Highland Angels by Ceci Giltenan

Author:Ceci Giltenan [Ceci Giltenan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Duncurra LLC
Published: 2015-11-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Darach and his father’s guardsmen arrived at Castle Morrison the next evening as planned.

Gordon said, “It’s good to be home.”

“Aye,” agreed Darach, but the truth was Castle Morrison hadn’t felt like home since he was a wee lad. He had lived at Curacridhe for most of his life. He barely knew his oldest brother. Fearchar was thirteen when Darach was born and had already been training with Frasers for several years. He didn’t return until after Darach had been sent to the northern Highlands to train with the MacLeods. He spent a bit more time with his brother, Coll, who was only six years older. Darach remembered following him like a puppy when he was little. Coll hadn’t minded having a little brother under foot. He affectionately called Darach his wee beastie. Darach had been heartbroken when at the age of eleven, Coll went to train with the Macauleys. Still, given that the Macauleys were less than a day’s ride away, at least Darach had seen him frequently over the next two years.

He was probably closest to his sister Claire. She was only a year older and he remembered her being fun and always up to some mischief.

That was until Da had married again. His father’s new wife, Gavinia, had encouraged Da to send Claire to be educated at an abbey and Darach into training immediately. Neither of them had wanted to go, and he’d thought Da wouldn’t want them to either. He idolized his Da, and had spent a great deal of time with him after Coll left. Darach still remembered overhearing the argument between his father and Gavinia.

“Gavinia, I’m not ready to send Darach away. Seven is too young.”

“Tyree, ye baby yer sons. Many lads are sent off to train as young as six.”

“I know they are, but I still think that’s too young. And I see no reason to send Claire away at all.”

“Her behavior is atrocious. She needs to be reined in immediately, and there is no better place for her to learn discipline than an abbey.”

“But I had hoped ye would—”

“Is that why ye married me? So that I would take care of the children ye have let run wild?”

“Nay, Gavinia, but—”

Gavinia sniffled, as if in tears. “I think ye care more for them than ye do me.”

“Lass, it isn’t a case of more or less. They are my youngest children. Ye’re my wife.”

“Aye, I’m yer wife, the one who is carrying yer youngest child at this moment. I want to be able to focus all of my energy on raising our children.”

“Are ye carrying?” His father’s voice had sounded excited.

“Aye, I am. And I do not need the stress of an uncontrollable lass and a boisterous wee lad. If ye care about me and yer new child, ye’ll do as I’ve asked.”

So Da chose his new wife over his children, or at least that is what Darach believed at the time.

Darach remembered Claire’s heart-wrenching sobs as Da’s guardsmen rode away with her. He

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