They turned to leave and Lady Grear’s eyes went wide. Reuben watched in shock, trying to make sense of how the woman had just spoken to him. He was a Laird, and every woman who had ever spoken to him had done so in a courteous manner. Almost as though they were scared of hurting him with their words. But with this woman, she did not seem to care. He almost suspected that she disliked him, but they had just met, and she already had an opinion of him. As he looked closer, he saw that they were not just mere women, but ladies of high class, who had come directly from the court of McGowan.
There was always a chance that they were spies, but everyone knew of the madness which befell Max Sweeney. Everyone knew how he would go from a wise sensible man to an angered beast in a matter of moments. Reuben understood why they would not want anything to do with the man.
“Fine, wait. I hope ye understand that I was just looking out for my people. I just needed to make sure I could trust ye, before I brought ye into my home. Ye are highly welcomed. Hudson, please. Carry on.”
Kate scoffed and Reuben glared at her. She seemed to have a feisty nature about her, and this was something that he found absolutely stunning. Maybe it was the fact that she did not know who he was, but even now, she would be aware that he was the Laird of the castle, so why did she show such disdain instead of desire to gain his approval? Reuben had been so used to seeing women grovel for him. He watched as the women were walked all the way to the halls, and from there, they were led by a servant.
“Ye ken I never saw ye like this,” said Hudson as he walked back to Reuben. “Looks like she’s going to be trouble, yeah?”
“Nay, she’s a wee lassie, shouldnae be much to handle. My concern is with who sent her. If she was sent by Max, who knows what the little rodent wants with us.”
Hudson nodded. Max had been gunning for their estate for a long time. He was not a fool to make a jarring move like coming right for them with his servants, as he and his men were terrified of Reuben and his forces.
“Whatever happens, we keep a close eye on them, alright?” said Reuben. “And make sure we have men watching out dusk til dawn. If I know anythin’, and I do, it’s that Max is going to come for his girls, so be ready.”
“Yer thinkin’ bout going to war with the bampot?” Hudson asked, looking at his sword. “Been a while since we showed our highland spirits, why wait for him to come all the way here?”
Reuben turned to a window up in the castle and spotted his mother looking down at him. “Ye ken why Hudson, I’ll see ye soon.”
From the look on his mother’s face, he could tell that she had made up her mind, and when Grear made up her mind, there was no one who could get in her way, especially not him. He rushed back to the stairs and listened to the sound of the chatter coming from their new visitors. From where they had been placed, Reuben realized that they would be an entire flight above them, and if his mother listened carefully enough, she would be able to hear them from her room above.
“Mother, I’m here.” Reuben called out as he stepped into the room.
“Aye,” came Grear, “Have ye checked on the sheep in the barn?”
“Aye, Ma, I have.” Reuben replied.
Grear nodded and walked up to the window to stare out to the world outside. Reuben knew what was coming and folded his arms. She cleared her throat, “Ye know why I ask ye to check on the sheep when ye wake and when ye head back to bed?”
Reuben nodded, “To make sure I become a great Laird. One who takes notice of his sheep and protects them, no matter the consequences and no matter the danger.”
“Exactly, and I was proud of what ye did today. Stepping up to the gates like that. Yer faither would be proud too, because that is what makes a good Laird.”
Rueben sat up, shocked that he was not getting a grilling. Instead, it turned out to be a commendation and he would take it. “Thank ye, I only do what ye taught me, and I want to be the best for all of our lands.”
“As I’m sure ye want to be. But ye need to understand something, Reuben. Yer a great warrior, someone who is feared by hundreds of people all around the highlands. Everyone is scared of ye, and they know the great desolation that comes when they try attacking the McDonalds. But this is not all we should be known for. These girls who came to yer doorstep, they came seeking hospitality and help, and we gave it to them. Not because society calls for it, but because that is what good people do. They offer help, and that is what we did. We offer help.”
“But, Ma, there’s a chance that they are spies. I mean, she said it herself, they were sent by the McGowan, and they could be spying on us, looking to steal whatever information they can find to drag us down when their armies attack.”
“What better way to watch the spies than to keep them under yer own roof? Ye get to watch their every move, and make sure they can only see the things which ye want them to see. If ye don’t trust them, that’s fine, Reuben. But these are our guests, and they are not a threat to us. If ye choose not to trust them, ye shame our home and make people see us as savages who cannae keep a home.”
Reuben parted his lips to speak, but Grear shook her head. “These girls were abused and hurt by that mad man Sweeney, and ye would be no better than him if ye were to send them right back into his arms. I know what it is like to be forced into a union which ye wouldnae like, and I would never wish that on anyone, even my worst enemy. If it turns out that they’re spies, then we fight to defend what we have and keep our home until the last man.”
Grear turned around, walked towards her son and touched his hair gently, “Because if they aren’t spies and we treat them that way, then we would have lost their trust, and the trust of anyone else who would look to the McDonald castle and think,I can be safe there. We are already known as fearful warriors; I believe it is time we changed that narrative.”
Reuben nodded at his mother, “Thank ye, Maither, yer wisdom means more to me than ye know.”
Grear smiled, “Check on the sheep one last time.”
“Ma!” Reuben argued.
“I hear Matilda will soon give birth; she’s going to need some extra attention!”
Reuben left his mother’s chambers and began walking down the halls. He looked up at the horn of a wildebeest which hung along the walls. He smiled to himself as he remembered the day his father had returned from the wilderness, dragging the beast behind him. McDonald was the bravest man Reuben had ever known, and he would spend his entire life doing his best to make sure he lived up to the expectations which had been set by his father. He would not just be any Laird; he would be better.
Being better had to start with smaller gestures, and so, Reuben made his way down to the room which had been given to the visitors. As he got there, he found a servant walking the halls and he called to him. The servant walked over, bowing as he got close enough.
“I daenae want ye leaving this hallway for the rest of the time they are in here, alright? Daenae make it obvious, but I want ye watchin’ them the entire time, and if they do anything suspicious, let me ken, ye got it?”