Page 100 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Continuing on, she plowed into Bryce in the bailey as he was rushing toward the hall.

Her heart fluttered when he smiled down at her. Clearly he’d been coming for her. He leaned down and kissed her hard. She felt the excitement of battle shimmering around him when he pulled away.

“The Stewarts have joined us. We have plenty of men. The time has come to put an end to the McCurdys.”

Dorie knew it was the way it had to be. Truth be told, she spared only a moment of sadness over the loss that would come to her former family. While she wasn’t a McCurdy by blood, Baehaven had been her home for most of her life.

Though it could certainly be argued that it had been a prison rather than a home, she could also remember the castle with fondness—the early years, when she’d played with the children and walked in the fields collecting flowers with her mother. She thought of Rory and swallowed with worry.

Bryce must have seen her reluctance and pressed his forehead to hers. “Anyone who swears loyalty to us will be spared. We don’t wish to massacre the entire clan. Only those who draw their sword against us. The clan leaders will fall today, Dorie. Ye ken there’s no way around that.”

She nodded in agreement. “I understand. Perhaps if you see Rory—he was at the wedding—a lean lad with a scar across his brow…” She shook her head, knowing how difficult it would be to look for such a small trace. “Forgive me, it’s too much to ask. I’ll not have you put at risk for a chance he’d change fealty. Thank you for letting me know.” She stood taller and forced a smile through her worry. “Ye have a lot of men at your back, but be mindful of your front,” she said.

He laughed and kissed her again. “Aye. I’ll do so, love.”

“Then I’ll see you soon.”

He kissed her and stepped away, only to come back for another kiss before leaving again. He gave Rascal a pat. “Watch over our woman.”

As she watched her husband hurry away, she felt a wave of dizziness. What if he didn’t return? She’d never been happier, and now that happiness was in jeopardy.

Kenna and Mari joined her in the bailey, and the women stood watching their men mount up and move toward the gate. Other women gathered beside them until the courtyard was lined with women and children. One by one the men gave a wave as they ducked out of the gate.

When they were all gone, the women remained in silence for a minute or two. Dorie felt them gathering strength.

It was Kenna as mistress of the keep who cleared her throat. “Come now, ladies, we’ve work to do to put the castle to rights. We’ll need to plan a feast to celebrate our victory.”

Dorie knew a victory was imminent. That was clear from the sheer size of the army heading toward Baehaven. But not every man who waved goodbye this morning would come home again.

That was the way of war, no matter the odds.

…

The ground shook with the thunder of hooves as the four armies moved across the MacKinlay lands as one unit. Bryce felt the energy of the men vibrate the air around them. It was common enough with a smaller group, but the power grew in a gathering of this size. They were unstoppable.

He spotted Liam riding apart from the others and drew his horse up next to him.

“Are you well?” he asked.

The young man—for he was no longer a lad anymore—glared in Bryce’s direction. “I see you have your wife back.”

Bryce was confused by his reaction. He thought Liam and Dorie got on well enough. She’d given him a bit of trouble when he was guarding her, but Liam hadn’t seemed angry about it.

“Do you take offense with my wife?”

Liam’s anger slipped away and he shook his head. “Forgive me. I don’t mean to take my frustration out on you. It’s just that you didn’t want to marry and were forced into it, while I want to be wed and was refused.” Liam frowned in the direction of the Stewart laird who was laughing with Lach and Dorien.

“You offered for the laird’s daughter?”

“Aye. He made it clear I’m not important enough to deserve her hand.” He winced. “As if I didn’t know that already. I don’t even know whose blood runs in my veins, and my name is merely borrowed, since I don’t know which clan I truly belong to. Still, I thought he would see I would do everything I could to make her happy. Apparently a soldier’s pay is not good enough for Lady Evelyn Stewart.”

Bryce reached out and squeezed his arm. “Ye are a MacKinlay. I don’t give a damn about your blood or your hair. It is better to be accepted into a clan than be born into it. I speak from experience. There’s honor in that. Don’t forget it.” It was true Liam didn’t look like the MacKinlays, who tended toward dark hair. Liam’s white-blond hair was even lighter than Bryce’s. He stood out as different. The old laird had once said Liam might have been an angel with his hair and icy blue eyes and the way he showed up one day all on his own, no older than four. Lachlan’s mother thought he was a fairy child.

“I know. You’re right. I’m beyond grateful that the old laird gave me a home. I just wish I was good enough for Evelyn.”

“I’m sorry, Liam. When we’re done with this, we’ll speak to Lach about it. Mayhap he’ll be able to help. Don’t lose hope.”

“It seems strange hearing you speak of hope.”