Page 43 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Fifteen

ThetripfromDunUgadale to the guardhouse on the border took Craig and the men with him a little more than a day and a half.He spent the entire time thinking about his wife.He hated worrying about her.Whether she would fit into brooch life.How she and Helena would get on with them working together.

She still argued with him and remained stubborn on certain points, but he was more certain each day that Lenora’s rough tongue came from years of neglect and abuse at the hands of the men in her life.The only one he was sure had protected her to a certain extent was Knox, but he stated that he was away from the castle for months at a time.

She did not trust men and had every reason not to.If they were to have a peaceful life, he had to earn her trust.That was not something he could order her to do.His whole existence had been turned upside down.His initial idea of wed her, bed her, and leave her hadn’t worked very well.

“MacKay, where is yer brain today?”Gre’gor rode up alongside him.“I’m thinking ye’re spending too much time pining for yer bonnie wife.”

Craig growled.“I am no’ pining for anyone.I’m thinking of what lies ahead for us when we arrive at the border.”

Thebluidyman had the nerve to toss his head back and laugh even though Craig’ssgian dubhswas close at hand.“Ye best be riding far from me for the rest of the day, Gre’gor.

Once they arrived at the guardhouse, Craig’s mind was taken up with their assignment.He had no idea how long they would be there.

Eventually, Robin would send another contingent of warriors to replace those who were there.‘Twas only recently that they had guards permanently, but despite the new alliance between the MacKays and the Gunns, Robin confided in him that he didn’t trust the laird.

Craig had never trusted the man.A man who had so little control over himself that he took his fists to a lass was not only dishonorable but not someone he would want alongside him on the battlefield.Or at the negotiation table.He did wonder why the man was so easily swayed to replace Robin, Laird and Chieftain of Dun Ugadale, with his brother.

He jumped from his horse and strode up to Airche, Captain of the current group of men at the guardhouse.“How goes the area?”

The man shrugged.“No troubles that we haven’t been able to deal with.Mostly small groups of outlaws stealing from the farmers.”

“Have ye seen any Gunns or Sinclairs?The laird had information that there might be trouble from them here.”

Airche’s brows rose.“Dinna ye just form an alliance with The Gunn by marrying his shew of a sister?”

Craig felt the blood rush to his face.“Doona speak of my wife in that manner unless ye want to cross swords with me.I demand respect from all clan members for Lady Lorena.”

Airche’s brows now rose.“’Tis sorry I am, Craig.I’m just going by the rumors I heard.”

Craig fisted his hands by his side, trying very hard not to pull out his sword and run the man through.“Rumors is all it is.I expect ye to deny any more gossip ye hear about my wife.‘Tis like a bunch of old women with ye all speaking about something ye ken no’hing about.”

“Aye, again ‘tis sorry I am.I should ne’er have said that.”

Craig nodded and stormed into the guardhouse, still ready to punch someone.The lass didn’t have a chance of acceptance if the rumors about her rough tongue had arrived at the clan before her.Hopefully, working with Helena who was sweet and loved by all, she would gain her place within the clan.

His mood turning sour, he grabbed a jug of ale and poured himself a drink.The sounds of the men departing who had finished their assignment rang throughout the area.Craig downed his ale and headed back outside where his men were setting up a fire to cook the evening meal.

“Tomorrow we break into groups of three and ride the entire border between here and the Sinclairs.Another group of two each will cover the Gunn territory.There may be groups of men seeming to be outlaws but take a second look at them if their clothes are clean and they seem well-fed.‘Tis possible they are from a clan and pretending to be otherwise.”

“MacKay,” one of the warriors said, “Does the laird have reason to believe the Gunns are causing trouble even after the alliance with ye and Lady Lenora?”

“Anything is possible.”He didn’t think it wise to pass along too much information to the men.They were here to find reivers and keep the small villages from being ransacked and burned.The politics of the situation were between Robin, him, and Finn.

They roasted a few small animals they caught as well as vegetables they’d brought with them from the brooch.Once he’d eaten, he left the group around the fire and entered the guardhouse.He headed to the cot in the corner with a screen for privacy for the current captain.He sprawled on the cot.He was bone tired and what he wanted more than anything was sleep.

Even though he and Lorena hadn’t been married long, he missed having her beside him, her warm body pressed up against his.He smiled thinking of her soft snores.

Not that he’d spent a lot of time sleeping with women, since he usually visited their beds and left, but it seemed to him that his wife suffered from more nightmares than was normal for a woman.

When she was restless, he could calm her down by drawing her into his arms and rubbing her back.With her determination to remain independent, he never told her about that.

He sighed, hoping that sleep would not elude him while he thought about his wife.He’d never had to worry before on assignments about missing anything or anybody.‘Twas a strange feeling.One he wasn’t sure he liked.

***

“What was wrong with the little one that made him cry so hard and pull up his legs?”Lorena asked as she and Helena left the home of the young mam.