“Tell me and be done with it,” Slatter said when Walcott stopped in front of him.
“They think your wife brings harm.”
“The men or the women?”
“Mostly the women,” Walcott confessed.
“And what of you, Walcott, do you think she brings harm?”
Walcott stepped closer and kept his voice low. “Of course she does, how can you think otherwise after what happened at the market? Lord Ruddock will hunt us down when he finds out about this and now the Lord of Fire—God help us—will be after us. You should have let his warriors take her and be done with it.”
“She’s my wife, and don’t tell me I shouldn’t have wed her. You know as well as I do what fate she would have met if I had left her with Beck,” Slatter said.
“I won’t argue that, but you should have let her go with the Lord of Fire’s warriors.”
“And you think that would have stopped them from coming after me? Rhodes would have had her escorted home while he continued to hunt me.”
“So you give him more of an excuse to hunt you? And need I remind you of Lord Ruddock again, and what about her clan? Don’t you think they’ll be hunting you as well? And I can see she steals your thoughts. She brings trouble down on us. Let her go before it’s too late.”
“Or work whatever the trouble is to your advantage,” the gruff voice said.
Slatter grinned and shook his head when he turned to see his longtime friend, Devin, approach. They’d been friends forever and if he trusted anyone the most it was Devin. He was a big, burly Scot with features so plain that they would never catch and steal a woman’s heart, which was why everyone wondered how Devin snagged the sweet, tiny May as his wife.
Devin pulled Slatter into a hug and gave him a slap on the back, then looked to Walcott with a grin that spread from ear to ear. “I see you’re still your usual smiling self.”
Walcott shook his head. “When you’re done taunting me, please talk some sense into him.” He pointed to Slatter.
“First, what are you doing here?’ Slatter asked.
“A visit to see how things go,” Devin said.
“Not as I’d like,” Slatter admitted.
“He has a wife,” Walcott announced.
Devin’s eyes almost popped out of his head. “Did you say wife?”
Walcott nodded. “I did. He wed one of the Macardle sisters.”
Devin looked to Slatter. “With Sorrell wed to Lord Ruddock that leaves either Willow or Snow. Don’t tell me you wed the blind one.”
Walcott answered with a shake of his head.
“Willow then.” Devin shrugged. “I heard she has become a good healer, following her mum’s path, sensible too. But you know it can’t work. Why ever did you wed her in the first place?”
“It was either that or let Beck keep her,” Walcott said and went on to explain the whole ordeal to him.
“Naked, you say, in a hole in the ground with her?” Devin asked with a laugh. “However, do you get yourself into these things?”
“Fate hates me,” Slatter said and Devin laughed harder. Walcott didn’t crack a smile.
“Then my original advice holds. Use this unforeseen union to your advantage,” Devin said.
“She is an innocent in this, I won’t use her,” Slatter said adamantly, leaving no room for negotiation.
“Then if she is no use to you, be rid of her, unless…” Devin let his unfinished remark hang in the air.
“What are you implying, Devin?” Slatter asked with a touch of annoyance.
Not averse to sharing his opinion, Devin said, “Maybe your wife means more to you than you want to admit.”
“I barely know her,” Slatter snapped.
“You were naked in a hole in the ground with her. I’d say you got to know her well enough,” Devin said with a chuckle.
“I’ve had enough,” Slatter said. “I will not discuss Willow with either of you.”
“That’s not an option, my friend, and you know it,” Devin said. “This has to be resolved and quickly. You need to concentrate on finding him. This mess has gone on far too long.”
“I almost had him,” Slatter said and looked away, shaking his head, annoyed he had failed.
“Let’s discuss it and see what might be done,” Devin suggested.
“We’ve done everything and still he eludes me,” Slatter argued.
The cottage door opened. “Have you tried setting a trap?”
The three men looked at Willow.
“You should have whispered—though I don’t think any of you know how to do that—if you didn’t want me to hear,” she said.
A slight smile broke at the corners of Slatter’s mouth at his wife’s blunt remark and his eyes remained fixed on her. She looked refreshed after a good night’s sleep, her cheeks a rosy color, her green eyes bright, and her dark red hair loosely plaited with a few wavy strands falling around her face. She was beautiful and she was his… for now.
Willow walked over to her husband relieved to see that he had made it here safely. When she woke and found herself alone, she feared something may have happened to him. It was when she caught a whiff of his scent on her that she realized he had been wrapped around her last night. She had hurried and dressed, eager to see him. That was when she had heard the men talking, and she had listened.
She smiled when Slatter stretched his hand out to her before she reached him. She took it and was immediately planted snug against him and tucked in the crook of his arm.
“Willow, this is Devin, a longtime friend,” Slatter said.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Devin said and gave a nod toward her.
“We must talk so I can learn more about my husband,” Willow said and it wasn’t lost on any of the men that she made it clear she was Slatter’s wife, her intention.
“Devin is sworn to secrecy,” Slatter said and chuckled, “unless you give him a pint or two.”
Willow smiled and seeing the look the two men exchanged, she had no doubt Devin would keep Slatter’s secrets. That Slatter had such a loyal friend was a good thing to know, since it told her that Slatter was just as loyal to Devin. Not something you would expect from a man known for his charming tongue and lies.
“Have you tried setting a trap?” Willow repeated, refusing to have her question ignored.
“It’s difficult to set a trap for one so slippery,” Walcott said.
“Then one must be as slippery as he is,” Willow said.
“So how does one set a slippery trap?” Devin asked with curiosity.
“My wife doesn’t need to be involved in this,” Slatter said.
“Why not?” Willow turned her head to look at him. “It seems that this problem, for some reason, takes precedent over the problem of our unconventional marriage. Once it is settled, we can take the necessary steps to see our marriage absolved and to see you rewarded for saving me.”
Slatter understood what she was saying. Once this was done, they could end their marriage and his reward would be freedom from punishment for his previous deeds. Had that been her thought when she attempted to escape Tarass’s warriors?
“Tell us then, how do you trap a slippery good-for-nothing?” Devin asked.
“Be as slippery as he is,” Willow said.
Walcott scratched his head. “What do you mean?”
“Enough,” Slatter said. “Another word will not be discussed until I can talk with my wife privately.”
“As long as we have a plan before I leave in two days,” Devin said. “My wife, May, expects me home by then and I can’t disappoint her or she’ll come looking for me.”
“I thought this was your home,” Willow said, looking puzzled. “Where is your home?”
Devin appeared a bit flustered as he looked from Slatter to her, his mouth opened to speak but nothing coming out.
A piercing screech had them all turning to see a young lass, no more than eight years, crying and clutching her arm as several other ch
ildren gathered around her. One ran ahead to pound on one of the cottage doors.
“Erna’s hurt!” the young lad called out frantically.
The door swung open and the woman who had brought Willow food last night rushed to the lass, her face turning pure white when she looked at the wound.
Willow didn’t hesitate, she rushed to the lass’s aid.
Slatter followed along with Devin and Walcott.
“I’m sorry, Mum, I’m sorry,” Erna cried. “I shouldn’t have climbed the tree.”
“Hush now, it’s all right,” her mum soothed, but the deep worry that wrinkled her brow showed otherwise.
“May I help?” Willow asked when she reached them.
“You’ll stay away from my daughter,” the woman ordered, stepping in front of Erna.
“I would rethink that decision, Roanna,” Slatter said, coming to a stop behind his wife. “Willow is a wise healer and can help Erna.”
“There is talk she will bring us harm,” Roanna challenged.
“Do you truly believe I would wed a woman and bring her among us if I thought she would bring us harm?” he asked.
“If you loved her, aye, but you wed this one,” —she nodded toward Willow— “to save her. That is no marriage. So how then do we trust her?”
“I trust her, Roanna. Isn’t that enough?” Slatter asked.
“Mum, it hurts,” Erna cried and had her mum turning to her. “I’m going to die just like Da.” Tears rolled down the young lass’s cheek while fear filled her wet, brown eyes.
“No. No, Erna,” Roanna said, her own tears falling.
“But the same happened to Da’s leg and he died,” Erna cried, the hurtful memories running a tremble through her small body.
“Let me have a look and let’s see what can be done,” Willow said, stepping over to Erna.
This time Roanna didn’t stop her.
A cracked bone was protruding slightly from her forearm. Willow had seen her mum mend such a wound, though it hadn’t been easy, especially when fever had set in, but in the end the man had healed and still praised her mum’s healing skills to this day. Willow only hoped she could do the same for the lass.
“I believe it can be mended,” Willow said and she caught the doubtful looks on all those who stood around watching, Devin and Walcott included. She didn’t know what her husband thought, since he stood behind her.
“I’d be most grateful for any help you can give my daughter,” Roanna said, her tears still falling, which meant she didn’t believe Willow either.
Willow turned her focus on Erna. “It’s going to be painful since I must push the bone back into place, then I’ll wrap your arm and you won’t be able to move it for at least a full moon cycle or more, but I’ll fashion a sling for you to help with that.”
“What about fever?” Roanna asked.
“Time enough to worry about that if it happens. Right now I need to get that bone together and the wound covered, then Erna needs to rest,” Willow said.
“Our cottage,” Roanna said, slipping her arm around her daughter gently and leading the way.
“Anything I can do?” Slatter asked as his wife went to follow.
“No, but if I should need you, I will let you know,” she said and hurried after Roanna.
“I could use a drink and we should talk,” Devin said. “I brought ale and food with me. They’re in the cart.”
“Walcott, take some men and see to it,” Slatter ordered and Walcott hurried off.
Slatter wanted to stay near in case Willow needed him, but the air was cold, nipping sharply at the face, and he expected more snow would fall before the day’s end. His cottage wasn’t far from Roanna’s. He’d be able to reach Willow soon enough if she needed him, yet he was still reluctant to be away from her.
“You care for Willow,” Devin said.
“Don’t be foolish,” Slatter snapped and headed to his cottage annoyed that Devin saw in him what others couldn’t.
“I’ve never known you to care for any woman. Why her?” Devin asked, hanging his cloak on a peg and going to take a seat at the table. “And don’t bother to deny it. I’ve never seen you reluctant to leave a woman’s side. And there have been plenty who would have gladly have you remain with them. So, again, why Willow?”
“I don’t know,” Slatter said annoyed and joined his friend at the table. “I feel protective toward her and worry over her when she’s not close to me.” He shook his head. “I can’t explain it or make sense of it.”
“Damn, you’re falling in love,” Devin said with a grin so wide it looked like it would split his face in two.
“Don’t be absurd. I barely know her.”
“That means nothing, that you married her means something.”
“I married her to save her,” Slatter reminded.
Devin laughed. “You keep telling yourself that.”
The door opened and Slatter hurried to stand, then sat when he saw it was Walcott.
“I figured you’d want this,” Walcott said and placed a jug on the table.
“Good man, Walcott,” Devin said and had two tankards filled with ale before Walcott closed the door behind him.
Slatter took a hefty swig as soon as he took the tankard from Devin. “Even if I did care for her, there’s no point to it. Our marriage must end, she to return to her life and me to mine.”
“Are you going to confide everything to her?”
“That’s a good question and one I don’t have the answer to yet.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Roanna said, looking from Willow to her daughter sleeping peacefully, her arm in a sling.
“She’s a brave one. She suffered through the pain with courage and not a complaint,” Willow said, having been impressed with the young lass’s strength.
“She’s like her da. He was a strong and brave one,” Roanna said, a tear slipping from her eye. “She won’t die, will she?”
Willow did her best to calm the woman’s fear. “Fever is always a cause for concern, but we’ll keep a watch and make sure she heals well.”
“I’ll do whatever you say,” Roanna said. “As soon as I saw it, I thought death stalked her just like her da when he broke his leg. I couldn’t bear losing my daughter like I did my husband. After he died, I couldn’t keep up the farm on my own. My husband’s brother came to help and not long after he found a woman for himself and kicked me and Erna out, saying the place was his. If Slatter hadn’t found us half-starved and brought us here, I don’t know what we would have done. It’s been so difficult. I think that’s why I got upset when hearing you were Slatter’s wife. I think we all fear that you’ll take him from us and we’ll once again have nothing, no protection, no help, no family. And while we may not have much here, at least it’s something.”
“Mum,” Erna called out softly and Roanna hurried to her.
She felt the lass’ head and her sigh of relief let Willow know she’d felt no warmth.
“Thirsty,” Erna said.
Willow went and got the chamomile brew she had made for Roanna to give her daughter and handed the tankard to the woman.
“Fetch me if needed,” she said and left mum and daughter alone.
Snow was falling when Willow stepped out of the cottage. It had to have been falling for a while, since a fresh blanket of snow covered nearly everything. She looked around as she stepped away from the door. She saw a man missing the lower half of his left leg and using a sturdy branch limb to get around. A woman whose neck showed signs of what was left of a severe burn ran after two small bairns who laughed with glee. And an old woman who could barely shuffle along on her feet, held tight to a young lad of about twelve years who held her arm and helped her along with a smile.
Had Slatter provided a home for those who found themselves unable to provide for themselves? Had he no home as well? But what of Devin? He was a longtime friend of Slatter’s, which meant they had to have reached maturity together, yet he didn’t make his home here.
“You shouldn’t be out in the cold and snow.”
Willow jumped and when she turned, she found herself in her husband’s arms, a place she found herself enjoying more and more.
“I was just headed to your cottage,” she said. “All is well with Erna so far and I pray it stays that way.”
“Let’s get you inside, I have a question to ask of you.” With his arm firm around her, he headed to his cottage.”
“I have one myself,” she said, though didn’t wait until they reached the cottage. “What were you doing sneaking off with a woman at the market and kissing her?”
Chapter 8
“You saw me kissing someone?” Slatter asked once they entered the cottage.
Willow almost missed the peg she went to hang her cloak on. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember the woman. She certainly looked no stranger to you. And you looked straight at me and smiled. I almost got the feeling you wouldn’t mind if I joined you both.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought. “It was shortly after that that a man called you a whoremonger and I couldn’t believe how fast you got to the other side of the market.” Her brow knitted as she tilted her head in question. “How did you get to the other side so fast?”
Slatter didn’t answer, instead he turned a question on her. “Why didn’t you go with Tarass’s warriors? They would have taken you where you want to go… home.”
“Why did you return for me? Why not let me go and be done with me?” she shot back.
“I suppose I’m not done with you.” Slatter looked as startled as she did by his response and hurried to explain. “I can’t just have you return home without finding out how we can absolve our vows and be husband and wife no more.”
His explanation made perfect sense, or so he told himself. He’d never questioned or needed to convince himself of his decisions until he’d met Willow, and the thought rankled him.
“What of you? What brought you back to me?” he asked and saw her shiver. He turned a chair toward the hearth and took hold of her arm and hurried her to sit. “You need to get warm.”
Desired by a Highlander Page 7