Page 33 of The Iron Highlander
“Ye’ve been starin’ at her for so long now, go talk to her.”
“She’s a little occupied,” said Reuben, smiling at the little cup of ale in his hand.
“She’s left ye a smiling bampot, ye ken that, ye? I daenae ken what’s so special about this one, but I’ve never seen ye look this dumb.”
“I’ll have yer tongue for that, but…since I’m in a good mood, I’ll blame it on yer pint,” said Reuben.
Both men laughed and continued to drink. Grear turned from her end of the table to her son, looking at him with a twinkle in her eyes. The older woman said nothing, telling Reuben what he was expecting to hear from her. He shook his head, turning away.
“I havenae idea what yer talking about, Ma,” said Rueben.
“But I havenae said anything, and ye already have an idea of what I want to say. So tell me boy, what do I want to say?”
Reuben turned away from her, not wanting to speak. But his mother was a great judge of character, and she could always tell what he was thinking. She knew how he would react, and she would usually have a response to his reaction before he had gone ahead with it. The reason he had managed to be so successful ruling his estate, was because his mother had been there to guide him every step of the way. Even when he had gotten with a woman who had only wanted him due to his status.
But since the Lady Grear did not seem to want to stop him from going ahead with his desire for Kate, he believed she wanted him to. Grear looked to the door where Kate and her sisters walked by. The younger ones walked towards their rooms, looking toretreat to bed for the night, however, Freya and Kate stopped by the doorway, bowing and saying thank you to Reuben and Grear. They accepted, and began heading towards their rooms. Reuben rushed to his feet and went after her. Freya turned around, spotted Reuben and quickly walked into the room, shutting Kate out behind her.
Reuben saw this and chuckled, making Kate turn around. She stared at the Laird who was slowing down as he reached her, smiling brightly in the dimly lit corridor. “Did ye get in a fight with her?”
“Nae, she is just being silly,” Kate replied, trying to open the door. “Freya, open this door!”
When she got no response, Kate sighed. Reuben stood up straight, “Perhaps join me for a walk? Maybe by the time we are back, she would have changed her mind.”
“I’m sure she will in just a moment, and I would like to retire to bed now.”
“Aye, I see. Would ye like me to leave ye here, all on yer own?” Reuben asked, smiling deviously.
Kate shook her head. “Nae.”
Reuben held out a hand, and she took it. He led her out of the castle and out to the grounds around the estate. Kate had only been to that part of the castle when they had seen him workingon the garden earlier. Reuben walked into the garden, and pulled Kate along with him. He spun her with ease, and held her tightly against him, their faces inches apart.
“Look,” said Reuben, pointing to some flowers which grew low to the ground, around their feet.
“What about them?” Kate asked.
“They remind me of ye,” said Reuben. “They’re stubborn, never stop growing, and very hard to take down.”
Kate frowned, shoving his chest. But Reuben held strong, pinning her tightly to his chest. He raised a hand above him and pulled on a branch that grew overhead, moving it out of the way. Just as he did, the moonlight came rushing in, bathing them with light from the celestial body. Kate gasped for a second, as she stared at the flowers.
“But, when ye see them for what they truly are, ye see just how beautiful they are, and how they glow, brighter than anythin’ ye’ve ever seen.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“Aye,” Reuben replied. “Ye are.”
Kate looked up at him, her eyes searching his own, and this time, she kissed him without a sense of betrayal in her heart. She was free of everything which held her back, and Kate kissed the Lairdas she wanted, taking his face in her hands, and pulling him closer and closer, as though she wanted their bodies to mend into one.
“Who’s there? Show yerself!” a servant called out, cutting them short. Kate quickly pulled away, and Reuben turned around to see the servant who was making the rounds around the estate. He had not seen them walk into the garden, and was only doing his duty, protecting the perimeter. “Laird Reuben, I didnae see ye there. I’m sorry.”
“No harm done, ye are doing yer duty. Back to it,” said Reuben.
“Aye sir,” the servant replied, walking in the opposite direction. Reuben turned around to see Kate with a smile on her face. He reached for her cheek, touching it gently for a moment.
“I think we should head back in. It’s getting late,” said Kate.
Reuben opened his mouth to argue for a moment, but then he nodded. He would never make her do anything she did not want to, and so he agreed. “Alright.”
They both walked back to the castle, and Reuben spotted Willow, Freya and Lily by the window staring at them as they made their way back in. The girls all had smiles on their faces as they saw their sister and the Laird, and Reuben smiled back up at them.
