guarded, and if the men trailing after him were his own men, she had no doubt he would have ordered them away from him by now.

Unfortunately for him, the four men on his heels were all MacKays. Laird MacKay had ordered Gilly, Machar and two other MacKay soldiers to not let him out of their sight since the near miss with the arrow by the pond. She understood why. It was the same reason she had Roderick, Hamish, Hendrie and Colban following her. They were trying to protect them. But she also understood her husband’s annoyance. Or should she say frustration? Because that’s what it was. She was extremely frustrated with the situation as well. Not only were they tripping over their own guards all the day long, but sleeping in the great hall every night, surrounded by the entire population of Deagh Fhortan, meant they were never alone. Her husband hadn’t bedded her since the pond, and lying beside him night after night, without getting to enjoy his kisses and caresses, was extremely hard. The longer it went on, the harder it got, and the crankier Conall seemed to get.

“Wife.”

Claray pulled back from her thoughts and smiled at Conall as he stopped before her. For a moment they just stared at each other, and she swore she could see her own need and frustration swirling in his eyes. Then he sighed wearily, gave his head a little shake and turned toward the wagons that were rolling to a stop in front of the keep.

“Come,” he said, catching her elbow to lead her to the back of the first wagon. “Why do ye no’ start going through things while I talk to yer father’s men and find out why they were delayed.”

He waited for her to nod, then turned to walk to where the soldiers who had escorted the wagons were reining in next to the second wagon.

Claray watched him go before turning to survey everything in the first wagon. Her eyes widened when the first thing she spotted were several kitchen items.

“Aunt Annabel,” she called excitedly, beginning to drag a large cauldron out of the wagon to see what was behind it.

“Oh, Claray,” Lady MacKay exclaimed as she reached her side and saw what she’d found. Pulling out a large pot with one hand and a huge ladle with the other, she showed them to Kenna as her daughter joined them. “This is wonderful. I guess tonight I shall be crossing items off the list I was making of things needed for the kitchen. Actually, I shall be crossing off most of the items. There are things here I hadn’t even thought of.”

“Is that a grater?” Kenna asked, leaning in to pull out the handmade iron grater.

“Aye,” Claray laughed even as tears welled in her eyes at her mother’s forethought. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she shook her head. “How did she know we would need all this?”

“Well, she only died four years ago, dear. That was already eighteen years after everyone had fled Deagh Fhortan. I imagine the kitchens and every other room in the castle were ransacked and emptied out within the first couple of years. She obviously thought of that and gifted you with what she thought you might need most. I just wish I had thought of it myself, and I am sorry I did not,” she added apologetically. “Perhaps I could have—”

“Nay,” Claray interrupted, touching her arm to silence her. Shaking her head firmly she said, “Ye’ve worked like a dog and slept on the ground this past week to help Conall and I get things settled here. And that after riding night and day to get first to MacFarlane to try to aid us too, then riding back with us at a less-than-relaxed pace. That is a most wondrous gift. Ye’ve nothing to apologize for.”