Braden: A Seventh Son Novel (McClains Book 3) Read online

  Katerina walked over to stand beside Braden. “Are there still men who do not think Braden is a good laird? What can he do better?” she asked. She wanted the man to admit Braden had done all he should have to do.

  “I think he is doing all he can. Some of the men just do not like a Sassenach for a laird,” Mungo replied.

  “And would you be one of those men?” Katerina asked softly. “I have not seen anyone else having any sorts of problems with my husband.”

  Braden’s arm around her tightened, warning her to change the way she spoke. “I am sure Mungo is very happy with my leadership. He is my trusted advisor after all. He must love his position within the clan.”

  “I am sure he does,” Katerina responded.

  “Aye, I do. It is a valued position, and when there is a new laird, there is no telling who will have a position that is valued, and who will not. I am pleased.” Mungo bowed his head and left the keep, the anger in his eyes obvious to both of them.

  “He is the one who wants to kill you, is he not?” Katerina asked.

  “Not here,” Braden said softly, guiding her up the stairs. Once they were in their chamber, he said, “I am quite certain it is Mungo. The other men are pleased to have me for a leader. They are coming to me for advice, and they are following my orders on the training field.”

  “What can we do to catch him and get the worries out of our lives?”

  Braden sat down at the edge of the bed, pulling her down beside them. “I have an idea, but I am not sure how it will work.”

  “You do? Tell me!”

  “I think I want to set a plant trap. I will throw seeds on the floor in front of the door. I will have my father sleep elsewhere tonight and tell him what we have done. The seeds will be told to grow and entangle anyone other than my parents, grandparents, Mary, you, or me. If our would-be assassin comes into the chamber, he will be tripped by the plants.”

  “That is a good idea. Have you ever done something like that?”

  “No, I have not, but I do not doubt that it will work.” Braden shrugged. “It will get the killer out into the open faster, as well, and then we can move on, knowing that he has been taken care of.”

  “Let us talk to your parents and grandparents about it tonight. It is a wonderful idea, and I am sure it will work beautifully.”

  Braden pressed his lips to hers. “What did I ever do to deserve a woman like you?”

  Katerina laughed. “Mayhap you were good once…”

  Chapter Nine

  After discussing the plan with his father and grandfather, Braden set up the ‘trap’ in his room. He knew that without a guard standing there, it would be easier for someone to make the actual attempt on his life.

  He had a sword in bed with him as well as a dagger under his pillow. He refused to be unprotected when someone came to kill him. And more than that, he could not leave Katerina unprotected. She was the love of his life, and he could never let anything happen to her.

  He tried for a brief time to get her to sleep in his parents’ or grandparents’ cottage, but there was no arguing with her. It was her job to sleep at his side and to be with him, and that was exactly where she would be. She had survived the mass killing of her family and all she had ever loved, so of course she could make it through an attempt on his life that would come to naught.

  Getting ready for bed that night, she donned a nightgown that covered her from neck to feet. While she did not mind being in the room while the murderer was caught, she was not about to be displayed for him.

  They both went to bed at the regular time, and they closed their eyes, trying to will themselves to sleep, but neither of them had any idea of how they were supposed to sleep when they knew an attempt on Braden’s life could come at any moment. This was the night that made sense with no guard at their door, so there was no doubt it was coming—and soon.

  They were afraid to speak to one another, worried that the sound of them talking would scare the murderer away. And the truth was, they were ready to stop worrying at all times about someone trying to hurt them.

  Clinging to each other’s hands there in the darkness, they lay still and silent. Katerina could not stop thinking about how peaceful things would be after this threat was over. They had found the place where they would stay, and she was even learning to the speak the language of the people there. She had made a friend, and she knew more were right at the edge of her grasp.

  When the door opened, creaking slightly, Katerina could not stop herself from looking to see who it was. Andrina and Mungo. Mungo was expected, but Andrina? Had it not been two men? Andrina had a very deep voice, which she remembered thinking was odd on the day she met her. Mayhap that was why they’d believed it was two men.

  As Katerina watched, plants grew out of the stone floor and wrapped around the ankles of the two would-be killers. “Why do you want Braden dead?” Katerina asked, not sure why she cared.

  Andrina scowled. “He will be dead. It is Mungo’s rightful place to be laird over this clan! He was the advisor to the last laird, but more than that, he was the son of a laird before he was exiled!”

  Katerina sat up in bed, bringing the covers to her chest and looking at the two. Braden lay still beside her, though she was not certain as to why. “If he was the son of a laird, why was he exiled? Should he not have become the next laird?”

  “Mungo and I are twins, born to the laird’s first love. When he had a son from his wife, she sent us away, saying we were no longer needed.” Andrina shook her head. “We will rule over a clan together!”

  Katerina looked at Mungo wondering why he was silent, but then she saw the dagger—poised to throw—in his hand. No wonder Braden was lying still. He was ready to defend himself against the intruder.

  Katerina thought about lying flat again, to be a smaller target, but she noticed a small stalk growing higher and higher. The stalk wrapped around Mungo’s hand just as he tried to throw the knife, causing it to fall with no ill-effects to the floor. As soon as Mungo was unarmed, she yelled for Robert, who was in another room, ready to come when called.

  Robert threw the door open and stood looking at the treacherous pair, their ankles and wrists bound by vines. “You were right, son. I do not know how you knew it was Andrina as well as Mungo, but you told us that was who we would find.” He cut off one of the vines from the floor and carefully tied Mungo’s wrists together. “What should I do with him?”

  Braden sat up, staring at the two traitors. “There is a dungeon. Throw them in there. We will talk to the clan and decide their fate on the morrow. Exile or execution. I do not know the answer. Mayhap we should send them back to their father for punishment.” He rubbed the back of his neck. Dealing with killers was not something he wanted to do.

  Robert shook his head. “Son, I think you need to order an execution and carry it out on the morrow. Your clan needs to see you as a strong leader who will deal harshly with people who try to kill you.”

  After a moment of thought, Braden nodded. “Drown them both in the loch first thing on the morrow.” It was not a punishment that was normal in England, but in Scotland, it was considered a kind punishment.

  Andrina struggled for the first time. “Nay! Our father will avenge us!”

  “And who is your father?” Katerina asked. That was the one detail they had not shared with them yet.

  “Laird Campbell. He did not execute us for trying to kill his precious heir, so he will not be pleased if you do!” Mungo said angrily.

  Katerina shook her head. “If you go around trying to kill people, then you need to be executed.” She refused to feel sorry for them. There had been too much death around her in the past few weeks, and she was more than ready for the twins to be gone from her life.

  The twins were still yelling as they were led from the chamber. Robert looked at his son. “I will put them in the dungeon and let the clan know they will be executed in the morning.”

  As soon as the door was closed behind them, Ka
terina threw her arms around Braden. “I knew it was Mungo, but I am surprised by Andrina. Though I do not know why. She was exceptionally rude to me every day, and I just took it in stride.”

  “Who will we have for a new housekeeper?” Braden asked.

  Katerina shrugged. “Mayhap Mary would like the job. If not, we will find someone who does. Someone who is kind and will not be rude at all times.”

  Braden looked down into Katerina’s eyes. “We are finally safe. There is no one trying to kill us any longer. Do you think our marriage will be able to survive the boredom?”

  She laughed. “I do believe it can. We will just have to work hard at it.”

  News spread quickly that Mungo and Andrina had attempted to kill their laird and had been executed. Braden felt a bit of guilt that he had executed them so quickly, but he knew his father was right. To appear strong, he could not let people who had tried to kill him live.

  Mary happily took on the job as housekeeper, and she hired two of the young ladies from the village to work with her, wanting the clan to be happy with their leadership.

  They had been there for a little more than four weeks when Katerina realized she was expecting. It was not a huge surprise, but she had wondered if she would be the first of the McClain women to not be able to bear children. She worried that the family would hate her if that was the case.

  While she was working with Lina later that day, she mentioned that she had missed her normal time of the month.

  “Are you saying what I think you are saying? Are you expecting, child?”

  Katerina laughed at the look of sheer joy on the older woman’s face. “I take it you are pleased?”

  “Very. Have you told Braden yet?”

  “I have not. I just realized this morning. I will tell him soon, but I want to be able to tell him in my own time and my own way.” Katerina rubbed the back of her neck. “I worry that he only wants me for the children I can bear him. I want to have his love for myself.”

  Lina nodded. “I remember having those very same worries when I was expecting my oldest son. You need to talk to Braden and let him know that you are nervous that he may not love you. Just start the conversation and all will be well.”

  “I will find the right way to discuss it with him.” Katerina changed the subject and went back to crushing the herbs she had been given. She needed to talk to Braden as soon as she could. As soon as he was not spending every waking moment training his men.

  When Katerina returned to the keep later, she was nervous about talking with Braden, though she knew it was necessary. She planned to walk with him after they had supper with the entire family, which had continued since their move to the Highlands.

  It was during supper that a messenger came from the Campbells, whom Braden had insisted needed to learn the news from him, and they gave their attention to that messenger. He spoke fluent English, which surprised Katerina for only a moment. Obviously Andrina and Mungo had learned English from their original clan, so it made sense that the man sent to them would also speak English.

  “I bring greetings from Laird Campbell. He is saddened to hear of the death of his children, but they have long been untrustworthy. He believes he did the wrong thing by banishing them and not executing them himself, but as a father, he could not harm his own children,” the messenger said.

  Katerina shook her head. “Of course, he could not hurt his own children!”

  The messenger continued to stare forward. “Laird Campbell would like to visit you and discuss the matter with you himself. He would like to arrive two days hence. Does he have your permission?”

  Braden looked at his father and grandfather. “What do you think?”

  Alex answered for them all. “He is welcome to visit us, and we will prepare a feast for his arrival.”

  The messenger nodded. “I will return to him and tell him the news.”

  “Will you not stay and eat with us before you make the journey back?” Katerina asked. She had no idea how far away the Campbells were, but she wouldn’t send anyone away hungry. It was not in her to do so.

  The man looked flustered for a moment, but then he shook his head. “No, but I thank you for the offer. I must return to my laird with your response.”

  After he was gone, Robert looked at his father. “You do not sense anything could go wrong from their visit?”

  Alex shook his head. “I feel that my luck wants him to come and visit. I do not know why, but I do believe it is necessary.”

  When they walked after supper, Katerina realized it was not the time for her to bring up the baby she carried or talk about her feelings for her husband. Instead, she asked about the feast. “What would you like Mary to prepare? Should we send hunters out for more meat?”

  Braden nodded. “I think if we could shoot four or five stags, that would be for the best. I will grow some extra wheat for bread because the stores are almost empty, and it is not yet time to harvest the crops in the fields.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. What else can I do to get things ready for our guests?”

  “We have no idea how long they are planning to stay. Would you prepare three of the guest chambers for them as well? I feel as if I owe Laird Campbell an apology for killing his children, but the truth is the two of them were evil. Through and through.”

  “Yes, they were. You did the right thing, Braden, whether it feels as if you did or not.” Katerina walked back into the keep and headed for the stairs.

  “I hope their father is truly coming here to simply speak with me, and not to make war. My army is nowhere near ready for a war. They must have been trained by a very poor leader.”

  “What have you heard about the laird who was over this clan before you?” she asked. She was surprised so little had been said to her.

  “He went hunting with one of his men, and he was found later with an arrow through his back. His man said they lost sight of each other while in the woods.” Braden shook his head.

  “Was the man Mungo? Please say it was not!”

  “It was. When we first arrived, there was another story told, but once I heard that one, I knew I needed to watch my back around Mungo. The man was not trustworthy.”

  Katerina shook her head. “Who knows how many people he has killed over the years? Why did he not just claim that he was the rightful laird after the last died?”

  “He did not want to have to fight the challengers. He was not a strong man. It was easier for him to try to take my place after killing me.” Braden had never imagined when they had been invited to stay with this clan that there would be such hatred toward him and his family. Thankfully, the rest of the clan was now fond of him and even respected him as laird.

  “His father really should have executed him.”

  “I agree. He should have. But he did not.” Braden opened the door to their bedchamber and immediately began removing his clothes. “I think it is time to work on those sons of ours, do you not?”

  Katerina thought for a moment about telling him about the babe she already carried, but it did not seem like the right time. Mayhap once the Campbells were gone, and life had returned to normal, she could tell him.

  Chapter Ten

  When the Campbells arrived two days later, Braden and Katerina were waiting in front of the keep to greet the laird and his family. He rode with several of his men, but the men all stayed back as the laird walked up to Braden with his wife holding onto his arm. “Laird McClain.”

  “I am happy to meet you, Laird Campbell, though I wish it was under better circumstances.” Braden held his hand out to shake the other laird’s, and he was instead crushed in a one-armed hug.

  “May we speak privately? I would like to tell you the story of my children.”

  Braden nodded. “May my wife be present?”

  “Aye, your wife and you, but no one else.” He glanced over his shoulder to where his children, who ranged in age from a toddler to a girl around ten, were playing in front of the keep.


  “My mother will watch over your children,” Braden said loudly, nodding to Matilda, who smiled.

  “You are very accommodating of the father of the people who almost killed you.”

  “It was not almost,” Braden said softly. “They were overheard plotting, and we laid a trap for them. I could not let them live and still be seen a strong leader though, so they were drowned the next morning, and we immediately sent word to you.”

  “I thank you for telling me so quickly.”

  Braden led the laird and his wife to the great hall, pleased that Mary saw them and hurried away, saying, “I will return with a small meal for you. The feast will be in a few hours.”

  “Thank you for preparing a feast for my family, though I doubt that we deserved it,” Laird Campbell said softly, taking a seat at the table, his wife beside him. “I would like to tell you the entire story, and I would like to hear yours. You are obviously an Englishman striding around in a kilt, calling himself a laird.”

  Braden laughed softly. “I am at that. I will gladly tell you our story once I have heard yours.”

  “My father made an agreement with another clan that I would marry a young girl as soon as she was old enough, but I was seventeen years her senior. I told him I would not marry her until she was eighteen, which seemed very old to many, but I thought she should have a chance to grow up first. That lady was the woman beside me, Lorna, the mother of my children.” He sighed. “During the time I waited for Lorna to grow up enough to be my bride, I had a mistress, and she gave birth to Andrina and Mungo. They were born when I was only a lad of nineteen myself, so it was many years after their birth that I married Lorna. And many years after we married before my first son was born.”

  Lorna reached over and covered the laird’s hand with hers. “Do not worry, Ian. They are not judging you.”

  Ian nodded, resuming his story. “Mungo was twenty-one when Little Ian was born. He had already decided that he would one day rule my clan because he was the only son. Ian was only five days old when we found Mungo and Andrina in the babe’s room, holding a pillow over his face.” He shook his head. “I should have had them both executed, but they were my children! How could a father kill his own flesh and blood? Instead, I ordered them to leave Campbell territory and never return.”