Page 4 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
He vowed to give it more consideration.
“My thanks to you, Sloan, but I must go inside now.”
He nodded and went on his way. He had many things to tend to on his land. His brother’s wanderings, the issue of the activity on the bay, the seed count, the harvest of the summer’s plantings, and his father, forever complaining about one thing or another. Sloan headed home, two of his guards flanking him.
As he approached Rankin land, he noticed Miles waving to him from afar.
“Just in time, Chief. Please follow me to the water’s edge.”
Sloan followed Miles, his second-in-command, down to the coastline past his castle. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Miles. What have you seen, exactly?”
“I am not sure,” Miles said, then stopped at the edge of Dun Ara Castle where they could see Coll, Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan, and Rum on a clear day. He took in the activity at Kilchoan, where ships often docked. “There’s more going on than I’m used to seeing.”
Sloan’s brother, Rinaldo, joined them. “What are you looking for?”
Sloan shrugged. “Naught in particular. Miles thinks he’s seen more activity around Kilchoan than usual. What do you think, Rinaldo?” Since it was his brother’s job to watch the vessels on the sea, he should have reported any change in activity to him, not Miles. What was his brother doing?”
“I haven’t seen anything unusual. I’m not as bright as Miles, but I can see ships easy enough. I would report it to you, Chief, if I saw anything odd.” Rinaldo gave the wide smile he was known for. Easygoing and always helpful, his brother did the best hecould with what he had, but a problem at birth had slowed his faculties, or so their mother thought.
“What the hell are you looking for, Sloan?” his father, Dermot, asked. He strode down the hill carefully, his steps slow and deliberate on the rocky path. His father had aged much since losing his wife nearly a year ago.
Sloan nearly groaned because he hated it when his father got involved with any of his affairs with his men. No matter what Sloan was doing, he was wrong. His father loved to point out his failings, and the more ears there were around to take it all in, the happier his sire was. Dermot had been miserable ever since his wife, Ailis, had passed on.
Sloan had paid the price ever since. Even more so since that fateful day nearly a year ago, the day he’d lost Gormal. Another of Sloan’s supposed failings that his father loved to mention.
“Miles says the activity in the seas has picked up. We just started our discussion.”
“Ask Rinaldo. He’s always here to watch for you. It’s his job, and he does it well.”
“There’s nothing out there, Da. You are looking well this morn. You must be feeling better,” Rinaldo said, moving over next to their sire to clasp his shoulder.
“I am, Rinaldo. I’m glad one of my sons is concerned about me,” he grumbled, glaring at Sloan.
“Da, you just got here.” Sloan held out his hands to let him know that he was being unreasonable.
Again.
“You wouldn’t care, Sloan. Don’t deny it.” His father spit off to the side.
Sloan decided it was best to ignore the old man with all his aches and pains. Everything had turned worse since Mama had passed. He’d had no idea that he should have thanked hismother daily for listening to her husband. How he wished she were still here to listen to the man.
“Miles, any special type of ship?”
“Galleys sailing, mostly. Oarsmen, but not the usual amount. I see the most in Kilchoan Bay. But I don’t understand why.”
Sloan made a mental note to speak with Lennox about the matter. He’d been on Ardnamurchan recently, and he recalled some prediction the wee lass Lia had made then. Should they take the word of the lass?
That much he hadn’t decided on yet. When had the chieftains of several clans ever listened to the warnings of a lass of only six summers? Surely, they were daft considering it. He had more important things to think about.
“Did Eva accept yet?” his father asked.
Sloan held in the growl he wished to let loose on his father. The old man just wouldn’t let things rest, instead believing in constant pestering, like a toddler. “I don’t know. Nothing is official. I’m waiting to speak with Lennox. You know these things take time, Da.”
“Shouldn’t take time. The lass should consider her good fortune to be asked by a chieftain and say aye. Arrange the wedding next week. No reason to wait for her approval.”
Rinaldo took a step closer, his face bright. “Eva hasn’t answered yet, Sloan? I think you will make a fine couple. I would love to have her as a sister.” Rinaldo nodded to let Sloan know he approved vehemently, another one of those things his brother loved to do.
“First of all, I haven’t asked her or Lennox yet. I’ll let you know when I decide anything. I need to venture into our stores and decide what seed to order. I’ll be going to the mainland for more soon.”
