Kennan (McClains Book 4) Read online

He could not help but grin at that. His Gilly would never change. She was always ready to take the world on and win. Her mother was smiling at him in a way that told him she approved. He just hoped that he could be the man she deserved.

  A moment later, Morvan returned with the priest. “I have been told there will be a wedding.”

  Kennan looked at his mother. “I want me grandparents here.”

  “Of course.” Katerina started to stand, but Morvan held up a hand.

  “I will fetch them.” Morvan was off before anyone could argue with her.

  The priest looked from Kennan to Gillian. “Is there a reason the wedding must be rushed?” he asked.

  Gillian shook her head. “I am as pure as the day I was born. I just want to be married to this man.” She knew her mother would not approve of how blunt her words were, but she saw no reason to not speak plainly.

  The priest seemed slightly taken aback by Gillian’s bluntness. “All right. I will perform this wedding.”

  Braden McClain’s parents came into the room then. They were old now, and they beamed with pride. “Our last grandson is getting married.”

  Kennan felt that he could not let them down. It was his job to produce the next round of seven sons. It was his job to pass on his power to the youngest. What if his and Gillian’s son was not blessed by a power from God? Would everyone be angry with him? “I am.”

  Robert Lain, Kennan’s father’s father, seemed to understand his fears. “You will make us all proud.”

  Suddenly, Kennan felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted off him. If his grandfather believed in him, then he would believe in himself. He looked over at Gillian. “What are we waiting for?”

  She got up and walked to stand beside him, and he took her hand in his. As the priest talked about what marriage meant, Gillian stood proudly beside the man she loved. They would marry, and they would be happy for the rest of their days. She just knew it. Once they were married, everything would be perfect. Because he was Kennan, and she was Gillian. Everyone knew they were meant for one another.

  When the priest declared them man and wife, he gently took her into his arms and kissed her softly. “You are me bride, Gilly. Finally.”

  She gazed up into his eyes, her insides filled with butterflies all of a sudden. She was bound to this man for the rest of her days. They would go to bed together that night, and she would need to be a good, submissive wife to him. She suddenly was not sure she was ready.

  “Walk with me,” Kennan said softly. Now they were married, there was no need for a chaperone. They could walk and talk about anything they pleased. They could make love in the woods if they wanted to.

  Gillian nodded, her heart in her throat. “Yes, let us walk.” Of all the times to find that she had a bit of shyness inside her, this was not the one she would have chosen. She wanted to be bold for her Kennan, not a simpering miss. He loved her for who she was, and she knew that. She just had to be confident in who she was.

  Her mother shook her head. “Be back in an hour. We are having a proper wedding supper even though this wedding has been anything but proper.”

  Gillian grinned. “Yes, Mama.” With those words, she was off with her new husband. Despite her nervousness, she found that thinking of Kennan as her husband felt very right to her.

  Chapter Three

  Kennan took Gilly’s hand as they left the keep, walking immediately toward the water. His mind was full of all the things he was worried about after hearing her thoughts on forcing her parents to allow them to marry. He could not imagine how he would feel if he had a daughter who would do the same. Of course, he knew he would never have a daughter, so it was very far from his realm of understanding.

  “Are we going to the loch?” Gilly asked, a smile on her face. She was pleased she had gotten her way and been allowed to marry that day instead of waiting until after the harvest. That seemed like forever away.

  “Aye. I thought it would be good to walk along the shore and talk a little.”

  “Are you as happy as I am?” Gilly asked. All at once she realized that he was acting a bit strangely, and that was saying something considering his powers. He had always been more than a bit strange!

  “I think I am. Some of how things happened today have me worried, and I want to make sure that we are thinking the same way about our futures.”

  She sighed. “Must we have such a serious talk on our wedding night? Do you not know that I want nothing more than to be held close to you and kissed within an inch of me life?”

  Kennan could not help but grin down at her. “Well, I can certainly promise that will happen.”

  “Then I suppose I can suffer through your talk of our future first.” As they reached the water, Gilly reached down and picked up a rock, throwing it as hard as she could into the water. It made her feel better, though she had no idea why that would be so. “What are you worried about?”

  He watched her movements, admiring how happy and free she seemed. He suddenly felt as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was now laird of the Clan McClain, he was responsible for keeping his headstrong wife in line, and he would have seven children within the next ten years. What was he thinking marrying with no time to plan or prepare himself? How could he tell her what all was going through his head?

  “It is time for us to play laird and lady of the keep for real now, Gilly,” he said softly.

  “Your father will keep being laird for a while, will he not?”

  Kennan shook his head. “No, it is a family tradition that when the youngest son marries, he takes over all the family’s holdings. So, I have just become laird of Clan McClain.”

  “I did not know it would happen as soon as we married.” Gilly frowned, kicking at a rock at her feet. “How will we find time for just being a married couple if you are off solving all the clan’s problems?”

  “I am sure me father will stay on as an advisor as his father did when he took over before the family moved to Scotland.” Kennan sighed. “I dinna think I really expected us to get married so quickly. Now I am going to have to get used to taking over the clan even while I am getting used to me wife.”

  “Your headstrong wife, you mean?” Gilly eyed him for a moment. She knew exactly what he meant. She was headstrong and would be difficult to control as he was learning to rule the clan. “Are there problems with the clan?”

  “Nothing too bad. There are a couple of families who need help eating because of recent injuries. I may hire Morvan to help you in the keep, if you would like that.”

  “Help me in the keep? Planning meals and doing me wifely duties, you mean?”

  Kennan jerked her to a stop with the hand he still held. “Not all your wifely duties.” His mouth came down on hers, and he kissed her with all the passion he had been saving for her. He had been dreaming about being married to Gilly and their wedding night since he had found out what happened on wedding nights. He had always known she was the only woman for him in all of Scotland.

  Gilly wrapped her arms around Kennan’s back and held to him for dear life. This was the kind of kiss she had been wanting from him—a kiss that told her she was everything he wanted in this world.

  When they finally pulled apart long minutes later, they were both out of breath. Kennan rested his forehead against Gilly’s and sighed. “You make me feel like all of me body is on fire for you, and I want to burn up.”

  She smiled at that, her fingers running through his hair. “You make me feel the same. Are you sure we canna skip straight to the wedding night and ignore the little feast our mothers are making?”

  He laughed. “You know as well as I do the entire clan will be at the keep when we get there. We canna just sneak up the stairs to make love. But after we get everyone out the door . . . then we can do whatever we would like.” He decided not to worry about talking to her about his concerns. Instead, he would wait and see if there were issues. Surely his Gilly would know what he needed from her. They had always seemed to be of one mind. They would make things work.

  When they returned to the keep, there was food everywhere. Many of the clansmen and women had found their way to the big house, and they had brought food with them, ready to celebrate the marriage of their new laird and his lady.

  While Kennan was a bit overwhelmed with the sheer amount of people in the keep, Gilly seemed truly happy to be the center of attention. It was the only time she would ever have a wedding celebration, and he wanted her to make the most of it.

  When Laird Campbell raised his glass in a toast to the newlyweds, Kennan held his breath, a bit worried about what would be said. “It is hard to believe me youngest lassie is married. I had thought to keep her in me home for many more years, but the young Laird McClain had other ideas. To Kennan McClain and the new Lady McClain. May the Lord bless you both with fine sons and abundant crops.”

  Gilly hugged her father and kissed his whiskered cheek. “You just want lots of grandsons!”

  Laird Campbell shook his head at his youngest daughter. “I already have ten grandsons. How many more do you think I need, lassie?”

  Kennan pulled his wife back against him, wrapping his arms around her waist. “At least seven!”

  There was much cheering at those words, for all of Clan McClain knew of the family’s propensity to have seven sons.

  As the night of feasting commenced, Kennan found he was constantly looking around for his Gilly. When she was not at his side, he went to hers. They laughed together and talked to all around them. She was well known by the McClain clan because she had been coming there to play with Kennan her entire life. Most of the clan members knew that there were strange things about the family, but none of them minded. They believed in magic, and they knew the magic of the family was
only good.

  It was late when her mother came to them and took her away. “I am here to get you ready for bed.”

  Gilly sighed. She knew it was traditional for the mother of the bride to ready her daughter for her first night as a married woman, but she had no desire to do things the traditional way. “Yes, Mama. I am coming.”

  She trailed her hand across Kennan’s arm as her mother pulled her away. As they headed up the stairs to Kennan’s room, she noticed that Lady McClain was with them. The woman had been a second mother to her, so it felt right to her to have them both with her.

  When they reached Kennan’s room, Lady McClain smiled down at her. “I hope you know I plan to get all our things moved out of the keep tomorrow. Then you and Kennan will have the place to yourselves.”

  “You dinna have to leave right away!” Gillian protested, but secretly she was thrilled. She had not thought of that advantage to Kennan immediately becoming laird. She wanted all the privacy she could have with him.

  Lady McClain laughed softly. “Of course, I do. You and Kennan are newly married, and I know how much you will want your privacy.”

  Gillian felt her first moment of unease. “What if I need help with something? I am not sure I am ready to be the mistress of a keep.”

  Her mother smiled at her, hugging her close. “You marrying does not stop me from being your mother. And now you will have two mothers. Choose one of us and visit if you need something. We will both be willing to help with anything.”

  Lady McClain nodded. “We will. We both want this marriage to be as successful as it can possibly be. And that means we will be ready for any questions or concerns you have. You have watched your mother be the lady of her keep for years and years. You must have learned a great deal from her.”

  Gillian thought about that, and though she did not protest, she realized that she should have used the time her father was insisting she and Kennan wait until the wedding to learn to be a wife. She could kiss Kennan all day, but could she keep his home? That is where her faults would come in. “I will not be afraid to approach either of you.”

  Her mother shook her head. “Enough of that. Do you need me to explain what will happen tonight?”

  Gillian laughed. “Oh, Mama. Of course not. I would never wait to have a question like that answered. I have older married sisters, and I am not afraid to ask.”

  Her mother sighed. “It is a good thing I am done raising you, Gillian Campbell McClain. I swear you have put more gray hairs in me head than all of your siblings combined.” She softened the words with a hug. “Be happy.”

  Gillian smiled, hugging her mother tightly. “I married the only man in the world for me. I promise that is the thing I will do best. I will be happy.” She had always thought of happiness as something that came from within anyway. So many of her friends had wanted to marry to be happy, but if they had not gone into a marriage happy, how could they suddenly find it? Would they not just make their partner unhappy? It made no sense to her!

  Lady McClain moved over to embrace Gillian as well. “Keep me boy happy and take care of each other.”

  “I promise I will do me very best!” Gillian was pleased to see the two older women leave her to get ready for bed on her own. She quickly stripped off her clothing and slipped under the cover. She laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She should be nervous she knew, but she really was not. It was her Kennan she would be making love with. What could go wrong?

  She waited for what seemed an eternity before she finally dozed off.

  When Kennan finally made his way up the stairs, he was frustrated beyond his wildest imaginings. The clansmen had not realized he would be taking over as their laird quite so soon. As soon as his father had declared him the new laird of Clan McClain, he had been subjected to toast after toast. Once those were finally finished, many of the clansmen had come to him with either problems or suggestions. No one seemed to remember that he had his new wife waiting for him in bed. It was almost as if they had worked together to keep him from his Gilly.

  He took the stairs two at a time, saying a silent prayer she would still be awake. He opened the door to find her sleeping on her side, curled up like a child. As he gazed at her, he could still see his playmate from years gone by. He sighed softly, knowing he could not wake her to make love. No, he would have to wait until morning.

  He stripped and slipped into bed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead as he closed his eyes. He was too tired at this point for more than sleep anyway. It could not be long before dawn.

  When Gillian woke the following morning, she lay on her side, propped on one elbow watching Kennan sleep. He seemed so strong and tall when he was awake and asleep—well, he seemed very much like the little boy who had kissed her cheek before going off to train his men many years before. How could he be so handsome and strong when awake and so childish and young in his sleep? She was not sure she would ever understand the answer to that question.

  She quietly slipped from the bed, knowing he had gone to sleep very late. She did not want to wake him. It had been a very lonely wedding night, but as a laird’s daughter she understood the responsibilities of the position. Actually, she understood the responsibilities of being laird better than she understood the responsibilities of being a laird’s wife. That may not bode well for her future.

  She dressed by the early morning light streaming through the solitary window in the room. Carrying her shoes, she slipped them on after closing the door softly behind her, and she went in search of work. She wished she knew what she was supposed to do first, but somehow every time her mother had endeavored to teach her to be a good wife, she had found a reason to be needed outside.

  Gillian hoped with everything inside her that Kennan knew what he was getting into with her for a wife. Both of their mothers made running a large household look easy. The only thing she found easy was hunting . . . well, and kissing Kennan. That was easy, too!

  There was a dreamy smile on her face when she reached the kitchen. She stood watching the housekeeper bustle about, the chief cook at her side. Both of them stopped when they realized she was watching them.

  “Can I get ya some breakfast, Lady McClain?” the cook asked.

  Gillian was struck that the woman would call her by her new title. She was the same cook who had worked in the McClain kitchen all of Gilly’s life, and she had been there to bandage her knee more than once. “You have scolded me and chased me out of your kitchen, Fiona. Lady McClain is a bit too formal. Gillian or Gilly would please me!”

  Fiona grinned. “Well, you never know with a new bride and a new mistress of the house how formal they are going to want things to be.”

  “Not at all would be me answer. Treat me as you have always treated me. Like I am your errant daughter who has spent too much time wandering around in the woods playing with wooden swords instead of learning what I should be learning!”

  Both the cook and housekeeper laughed. Gillian had known the housekeeper for years as well, though she had not known her nearly as well as the other woman. “Hilda, I hope you are planning to be patient with me,” Gilly said to the housekeeper. “I spent all me time running wild instead of learning from me mother how to run a household. I am afraid I will be a burden on you.”

  Hilda smiled. “I am sure I can help you as much as you need.”

  “If that means you will just do it all for me while I follow Kennan around all day hunting and helping him train his men, that would be wonderful!”

  “Now, you know as well as I do that canna happen, Gilly. You are going to need to learn how to take care of this household, but I will take me time teaching you.” Hilda frowned. “Where’s our laird?”

  “He is still asleep. He stayed very late at the party last night, and I dinna think he will be up anytime soon.”

  Hilda and Fiona frowned at one another. “He is laird now,” Fiona finally said. “It is his duty to be up before all the others.”

  Hilda nodded. “He will learn with time.”

  Gillian wanted to defend her new husband, but she found she could not. Her father had always been the first to rise along with her mother. They had always had their duties to the clan foremost in their minds. “Could I have some porridge?”