Shouting to James, she suggested that they stop at the one they knew and eat the midday meal they had brought with them. That plan being heartily approved by everyone, they ate so near the tall, spectacular torrent that they felt its mist on their faces. Watching Fin, she saw him relax, grinning, and knew she had chosen well.
When they had finished, everyone remounted and they returned to the trail.
James and Morag seemed happier, too. When James suggested that they all ride together, neither Catriona nor Fin objected.
They reached Loch Moigh well before sundown, and the guards on the castle ramparts were watching for them, because a boat with two oarsmen set out at once. The castle occupied a sizeable island, and the loch was larger than Loch an Eilein.
When the boat neared the landing, James shook Fin’s hand and said, “We’ll be off now straightaway, because we want to reach Daviot by suppertime. But I do wish you the best of luck in taming our wildcat, and all happiness for you both.”
Catriona hugged her brother and Morag, then stepped into the boat when it arrived at the landing. Fin followed her, leaving Ailvie, Ian, and Toby to supervise the unloading of the sumpter ponies and tend to the garrons.
“ ’Tis a beautiful place, is it not?” Catriona said as the boat left the landing.
“Aye, but frankly, lass, I’m thinking about my wife and our bed,” he said.
Grinning, and aware of heat swiftly rising within her, she saw a man in a tunic and a blue-green plaid emerge from the castle and stride toward the landing, evidently to meet them. Feeling Fin stiffen beside her, she said, “Do you know him?”
“I do, aye. That is my brother, Ewan MacGillony Cameron.”
Chapter 17
Still stunned, Fin stared at Ewan in disbelief.
“Why is he here?” Catriona asked.
“I don’t know,” Fin said. “But I discern the fine hand of your grandsire in this. He knew I’d not seen my family since Perth and that I want to present you to them. But, for Ewan to be here now, he must have sent for him a sennight ago, long before knowing we would marry. I just hope Ewan did not bring the whole family.”
“God-a-mercy!”
Seeing her face pale, he said, “Don’t fret, sweetheart. If he did and they expect to upset my plans whilst we’re here, they will soon learn their error.”
She looked uncertain, and he hoped he was right. Ewan could be fierce, and despite the friendly wave, Fin had no idea how his brother would receive him.
When they reached the landing, he stepped out of the boat and extended a hand to Catriona as he said, “This is a fine surprise, Ewan, and a welcome one. How many of our kinsmen did you bring in your tail?”
“Nae kinsmen, just a half-dozen of my own lads,” Ewan said, grasping Fin’s hand warmly. “Ye’ve brought even fewer men with ye, I see.”
“My liege lord was reluctant to extend my leave beyond a few days, although I did mean to go on to Loch Arkaig to ask your forgiveness. Now, though…”
When he paused, Ewan said heartily, “I’m glad to see ye hale and well, lad. Sithee, we all thought ye must be dead. So ye could have knocked me down with a broom straw when I got the Mackintosh’s message that, if I were willing to accept his hospitality, I might meet ye here. D’ye mean to present this bonnie lady to me?”
“If the wily old man told you nowt of her, then I have a surprise to match yours,” Fin said as Catriona curtsied. “She is the lady Catriona Mackintosh, my wife. And if you are wroth with me for marrying without your consent, Ewan, you may roar at me later. For now, we are both tired from our journey and—”
“Be damned to your weariness, lad! How long have ye been married?”
Fin relaxed then, recognizing Ewan’s hearty mood as a friendly one. “Since sunrise,” he admitted with a rueful smile.
“Sunrise! Bless us, why did ye no invite your own family to the wedding?”
“That tale will take some time to tell,” Fin said. “And I’d liefer tell it over a good supper, because we ate only bread with some beef and cheese at midday. But what I want now is for us to settle in, tidy ourselves, and eat. After that, I’ll thank you to remember that this is my wedding night.”
“Aye, sure, I’ll remember. But ye’ll tell me your tale straightaway. I’ve nae