Funk-N-Fiction

Celeste Barclay is next up today, and is sharing a sweet, seasonal highland story featuring sibling shenanigans and “brother’s best friend” vibes.

Love Heals Wayward Hearts

“Tira, he’s watching ye.” Tira Cameron’s cousin through their mothers, Mairi MacLeod, nudged her as she whispered. The two young women stood beside the Samhain bonfire the Sutherlands hosted that year. While it wasn’t the large celebration among clans that happened during the Highland Gatherings, there were still several clans gathered for the autumn festival. While it might have started as a pagan ritual, the Catholics continued to honor the dead and celebrate the end of the harvest. It was a way to welcome the longer nights and colder weather with some merriment.

“Nay, he isnae. He’s chatting with ma brothers. He isnae paying any attention to me. Besides, I’m nae interested.” Tira wouldn’t admit to anyone that she’d long found Leith Gordon the brawest man she’s ever seen. She wouldn’t admit she’d pined for him but was sure he would never notice her. She was prepared to move past her childish fantasy and find a man she could make a future with.

“Nae interested, but ye—”

“Mairi, I’m nae longing for a mon who doesnae care for me. He’s friends with Roddy, but he has never taken an interest in me.”

“Do ye nae remember who yer da is? What mon would take an interest in ye if he isnae ready to propose?”

“Da isnae that frightening.” Tira chuckled because Laird Hardwin, an enormous Highlander, never intimidated her. He might’ve been one of the most revered warriors in Scotland, having survived a battle that killed most of his family, but he was the gentle father who used to carry her on his shoulders when he went to visit their crofters.

“He isnae to us, but he is to everyone else.” Mairi had the same fond memories of her uncle since he was a man who reminded her of her father, the mighty Kieran MacLeod. “He terrifies most men. I wouldnae blame Leith if he didna wish to face Uncle Hardi.”

“It’s nae only that. Leith’s sworn to Roddy, Dougal, and Finnian that he wouldnae marry. He isnae at the front of the line to inherit. Torquil is, so while he might be tánaiste for a while one day, he doesnae believe he’ll be laird. Laird Andew is in fine fettle, so nay one thinks their father will inherit for many years. Torquil’ll likely have a son of his own before his grandda passes away, certainly well before Ewan does.”

“Why wouldnae he wish to marry? His parents are like ours. They willna force an arrangement on him. Ewan and Allyson are lucky they fell in love at King Robert’s court. He was a rogue from what I’ve heard. They wish for something different after how disastrously their arranged relationship started.”

“I ken. His mama wasna the saint Da claims ma mama is. I dinna ken why he’s sworn off marriage, but I willna flaunt maself to a mon who isnae looking for a wife. I’ll find a mon who wants me.”
“And who do ye have yer eye on?”

“I dinna ken. It’s getting hard to find a mon I’m nae somehow related to. The Gordons are one of the few clans ye and I arenae connected to by blood.”

“There are the Grant brothers. Tate may have married Adelaide, but the Sinclairs arenae related to them by blood, and neither are the Sutherlands.”

“Yet. With the way Tate and Adelaide are, they’ll have a passel of children in nay time.”

“Ye could do worse than ma cousins.” Mairi was related to the Grants because her father’s sister, Madeline, married the Grants’ tánaiste, Fingal.

Over the past two generations, the Sinclairs and Sutherlands became the heart of the most powerful alliance in Scotland. What King Robert the Bruce once wished to accomplish, marriages to the Sinclairs and Sutherlands brought his goal to fruition. It was a tangled web, but most of the Highland clans were at peace with one another, and the Sinclairs and Sutherlands were among the most respected of all.

“I ken, but Angus is already spoken for, and I think Harry wishes for someone else. Besides, he’s to fight alongside Andrew Murray soon.”

“How aboot ma cousins’ cousin Brice?”

“He’s far too young.”

“He’s nae even a year younger than ye. Leith is only a few months aulder than ye.”

“But ye ken how lads are. Tell me Graham was as reasonable as Amy when they were weans.” Tira grinned at her cousin since Mairi had twin older siblings.

“Mayhap.” Mairi returned Tira’s grin as she conceded. “But mayhap Brice is different.”

Tira shot Mairi a bemused look that made them both laugh. “Enough. The lads are coming.”

“Aye, and Leith is with them.” Mairi was circumspect enough not to nudge her cousin like she wanted, but she watched Leith attentively. She was certain the young man’s focus lingered on Tira far longer than it did her.

“Tira, Mairi, can ye get us some ale?” Tira’s oldest brother, Roddy, stuck out his mug to his youngest sibling. Tira cocked an eyebrow as she crossed her arms. “Dinna look at me like that. Ye ken ye look just like Mama when ye do that.”

“And what would Mama say if she were here instead of me.”

“She’d tell me to say please.”

“Aye. If ye could place one foot in front of the other—barely—to walk over here and ask, ye can get a pint on yer own.” Tira tried not to sound petulant in front of Leith, but her oldest brother had irritated her that morning when he made excuses about having to help his cousins and uncle set up the bonfire. He’d done it to avoid gathering eggs like Blair told him to. He secretly feared the hens pecking, so he shoved the baskets into Tira’s arms when she passed him in the bailey. It made her late to help their grandmother, Amelia Sutherland, in the Great Hall. Amelia understood, but it still angered Tira to keep the older woman waiting.

“I told ye she wouldnae take kindly to yer request.” Dougal, the second oldest of the siblings, elbowed Roddy in the belly. “Ye shouldnae have eaten her serving of plum porridge that Grandmama set aside for her.”

“That was you?” Tira dropped her arms and leaned forward. Her grandmother’s savory soup with the meat, spices, and dried fruit was her favorite. She’d helped one of the Sutherland clan’s young mothers the night before. Her bairn had a fever and was inconsolable, so Tira played with the woman’s older children. She’d missed part of the evening meal which included the plum porridge.

“I shall remind ye of giving away that secret when we are in the lists in the morning,” Roddy grumbled.

Leith intently watched the siblings, knowing their bickering was in good spirits. He was familiar with it since he had three siblings, one older and two younger. He also lived in the same keep as his four cousins, two of whom were twin sisters. He silently cheered on Tira, loving the way her cheeks flushed in the firelight. He stood close enough to watch the color rise along her neck and into her face. As she swiped a lock of hair from her forehead, he wished it were his hand doing that.

He’d been enamored with Tira for as long as he could remember, well before their adolescence. He thought she was the bonniest woman he’d ever seen, but she’d been like a holy cherub when they were children. Her blond hair, brown eyes, and heart-shaped face made her appear angelic when they were younger. She’d mesmerized him since they were five and met for the first time. But as they grew older, a healthy fear of Hardi meant he kept his distance. He’d gone through an awkward phase where he tripped over his words as often as he tripped over his own feet. He’d feared he might do something Hardi considered disrespectful and wind up skewered in the lists when next they met.

“For that, ye should get Mairi and me a pint each, Roddy. Please.” Tira tacked on the last word with emphasis to make a point.

“I—”

“Yer sister is right. Ye’d be in a cloud of dust right now if I learned ye ate the last of Lady Sutherland’s plum porridge. Ye ken she’s kenned for it. She’s won the contest at Highland Gathering since before we were a tinkle in any of our father’s eyes. Be glad yer sister hasnae challenged ye.” Leith held his breath, hoping Tira would appreciate his support and not see it as mocking or overstepping.

“Thank ye, Leith. Roddy, ye should listen to yer friend. At least one of ye has sense.” Tira smiled at Leith, hesitant to make too much of his comment.

“Fine. Are ye coming to the mead tent with me, Leith?” Roddy took both women’s mugs, and he and Dougal turned toward the tent where alcohol and women were served. None of the men in the Cameron family, nor the Sutherlands or MacLeods, would partake in the latter and only enjoyed the former in moderation. Roddy and Dougal wouldn’t linger. They knew Leith wouldn’t either since his family wouldn’t approve.

“It’s completely dark now. The lasses shouldnae be on their own. I ken this is yer family’s land, but in the dark, someone might nae recognize the laird and lady’s granddaughters.”

Dougal and Roddy glanced at each other, both realizing Leith was right. Neither brother failed to notice how Leith positioned himself closer to Tira than Mairi or how his expression was far more protective when he looked at their sister than their cousin. They knew Leith would protect the women equally, but his intentions weren’t the same for their cousin as they were their sister. Roddy and Dougal shot Leith a warning glare before they turned away.

“Ye dinna have to be our nursemaid if ye’d prefer to go with them.” Tira’s words were soft, not wanting to sound ungrateful.

“It’s ma honor.” Leith grinned and proffered a courtly bow, hoping a little humor might disguise the possessiveness he feared the others might’ve heard. He’d been staring at Tira when he made his offer, but he meant it for Mairi too. He just didn’t have the same visceral reaction to Mairi that he did Tira.

“Thank ye.” Mairi smiled before turning her head toward her siblings Amy, Graham, and Boyd. They walked by, heading to stand closer to the Samhain revelers. “Tell Roddy he can have ma ale. I need to ask Amy something.”

“B—” Tira barely made a sound before Mairi took off after her sister and two brothers. It left Tira alone with Leith for the first time since they were children. “I can go with her, and ye can join ma brothers in the mead tent. I dinna want ye stuck with me.”

“I’m hardly stuck, Tira. I offered to guard ye because I wanted to. Would ye prefer to be with yer cousins? I dinna wish to keep ye.”

Tira didn’t glance in her relatives’ direction, instead lost in the depths of Leith’s blue-hazel eyes. The soft wind lifted his tawny locks and ruffled the hem of his breacan feile, or great plaid,that crossed over his shoulder. The man had never appeared more ruggedly handsome than he did now, the firelight highlighting his angular features and expansive chest.

“Nay, I dinna wish to join them. I—I shouldnae wander off. Roddy and Dougal will expect me here when they return. And—” Tira shifted her focus to peer over Leith shoulder as her parents walked toward the fire.

Leith turned to look behind him. The moment he recognized Blair and Hardi, he straightened. He caught himself before he took a step away, not wanting to offend Tira. They were well within the bounds of propriety, not standing too close. But he was a lone man speaking to a laird’s only daughter. Death flashed before his eyes.

“Mayhap I should escort ye to yer parents.”

“Mayhap.”

“Ye dinna look like that’s where ye wish to go. Would rather stay here—with me?”

“Aye. I dinna want to go anywhere else.” Tira’s gaze locked with Leith’s, and something passed between them, both knowing they couldn’t ignore their attraction any longer.