One & Only by Kara Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

through the basics. The sky is about to open. There’ll be
a brisk wind this night.”
    “A wee brisk wind would be welcome
after this day.” Duff whistled a shrill sound, calling a halt to the exercises
and at once the young warriors stopped their lessons and trotted toward the
incline.
    As Gordy, one of his warriors in
training passed by, Duff grabbed hold of the young lad’s tunic. The lad grew to
a manly height, but he didn’t have the muscles of a warrior yet. His arms were
a bit scrawny, definitely not strong enough to hold a worthwhile sword. Gordy
shook his light brown mane of hair and his eyes bulged with a look of fright.
    “Where are ye off to? I told you I
wanted to speak to you about your absence. You were gone for days. Ye have some
explaining to do.”
    The lad could barely get the words
out, “I … I asked … James gave me permission to visit my cousin. It was of
import and … He said not to bother ye or our laird.”
    Duff cuffed him on the side of the
head. “Your laird is standing right there, lad. Have some respect.”
    Gordy nodded, bowed, and then
lowered his gaze to his feet.
    James and the rest of his guard
sauntered toward them and joined the circle, each smiling and seemingly
interested in what was happening. Duff drew their interest when his voice rose.
    “James,” Duff called, “did ye give
this clootie a pass to visit relatives?”
    James laughed at Duff’s insult and
stepped between he and Gordy. Grey thought James might be trying to protect the
lad from Duff’s anger.
    “Aye, a messenger came and said he
had important news for the lad. I allowed him to go. You and Grey went hunting
and I didn’t think you’d care.”
    Grey nodded. “All’s well then.”
    “I’ll just take my leave.” Gordy
turned but before he could step away, Grey called him back.
    Duff smiled, a rarity, still the
corners of his mouth gave a slight twitch. “Where are your manners, Gordy? Ye
don’t walk away from your laird without permission. He hasn’t given it yet.”
    “I … I apologize, Laird. May I be
excused now?”
    “Not yet,” Duff said, blowing a
frustrated sigh. “Your laird wants to know what this news is and of what import
is it?”
    Grey raised a brow at Duff’s baiting
the lad. “I can speak for myself, Duff.” He shoved his long-time friend in the
chest and moved closer to Gordy, somewhat protecting him from his overbearing
commander. “What is the important news, Gordy?”
    Gordy swallowed hard, which went
observed by all the guardsmen standing around him. They pressed in; all waiting
to hear what he would say. Gordy became nervous and tried to back up a step,
but Colm was behind him and shoved him forward. The lad bumped into Kenneth who
shoved him in return.
    “You’ll look at me when I address
you, lad, not at your feet.” Grey had enough fooling around. There were clan
matters to see to and he didn’t have time to waste standing around baiting a
lad, even if it entertained his guards.
    His brutish guard reveled in scaring
the younger lads, and hell if he wasn’t stronger and meaner than each one of
them, he might have been intimidated too. They could be formidable even when it
hadn’t called for it. Gordy surprised him for the simple fact that he stood his
ground.
    “Laird, I’m not sure ye want to hear
the news.”
    “Let me be the judge of that.”
    The lad impressed him when he looked
him in the eyes and said, “My cousin told me that the MacHeth Laird sent for a
bride.”
    His guardsmen immediately spat on
the ground. Just hearing the name of MacHeth caused their ill-mannered
disrespect. Well-deserving disrespect too, in Grey’s opinion. He didn’t know
what to make of this news.
    Duff took a step forward,
essentially cutting off any chance of the lad’s escape. “That is news. Who is
the poor lass he’s to marry? She’s probably one of the Dunmore lassies.” The
Dunmore clan wasn’t greatly respected, yet they were neighbors of sorts.
    Gordy’s