Page 69 of An Enchanted Spring

She didn’t respond, and he tried not to worry. Brianagh would explain everything for her.

They reached the bailey and were subjected to another round of questions, but many of the men were the same guardsmen he’d fought alongside most of his life. They welcomed him back warmly, astonished at his unannounced return after so long an absence.

Kane returned the men to their posts, and the drawbridge to the main castle lowered. Aidan quelled the sudden emotion rising in his breast, and he confidently led Cian and Reilly over the moat, into the dark stone wall of the outer bailey. The echo of the horses’ hooves bounced off the mossy walls, and Aidan had never in his life been so overjoyed at the sound.

He rode into the early morning sun, temporarily blinded as they exited the dark tunnel, passing under the portcullis. The courtyard was empty but for the stable master and his charges, who stood waiting.

Aidan dismounted easily, then reached up and slid Emma off.

He turned his head to the stable master.

“Bernard. Good to see you again.”

The man glared at him. “Didn’t think I’d ever see you again. What took you so long to return? Horse lose a shoe?”

Aidan threw back his head and laughed. “I missed you too, old man. These horses need a rubdown and some oats as soon as possible. Think your whelps can handle that?”

The young boys waited until Bernard gave them a nod, then they each took one of the horses and led it to a gateway in the stone wall to their right. Bernard took the reins from Aidan and regarded him.

“Well, looks like you survived well enough.” He led the horse after the others, leaving Emma staring in consternation at the man’s retreating back.

“He doesn’t like you very much,” she noted, a hint of disapproval in her tone. “You laughed at him. That didn’t seem very nice.”

“That’s about as much emotion as he’s ever shown,” Aidan replied. He took her hand, then looked at Cian and Reilly. “He missed me. Ready?”

Cian grinned and replied in English. “I’ve been waiting for this for eight years, my laird.” He paused. “I mean, Aidan.”

At Emma’s confusion, Aidan explained, “When I travel from the clan, I become the acting laird. Now that we’re home again, I’m just Aidan.”

“Well, Bri will be happy to see me,” Reilly said. He wiggled his eyebrows. “Perhaps one or two of the chambermaids, as well.”

Before Emma could chastise him, a choked cry drew everyone’s attention to the castle steps.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood at the top of the steps, dressed in a deep blue léine with silver trim, matching Aidan’s. His mouth hung open, his eyes wide, as he took in the foursome standing in his courtyard, and he shook his head.

“’Tis not possible,” he stated, staring at Aidan. “You’re dead.”

“Nah,” Aidan replied in Gaelic, his eyes twinkling. “I just wanted to see if absence did indeed make your heart grow fonder. Greetings, my laird.”

Nioclas MacWilliam ran down the stairs and slammed into his brother, hugging him tightly and pounding his back. Aidan blinked back his tears, coughing to cover up his displays of emotion, but Nick had no problems pulling back,grasping his brother’s face, then pulling him in for a hug again.

“Where the hell have you been?” Nick finally demanded, wiping the moisture from his eyes. “You never came back. I sent men after you, for years. I never stopped searching.”

“I traveled a bit.” Aidan glanced over his shoulder. Emma stood alone, twisting her hands together nervously as she tried desperately not to stare at them.

“I see you brought back your treasure,” Nick replied knowingly.

“Aye. She doesn’t speak our language very much, though.”

“From whence does she hail?” Nick asked, interested. “Somewhere I know?”

“I believe you know of it,” Aidan said carefully. “America?”

Nick gaped at him. “You jest!”

“Not at all.” Aidan couldn’t help his grin.

Nick pushed past him and grasped Emma’s hand in greeting. He said, in near-perfect modern English, “My lady, I welcome you to my home. I see you’ve taken good care of my brother, and for that, I thank you. Please, come inside and warm yourself by my fire; I’ll have our cook prepare you a meal immediately.”

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