Emmalin and the bairns were already at one of the tables, while Grandsire sat in a chair near the hearth. He grabbed a bowl of porridge, bid Emmalin a good morn, and went to join him.
However, he wasn’t allowed past the most dedicated guard he’d ever met. He chuckled as soon as he saw the laddie.
“You Engwish?” wee John asked, his valued sword in hand.
Alick set his porridge down, picked the lad up and flipped him upside down until he giggled so hard he dropped his sword. “Nay, I’m not English, and you know that, John Alexander Grant.”
After he set him down, John found his sword and swung it twice, then said, “I guard the door.”
Grandsire said, “That should keep him busy for a wee bit. There will be enough guards coming in to eat that he’ll have plenty of work to do. They’re quite accustomed to the wee warrior already.”
Alick took a chair and said, “Will this work, Grandsire? With Mama, I mean?”
“Aye, we’ll get her back. I’ll trade my life for hers, but you are not to do anything until you see her face. Understood? We attacked John’s kidnappers before we saw the captives, and I won’t repeat that mistake. ’Twas lucky things turned out as they did.”
Alick looked at his grandfather, actually able to see the strain in his face for a change. The man was an expert at hiding his feelings, but they shone through this time.
He climbed off his chair and said, “I’m going out to the lists for a couple of hours, Grandsire. If Branwen comes down, send someone for me.”
“It pleases me to see you so attached to your wife. Tell me more about how this happened, please.” The man held his hand out toward the chair Alick just vacated, indicating he wished for him to take a seat again.
He gave him a sheepish look and sat back down. “Truly, we’re just getting to know each other. We only met at the last Grant festival, but we spent enough time together for me to know I wouldn’t forget her. And I was possessed with a need to protect her from her cruel father. Her uncle said he’d consider my suit, but I didn’t think it wise to wait. So when I saw a kirk a short distance from the castle, I suggested that we marry at once.”
“Reminds me of Uncle Jamie and Aunt Gracie’s marriage,” his grandsire mused. “We had to get them married in a hurry. We celebrated much later, when Jamie arranged a surprise wedding for her.”
“I remember hearing that story.” He rubbed his forehead. “This whole situation has been hard on Branwen.”
“Aye, her father is a cruel man. You must have chosen a verra strong lass for your wife. I’m proud of you for getting her out of there last eve. Once we get your mother back, all of our lives will return to something more usual for us. I won’t mention the quick wedding. I’ll allow you to give the news to your papa.”
“My thanks.” He paused. “I’ve been protective of her from the start, and my feelings for her grow each day. I know ’tis early, but I am in love with her.”
“Have you told her yet?”
“Aye,” he said with a smile. “Last eve.” Their first night together had been even more wonderful than he’d expected. “I know we acted quickly, but ’twas the right thing to do. Mama may be upset, but I’m hoping she’ll understand when she hears all the circumstances surrounding our marriage. Was it that way for you, Grandpapa? Did you know Grandmama was the one when you first met her?”
“I had what you speak of—an unavoidable need to protect Maddie. Seeing her beaten affected me almost more than anything else in my long life, but I didn’t recognize the pull for what it was in the beginning. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready to admit to it. Now I would call it the pull of our souls. We belonged together.”
“Almost more than anything else?” Alick said in surprise. “What else could have affected you more?”
His grandfather sighed and stared at the flames in the hearth. “Seeing my daughter, your mother, after she’d been beaten. The worry over John. Both were difficult times for me.”
Alick stood up and clasped his grandsire’s shoulder. “We’ll get her back, Grandsire. ’Tis the only option.”
When his grandsire nodded in response, Alick headed out the door and down the walkway toward the stables. He was hoping Alasdair was awake,