Connor was having trouble controlling himself. A thousand things could go wrong, he didn't want Rachel to go out at night and especially not to enemy territory. What kind of man would he be, if he let the woman he loved face that kind of danger alone? Still, Kevin was their laird and Connor could not, and would not disobey him. He slumped against a wall and tried to accept what was happening. Before he knew it, the great hall was empty except for Kevin and his son, Sween.
"Come here, son." Kevin waited until Sween got up and came to face him. "Can you sneak up on a lad without him noticing?"
The boy hung his head. "Nay, father."
"Can you split an apple with an arrow or break a lad's arm?"
Sween shook his head.
"Rachel can do all that and more. It is good for a lad to be brave, but not if he is unwise. Challenging Rachel's skill is unwise. She can hurt you if you do it again and I will let her. Go to bed."
The boy ran up the stairs, disappeared into his bedchamber and Kevin didn't smile until he heard the door close. Then he filled a goblet with wine and took it to Connor. "Your father was a good lad. I trusted Clymer with my life and he never let me down. It is for his sake I keep you close and I am pleased you fight so well. 'Tis time you became my third."
Connor was pleased, but that was not foremost on his mind. Even so, he said, "I am honored."
"My wife and her mother left us once and took Rachel with them. Did you know that?" He watched Connor shake his head, handed him the wine and then walked back to the table to pour a second goblet of wine for himself. "We had only been married a few short weeks. I love Anna and would rather face a hundred warriors alone than to again feel the pain her leaving caused me." He paused and motioned for Connor to come sit with him at the table. "Rachel, Anna and Catherin have the courage of a raging bull and I wish I had ten men like them. You have that same courage, but you will need much more than courage if you hope to win Rachel's heart."
The door opened, Justin stuck his head in and announced more arrivals.
"How many are still outside?"
"Five families, but they are coming." Justin pulled his head back out and closed the door.
Kevin sipped his wine and turned his attention back to Connor. "As I was saying, you will need to be far wiser than I was when it comes to Rachel."