her braid at her temples. She lifted a hand and rested it on the battlements, and Ciaran noticed the dirt under her nails. Finally she looked at him, and a smile softened the planes of her face, making her look younger.
“Ye think tae much, lad. It’s nae like ye. I’ve a guid mind tae give ye a skelpit lug. What happened tae the lad who was so eager tae fill his da’s boots? What happened tae doing what was right even when everyone was against ye?” She shook her head, and the smile faded. “Ye have always ken what needed tae be done and tae hell with everyone else and what they thought.” She gripped his shoulder, squeezing, and gave him an assessing look. “Ye are ye da’s son.”
Ciaran blinked at the praise, wishing it was true.
“Come, I want tae show ye something.” She stepped back and offered him a hand.
Staring at it for several moments, Ciaran finally gave in. He turned around, putting his feet on the floor of the tower and stood without taking her hand.
Maggie gave him a good glare, snatched his hand, and towed him to the north side of the tower. She stopped at the edge, leaned forward, and pointed down toward the back of the keep. She leaned so far, only the slightest nudge would have sent her plummeting to her death.
Ciaran started to grip her arm, then thought better of it. He didn’t want to startle her.
“What do ye see there?” she asked.
Resting his hand on the stone merlons, Ciaran leaned over the edge much like Maggie did and looked down. Far below them was the garden they’d started, with its neat rows. “The garden.”
“Look closer.”
Ciaran stared down at the garden but had no idea what she was getting at. There were women all around as well as a few of the warriors. They were filling water cans and walking up and down the rows. There were hardly any plants, and it wasn’t impressive by any means. The only green in that garden came from the transplants they had traded for or that Maggie had given them. None of the seeds had sprouted. “I see dirt.”
With an exasperated sigh, Maggie shook her head. “They are working together. Women and men, working side by side. What other chieftain has managed that? Ye have warriors taking pride in what was once considered women’s work.”
Aye, they were. A spark of satisfaction tried to seep inside of him, but before he could give it much thought, Maggie grabbed his arm and pulled him to the east side of the tower.
She pointed out at the distance.
Ciaran followed her finger and found the targets they’d set up to practice with the fraggers. There were several men and women shooting. “Again, they are working together. We have women guarding the cattle at night now. We have nae lost any more food.”
“Aye, because Stuart has stopped stealing it tae give tae the MacLeans.”
Maggie chuckled and pulled him to the south of the tower facing the front gate.
Out in the field past the front tower, the cattle grazed in the now-finished corral. The cows were so small from up here, they looked like…. “Are those goats?” When had they gotten that many goats?
“Aye, and sheep.” She pointed, and sure enough, there were sheep near the edge of the loch.
How had he missed seeing the sheep and goats?
“’Tis from the MacLeans. After ye attack on them and the base, they brought back the livestock Stuart gave tae them and added a few extra heid. Ram negotiated a peace with them on ye behalf just yesterday.”
Ciaran frowned. Why had no one told him of this? Then again, perhaps they had. He’d been too distracted to notice. He’d done little but think about his failings.
“Now tell me again ye have nothing tae offer. Ye did that, nae ye father, nae Ramsey. Ye!”
“But I’m nae the chieftain anymore.”
Maggie threw back her head and laughed. It was full and hearty, and there was no doubt that she was laughing at him, not with him.
After several moments when she did not stop, he scowled at her and put his hands on his hips.
Finally, Maggie stopped and shook her head. “Since when?”
“Since the council voted me out.”
“And ye told them tae stick it where the sun doesnae shine, remember?” Maggie arched a brow at him. “It seems tae me that the clan laws are outdated. And besides, ye have the clan’s support. The council does nae. That gives ye