Her Reluctant Highlander Husband (Clan MacKinlay)

by Hanson, Allison B.

  “Let’s gather the men.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Something was clearly going on. Not only did Dorie notice a number of men rush past the door to the solar, but she could feel the tension building in the castle.

  Kenna and Mari must have noticed it, too, for they left the children with the nurse and headed down to the hall which was filled with the sounds of orders and clanking weapons.

  “Oh, no,” Dorie said, realizing what was happening.

  Battle.

  “What is it?” Kenna asked Liam.

  “McCurdy men were spotted on our lands. The laird has given the order to…uh…remove them, mistress.”

  Despite his reluctance to clarify, Dorie understood exactly what he meant. She also knew there was rarely a battle launched that didn’t have the war chief at the lead. Which meant Bryce was here somewhere, preparing to leave. She stood on a bench to search him out and headed straight for him when she found him.

  She said nothing when she stopped in front of him, but it didn’t matter. Her fear must have been written on her face.

  “Don’t start with your worrying, Dorie. I already have the worry of twenty other wives on my shoulders. I don’t need any more.” He softened his order with a smile and bent to kiss her on the forehead.

  How could he be smiling and teasing her when he was readying for battle and might not see the next day? Men confounded her. Even the bloody dog was excited.

  Of course she knew the answer. None of these men would be able to step onto the field with a sword drawn if they thought in detail about what could happen. It was better for them to focus on this moment of readiness.

  She offered a smile. Though it shook and lacked sincerity, it was the best she could summon with her heart pounding the way it was. She needed to do something so he’d not be thinking of her here worrying over him.

  “I will not lay my worry at your feet, then. Instead I will offer you a promise.”

  “Oh?”

  She stood up on her tiptoes so she could whisper in his ear. “If ye return unharmed, I shall…” She looked around to make sure no one would overhear her bargain. Her skin heated, but she went on. “I shall put my mouth on you. Down there.” She used her chin to indicate where she meant, though it was clear he knew well enough.

  His eyes went wide. “And how do you know of such things?”

  “The women in the kitchen are quite fond of talking about it.”

  He chuckled and kissed her. “I will hold you to that, and it will spur me on, so as not to miss it.” He winked at her and she offered a smile that was more genuine than the first. “Thank you, lass, for understanding.”

  She nodded as he ran another dagger through the scabbard on his chest strap and pulled it tight. “I wish you well.” She kept the words light despite the strength of their meaning.

  “It’s time,” he announced in a voice of authority. As one, all the warriors moved to the bailey where their mounts waited. The horses had already been warmed up and armored, ready to take the men into battle. “I’ll see you soon. And I’ll wake you if you’re sleeping to claim my reward upon my return.”

  She laughed at his eagerness as he planted a fierce kiss on her lips before striding off. She stood back as Kenna and Lachlan said their farewells. Mari and Cam smiled at one another and he bent to place a kiss on the babe in her arms. Another kiss for their daughter, and he mounted.

  All around Dorie, the married men were wrapped in the arms of worried women. The unmarried sat their horses patiently. Bryce was already mounted at the front of the group with Liam by his side.

  As he moved toward the gate, she felt a rush of dread in the pit of her stomach. But when he turned and smiled at her, she made sure her anxiety didn’t show on her face. She blew him a kiss, and he was gone.

  When the last man was out of the bailey, the gate was let down with a thud that echoed in the empty courtyard. The large bar was run through, and the second gate was lowered. The remaining soldiers took their places on the battlements.

  It was just a precaution. Liam had told her they knew how many men were waiting, and Bryce had taken more with him than were needed to ensure victory. Still, she knew well enough how cunning the McCurdys could be.

  The children began to cry, either feeling the tension from their mothers or from seeing their fathers ride away. Dorie helped comfort one of the twins since Kenna had more children than hands, and the nurse’s arms were already full with Lizzy.

  “Hush, lads. You’ll not be joining the battle today, thank God,” Kenna said.

  “Don’t speak of such things. I can’t imagine having to watch our husbands and our sons go off to battle,” Mari said. “I’d not survive it.”

  Kenna grimaced. “We will survive it. Because it’s what we do.”

  Dorie nodded in agreement. It wasn’t easy to watch Bryce go off, knowing he might not return.

  “They’ll be home in no time,” she said, hoping to God it was true.

  …

  Bryce had a smile on his face as he led his men toward the meadow where the McCurdys would be dealt with. The smile wasn’t the result of heading into battle, for he had long since learned there was little joy in fighting to the death. Even if he was the victor.

  Killing a man, having blood on his hands, stayed with him and gave no enjoyment.

  No, the smile was stuck on his face because of Dorie’s send-off—the incentive she’d provided to encourage him to come home to her unharmed. Thoughts of her mouth on him made it difficult to sit his horse. It was more than enough reason to return to her unscathed. If the obvious incentive weren’t enough.

  The way her innocence bloomed on her cheeks from just speaking of the act made certain he would be granted the thrill of her curiosity and exuberance.

  “What are you smiling about?” Cam asked with his brows pulled down.

  “Something Dorie promised me if I returned.”

  “Did she hear about it in the kitchen?” he asked with a smirk.

  “Aye.”

  Lach chuckled, coming up next to them. “Who would have thought the women who cooked our meals were such wicked imps?”

  “I surely wouldn’t have thought it, but I tell you true, I’d like to hug each one of them for their lessons,” Cam said.

  Bryce couldn’t argue.

  “Kenna has promised me a pleasure as well. It’s a handy motivator,” Lach reasoned.

  Cam laughed loudly. “Handy? Mari’s promise doesn’t require I use my hands.”

  Bryce wondered if they’d all been promised the same thing. If so, the McCurdys waiting in the field didn’t stand a chance. He and his two friends would slay them all down by themselves, just so they could return to their wives as quickly as possible.

  On the edge of the woods, the men all gathered. Bryce looked down the line, still hidden in the shadow of the trees. Liam was at the farthest point to his left and gave a nod of readiness. Cam at the end of the line on his right gave the same assurance.

  As was his right, Bryce let out the war cry, and with his sword in hand he led his warriors into the field to take down the intruders.

  Metal clashed and men called out in pain. Horses ran past unmanned. Bryce came down from his horse, taking out two McCurdys in one wide blow. The matter was over quickly. The MacKinlays had enough men, in addition to the element of surprise. Some of the younger men were sent to track down the McCurdy horses, spoils of war to add to their stables, as well as a resource not to be used against them in the larger battle that was yet to come.

  Today’s victory had been nearly guaranteed when they descended on the McCurdys, but Bryce breathed a sigh of relief when the call came back that there were no MacKinlay losses. While none of their enemies were able to escape, some were spared and sent to the dungeon until their loyalties could be swayed.

  Bryce c
hecked each of his men personally to confirm their health. It was common for men not to realize they’d been injured until well after the battle was over. The rush of fear and excitement kept a man from feeling pain.

  “No MacKinlay losses,” he reported to the laird after he’d confirmed.

  Lach gave a nod as the prisoners were bound. “Very good. Let’s go home.”

  Covered in blood, Cam, Lach, and Bryce rode for the loch to wash.

  “We were victorious today,” Lach said as they scrubbed themselves clean. Though the blood might be gone, the deaths they’d caused that day would stain their souls the rest of their lives. It was the way of things.

  “And our rewards await our arrival home,” Cam said with a crooked smile.

  “What reward?” Liam asked.

  The men shook their heads, not wanting the lad to know what he was missing by being unmarried. With a sigh, he left to head for the castle and give word of their success.

  The thought of what awaited them at home, along with the chill of the water, had Bryce and his cousins hurrying and heading back toward Dunardry in no time.

  …

  Dorie paced the hall with the other women. Each of them held a sleeping child who was startled awake when the men poured into the hall talking loudly and covered in blood. She watched for a tall blond head over the rest and felt her heart pick up when she didn’t see her husband.

  Liam came to stand in front of them. “Your men are well. They stopped at the loch to clean up a bit before returning home. Three guards remained with them, just in case, but we made a clean victory and expect no retaliation.”

  “Thank ye, Liam. Go and have some food. You’ve done us proud today,” Kenna said, making the lad’s ears turn pink in embarrassment. When he was away, Kenna turned to them. “I believe I shall put the children down and wait in our chamber for Lachlan’s return.”

  “Yes, I think I shall do the same. It’s late, after all. There’s no sense in leaving for the house now. We’ll stay the night here,” Mari agreed.

  Could it be these women were as anxious to get their heroes alone in bed as Dorie was?

  In the corridor upstairs, Kenna left her boys with the nurse while Mari carried her sleeping children into their chamber. Dorie felt the faint clench of jealousy that she had no children of her own to settle into bed.

  The feeling was quickly brushed aside with the knowledge that she might even now be with child. And if not, tonight there would be another chance.

  She didn’t think Bryce wanted children, but she knew if they were blessed with a babe, he would treat it well. Perhaps even find a way to love their child. If he couldn’t, would their son or daughter notice Bryce wasn’t giving everything?

  With a sigh and a bunch of unanswered questions, she went to their room to wait for her husband to return to her. She was seated on the bed in just her shift when Bryce entered their chamber. She stood immediately to help him remove his weapons and clothing as he told her of their victory.

  He twitched when her warm hands touched his cool skin, still damp from his dip in the icy waters of the loch. When he was naked, he lifted her gown from her body and pressed against her, making her squeal and squirm from the chill.

  “I believe you promised me a wicked pleasure, wife.”

  Of course he wouldn’t have forgotten. He’d probably slayed every McCurdy singlehandedly so he could return as quickly as possible.

  “Aye.” She licked her bottom lip and enjoyed the way his green eyes turned dark with hunger. She hoped she wouldn’t disappoint and told him so.

  “No worries, lass. I’ll be patient while you master the skill.” His sly smile told her it was no hardship for him to be used for practice.

  It wasn’t until she knelt before him and stared down his impressive size that she realized she should have considered how this would work. Perhaps Bryce was larger than the men the other women spoke of.

  He shuddered when she reached out and placed her hand on him. And she smiled when she remembered that part of their story. Eager to get underway, she leaned in and stroked her tongue across him.

  The sound that rumbled from his chest encouraged her to continue. She managed to put her lips partly around him, gaining another moan of approval. In her excitement she picked up the pace, enjoying the control she had in making him lose his breath and groan with pleasure.

  But soon he pulled her away and lifted her to the bed so he could pounce on her.

  “Was I not doing it fast enough?” she asked at his impatience.

  “Nay. It was perfect, but I want to make sure you get your release before me. I canna guarantee I’ll be good for anything afterward.”

  He smiled down at her as he slid inside. She lifted up to meet him, still wanting to enjoy that feeling of control.

  “Lusty,” he muttered by her ear as he nipped her lobe with his teeth. “You are too much for me, wife, but I canna get enough.”

  His words propelled her over the edge and her body throbbed around his. He cried out her name, spilling inside her in a fiery thrust.

  He pulled her into his arms, his quick breath moving her hair.

  “That was worth going to battle. Mayhap I should hunt down the McCurdys daily so I can claim my reward.”

  “If you promise to stay with me always, I shall reward you as you wish.”

  When he didn’t answer, she sat up to look down on her sleeping husband, worn out from battle.

  He had told her he would never be able to love her. He’d even been sorry for it. She’d told herself what she had was enough, but as she watched him, she began to wonder how she might heal him enough that he could one day love her.

  …

  Bryce had heard the promise Dorie attempted to extract from him the night before but hadn’t answered. She’d asked him to stay with her always. She may have meant in the physical sense, but Bryce thought something might have shifted between them.

  He’d made it clear over and over that he’d not be able to be a real husband in a love match. He could offer protection, friendship, and pleasure, but love was not available.

  Fortunately sleep had come over him like a crashing wave, so he wasn’t forced to break a promise the very next morning.

  He had plans to leave for the Campbells to secure an alliance and a promise of men to aid in their takeover of Baehaven so everyone in the Highlands could be free of the McCurdy threat, once and for all.

  Rather than sneak out while she slept so as not to see the disappointment in her blue eyes, he waited for her to rise so he could tell her of his plans like a respectable husband.

  She said nothing until they were in the bailey and he was ready to leave.

  “I could come with you,” she offered, holding on to his arm tightly.

  “Nay, you’re not a seasoned rider, and it’s a few days’ ride from here.”

  The frown on her full lips—lips that had been wrapped around him the night before—nearly forced him to change his mind. But he knew the pace of his trip would be uncomfortable for her.

  “I’ll be home as soon—”

  Just then the guard on the gate called down, “Riders approach the castle!”

  At that, the gate was opened and a single boy rode in, nearly out of breath.

  “What do you have to report?”

  The lad gulped in air and swallowed. “Soldiers. Heavily armed, riding for the castle.”

  He turned to Liam who was also preparing to leave for the Stewarts. “Gather the men,” Bryce ordered.

  Mere minutes later they were galloping across the field to intercept their visitors. Everyone was surprised when it was English outriders who were spread out across the field, armed and fierce. They remained in place surrounding a fancy carriage until it came to a halt at the line of MacKinlay warriors.

  “You are on MacKinlay lands,” Lach
bellowed to the intruders. “Please state your purpose.”

  The door opened and a tall man stepped out. Elegantly dressed, his hair graying at the temples, he offered an easy smile. As he stepped closer, Bryce noted the man’s posture, thinking he moved with the fluidity of a soldier. Then Bryce noticed the color of the man’s eyes and the way they tipped up in the same way Dorie’s did.

  “Good day. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dorien Sutherland, Viscount Rutherford, and I believe my daughter is here.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Both Lach and Cam turned to Bryce as if expecting him to say something. Bryce considered asking the blighter if he didn’t know how to return a goddammed letter but decided that was rude and thus remained silent.

  While Dorie had stopped talking about her real father daily, Bryce saw the sadness in her eyes each day when she got no word from him. Bryce might have ridden to London and forced the man’s hand if it weren’t so far away. He didn’t want his wife to be disappointed, so it was important that this man be cleared by him and his cousins first.

  Lach slid down from his horse and took the few steps to shake hands with the man. “Lachlan MacKinlay, Laird of Clan MacKinlay. This is Bryce MacKinlay Campbell, war chief and your son-in-law.”

  Bryce had already dismounted and stepped forward to shake Dorien’s hand as well. “Dorie’s been beside herself waiting for a response from ye. She thought you dinna want anything to do with her.” If his tone sounded accusing, so be it.

  The man frowned. “I started many letters and didn’t know where to begin. The thought of waiting to hear back had me packing to come here instead, though the weather hindered my progress until the thaw. I just couldn’t leave it to letters. I needed to see her in the flesh.”

  Bryce and Dorien took each other’s measure for a full minute before Bryce finally let out a breath and nodded. “I’ll not send you away. Not when I know she’ll want to meet you. But tread carefully. She’s been mistreated her whole life; I’ll not have you treat her ill.”

  “Of course not. I appreciate how fiercely you protect her.”