A Scot to Wed (Scottish Hearts)

by Callie Hutton

  It was now or never.

  With a bellow that his ancestors would have been proud of, Evan leaped across the small space, directly at Armstrong. Taken by surprise, the mon fired a shot that went wild, hitting the ceiling. Evan landed on him, both of them tumbling to the floor. He pulled the dirk from his boot and pressed it against Armstrong’s throat. “Call yer man off.”

  Evan turned to see Gavin had jumped on the other man’s back and was hitting him with his fists as Katie continued to stomp on his foot and was trying her best to kick his delicate parts.

  When Armstrong only stared at Evan wide-eyed, Evan pressed the dirk just enough to cause a bit of pain and a stream of blood. “Call him off.”

  “Rory, stop. Drop the rope.” Armstrong spoke carefully, apparently not wanting the dirk to plunge farther into his neck.

  With a growl, the man pushed Katie away.

  “That’s good,” Evan said. He looked over at Katie. “Pick up the gun and hold it on the mon, and let Gavin tie his hands behind his back.”

  Evan pushed the point of the dirk he held in just a wee bit more and grinned at Armstrong. “Tell yer friend to sit still while the lad ties his hands.”

  “Let him tie ye,” Armstrong gasped.

  Once Gavin finished, Evan turned his attention to getting the matter settled. “Now, lad, yer horse is tied up outside. Go ride to the castle and bring back some help.”

  “He can’t go by himself!” Katie cried.

  Gavin watched his sister carefully, then turned his regard to Evan. “I can do it, my laird.”

  “Aye, lad. I ken ye can. Go on now.”

  Gavin was out the door in a flash. Evan glared at Armstrong. “Now, ye will get up and slowly walk to where yer mon sits. My wife is a bit shaky with a gun, so I wouldn’t make any sudden moves, or she’s liable to shoot ye. Ye ken?”

  “Aye.” Armstrong climbed to his feet with the knife still at his throat while Katie held the gun on the other mon.

  Less than fifteen minutes had gone by when the door burst open and Alasdair, Ian, MacDuff the stable master, and Gavin raced through.

  “It looks like ye have everything under control, brother.” Alasdair slapped him on the back.

  “Aye. We need to transport these two to the castle. We’ll lock them in the basement and bring them to the magistrate in the morning.” Evan tossed the words over his shoulder to Alasdair as he headed over to Gavin.

  He got down on one knee and looked the lad in the eye. “Ye did well, lad. I’m verra proud of ye. How ye kept calm when the trouble started, tried to help yer sister, and how ye got away and found the others and brought them here.” He gripped his shoulders. “Yer gonna be a fine mon some day.”

  …

  Katie wiped the tears from her eyes at Evan’s words. With Evan’s guidance and attention, her brother would be a fine man some day.

  But, being the sister and only parent the lad had known, she had to have her word, also. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her brother. “Gavin, ye lied to Alasdair and got yerself into trouble.”

  Gavin hung his head, a bright red hue covering his face. Evan climbed to his feet and placed his hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “Yer sister is right. Ye shouldn’t have lied to Alasdair. An honorable mon does not lie. Ye see all the trouble ye caused by going off on yer own when ye were told not to do that?”

  “Aye,” the lad mumbled to his feet.

  “’Tis time to head home. I believe everyone needs a good night’s rest.” Evan shooed Gavin out of the cottage and took Katie’s arm. “We need to have a serious conversation when we return to the castle.”

  “Aye.” She was still torn on what to do about their marriage. She had no choice but to go to Argyll with Evan, however, right now she had no hopes that her marriage would be a happy one. She loved the arrogant man and would soon learn to handle him, but love and respect on only one side would make for a miserable life.

  Once they all arrived at the castle, Evan gave orders to have Armstrong and his accomplice held in the basement. Gavin climbed the stairs, weariness in his steps, and headed to bed.

  As Katie began her trek upstairs, Evan put his hand out to stop her. “I have a few things to discuss with Alasdair about our trip. I would like to start out tomorrow.”

  Katie nodded, weary from their ordeal and from thoughts of her future. “Aye.”

  Evan leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “Wait up for me. I won’t be long.”

  Katie had enough time to take a bath and help Meggie finish packing her things. She stood for a while by the window, watching the stars as they popped out, filling the sky with magic. She sighed and settled in the chair next to the fireplace, brushing her damp hair.

  The door opened and Evan stepped into the room. It appeared that in addition to making plans with his brother, he’d also had time for a bath. Damp curls covered his forehead, and he wore well-fitting clean trews and a linen shirt stretched across his massive chest.

  She tried very hard not to admire her husband or the way he walked across the room with the grace and confidence of a man who kenned his place in the world. He smiled at her as he approached. Her stomach knotted and her heart pounded.

  How she loved him. Yet, at the same time, she didn’t have a lot of hope for their future together.

  He knelt at her feet and took her small hands in his large ones. “I am verra sorry for the way I treated ye. I should not have ignored yer wishes and ideas. Ye are a smart lass, and I promise to try my best to listen to ye.”

  “I appreciate that, but what about the paper ye so blithely burned? Ye ken I had hoped to find a way to have something for my brother, since my da left nothing but a crumbled castle and infertile fields.”

  “Aye, I ken.” He rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. “But ye also ken that the paper was not proof of anything.”

  She shook her head, fighting back the tears. It had been such a long day and nothing seemed to be better now, either. “I would like to go to bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

  Evan stood and took her hand, leading her to the bed. She climbed up and settled in, her heart heavy. He sat alongside her and reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper. “I love ye, Katie, with my whole heart, and I cannot start off our marriage with this heaviness between us.”

  He took her hand and placed the paper into it.

  “What is this?”

  He continued to hold her hand and search her face. “I signed these papers leaving the MacDuff lands, castle, and clan to Gavin when he comes of age.”

  Katie’s mouth dropped open, and she shifted on the bed, sitting cross-legged. “Can ye do that?”

  Evan shrugged. “Who will stop me? They had to dig long and hard to find me to take over the place, and by right, any sons we have will be next in line to inherit. Since I plan to have plenty of land and opportunities for our lads, I see no reason not to hand this one over to yer brother.”

  Katie threw her arms around his neck and cried.

  He patted her back, then pulled back to look at her face. “Ach, lass. I thought ye would be happy about this.”

  She took in a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes. “I am. I am verra happy.”

  “Why is it women cry when they’re sad and when they’re happy?” His frown almost made her laugh.

  “Thank ye for this, Evan. I didna want to start off our marriage with this between us because I love ye too.”

  His brows rose, a crooked smile lifting his lips. “Aye. Because I’m so braw and handsome?”

  “Nay. Ye are passable, of course—”

  He grabbed her and pushed her back, then leaned over her. “Passable?”

  “Well, maybe a bit more than passable.”

  “And a great lover?”

  “Aye. Passable.”

  “Lass, if I hear that
word from ye again, I will keep ye here in bed for days to prove to ye how much more than passable I can love ye.”

  It didn’t take days for him to remind her of his prowess, but Katie did admit to a bit of soreness from his multiple displays of expertise when she mounted her horse the next day for the trip to Argyll. As she settled into the saddle and adjusted her skirts, she smiled at the memory of when she’d surprised her husband and climbed over him and took control. At first he was reluctant, but her enthusiasm soon convinced him, and he’d become quite eager to indulge her. She grinned. It seemed there was more than one way to be in charge. As they made their way over the hill, she looked back at the castle and thought of her life when she’d first laid eyes on the place, with the faded piece of paper clutched in her hand in a broken-down wagon. She had been expecting a much different life to unfold than the one she was now headed toward.

  She turned her back on the castle and the life that was not to be. With a satisfied smile, she caught Gavin and Evan deep in conversation as they rode ahead of her. Meggie and Alasdair chatted amiably, and the few others who’d decided to come with them formed the rest of their group. She inhaled deeply when the sun broke through the clouds as they moved forward.

  To Argyll.

  To the MacNeil clan.

  To her new life.

  With a husband who was much more than passable.

  Epilogue

  Seven months later

  Katie placed her hand on her swollen belly and watched with pride as Gavin practiced his sword fighting with one of Evan’s men. Her husband had someone practice with Gavin each day. Her brother grew stronger, better skilled, and more confident.

  After the trek from Fife, which had been difficult near the end because of the winter weather, they’d settled into Argyll quite nicely, and she was enjoying her role as the laird’s wife. She’d been surprised to find the place in such disarray when they’d arrived. The kitchen needed a good scrubbing, and the cook had to be gently and kindly retired from her duties, which improved the fare tremendously. Everyone’s mood was quite cheery with better food.

  The young maids had to be redirected to do their duties instead of flitting about making eyes at the young lads and hanging over the gate to watch them practice in the yard. She got on with the young girls, though, which made her job easier.

  Katie had stepped in as a second healer and found that she and Mistress Moira worked well together. She was impressed with the healer’s skill and felt quite comfortable with her helping with her babe’s birth, which Moira assured her was not too far off.

  The two of them worked diligently to keep the kitchen gardens healthy and producing plenty of herbal plants for the cooks as well as the necessary medicinal ones.

  “There ye are, wife.” Evan walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. “How’s my heir today?”

  “Busy.” She turned and smiled at him. “I fear the lad or lass will run out of my womb when ’tis time. The bairn never stops kicking.”

  He placed her arm in his and walked her back to the castle. “’Tis time for yer rest, lass. Moira told ye to stay off yer feet.”

  “Ach. I’m not an invalid.” The words were spoken as she lumbered along, more from habit than anything else, because truthfully, she did tire easily these days. But if she gave in to everything Evan commanded, he could easily undermine her authority. Not that he would want to, but ’twas just his way.

  “I ken what yer thinking, wife, and ’tis not true. I dinnae want to take away yer authority. I merely want to make sure ye don’t overtire yerself.”

  He walked her up the stairs to their bedchamber, where he seated her on the bed. “I had news from Sterlingshire this day.”

  Katie slipped off her shoes. “Indeed? I didn’t ken ye were in touch with anyone there.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door. “Aye. I asked for information on Armstrong.”

  “And ye’ve had some?” She hadn’t thought about the man in months.

  “Aye.” He shook his head. “Not good.”

  Katie gasped. “Dinnae tell me the fiend escaped? Do we have to put a guard with Gavin?”

  “Nay. Calm yerself, lass. He did escape, but when they sent men after him, they found that he’d tumbled off a cliff in the darkness.”

  “Dead?”

  “Aye.”

  “Oh!” She chewed her lip. “I dinnae like the mon and hated what he wanted to do to Gavin, but ’tis still a sad thing to hear.”

  “Yer too soft, lass. The mon deserved what he got.”

  She yawned and he walked back to her. “To sleep with ye now.”

  “I’m not tired.” She sounded like a grumpy child.

  “I know.” He helped her under the blankets and pulled them up to her chin. “Let’s just say the bairn is tired.”

  “I wish.”

  “Aye.” He bent and kissed her forehead and quietly left the room.

  Katie shifted her bulk and placed her folded hands under her cheek. Before she drifted off to sleep, she offered a prayer for the villain’s soul.

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  About the Author

  USA Today bestselling author Callie Hutton, writes both Western Historical and Regency romance with “historic elements and sensory details” (the Romance Reviews). Callie lives in Oklahoma with several rescue dogs, two adult children, a daughter-in-law, twin grandsons, and her top cheerleader husband (although, thankfully, not all in the same home). Callie loves to hear from readers and welcomes the opportunity to become friends, both in person or virtually. Find her online at www.calliehutton.com and sign up for her newsletter at https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/p1n5h1.

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  Marrying the Wrong Earl

  Denying the Duke

  The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth

  Wagering For Miss Blake

  Captivating the Earl

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