by Hazel Gower
“Did your husband’s great, great, grandfather find a bride?”
“Aye, and he loved her.”
Okay, Holly had had enough of men, and especially of men feuding over nothing. Holly had no idea why they were still arguing if everything had worked out. Turning to Adam, who was still in her way, she growled, “If you don’t move, you will regret it.” She wasn’t staying and being kept prisoner after she’d done the right thing. Pulling the knives from her hair, she aimed one at Adam, who had a smug smirk on his face. “Argh, I’m sick of men and their arrogance. Men’s business. What a load of crap.” She stepped closer, gathered up her dress, and brought her leg up and kicked Adam. He grunted, and she pushed past him, slashing his hands as he tried to grab her. “I’m going. This feud is stupid. You and my husband are idiots. I always thought the guys from school were stupid and immature, but you men take the cake. Everything worked out, for Christ’s sake. Your great, great, grandfather loved his wife. What more do you want?” Holly put a push behind that question, pleased she could feel her power.
Lady Roselyn laughed behind Holly as she moved through the people to the front door and walked out. The sight that greeted her had her backing up. Upon a horse was Duncan with young James in front of him with a knife at his throat. Duncan looked beyond furious. His face matched his fiery red hair. His eyes narrowed on her as she backed up. She would have hit the doors if they hadn’t opened.
“Where are ye going, wife?” The menace in his voice had her shivering, and not entirely in fear.
“I was just coming home to you. I won’t be coming near you though, while you’re pointing that knife at James’s neck.”
There was giggling and chuckling behind her.
“God help me, wife, if ye dinna come down the steps to me now, ye’ll regret it.”
“Let go of James, and I will come to you. I’m not going to have anything else to do with this idiotic feud though. You are all fools to fight over something that ended for the better.”
“Laird MacLeod, I would appreciate if you release me son.” Roselyn came up beside Holly and held her hand. “I agree with Lady Holly. This feud should have ended long ago. I will nay have me children hurt over it.”
Holly could hear Duncan growling from where she was. Slowly, he released James and placed him on the ground. “Come to me now, wife.”
Holly knew he wasn’t going to last much longer without blowing a fuse. Letting go of Lady Roselyn’s hand, she walked to Duncan, who leaned down and gathered her up. Holly could feel his trembling body against her own. His hands patted her down like he was checking if she was all right before they rested on her waist. Duncan’s lips brushed her neck, and he whispered as he nipped her delicate flesh. “Dinna do that to me, ever again. I swear, woman, ye will be the death of me.” He hugged her tighter to him.
“Ye have ye hands full with that one, MacLeod.” Laird Fergusson stared at her. Holly had completely forgotten for a moment where she was, thanks to Duncan’s touches and woodsy smell surrounding her.
Duncan gave a loud sigh behind her. “I ken. She dinna give ye too much trouble, did she?”
Ha, trouble, Holly elbowed Duncan, but he caught it and brought her hand up and kissed it.
“Well, if ye dinna call her kicking me son, turning me wife against me, beguiling all me men, even me guests, and telling me I’m an idiot and stupid, ‘trouble’ then nay, she dinna give me trouble. Ye need to keep a tighter leash on her.”
Duncan groaned, but Holly snarled at the smiling laird. How dare he say that Holly needed a leash, and to think she had been on her best behavior until he wouldn’t let her leave.
“I’d like to ken how she can get that beast of a horse to obey her,” Laird Fergusson added.
Holly felt Duncan relax a little behind her. “Ye have just ruined a perfectly good feud,” Duncan whispered in her ear before he dismounted.
Holly couldn’t help smiling. She’d done something useful. She’d stopped a feud.
The feud with the Fergussons was at an end, and his little wife had brought that about. Heather and Lady Roselyn were even coming in a couple of days for a visit to the keep. Cameron McCoy had left, growling about not marrying a woman who was friends with a MacLeod.
He stood, ready to go home after finishing eating the evening meal with the Fergussons. Duncan could see his wife was exhausted, she was slumped in her seat and barely keeping her eyes open.
“Let’s go, wife. We have a long ride home.” Holly stood, and Duncan watched as she fell to the ground. Instantly, he was beside her, gathering her into his arms, and yelling for someone to help her.
Lady Roselyn came up beside him. “Follow me.” Duncan followed Lady Roselyn with his precious bundle in his arms. They went up the stairs and into a chamber. “Place Lady Holly on the bed.”
When Duncan gently laid Holly on the bed, she groaned, and he could feel his heart beat again. He would swear it had stopped beating when Holly had collapsed.
“Where am I?” she mumbled.
Duncan reached up and stroked her cheek. “Ye're in a bed at the Fergussons’ keep. Ye fell to the floor.”
Lady Roselyn pushed him out of the way and gave her a quick look over. “I thank ye for putting yer own child in danger to return mine.”
Duncan’s whole world felt like it was about to explode as he saw Holly’s cheeks redden, and she muttered, “All I could think about was what I’d want ye to do for my child. I want a better place for him or her to come into.”
Duncan clenched his fist as he realized his wife had not only ridden alone into enemy territory, but she’d been pregnant. He was going to tan her hide when she was better. How dare she put not only herself in danger, but their bairn, as well.
“Get out,” he yelled.
“Laird MacLeod, do not—” Lady Roselyn said.
“Roselyn, get out now if ye ken what is good for ye,” Laird Fergusson grabbed his wife and shut the door to the room, leaving Duncan alone with his wife.
“How long?” he snarled.
Holly sat up on the bed. “Only since the loch the other day. I haven’t had my period since I’ve been here. I was going to tell you, but you kept yelling and being an arsehole.”
He grunted. Duncan would show Holly what a real arsehole was. He was too angry to speak. Duncan kenned if he spoke now, he would say something he might regret. He couldn’t believe Holly had put his own bairn in danger. He nodded to her and left the chambers.
Laird and Lady Fergusson where waiting below for him. “When will she be okay to travel?” he asked Lady Fergusson.
“She needs rest. But I dinna see why, if she took it easy, she canna leave in the morning. Look, Laird MacLeod, these things happen when ye're exhausted and pregnant. I’m sure Lady MacLeod dinna mean to fall.”
“That is not why I am angry.” Duncan dismissed Lady Roselyn and turned to Laird Fergusson. “May me wife sleep where she is tonight? I will sleep with me men and come get her in the morn.”
“Aye. Ye may stay with ye wife, MacLeod.”
“Nay. I will get her after she breaks her fast. Thank ye.” He turned and stormed out of the keep.
Duncan loved his wife, but right now he was beyond furious with her, and if he admitted to himself, a little hurt that she hadn’t told him that she was with child.
Holly cried herself to sleep. The look on Duncan’s face as he stormed out of the room had been one she’d never seen directed at her. There was so much anger and hurt. Holly had intended to tell Duncan about being pregnant, but she’d only just learned herself, and every chance she had to tell him, something had happened to prevent her.
She ate her breakfast at the Fergussons’ in quiet. Lady Roselyn tried to talk to her, but Holly wasn’t in a talking mood. Last night had been the first time Duncan hadn’t slept with her since they’d been married. Holly had been cold all night, and she could barely sleep without his smell surrounding her.
Duncan walked into the keep and came straight to her.
Holly smiled at him, but he didn’t even look at her. “Thank ye for letting Lady Holly stay last night. Let’s go now, Lady Holly.”
Holly felt her heart sink when he addressed her so formally. Duncan never spoke to her like that, he was always so possessive, with his ‘me wife’ or calling her angel or just Holly. She stood and went to him, reaching for his hand, only for him to avoid her touch. He turned and walked to the exit.
“Thank you for having me.” Lady Roselyn pulled her in for a hug and walked with her to the doors.
“Dinna worry about him, Lady Holly. He is just scared. That is all.”
Holly didn’t have to ask whom Roselyn was talking about, she knew. She hugged the woman and thanked her again and walked to Midnight only to have Duncan growl, “Nay. You’ll not be getting on that beast. Greggor, the lady can ride with ye.”
Holly looked at Duncan to see a scowl on his face. He wasn’t even looking at her. Holly glanced at Greggor, and decided there was no way she was riding with him. He didn’t like her, and the feeling was mutual.
Ignoring Duncan’s orders, she climbed up on Midnight and leaned down and whispered in his ear. “Hello, my good boy. Make sure no one comes near me.” Midnight nickered and pranced about as Greggor tried to get her. Turning Midnight, she rode toward home. When she was far enough away, she let the tears fall as the pain of Duncan’s treatment set in.
Duncan turned to follow his wife, only to stop when Lady Roselyn said, “Ye have a treasure there most men would kill for, Laird MacLeod. That woman loves ye with all her heart. Me husband and I listened to her sob her heart out last night. I suggest ye get over whatever ye’re sulking about, because she’s not a lady to take the way ye treated her quietly for long. I have a feeling ye’ll regret it if ye keep treating her like ye have.” Lady Roselyn nodded to him and walked back into the keep. Laird Fergusson smiled at him and followed his wife.
He rode after his wife, but never caught up to her. On the ride home, Lady Roselyn’s words repeated in his mind. Was he being silly for getting angry at Holly for not telling him about their barn, for putting herself and the bairn in danger? Duncan thought that was plenty reason to feel the way he did.
When he arrived at his keep nothing seemed different, and he didn’t see Holly about.
“Did ye still want men on Lady Holly to guard her?” Greggor asked.
“Aye. Double the amount. Dinna let her out of yer sight. Ye will nay like the consequences if ye do.” Greggor nodded and he, Mason, and two of his other men went off to find his wife.
Duncan went into the keep to talk to his father and tell him all that had gone on and get his opinion.
Chapter Fourteen
A sennight passed, and Duncan kenned he’d done the wrong thing at the Fergusson keep and the first night at home. Holly didn’t sleep with Duncan. She didn’t even come near him and now, when he entered a room, she left it.
His mother came to him this morn saying she’d had enough of the fighting. “Find her and make it right. If ye leave it any longer, it will fester and get beyond repair. Ye need to remember Holly is from a different time and sees things different than ye. She’s been brought up with views a lot different to ours.”
Duncan kenned his mother was right, but he couldn’t find his wife and when he did, she ran from him. He kenned it had gone too far. He missed Holly, he was barely sleeping, and his poor men were taking the brunt of his anger over being lonely and missing her. He was training them harder than he ever had before, and most were to the stage where they wouldn’t even practice with him anymore.
Storming from the practice field, he almost bowled over a young boy who ran up to him and handed him a letter with the king’s seal. Duncan opened the letter, groaning as he read the words. The king would be here within hours, and he wanted to meet Lady Holly.
Going with the boy to the keep, he was surprised when he found his mother and Holly sitting at the table in the dining hall. The boy stepped forward and bowed.
“Lady Magan and Lady Holly, I am to tell ye that ye're to have the honor of King James and two of his advisors as guests tonight.”
Duncan watched Holly pale, and looked to his mother. She stood and he rushed to her as she swayed on her feet. “Stay away from me.” The glare she sent him had Duncan worried they had left it too long, and her anger had festered to point he didn’t ken if he’d be able to get her back to how they were. She walked toward the stairs and didn’t even glance back at him.
“I’ll sort her out, Duncan. Can ye go tell Mary so she will cook enough food?” His mother patted his arm and followed Holly, not waiting for an answer.
Duncan wanted to follow his wife, but he kenned with the king coming everyone would be busy making sure everything was perfect. He was grateful when his brother strode into the keep as he was leaving to go help organize his men. Duncan needed help and a good distraction.
“It seems word of yer wife caught the king’s ears and he grew impatient to meet her. As soon as I arrived at court, I was riding with King James back to ye.” Callam looked around the keep. “Where is Holly?”
“In our chambers.”
Callam went to go up to his chambers, but Duncan grabbed his arm, stopping him. He didn’t want his brother near his wife when they were acting the way they were.
Callam’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe what I’ve heard is nay true. Ye still act like she’s yers.”
“What have ye heard and who told ye?”
Callam shrugged. “We came across some Fergussons. I hear our feud with them is over, but a new one started with ye and Holly.”
“We had a misunderstanding. I’m sure all will be fine soon, and Holly will come around and apologize.”
Callam laughed and walked to the stairs. “Ye're a fool, Duncan, if ye're nay careful someone will take Holly and treat her like the queen she should be treated like.”
Duncan glared at his brother and tightened his grip. How dare his own brother threaten him like that? Callam may not have said his name when he said someone would take Holly from him, but Duncan got the meaning. “Let me make this clear, brother, Holly is mine and I will never share her. I have, and will, continue to give you everything I can. But you will never have her. I love Holly, and I will fight for her until me last breath.”
He and Callam stared at each other. Duncan wanted Callam to ken he meant business. He and Holly may be fighting now, but she was still his, and he loved her with all his heart.
Callam snatched his arm from his hold. “Let’s see if the lady feels the same.” Duncan growled in anger as his brother went up the stairs to his chambers.
Holly wasn’t sleeping. Since coming back from the Fergussons’ keep, her anger at the way Duncan treated her had boiled, and when he didn’t sleep in their bed the first night, she didn’t bother checking to see if he did on the others. She slept elsewhere. Holly knew it had gotten to the point where she didn’t know how to fix the problem. It had been a week, and every time she was in a room with Duncan all she could see was his face at the Fergussons’ when he found out she was pregnant, and the treatment he’d been giving her since.
Holly’s heart was breaking. Duncan was acting as if he didn’t want her anymore. She loved the overbearing, possessive man with all her heart. She’d thought Duncan would be happy about the baby. Holly knew she had to apologize for putting herself and their child in danger. What she had done had been dangerous and careless.
Magan had sought her out after the nooning meal to tell her the argument with Duncan had to be sorted out before it was too late. Holly was just explaining her problem and that she wanted to do just that when Duncan came in with a boy who stated King James would arrive within hours, and he was eager to meet Holly.
Holly was terrified of meeting one of the most famous kings. She was scared that she would slip up and say something she shouldn’t, or tell him about something that hadn’t happened yet. Magan helped her put on the elaborate dress she’d worn on her wedding day, and tried to calm her.
Callam knocked on the door and, without waiting to be told he could come in, he strolled straight to Holly and pulled her into a hug. “Ye look more beautiful than I remember.” He let her go and turned to his mother. “Hello, Mother. Good to see ye. I believe father is on the lookout for ye. Why dinna ye go find him, and I’ll help Holly finish getting ready to meet James.”
Magan glared at her son. “Yer father can wait. I dinna ken if I should leave ye with Holly.”
Holly sighed. She could handle Callam. “Go, Magan. I’ll be fine.”
Magan seemed to debate if she should go or not for a moment, before shooting another glare at her son and leaving.
“I heard ye ended a feud, but started one between ye and Duncan.”
“Yes. I stopped a silly feud. Duncan and I are just having a disagreement.” Holly could feel tears sliding down her face, and a sob escaped her. “I am going to apologize. I shouldn’t have ridden into danger. I should have listened to him. I know he was worried about me. I couldn’t let the child stay in the dungeon another night. I couldn’t stop thinking of what if he was my child. Then he was so angry, and I didn’t tell him about the baby and he…I just…I… He just…hasn’t touched me and is so angry. I got upset again and now it’s all a mess.”
Holly broke down and wept. She missed Duncan and the argument had gone too far. They’d both let things fester for too long, and now Holly was worried that Duncan didn’t want her anymore. Holly couldn’t leave, she loved it here. She had wonderful friends, and she loved being needed and felt like she made a difference. Holly couldn’t go back to her other life. She loved it here, and she loved Duncan.
Callam wiped her tears away and wrapped his arms around her. “Me brother is an idiot and nay deserves ye.” He cupped her face. “King James could give ye an annulment. I would treat ye better.”